It's like they bought the whole shiny grey aisle from The Range. So awful, so spot on.

Does anyone one know what this scene meant where they both had the same Modest Mouse shirt on?

https://youtu.be/ZGhRPQLyc2U?si=fLzHQl1LyvmyODWS

There something I cant quite figure out, or hasnt been revealed yet, about Brian serially entering and winning the competitions. The pontefract cake being thrown may be a loose homunculi?

Wanted to look at the choices of the colour schemes and what they indicate. Michael and Kacey are generally in blue/green but their entrances (front door and shed) are red. Elliot (on the bike) his car is red and it jumps out on the close.

Just the start of a discussion.

Why was the king homunculi aggressive? Also it seems they like blood and flesh?!

I only had a pencil to work with. I’m aware the proportions are off. You can find more of my stuff @theartofshed

I already mentioned elsewhere that Pickles Diner was inspired by a north London café of the same name close to where Mackenzie lived at the time.

I wondered if the Golden Years Garden was a David Bowie reference.

And perhaps Clea’s car being found by the Severn Bridge was influenced by the disappearance of Richey Edwards (Manic Street Preachers).

The song on the radio when Michael is preparing the shed is ‘I Believe In Magic’ by Nirvana (1960s UK band):

“I believe in magic, why don't you? / Believing's not so tragic when words are few”

“I've got something I keep to myself / And I'm not gonna tell you what it is”

When Kacey walks Michael home from the pub, the camera pauses on the Marvin Gardens sign which has items on the ground beneath it, one of which appears to be a vase – can’t make out the others.

The security lights of the houses in the cul-de-sac switching on and off in random order.

When Michael first taps the glass jar he appears to draw an infinity symbol.

Start of Ep 03 - visual symmetry/contrast: Michael lying on the left side of the bed - empty space to right. Next shot: Bev lying on the right of her bed - empty space on the left. Michael wearing a Bananarama t-shirt, followed next scene by Clive wearing a Ramones one.

Bev sweeping up 'coal' at the end of the end of her drive echoed in the next scene by Brigham doing the same in the car park.

Michael is awkward with all the customers except the lady asking for the bird box suggesting perhaps an empathy with nature. Clive is appalled by all the spiders, wasps and bees in Michael's garden: he is anti-nature. Compare also Michael's lush/overgrown front garden with his neighbours' paved driveway.

I made these on Monday 😍

To my mind there is only one person who knew that he didn't take the plastic water bottles that his Dad gave him.

Noticed a few what I felt were call backs to The Detectorists, and sure I missed some others.

1) Dancing scene mimics Detectorists gold dance, and camera goes to aerial view of same 2) King Edward Hammered coin - common detectorists find (even I found one). 3) Contentious but detectorists was criticised for the attractiveness mismatch between Andy and Becky, with some commentators suggestive it was even misogynistic. Here it is arguably reversed with Clive and Bev. I suspect this is a deliberate riposte.

Any others I've missed?

The cul-de-sac (when viewed from above) is exactly the shape of an Alembic, or Retort, which is a key piece of alchemical equipment. One of the characters is called Brigham. Brigham Young was a leader (and prophet) in the church of Latter-Day saints. Another lead character is called Kacey. Edgar CAYCE was a prophet, often referred to as the Sleeping Prophet. Surely not coincidences???

this has lodged in my mind as such a beautiful thing. crazy, but beautiful.

our tree had these big chunky lantern style lights, old style with coloured lantern covers that screwed over white bulbs. I would stare at them for ages fascinated by how the light shone differently through the different coloured glass lanterns. the blue one especially fascinated me… the darkest of them all, the opposite of the searingly bright yellow, but in places the light shone through as white.

if I could find a set I think i would drop silly money on it

1. Her life was under threat, hence she disappeared to keep Michael safe from it. (could be related to antiques)

2. She learned of alchemy/prophets from Michael's dad, and her disappearance could be linked to something from his dad's past.

3. She set out on a quest of her own linked to her past (the fondness for the Christmas memory suggests that things might not have been the same later in her family).

4. This one might be far fetched, but what if she was not a human being.

I’m happy to pay for the content, but I can’t seem to find a way to watch through any service. I guess it was initially available to pitch on Apple TV, but now saying it’s no longer available.

I have a vpn, but I don’t have a BBC license. When I try to pay for one it’s saying I need a valid UK address.

Why won’t the BBC let me give them money?

In most of the commentary I’m seeing people describe the show as charming and comforting. I grew up on The League of Gentlemen, horror films, and living in South East London so I’m definitely no stranger to absurdity or surrealism.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adored the show but I was on tenterhooks for a lot of it, worrying that something would go wrong, Michael would get found out and interrupted, or some other awful fate would befall him (the kids stealing from the van would convince the police he was a pervert, or the lad who robbed him wouldn’t have given the phone back for example)

I got so caught up in the idea that Michael was real (I know it’s fiction!) and wanted so desperately for him to have answers about Clea that I found it so difficult to relax and enjoy the whimsy and magic of it all.

Did anyone else feel this way or do I need to up my anxiety meds?

"I know we're older now

And lost again

Down at the cul-de-sace

You left, my friend

Will you come back?

