The Truth Behind Prof. Mallinder and Safiya’s Fate in Prime Target

Warning! This article includes spoilers for the first two episodes of Prime Target.

The initial episodes of Prime Target, now streaming on Apple TV+, engage viewers with a compelling mix of mystery and intrigue. The series centers around Edward Brooks, a brilliant mathematics postgraduate who is obsessed with revealing patterns among prime numbers. His academic journey takes a surprising turn when his research correlates with ancient markings discovered on a prehistoric wall in Baghdad, igniting a compelling narrative of danger and conspiracy.

Tragedy strikes when Professor Robert Mallinder, a key figure in Edward’s life, dies unexpectedly. Before his demise, he implores Edward to abandon his research on prime numbers and consequently destroys much of his own work. The unfolding events raise urgent questions about the implications of their investigations and suggest that Mallinder’s fears may be linked to a past involving a mysterious figure named Safiya.

Why Was Professor Mallinder Killed?

Taylah Sanders Uncovers Disturbing Truths

David Morrissey & Leo Woodall in an office scene from Prime Target

As an NSA agent, Taylah Sanders is tasked with investigating the activities of leading academics. Her mission stems from a growing concern that mathematicians could devise methods to disrupt essential systems, from power grids to military operations. Monitoring CCTV footage from university professors’ offices becomes routine, with her observations reported up the chain of command should she detect anything unusual.

Taylah’s investigation takes a concerning turn when she observes Professor Mallinder engaged in suspect behavior concerning prime numbers. Following her observation, Mallinder receives a cryptic warning urging him to cease his research. Despite his efforts to destroy his work, including deleting computer files and burning research papers, he is found dead in his car, a case ruled as suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.

However, Taylah’s investigation leads her to suspect foul play. Unusual edits in the last footage from Mallinder’s car suggest the possibility of murder, corroborated by an AI-generated last message to his family that implies deception. These clues heighten the ominous undercurrents surrounding prime number research, indicating that Mallinder may have been silenced because of knowledge he possessed.

Did Safiya Meet the Same Fate as Mallinder?

Unraveling Similarities in Their Deaths

Edward digs deeper into Professor Mallinder’s connection to Safiya, whose own tragic fate remains shrouded in mystery. Research reveals that she died under similar circumstances to Mallinder, leading Edward to theorize that both might have been murdered to suppress their research into prime numbers, given the potential danger their findings could present.

Cast of Prime Target
Actor	Role
Leo Woodall	Edward Brooks
Quintessa Swindell	Taylah Sanders
Sidse Babett Knudsen	Professor Andrea Lavin
David Morrissey	Professor Robert Mallinder
From Fee	Adam Mellow
Stephen Rea	Professor James Alderman
Joseph Mydell	Professor Raymond Osborne
Tom Stourton	Ricky Olson
Sofia Barclay	Sufiya Zamil

The unfolding narrative suggests that a clandestine force is threatening mathematicians who dare to uncover the secrets behind prime numbers. With the potential to disrupt global digital systems, this story hints at a broader conspiracy against those who tread too closely to these mathematical enigmas, making Edward’s journey fraught with peril.

Why Was Edward Misled About Safiya’s Fate?

Mallinder’s Intentions to Protect Edward

Throughout the series, Edward is unaware of the truth surrounding Safiya’s death, largely due to Professor Mallinder’s conversations with his wife, Andrea, which insinuate that she is still alive. It becomes clear that Mallinder intentionally concealed Safiya’s fate from Edward, fearing that this knowledge would compel him to delve deeper into her perilous research connected to prime numbers. Although intending to protect Edward from her fate, Mallinder’s actions inadvertently draw Edward closer to the same dangerous path.

Given that Apple TV+ has yet to clarify the status of Safiya, there remains a possibility that she may have staged her own death to evade the threats targeting mathematicians like herself. If this speculation holds true, Edward’s quest for answers may eventually lead him to a reunion with Safiya, intertwining their fates further in the ongoing mystery.

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