Prodigal Son: The Main Characters, Ranked By Likability

One of the hottest and most interesting shows on television right now is Prodigal Son. Following the life of Malcolm Bright as he works as an FBI profiler while struggling with the fact that his father is a notorious serial killer, it has gripped audiences with its heavy drama.

Of course, regardless of how dramatic it is, the viewers keep tuning in because of the characters. They are complex, often with complicated backstories but at their heart, most of them are likable. They are either actually good people or they’re at the very least entertaining to watch throughout the series.

9 Martin Whitly

There’s no denying that Martin Whitly oozes charisma. The guy can seemingly captivate anyone who comes into contact with him for a reason. Of course, as entertaining as he might be to watch, it’s impossible to look past the heinous things that he has done throughout his life.

At once an image of a great doctor with a loving family, Martin was revealed to be a serial killer known as The Surgeon. He has murdered 23 people in the past and isn’t shy about that total. He has no regard for human life other than when he’s performing surgery on someone. The way he manipulates the members of his family only adds to his negative qualities.

8 Vivian Capshaw

Vivian Capshaw is the latest addition to Prodigal Son. Played by the always impressive Catherine Zeta-Jones, Capshaw is one of the smartest characters on paper. She’s the resident doctor at Claremont Psychiatric Hospital and takes care of hundreds of patients but she has a major flaw.

She almost immediately fell for Martin Whitly. It may just be a sexual attraction or infatuation but it happened regardless. That set the stage for Martin to escape and she played a part in a vicious murderer being on the loose. Capshaw is a mystery at times but her poor judgment has certainly not her any favors.

7 Ainsley Whitly

In a ranking of the best or most interesting characters, Ainsley Whitly would place higher. The daughter of The Surgeon, Ainsley was at the heart of the show’s biggest twist when it was revealed that she killed Nicholas Endicott and has more of her father’s tendencies in her than Malcolm does.

Ainsley is on an intriguing path but the fact that she has killed someone hurts her likability score. She is also impulsive and doesn’t seem to show much remorse for what she did. Ainsley did impress with the way that she stood up to Malcolm so she wouldn’t be manipulated anymore, even if she did so in an unsettling manner.

6 Jessica Whitly

The matriarch of the Whitly clan, Jessica is basically as fabulous as it gets. She’s wealthy, fashionable, and pretty confident in herself. The fact that she has managed to keep it together so well after having her life turned upside down with the revelation about Martin being a killer is all the proof needed about her strength.

Jessica is also someone who can dish out sharp wit with the best of them, which makes her even more likable. At times she can come across as a bit overbearing with her children though that is understandable given her past. For the most part, Jessica just seems to care deeply for those she loves.

5 Edrisa Tanaka

Many shows like Prodigal Son have a character who brings comedy amidst the doom and gloom of their daily activities. Edrisa Tanaka takes up that role. The medical examiner of the team, Tanaka constantly has the audience in stitches even when there’s something disturbing in the crime scene in front of her.

Fans appreciate her crush on Malcolm, which leads to some fun scenes. However, she also has proven herself to be pretty tough and feels like a strong, independent woman. Plus, Tanaka often matches Malcolm on an intelligence level that is always impressive.

4 JT Tarmel

There isn’t a single thing about JT Tarmel that feels flashy or that stands out, which isn’t an insult. It’s part of what makes him such a good person and a likable character. He simply goes out there every day and does his job, which is solving crimes and putting bad guys away.

Although his family hasn’t been seen much on screen, JT is known to do a lot of what he does for them. He cares deeply for those he loves and is always out to do what’s right, which included reporting another officer for racial profiling him. The only thing keeping JT from ranking higher is that he’s not as much of a focal point as the other main characters.

3 Gil Arroyo

Like JT, Gil Arroyo is basically just a really good guy. His past with Malcolm goes all the way back to his childhood, as he was the arresting officer of Martin. He acts as something of a trusting father figure for Malcolm and is probably the most reasonable person of the entire cast.

Gil is another person out to do the right thing whenever possible. He will rein in Malcolm when he has to but he also understands that there is a method to his madness and lets him do his thing. That showcases how understanding Gil can be. He has also shown himself to be a great romantic interest for Jessica.

2 Malcolm Bright

The show’s protagonist just barely misses out on the top spot here. Malcolm Bright is admittedly not nearly as much of a clear-cut good person as Gil or JT. There is simply too much damage there from what his father’s history did to him and he constantly fears that part of him is too much like Martin. However, that’s what allows him to rank higher than JT or Gil.

He might not be inherently pure but he’s willing to fight his hardest to overcome that. Even if he does something bad, Malcolm will do it for good, like when he covered up Ainsley killing Endicott to protect his sister. He’s a genius who is engaging to watch and often knows which criminals need to be taken down and which ones could use help.

1 Dani Powell

The best bond on the show is between Dani Powell and Malcolm Bright. Dani is another detective on Arroyo’s team but she has sympathized with a lot of what Malcolm goes through. She may not be able to understand him completely but she tries her best and always offers up a shoulder to lean on.

Outside of her potential romance with Malcolm, Dani has everything you could like in a character. She has a good heart, she’s a tough woman who backs down from nobody, and she is pretty smart even if she’s not quite on the level of someone like Edrisa. She has also overcome her own struggles, which is admirable.

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