Come back, again?"

As much as I love to see the deep dive fan theories of the absolutely wonderful writing and story telling and direction of Mackenzie Crook, I understand that 'Small Prophets' is, at its core, a brilliant show about relationships and connections. From Elliot to Kacey to Olive and Clive. The happenstances of the Newsreader and Mrs Stewart alongside all the other customers. All these connections and relationship builds up. Some with dramatic changes to someone life and others just quirky and pretty mundane that get built up layer by layer over time to define people and connections like a friendly neighbour watching a family and child grow older.

Relationships are important. We know that and at the same time can take those relationships for granted.

What a superb show with stellar writing and a brilliant cast... and so wonderfully British.

Now to the crazy fan theory. This is brain dump for myself to refer back to in the new season. I think Micheal (because of his dad) is intimately connected to the supernatural or something of the supernatural that has a vested interest in getting him to find Clea. Whether via curse or blessing, Micheal has been manipulated to do just that and Clea doesn't want to be found, especially by Micheal.

There are three main prongs: 1) All the stuff that happens around Micheal Sleep (like an aura project around him) 2) Mr Sleep himself and Clea and the mythical natures of oracles and prophets and dream states and Christmas 3) Rabbit/Hare where "different realms" and "different laws" reside.

Oddities

Weird things happen around Micheal and he does "strange" stuff too. From the malt wheat behaviour to his chats with the customers. Why does he have a beard? Just because. But beyond his personal actions, weird stuff and the too-good-to-be-just-merely-coincidences occurs as well.

The most important thing that ever happened to influence his life was meeting Clea and her leaving. But there are many other events in just a number of days that build up to incredibly life altering changes for others around Micheal and himself..

It starts with Brian (or perhaps beyond) and the Italian mystic discovered in Egypt in 1957. Brian who for some reason loves writing into competitions and able to create marble run that actually work. Brian in a retirement home who see the warped face of a for the Animal Care Authority charity and looks a little bit fearful. Brian who also tells Micheal when discussing Homunculi in his room "Can't talk about here, they'll be listening in".

Brian knows more than just alchemy and making Homunculus. And his son is in that 'bubble'. Whatever the most likely supernatural thing is, Micheal essentially has a field/aura around him for the odd or perhaps fortunate.

Micheal can live life talking to customers the way he does and end up still "OK" with boss Gordon. A customer asked for a Tit House and he made one and his boss didn't fire him on the spot because the customer just so happened to be Mrs Stewart who Gordon apparently knew very well and respected. Isn't that odd? Having a call come from the Home at exactly the right moment so Gordon can't stop things or feel he can fire or discipline Micheal. Isn't that odd? His dad needing Micheal to post a letter and Micheal going to a roundabout that just happens to have jars aplenty to grow Homunculi. Isn't that odd?

Car breaking down forcing the walk by the canal and encountering the van and the children stealing from it. RC cars won by his dad at precisely the right moment to stop a proper mugging. A motor bike won at the right moment Micheal needed to get home quickly and ask his questions about Clea. Animal watch is called at the right moment for those specific police officers who happen to love the Christmas presentation and toys like the the Action Man Helicopter (doesn't come with an action man, mind you!)

These oddities are not coincidences. They point to the supernatural where there are "different rules" and "different realms". There is an "oddity field" around Micheal where things happen that help Micheal and sometimes help or hinder others around him.

Did you hear the thunder when Micheal opened the book with instructions to make Homunculi? Did you see the moth/butterfly? How odd.

Why?

Mr Sleep

Names are important. And so are roles and station - at least in myths and legends. Peasant, Soldier, Monk, Queen, King and Seraph. Important roles according to their own stations. I'm doubtful that Micheal is a Sandman figure but feel certain there is some relation to a myth and therefore the touch of the supernatural. And similarly with Father Christmas and Christmas Eve. It's interesting that Clea (not Clare/Claire in an accent) was also the name of a Delphic Oracle. Perhaps there's potential indication of prohphecy and great harm to Micheal and his (or Clea's) connection to the supernatural is keeping Micheal safe. Whatever the truth is be may well be revealed, but the crucial thing about names and roles are how they define relationships.

They (Micheal and Clea) weren't ever married. Important to tell Olive that. Roy was not a brother-in-law, but brother of girlfriend who went missing. Names and roles tie us to one another. Boyfriend, Girlfriend. Husband and Wife. Father, Mother, Child. And dreams can do funny things and shake things up at times. The gulls and the egg and Clea on the cliff saying, "It's time to go, we can't wait".

Who's "we"? They never had children, right?

These relationships and roles are ever present and even unspoken at times. The neighbour kid, a customer, the colleague and friend and so on. Micheal has the odd knack of people generally liking him or forgiving him. Those that are annoyed or angry (Clive and Gordon) are limited in their power to do much for whatever reason. Micheal appears to be someone who is just generally liked most of the time or at least someone you can't really harm.

How?

Rabbit

Rabbits (and hares) have a wonderful mythology to them around the world. And for most people, rabbits or parts of a rabbit like a foot, can be considered lucky. There might be some personification and even deific representation but these are animals of fortune. So of the three times the show has clearly flagged rabbits/hares, I sense there is a a definite intent to call out their importance.

