Through the Crowd prodigy doesn't work.

[Lord Blade]

I have the prodigy, but any AoE I do still hits friendly characters (like escorts or townsfolk).

[breadsmith]

I can confirm that the prodigy does not work with AoE's that hang around for multiple turns, like Retch. I am able to use Gwai's Burninator and Umbraphage without hitting them, however.