Animal Kingdom (TNT 2016, Ellen Barkin, Scott Speedman)

Animal Kingdom is about a Southern California crime family starring Ellen Barkin as the matriarch of the Cody clan, Scott Speedman as her second in command and Shawn Hatosy as her volatile, mentally unstable eldest son.

In season one of Animal Kingdom, 17-year-old Joshua “J” Cody (Cole) moved in with his freewheeling relatives in their Southern California beach town after his mother overdoses on heroin. He finds himself in the care of his estranged grandmother, Janine “Smurf” Cody (Barkin), a woman who rules her sons with a firm but, at times, emotionally incestuous hand. Her second in command is Barry “Baz” Blackwell (Speedman), whose power and position in the family is threatened by the return of Pope (Hatosy), Smurf’s eldest son just released from prison. Smurf’s tough, impulsive middle son, Craig (Robson), has a drug problem beginning to cloud his judgment and endanger the rest of the family, and Deran (Weary), the troubled and suspicious “baby” of the family struggles with accepting his sexual identity. Hovering on the edge of this less-than-idyllic household are J’s girlfriend, Nicky Belmont (Gordon) and Baz’s daughter, Lena. It isn’t long after J’s arrival that he finds his place within the dangerous family, a sense of belonging that he earns at the conclusion of season one.

As the second season opens, the Cody clan is back to their old ways and in the midst of a fun, high-adrenaline heist. But when things don’t go as planned, the family dynamics become more fractured than ever as some members advocate for independence from Smurf. Adding fuel to the fire is an external threat from Smurf’s past that has come back to haunt her.

cast
Finn Cole as Josh
Shawn Hatosy as Pope
Ellen Barkin as Janine “Smurf” Cody
Jake Weary as Deran Cody
Scott Speedman as Barry “Baz” Brown
Ben Robson as Craig
Molly Gordon as Nicky Belmont
Jennifer Landon as Amy
Alex Meraz as Javi
Carolina Guerra as Lucy
Aamya Deva Keroles as Lena

key behind the scenes crew
Creator: Jonathan Lisco
Executive Producers: Andrew Stearn, David Michôd, John Wells, Jonathan Lisco, Liz Watts

show type
crime drama

broadcast from
June 14, 2016

network and production companies
TNT – John Wells Productions – Warner Horizon Television

EPISODES
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