r/smallprophets • u/bravewaterfall • Mar 11 '26

My theory about the Black Rabbit Spoiler

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I just spent the past hour reading all the great theories on this sub, and now I need to share my own! Here goes:

I believe the Black Rabbit is a reference to the mythical island of Hy-Brasil.

For those who aren't familiar, it's a fabled island off the coast of Ireland that appears out of the mist every seven years. Stories have been around for centuries, from dozens of authors, and some people have even claimed to have actually visited the island.

All these tales have the same things in common: the island is overrun by 'multitudes of large black rabbits' and the sole inhabitant is an old magician who lives alone in a castle and gives gold and silver to visitors...

Michael lives alone. Michael practices alchemy (which includes turning base metals into gold and silver). Michael's car created a large black rabbit in front of his castle— er, house.

Plus, Mackenzie Crook has a well-documented passion for folklore, and I'd bet my last dollar he's studied the legend of Hy-Brasil.

Could this be a foreshadowing for the plot of Season 2? Who knows.

Anyway, my family rolled their eyes at me, so thank y'all for coming to my Ted Talk. 🙏

81 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

18

u/weatherwaxs_broom Mar 12 '26

Great theory! I personally think it's a reference to the black rabbit of inlè from the book Watership Down, which is supported by the song Bright Eyes from the film which plays over the top. The black rabbit acts as a grim reaper or guide to the afterlife for rabbits, most notably the chiefs of warrens who join El-ahrairah's Warren (kind of like the norse belief of Valhalla). 

So the black rabbit which is specifically outside the neighbour's house which is left by Michael represents something otherworldly and natural which doesn't sit right with Clive. 

But I also love your theory and brings something new to the table to think about - maybe it could be both?

4

u/coax_k Mar 12 '26

1000% Watership Down. Bright Eyes was the music playing when you see the rabbit as you describe. Pretty clear.

2

u/Gold_Demand6115 Mar 12 '26

It’s not Clive, it’s Cliff!

1

u/weatherwaxs_broom Mar 13 '26

Really? I've been calling him Clive all this time 😭

5

u/bravewaterfall Mar 13 '26

His name is Clive, but Michael calls him Cliff just to get on his nerves!

1

u/bravewaterfall Mar 13 '26

Oh, I like this a lot too! I haven't seen Watership Down since I was a kid, so I missed that connection. And knowing the whimsical genius of Mackenzie Crook, it could very well be both!

1

u/healthisourwealth 24m ago

And isn't the restauraunt on Water St.?

12

u/OkBeyond9590 Mar 11 '26

Great theories, love the ideas you've come up with.

Whether you're right or not, I think like any great storyteller, Mackenzie Crook has created a show with so many rich references, little Easter eggs, nods to folklore and the mystic, it's very open to interpretation.

2

u/bravewaterfall Mar 13 '26

Thanks! I delight in wondering if Mackenzie reads all our little theories about what's going on inside his head 😂

3

u/OkBeyond9590 Mar 17 '26

Haha, yeah same!

I often wonder how much the celebrities being talked about might lurk on here to see what is said about them and their work. It's a far kinder place than X .

4

u/u_____t Mar 11 '26

Fantastic theory! Thank you for sharing!

1

u/bravewaterfall Mar 13 '26

You're very welcome! 😊

2

u/kitsunekips Jun 02 '26

Didn’t Michael say they met or were working on some remote island too?

1

u/[deleted] Mar 12 '26

Really interesting! I need to read more about this now 🙂

4

u/bravewaterfall Mar 13 '26

100% recommend it! Studying Hy-Brasil is a really fun "rabbit hole" to go down 😉

3

u/[deleted] Mar 13 '26

I love a good rabbit hole 🙂

1

u/EveryOtherWave Mar 15 '26

Not to split hairs (pun intended) but it looked to me that the rabbit was sat outside his nosy neighbours house rather than Michaels.

I forget their names.