There’s no shortage of crime and intrigue within Bloodline, but the series is really a family drama about the impossibility of forgiving and forgetting loved ones, as it is not an easy task to forgo such important relationships. The series introduces the siblings John (Kyle Chandler), Meg (Linda Cardellini), and Kevin Rayburn (Norbert Leo Butz), who all live in Florida as part of a powerful family. Although their relatives have gathered for the 45th anniversary of their parents, Robert (Sam Shepard) and Sally (Sissy Spacek), the siblings are shocked when their brother Danny (Ben Mendelsohn), long considered to be the black sheep of their family, makes an unexpected return. Danny’s presence ignites tension that makes Bloodline absolutely thrilling, but the weight of his reemergence is only felt because of the tragic incidents in the past. It’s by telling a multi-faceted story that addresses both the past and present that Bloodline develops into an unforgettable epic about the price of familial loyalty.
‘Bloodline’ Is an Absorbing Family Drama
Bloodline offered a real opportunity for its ensemble to do some of the best work of their careers, as the series did its best to cast the stars against type. Chandler had become so beloved for his role as Coach Taylor in Friday Night Lights that Bloodline was able to slowly reveal the sharp distinctions between the characters. John is a figure of authority because he is the local deputy and a detective in Monroe County, but he is hardly the morally upstanding community hero that Taylor was, even if he has hidden under the guise of being a family man. Cardellini has such ample experience in comedy that it was surprising to see her in such a grounded role, as she didn’t necessarily participate in some of the black humor that was plentiful within the series.
Related
In the wake of 'Friday Night Lights,' Chandler gave one of the best performances of his career.
Bloodline is the rare drama series in which there wasn’t a single weak link within the entire cast, but the show’s undeniable scene-stealer was Mendelsohn, who felt like a true discovery. Although fans of independent and arthouse cinema may have seen Mendelsohn previously in Animal Kingdom or Killing Them Softly, his performance as Danny was truly shocking in how raw it was. Even though Danny is initially framed as being intentionally provocative and a real danger, it’s steadily revealed that he has been ostracized from his family, and may have developed some of his more toxic traits as a means of coping with feelings of isolation. That Mendelsohn was able to create a character who was charismatic, tragic, and intimidating all at once is just a sign of what a great actor he is.
‘Bloodline’ Is Worth Watching Until the End
The first season of Bloodline is undeniably its strongest, but the show was fearless in how it moved forward and took surprising dramatic twists. Season 2 put even more emphasis on flashbacks, which gave a nearly supernatural sense of paranoia to the show, even if it never negated its dramatic realism. What was also impressive was that the series was able to stack a series of revelations on top of each other that offered contradictory evidence about the leads. Given that none of the characters could be simply described as “heroes” or “villains,” Bloodline becomes more interesting on a rewatch for those who already know where the story is going.
Most modern television shows are judged based on how well they nail their finales, but that isn’t always a successful means of judging the quality. Even though it trailed off in quality within the final string of episodes, Bloodline was a series about consequences, and the culmination of the characters’ poor decisions doesn’t always make for the most comfortable watching experience. There was certainly no shortage of inventiveness in the series, as it's a show that is worth finishing for the sheer curiosity value. In an era where Netflix frequently cancels or cuts off shows before they get the opportunity to maximize their potential, Bloodline offered a fittingly uncompromising conclusion.
Release Date
2015 - 2017-00-00
Network
Netflix
Directors
Mikael Håfström, Todd A. Kessler, Michael Morris, Ed Bianchi, Mario Van Peebles, Jean de Segonzac, Johan Renck, Daniel Zelman, Dennie Gordon, David Manson, Alex Graves, Michael Apted, Daniel Attias, Simon Cellan Jones, Stephen Williams, Tate Donovan, Carl Franklin
Image via Netflix
English (US) ·