Bloodline

[eevilalice]

I just finished watching the new Netflix series Bloodline and was riveted. Anyone else watching and want to share your thoughts? I'll put some of mine (spoiler-free) under a cut.


What I loved was everything, but in particular:

The cast: I've loved Kyle Chandler since Friday Night Lights, Linda Cardellini from Freaks and Geeks and her ER days, and Sissy Spacek always. I recognized Ben Mendelsohn from the fantastic movie Animal Kingdom, and he was just as (or even more) powerful as Danny Rayburn, the "problem child" of the show's central family. I was not familiar with Norbert Leo Butz (Kevin), but love him along with the rest of the cast. I feel like Kyle Chandler played an interesting twist on his image, the good father type.

The characters: Especially Danny. With everyone I kept fluctuating between sympathy and distaste (again, especially Danny). Very complicated characters and relationships.

The setting: I'm drawn to shows that have a specificity of place. The characters are living in paradise, which is the perfect setting for everything to go to hell. Sometimes I am repelled by stories surrounding well to do families in well to do places, but I liked how we see some contrasts between the Rayburn House and less privileged families. And how success and money can be so easily destroyed--thin line and all that.

The plot: Even when you start off basically knowing how some things might end up, it's the getting there that matters. I can't believe I had the power to resist binging this show (I literally couldn't--work and all!). I'm still thinking about and haunted by it, and there better be a second season!

For some reason, going in I did not think I was going to be into this show; I was totally wrong and so glad I gave it a chance.

Comments

[executrix]

I'm watching! I'm about halfway through. I'm not sure if I care 13 hours worth about this bunch of mopes, but I haven't given up yet. One of the AV Club comments is that Kevin is at least as fucked up as Danny but doesn't called on it; I find it believable that once a family designates a Problem, that's the rising tide that lifts all the boats, and everyone else is considered comparatively functional.

Mendelson rocks my socks. (I'd never seen him before.) I don't necessarily see it as a ship, but I want Danny to get together with Rust Cohle. Gothic-angel-faced losers! Together they...smoke cigarettes!

[eevilalice]

Oh I think they're all fucked up, but as the show goes on, things definitely get darker with Danny. I do think Kevin is called out on his particular brand of screwed-upness, a few times, tbh. But no, he's obviously not the Black Sheep. No one's exactly on the up and up on this show, but that's one of the reasons I like it. I like that I'm not sure about any of them, and they're nearly all hypocrites. It's like picking your poison.