Small Prophets finds magic in yearning
What’s more human than yearning? The prescient British series Small Prophets illustrates this profound truth across its tight six-episode first season.
At the heart of the story is Michael Sleep, a man whose life seems paused in a state of bittersweet stasis. He is waiting for his partner, Clea, who vanished on Christmas Eve seven years prior. To navigate this quiet heartbreak, Michael turns to the extraordinary—an alchemy recipe that conjures “homunculi,” humanoid prophets born and nurtured in jars.
With the help of his new work-friend Kasey, Michael sets about manifesting this wonder, though the magic of the stop-motion animation and the strange presence of the homunculi keeps the reality of his day-to-day life firmly grounded. Michael’s world remains wonderfully recognizable: he works at a DIY shop, navigating the mundane tasks of retail while dealing with the baffling antics of his meddling boss.
This wry juxtaposition is the show’s greatest strength. It allows the narrative to gently critique the modern age while focusing intensely on timeless human concerns: love, loss, and the ache of yearning. Michael is not defined by professional ambition or external striving; he is simply a smart, funny man whose defining characteristic is his deep, steady love for his aging father and his missing partner.
Michael’s decency powers the series, lending it a believable warmth. Despite his tendency to crack jokes at the expense of the mundane—like explaining why the shop no longer stocks buckets—he approaches life with kindness. His relationships, including his connection with Kasey and his father, are tested, offering a poignant look at how people reject societal hierarchies and seek genuine connection.
The shed, where Michael and Kasey create a cocoon of shared space, becomes a sanctuary where the ordinary merges with the extraordinary. It is here that they find answers and face their fears together, a stark contrast to the judgmental obstacles of the outside world, which sometimes manifests as unsettling encounters with neighbors or strange groups.
Michael has sought ways to immortalize his memories, attempting to recreate a perfect moment from Clea’s past using a Polaroid. Yet, the divine, and profound connections, are not easily conjured. The series beautifully blends the commonplace with the fairytale, using timeless music and visuals that refuse to be tethered to fleeting trends.
Ultimately, Small Prophets serves as both a reflection and an antidote to our current society. It reminds us that even amidst the deepest doubts, a little decency goes a long way, creating a deeply human story filled with warmth, humor, and undeniable magic.
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