Bloodline
The Florida Keys — the southernmost point of the continental United States -— are a beautiful landscape of blue water, sandy beaches and sprawling vegetation. It’s the definition of paradise for thousands of tourists who travel there every year to stay at beachside houses and spend their days in the sun. It’s hard to imagine this place as a harbor for darkness and violence, but it’s exactly that disparity that fuels so much of Bloodline, one of Netflix’s newest shows and easily one of its best.
As its title suggests, Bloodline’s heart is in the idea of family: The strength of those ties and the unique ways in which families can hurt each other more deeply than anyone else. The Rayburn family has owned a resort down in the Keys for nearly 50 years, founded and run by Robert (Sam Shepard) and Sally (Sissy Spacek). They have four children: cop and family man John (Kyle Chandler), hot-headed marina worker Kevin (Norbert Leo Butz), lawyer and peacekeeper Meg (Linda Cardellini) and the black sheep of the family and eldest son Danny (Ben Mendelsohn).
At the start of the series, Danny has been away for some time to parts and adventures unknown after a mysterious incident darkened his relationship with his family. The opening ceremony of a pier named after the locally famous Rayburns brings everyone together, including Danny, and sets into motion a plot that thrives on hidden family secrets long thought eradicated. The incident in question turns out to be the catalyst behind most of the show, and Bloodline excels at dropping subtle clues throughout its early episodes. When the truth is finally revealed, it’s less of a huge plot twist and more of a satisfying conclusion to a long breadcrumb trail of clues.
Danny is in many ways the show’s villain, and as is the case with many series, he’s also the best part of the show. He’s charming and unassuming most of the time, but he thrives on dropping sharp comments perfectly calibrated to cut deep. He’ll stab you in the back with a smile on his face, still talking about how he’s someone to trust, someone who would never do anything to hurt you. However, as the show goes on, it becomes increasingly apparent that most of Danny’s difficulties in life stem from his family’s rejection after the mysterious incident. It’s a testament to the show’s writing that Danny’s faults can be easily attributed to his unlucky lot in life, giving us a deep sympathy for him while also reminding us that, regardless of how he came to be this way, he’s still a vengeful and dangerous man.
Danny’s far from the only compelling character, even if he’s the dirty, shadowy star of the series. John fits many of the tropes of modern prestige TV; he’s a cop, married with kids, who would do anything to protect his family, yet he has a harsh streak and a sadness he can’t quite place. But Chandler’s performance and John’s own struggles elevate him from the realm of cliche; the complicated Cain-and-Abel relationship he has with Danny is the theme that resonates the most throughout the show. Kevin is the working-class guy of the family, struggling with marital problems and spending most of his time in a sweaty T-shirt and shorts. Yet he can be surprisingly kind and sensitive, proving his worth as an important member of the family. Meg works tirelessly to keep the family from tearing itself apart, but she can be as spiteful and treacherous as the rest of them.
The Rayburns are a disturbed bunch, but their problems never seem too far-fetched. They’re decent, flawed human beings who get caught up in a bad situation and get pulled into the whirlpool.
It needs to be said -— Bloodline is a slow burn. Despite flash-forwards to events so catastrophically more intense than what most of the show offers, Bloodline lets its story unfold at a languid pace. Those expecting action and explosions will only get a small taste. The camera lingers on silent characters, their emotional turmoil sketched in glances and pained expressions when no one else is looking. The ocean, sparkling and beautiful, figures prominently in both the story and its greater themes. The Keys are a wonderful place, but alligators and other dangers lurk in the mangroves and hidden coves.
Bloodline has mysteries and twists, but the best part of this show by far is in its characterization. By the time the final episode ends, each of the main characters has been deeply portrayed and constructed. We know what these people want, what they fear, why they do the awful, stupid, wonderful, vicious things they do. The performances are excellent all around and go a long way to convince us of the humanity — both good and evil — inside every character.
Bloodline has been renewed for a second season, but it’ll be hard to top this one. Certain plot elements make it unlikely that the new season will have the same tone and structure as the first, so it will only be able to succeed by being its own beast. But with people this talented involved, it’s hard not to be excited for what’s to come. Bloodline is a dark show that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to binge-watching. Its moments of levity are rare, but the novelistic structure, fantastic performances and presence of some of the best characters on TV make it a stunning achievement for Netflix.
