Page 6 | SPOILERS: Small Prophets.

placemats · 2026-02-16T12:07:36+00:00

This is a thread for those who have watched the series and are desperate to post and discuss. It seems that the no spoilers free thread is being inundated with those who understably love it. Post away! I love it. [[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt38504111/ https://m.imdb.com/title/tt38504111/]]

girlwhowearsglasses · 18/02/2026 13:10

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/02/2026 12:45

It wasn't any old bird book it was this one.

In March 2000, Sheikh Saud Al-Thani of Qatar purchased a copy of The Birds of America at a Christie's auction for $8.8 million, a record for any book at auction.[70]
In December 2010, The Economist magazine estimated that, adjusted for inflation, five of the ten highest prices ever paid for printed books were paid for copies of The Birds of America.[71] Of the 120 copies known to survive, only thirteen are held in private collections.[72] In March 2000, the Fox-Bute copy sold at Christie's, New York, for $8,802,500.[73][74] In December 2005, an unbound copy, the Providence Athenaeum Set,[74] sold, again at Christie's, New York, for $5.6 million.[75]
On 6 December 2010, a complete copy of the first edition was sold in London at Sotheby's for £7,321,250[76][77] during the sale of Magnificent Books, Manuscripts and Drawings from the collection of the 2nd Baron Hesketh. The winning bid was a record auction price for a printed book and was placed by London-based art dealer Michael Tollemache, who outbid three others during the auction.[77] According to the provenance details reported by the auction house, the copy's original owner was Henry Witham of Durham, listed as subscriber 11 in Audubon's Ornithological Biography; the first volume of the set bears a presentation inscription from Witham's wife, dated 24 June 1831.[76] Lord Hesketh had bought the copy from a descendant of Witham at a Christie's auction on 3 July 1951, paying £7,000.[76]

Yes I'm always telling people if they want to buy me a book it's this one ;-) 😂
There's a copy in the Natural History Museum in the 'treasures' gallery, and they change the page on show regularly. It really is a sublime thing. I like the Carolina Parrakeet page (they are now extinct)

the80sweregreat · 18/02/2026 13:13

So, this book ended up with a meteorite through the middle of it only worth a few thousand and ruined a copy worth millions ! ? Is this right?
To think he could have put the book up for auction ages ago and bought out Roy for the house with the proceeds.

girlwhowearsglasses · 18/02/2026 13:14

oooh - interactive version her:

https://diglib-legacy.amphilsoc.org/labs/audubon/#page=1

Carolina parakeets are plate 26.
All the birds are life size - hence the pages having to be so big - to fit the big ones on!

TansySorrel · 18/02/2026 13:18

I wonder how the relationship between Michael and Kacie will play out. Michael obviously has Kacie firmly in the friend zone as he is hankering after Clea, but Kacie wishes she could have more with Michael.

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/02/2026 13:39

TansySorrel · 18/02/2026 13:18

I wonder how the relationship between Michael and Kacie will play out. Michael obviously has Kacie firmly in the friend zone as he is hankering after Clea, but Kacie wishes she could have more with Michael.

I don't think it is in any way romantic or sexual.

WhatHoJeeves · 18/02/2026 13:53

It warms my heart that so many people are enjoying this lovely, intelligent, quirky series. It gives me hope. Nothing will ever replace Detectorists in my affections as that is my favourite series of all time but I did love this and will rewatch it soon having binged it all. Mackenzie Crook must be a wonderful human being!

MyOtherProfile · 18/02/2026 14:06

Oh I missed the barrel scraping on TV scene - thanks for that @hairbearbunches I agree, MC is sublime.

WearyAuldWumman · 18/02/2026 14:14

Noshadelamp · 18/02/2026 09:46

Didn't they exist in another dimension and so this was just the physical form of them still in the other dimension? And that they'd reached divination so I assumed didn't need their physical bodies anymore.
I'm sure their physical bodies were going to die regardless as the natural next step after divination.

Something along those lines anyway, I'm going to rewatch it at some point and look out for the explanations more.

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That rings a bell. Thank you!

Gonefishingithink · 18/02/2026 14:15

TansySorrel · 18/02/2026 13:18

I wonder how the relationship between Michael and Kacie will play out. Michael obviously has Kacie firmly in the friend zone as he is hankering after Clea, but Kacie wishes she could have more with Michael.

I don’t think that’s at all true. Not everything needs to have a sexual element.

Gonefishingithink · 18/02/2026 14:18

the80sweregreat · 18/02/2026 12:21

Ahh! That makes sense now. I did think the woman did work with her before.
They obviously managed to trace the whereabouts of the bird book back to Clea! Not sure how, but they did it somehow.
May be more rare books among the boxes then!
Might be why she took off as people were after her.

I think that why too.

