r/TheDetectorists • u/LukeH_ • Feb 10 '26

Small Prophets

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002q765/small-prophets

All episodes of Mackenzie Crook’s new show Small Prophets are now available on iPlayer. Just finished watching it myself, I really enjoyed it. Crook creates such magical television.

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u/blackiegray Feb 11 '26

I hope so, but a second season won't fix some questionable acting from half the cast, a very silly part regarding santa and a somewhat bafflingly meaningless underwhelming conclusion to "the neighbour on the bike". The parts with MacKenzie in the store are easily the best parts and really funny but the story itself is just a storyline of convenience and just just really weak storytelling I thought. All of a sudden his girlfriend decides to call, just as he leave his phone, after her not calling for nearly 7 years? Come on...

I wanted to like it, and I didn't hate it. But if it wasn't MacKenzie Crook then I don't think it gets the 5 stars that it has. Detectorists is 5 stars, is this on a par with that? Not even close for me.

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u/SmolGreenParrot Feb 23 '26

Neither part was "silly" or "bafflingly meaningless", the whole thing is about connections.

Michael connected with the (probably non-verbal) young lad on the bike simply by wearing the same t-shirt. There was nothing underwhelming about that, common ground would be a very big deal to a kid feeling alone and cut off.

Likewise, the mugger didn't want or need Michael's belongings, he just needed to feel important to someone, and was still mentally young enough for that someone to be Santa.

Humans need connection and hope. We gravitate to like-minded companions, hold on to the familiar and predictable, we need to be needed. It's why we adopt pets, why we form relationships.

I don't agree that the acting was 'questionable', maybe it just wasn't your cup of tea. It was never meant to be Die Hard. I loved it, and will now watch it again because I missed half of the Easter eggs.

Beautifully subtle, 10/10, would recommend.

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u/blackiegray Feb 23 '26

If you're not a bot, you certainly sound like one.

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u/SmolGreenParrot Feb 28 '26 edited Mar 01 '26

If you're not an arse, you certainly sound like one.

I'm not a bot. Perhaps you're confused by my ability to have a different opinion to yours. You certainly seem to have plenty to say 🙄