The series finale of TNT’sAnimal Kingdomis within arms reach. Its predecessor, “Exodus” helps to shape the crime thriller’s impending finale to be one of television’s most action-packed and dangerous series finales to date. “Exodus” already begins to leave a bittersweet taste in the mouths of its viewers as it tonally begins to feel as if the finale will mark a bigger shift in the series than anyone could have seen coming.
“Exodus” is an incredibly reminiscent and equally foreboding episode ofAnimal Kingdom. It asks viewers to not only consider the events that have transpired sincethe series premiered in 2016, but the events that previously transpired in the lives of these characters.Animal Kingdomhas made a point to focus on the Cody family’s past and how each of these characters' history drives where they may be headed following the crime thriller’s finale.
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One of the most unfortunate but striking scenes of “Exodus” is betweenJulia (Jasper Polish) and Baz (Darren Mann). After being thrown out of the house, Julia naturally turns to Baz for help. Afraid of repercussions from Smurf (Leila George) and unwilling to put anyone before himself, Baz turns her away. The scene is paired with Nine Inch Nails' “Head Like A Hole.” The song is eerily telling, given the phrase that has loomed overAnimal Kingdomfor seasons. Smurf (Ellen Barkin) doted that the Codys should get what they want and never what they deserve. Given the fates that both Baz, Julia, and Smurf succumb to, the “Head Like A Hole” lyric, “You’re going to get what you deserve,” cast an ominous shadow over the scene and the final episode that is still come.
What “Exodus” also proposes is thatAnimal Kingdomand its viewers may havehad a character more sympathetic than Pope(Shawn Hatosy), Deran (Jake Weary), or Craig (Ben Robson). Rather than one of the men, season 6 has suggested that some ofAnimal Kingdom’ssympathy deserves to go to Julia. Unlike her brothers, Julia refused to participate in Smurf’s game and was unfairly ostracized for it. Julia was forced to fend for herself and those are qualities J (Finn Cole) has picked up on. On paper, Julia and J aren’t that different, though J has certainly learned from the mistakes his mother and others involved with the Codys have made.
Prior to its use of flashbacks in season 4,Animal Kingdomnever met Julia. Season 6’s introduction of Polish as teenage Juliahas done a phenomenal jobat exploring the relationship between the teenage girl, her mother, her brother (Kevin Csolak), Baz, and her involvement with alcohol and drugs. The difficulties of her relationship with the Cody family and the substances she struggled throughout the remainder of her life with, are not only useful to explain her complicated relationship with the Codys, but how J responds to them as well. “Exodus” proposes that perhaps the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree and that perhaps J has had a greater plan all along.
ThroughoutAnimal Kingdom,J has demonstrated his authority over his uncles, increasingly so after killing Smurf in season 4.Animal Kingdom’sfinal seasonhas exemplified this tenfold, as J has continued to make plans behind his uncle’s backs. He has contingencies in place should Deran and Craig’s plan to spring Pope (Shawn Hatosy) fail, and it’s likely that J won’t even engage with their plan, opting to kill Pope and leave before his uncles can find him with the money he’s taken. These are skills he’s not only learned from watching Smurf, Baz, and his uncles, but what he may have picked up from his mother given her own complicated relationship with the Codys.
Aside from J and Julia, “Exodus” reminisces onAnimal Kingdom’spast significantly. It reignites theclose partnership between Deran and Craig, as the two prepare for the final heist the boys aim to pull together. From hitting the Oceanside waves to discussing each other’s relationships, and beating up tourists that look down on them,Animal Kingdomrevisits the dynamic Craig and Deran shared early on in the crime thriller. The resemblance between Penny (Stevie Lynn Jones) and J’s original girlfriend Nicky, is too obvious to ignore, as is Penny’s willingness to fall into whatever scheme J has planned.
J’s relationship with each of his uncles is also becoming a recurring focus point, especially asAnimal Kingdomheads into its finale. J continues to focus on his alienation from the Cody family as a child and as the man he has now become. Whether this is J’s way of eliminating suspicion from Penny and his uncles, it isn’t likely to go according to plan. Neither Craig nor Deran appear to trust J going into this final job and with Pope on their side, the three may decide that it’s time to do what they were unable to do to Smurf several seasons ago. Like J, Pope, Deran, and Craig may have learned from their mistakes and know how to take care of a threat as serious as J.
Seasons 1-5 ofAnimal Kingdomare now streaming on Amazon Prime.
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