Gonefishingithink · 18/02/2026 14:19

HidethebiscuitsitsNellie · 18/02/2026 12:17

I don’t think the lady did really work with Clea did she? She didn’t know Michael’s name. The brother played by the Dennis Pennis bloke told her Michael was called Hamish and she believed him.
I think the seven years’ wait was tied up with being legally able to have Clea declared dead after that timescale.

Ah yes !!

PippaToriFripp · 18/02/2026 14:20

TansySorrel · 18/02/2026 13:18

I wonder how the relationship between Michael and Kacie will play out. Michael obviously has Kacie firmly in the friend zone as he is hankering after Clea, but Kacie wishes she could have more with Michael.

I don’t think she wants more at all. I think she likes him as a friend who doesn’t talk down to her, who shares a sense of humour with her.

Original poster

placemats · 18/02/2026 14:21

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/02/2026 13:39

I don't think it is in any way romantic or sexual.

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Agree and anyway when they arrive to work on the tandem and are asked by Gordon (MC) if they're an item they both say in unison No! Eugh! They clearly like each other but it's not sexual.

OP posts:

Gonefishingithink · 18/02/2026 14:21

PrimalScreaming · 18/02/2026 11:06

Yes, I was wondering what made the previous poster say that. My Dad was in a care home for the last 18 months of his life. He had 19 very large model trains in individual glass cases all around the room... they filled it...nobody batted an eyelid! Most residents are encouraged to 'make it their own' as it's their home!

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That’s interesting. Obviously I’m wrong!

Gonefishingithink · 18/02/2026 14:27

It’s so refreshing to read so many intelligent well observed comments. Such a lot of dross on TV generally, it’s nice to see something gentle and multi layered. I loved the Detectorists!

TansySorrel · 18/02/2026 14:33

Gonefishingithink · 18/02/2026 14:15

I don’t think that’s at all true. Not everything needs to have a sexual element.

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I dont think and didn't say that "Everything needs to have a sexual element"
I thought Kacie felt more for Michael than she does for him. She looked quite hurt at one point when Michael was pining after Clea. Just a different reading of the relationship than you.

TansySorrel · 18/02/2026 14:37

placemats · 18/02/2026 14:21

Agree and anyway when they arrive to work on the tandem and are asked by Gordon (MC) if they're an item they both say in unison No! Eugh! They clearly like each other but it's not sexual.

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I thought she hesitated before saying that and said it after he'd responded like that.

the80sweregreat · 18/02/2026 14:39

Kacey is going to be disappointed. Michael is a one woman man and he only sees her a good friend.
Maybe she’ll meet someone nice in Australia!

Original poster

placemats · 18/02/2026 14:51

TansySorrel · 18/02/2026 14:37

I thought she hesitated before saying that and said it after he'd responded like that.

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I absolutely adored my older next door neighbour way back who was from Durham and had recently lost his wife, who he clearly adored. And he clearly liked me. It was not sexual at all! I tended to his veg patch because he could no longer do it. I gave him his last meal - Ready Brek. Visited him in hospital days before he died. Such relationships do exist and stay with you forever.

He also loved my daughters and gave me money to buy them birthday presents. Sweet lovely man.

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Womaninhouse17 · 18/02/2026 15:15

placemats · 18/02/2026 10:27

I've worked in a care home and there was a male resident whose room was not dissimilar to Brian's room.

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If I end up in a care home, I hope my room is like that and not the bland, sterile rooms I've seen when visiting friends and relatives!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 18/02/2026 15:19

CaptainMyCaptain · 18/02/2026 13:39

I don't think it is in any way romantic or sexual.

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Neither do I.

TansySorrel · 18/02/2026 15:25

placemats · 18/02/2026 14:51

I absolutely adored my older next door neighbour way back who was from Durham and had recently lost his wife, who he clearly adored. And he clearly liked me. It was not sexual at all! I tended to his veg patch because he could no longer do it. I gave him his last meal - Ready Brek. Visited him in hospital days before he died. Such relationships do exist and stay with you forever.

He also loved my daughters and gave me money to buy them birthday presents. Sweet lovely man.

Edited

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That's lovely. I just read this particular relationship differently than others

Original poster

placemats · 18/02/2026 15:38

Womaninhouse17 · 18/02/2026 15:15

If I end up in a care home, I hope my room is like that and not the bland, sterile rooms I've seen when visiting friends and relatives!

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Oh the women's rooms were generally very cosy and welcoming as well, though not as big sadly 😔

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Original poster

placemats · 18/02/2026 15:42

Fair enough @TansySorrel. Some people see a different viewpoint.

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thisoldcity · 18/02/2026 16:06

I really liked the friendship element of Michael and Kacey. I think it can be the strength you need in any job - working with other people with the same sense of humour and outlook so it's you against the rest of them. If it's a job you really don't like, that sort of relationship is absolute gold dust.