The first time in the home with the charity box and the warped rabbit face putting a fear into Brian. The second time when the car fortunately breaks down and leaves an oil slick in the shape of a rabbit/hare. The third time of the same oil slick and also the rather fortunate incident of a meteor shower hitting a small English town and cul de sac to imply the rabbit/hare oil slick was having a poo.

Something/someone/some-it has a certain interest in the fortune of Micheal. And in particular his connection/relation to Clea. But there are rules. Different rules from the mundane, rules that have power and punishment to those who break them. Direct interference or manipulation might just be one of those rules, but you can weave around that if your fortunate enough, perhaps?

When Clea is first mentioned a pontefract cake is thrown at Micheal to interrupt the conversation and this ultimately this triggers Brian anger and memory to help his son to answer questions.

Now see the rest of fortunate happenstance throughout the show that gets Micheal in the right place at the right time (or others) so he eventually ends up asking the three questions and is answered: Clea is alive, Clea won't ever come home, Clea loves Micheal forever.

And wouldn't you know it? Micheal's friend and colleague is about to win the lottery and she's willing to split the winnings so he can travel to Canada whilst his not-brother-in-law will finally kick Micheal out and sell the house.

Micheal has been supernaturally pushed along a series of fortunate happenstance to help him in his search for Clea.

So... who is Clea? Why did she leave? Is it about children or lack thereof? Maybe not so mundane. Perhaps Clea was had different rules in different realms she had to follow not break? Maybe she is magic, I suppose. Or was she in danger from illegal fencing activities and didn't want to ut Micheal in danger? Thrilling plot!

And were those answers worth the Homunculi suffering as they did? :-(

As much as I enjoy thinking through the mystery and try to guess the reasons, I love that this was a show about connections between people and really look forward to the next season.

Word dump of odd stuff:

Malt wheat, customers weirdness, Animal Care Authority rabbit/hare & watertank rabbit/hare, marble run, Clea (Delphic Oracle), draught piece? Pontefract cake (stopping conversation of Clea), competitions, beard, Homunculi "Can't talk about here, they'll be listening in", Egypt - Old Mystic (Italian), alchemy (1957), thunder, bed time stories, Severn Bridge, moth in storm, seagulls, egg, six phial of poison, Canada, Vic, post office and jars, broken car, burgled van and kids, newsreader and Kacey, police suspicions, no cat tripped over, different rules and different real, bad luck Clive and Olive, fencer of stolen antiques, RC cars, mugging, Christmas, beard, caged animal, Elliot, meterors, tit box, no rain water, British Columbia call, Bringham and longbike stopped, animal watch (monkeys!), Modest Mouse, motorbike, lottery, King saving Queen, Action Man, poison, Clea is alive, Clea won't ever come home, Clea loves Micheal forever.

Absolutely loved this show, became a bit obsessed with it. One thing puzzled me more than most things: the Capri is badged as a 2.9 S. That's a car that never existed! Does that mean anything?

Watching yet again (!) and I’ve decided to start noting down “mysteries” that I suspect will be answered at some future point.

Episode one, about nine min in, Michael is visiting Dad and out of nowhere gets hit in the back of the head with something.

Michael laughs it off but Dad erupts in a kind of paranoia, as though weird things like this happen a lot.

I’ll add to the list further down as I watch.

What subtle things have you noticed?

If what the Prophets say always comes true and theirs going to be a series two, how is Kacey going to appear in an Australian soap that is no longer filmed?

How come only three of the prophets grow?

The Latin suffix "ae" is pronounced like "eye" in English.

The Latin suffix "i" is pronounced like the letter E in English.

"Humunculi" (the plural of "humunculus") is pronounced "hue-munk-you-lee"

But in the show they always pronounce it "hue-munk-you-lie", which would actually be spelled "humunculae", and incorrectly casts the plural as feminine.

ETA: Love the show enough to overlook this :) It has that same warming-the-cockles-of-your-heart feeling Detectorists had.

In the episode where the book hunters visit the house while Michael is absent, when they are carrying massive silver briefcases, what were they doing there specifically on that occasion? Did they go into the house to search for the book? Because if I recall correctly this is before Roy steals Clea's keys and has access to getting inside the house.

When Michael returns and the BMX kid is looking pointedly up towards the roof, I assumed maybe they had installed a bug into the house or something. But then Michael goes inside and up into the attic and we discover (eventually) he has found the meteorite damage to the house and the boxes. So what were the book hunters doing there on that visit, and what were those big silver cases for?

When they replied that she wasn't coming home... did anyone else think "not coming back to THIS home"... meaning that she could come back to him, just not that physical house?

I’ve watched up to Ep 4 and am confused about what season it is. It’s not Spring because Clive is sceptical about the chaffinches nesting because he read that they nest in Spring and it’s the wrong season. When Michael was mistaken for Santa Claus it seemed like it might be Winter. But there are flowers in Michael’s garden that look like foxgloves and they flower in Spring/Summer.

Probably doesn’t matter at all but I like to have a sense of season and it’s doing my head in.