Prodigal Son (2×05) Bad Manners Review

For our review of the last episode of Prodigal Son, click here.

Synopsis: Malcolm and Ainsley both race to find the killer in the so-called “Debutante Slayings”; while Martin is thrilled to see his daughter’s passion in the field, Jessica suggests she and Ainsley take a vacation. (TV Guide)

Maybe Ainsley is the more screwed up Whitly sibling after all (she was Martin’s daughter). Needing a new outlet for this new side of her, she would find herself in trouble here but that was more or less what Malcolm does on a weekly basis. Therefore, this new perspective made for an interesting dynamic. However, this did not make Jessica any less concerned for her children as the weight of the truth seemed often too much to bare, prompting an unexpected team up that looks to set up a tense few upcoming episodes as whatever is going on with Malcolm and Ainsley is far from over.

Bad Manners began with a flashback of Ainsley which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise now, spending too much time in a clock while playing hide and go seek with Malcolm. Meanwhile, the case of the week saw the team deal with a methodical serial killer who killed and posed debutantes as some sort of twisted pursuit of perfection. An overly-caffeinated Edrisa was a nice touch. Ainsley had a particular interest in the case if only to solve it before her brother (going back to the competitive nature hinted at in the opening flashback).

Glass eyes found in the latest victim pointed them to dollmakers while both victims both attended the same etiquette school which Ainsley also attended. Meanwhile, needing answers, Jessica turned to Martin but she was really just laying the law. Martin saw the Ainsley issue differently. Nevertheless, she was worried and Malcolm was too.

Gil and JT’s trip to a local dollmaker was creepy while Malcolm finding Ainsley at the etiquette school doing her own investigation was a little more tense. Malcolm didn’t appreciate Ainsley’s attitude. Their approaches were different but Malcolm eventually prevailed. Times have certainly changed and etiquette didn’t mean the same anymore. However, dolls played a prominent role within the school. They were made by the same dollmaker whom Gil and JT were talking to. Ultimately, the dollmaker was weird but not a killer.

Over the course of her own investigation, Ainsley stumbled upon the latest victim and broadcasted her findings on the news which didn’t go well because of her recklessness and her blatant disregard for her own life. In the end, all roads lead back to the etiquette school. The mistress of the etiquette school, Sarah Windsor (Kate Burton), fit the profile so of course Ainsley sought her out alone.

Meanwhile, mediation following JT’s incident with the fellow cops resulted in him opting to not file a complaint as he essentially was against stooping to the offending cop’s level.

After a tense encounter between Malcolm and Mrs. Windsor, it was revealed that her assistant and secret daughter Rachel (Anna Baryshnikov) was the actual killer. Under the impression that she drugged Ainsley (who was acting), Rachel went about with her methods on her until she was interrupted by Malcolm. The resulting commotion was enough of a distraction for both siblings to subdue her. Abused verbally by her mother, Rachel was merely trying to uphold the reputation of her mother’s school, crossing out all the names in Ainsley’s class. She was also angry at them for rejecting her mother’s teachings. A failure, Mrs. Windsor set herself and her home ablaze.

Worried that she was going to lose her children, Jessica begged for Martin’s help and he vowed to do anything to protect his family. Now that’s an exciting proposition.

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.