Reel Review Mom

“The Misleading Name. The Awful Art. The Amazing Series.”

When I first saw the TNT series Animal Kingdom pop up on Netflix and Amazon Prime, I did what most normal, judgmental humans would do—I scrolled right past it. I mean, Animal Kingdom? What is this, a documentary about meerkats and lions narrated by a discount David Attenborough? Add to that the clunky, uninspired poster art—some brooding faces, bad fonts, and a vibe that screams “generic crime drama” instead of “absolute TV gold”—and you can see why I wasn’t sold.

But here’s the plot twist: Animal Kingdom is not only good, it’s fantastic. It’s the kind of show that hooks you in, chews you up, and spits you out binge-drunk at 3 a.m. begging for “just one more episode.” Turns out, this is no safari. It’s a gritty, adrenaline-pumping crime saga about a Southern California crime family run by the most terrifyingly magnetic matriarch on TV: Smurf (played with chilling brilliance by Ellen Barkin). Forget cute and cuddly—this kingdom runs on bank heists, betrayal, and family dysfunction so thick you could cut it with a surfboard.

The premise follows Joshua “J” Cody, a teenager who moves in with his estranged relatives after his mother dies. What should have been a fresh start quickly morphs into a crash course in armed robbery, moral compromise, and the kind of family bonding that involves ski masks and getaway vans. Think Sons of Anarchy, but with surfboards, sun tans, and fewer motorcycles.

The writing is razor-sharp, the pacing relentless, and the acting ridiculously good across the board. Shawn Hatosy deserves an award just for making Pope—arguably one of the most unhinged, layered characters in recent TV memory—so watchable. Every member of the Cody clan is both compelling and terrifying, a walking contradiction of loyalty and betrayal.

So, yes, TNT really did this show dirty with the name and artwork. Animal Kingdom should’ve been called something like Surf, Crime, Repeat or The Family That Steals Together Stays Together. Instead, it’s camouflaged as something you’d never click on unless you were bored enough to test your luck. Which makes discovering it all the sweeter.

Bottom line? Ignore the misleading title. Ignore the bad poster art. If you want a binge-worthy series filled with tension, heists, messy family drama, and jaw-dropping twists, Animal Kingdom is one of the most criminally underrated shows out there.

Let me know what you think… Have you watched this show?