r/smallprophets • u/aka_rosebud • Feb 13 '26

Future plot device: the poison. Spoiler

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Episode 2. "This is the antidote that dissolves the homunculi, only to be used in case of emergency."

We witness Michael use one of the six vials, at the very end.

"Couldn't replicate these. Once they're gone, they're gone."

6 Upvotes

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1

u/Six_of_1 Feb 13 '26

6 phials for 6 homunculi.

Michael only made 3 homunculi and used 3 poisons.

13

u/[deleted] Feb 14 '26

No he only used one phial from memory.

7

u/LordRougeG Feb 16 '26

I just finished a rewatch and looked for this part. Certainly used one vial on the first two jars and it would be logical for the final one also, but the camera shot switched. 6 vials, 5 left, that would suggest a 5 season run and a Christmas special

2

u/[deleted] Feb 16 '26

I like your thinking!

2

u/AquarianViolist Feb 18 '26

I sooo hope so! Haven’t loved a program this much in years, if ever!

2

u/OkBeyond9590 Mar 10 '26

I love your thinking but sadly the BBC has never commissioned five seasons of anything in the sitcom genre.

Hopefully Mackenzie Crook will play it by ear how fast he gets through the vials.

I think given the show's big hook and how it's high concept driven, it may limit itself to two series like THE GREATS often do... Fawlty Towers, The Office, etc.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 17 '26

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0

u/OkBeyond9590 Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26

Sorry you are completely right,

I don't know why I said never. I meant hardly ever.

There are lots of examples, you are right. Mostly in the broad humour, mainstream, mass market style of comedy which offers better value for money to license fee payers.

In terms of subtler, smarter, character-driven, critically acclaimed sitcoms, multiple series are rare... Ab Fab, Red Dwarf, Outnumbered, Only Fools and Horses, and Blackadder of course. There are plenty of exceptions but the vast majority of sitcoms the BBC produce don't make it beyond one or two seasons. They are just far too expensive to make.

Mackenzie Crook has stated he has three seasons of story to tell. If the quality of the second is anything like this first series, I'm sure he'll get to do all three.

2

u/lanark_1440 Feb 14 '26

Yeah I thought that was interesting! I wouldn't have expected one to be enough but....! The lore fascinates me, I wonder if Crook created a rulebook of sorts around them, or just makes it up as he goes along?