Netflix has delivered a major treat for crime drama enthusiasts by making all six seasons of the critically acclaimed series Animal Kingdom available for streaming. This comes four years after the show's dramatic conclusion, allowing a new wave of viewers to discover the intense world of the Cody crime family.
The Ruthless Heart of the Cody Clan
Set against the backdrop of Oceanside, California, the series follows teenager Joshua “J” Cody, portrayed by Finn Cole, as he is thrust into the dangerous orbit of his estranged relatives. The Cody family operates a sophisticated criminal enterprise, and at its centre for the first four seasons was the formidable matriarch, Janine “Smurf” Cody, played with chilling intensity by award-winning actress Ellen Barkin.
Smurf ruled her family with a manipulative and iron-fisted approach, making her both respected and deeply feared. Her sudden and violent exit in season four, where she was fatally shot by her own grandson J, left audiences stunned and questioning the future of the series.
The Official Creative Rationale
According to executive producer John Wells, the decision to kill off Smurf was a deliberate creative choice aimed at reinvigorating the narrative. In discussions with Entertainment Weekly, Wells explained that the writing team felt they had exhausted the compelling stories for Smurf in the present timeline.
“We were feeling that we were repeating a little bit the Smurf stories,” Wells admitted. The creative pivot led them to explore her origin story in flashbacks, ultimately concluding that “the thing that would shake the family up most is if Smurf wasn’t there to hold them together anymore.” He framed it as a natural evolution within the show's brutal ethos: “It’s the animal kingdom, not everybody’s going to survive.”
Barkin's Starkly Different Account
However, Ellen Barkin's personal reflections paint a far darker picture behind her departure. The actress has been candid about her desire to leave the series from the very beginning, citing a profoundly unpleasant and unprofessional work environment.
Barkin described instances of being verbally assaulted by male colleagues behind the cameras. “Men used to come in my trailer and just scream at me,” she revealed, recounting having to physically push them out. She characterised most of these individuals as “little boys,” and stated the atmosphere made her hate going to work. This toxic dynamic stands in stark contrast to the official narrative of a purely plot-driven exit.
The arrival of Animal Kingdom on Netflix not only offers a gripping binge-watch but also reopens the debate about the real reasons behind one of television's most shocking character deaths. Viewers can now stream the entire saga and judge the legacy of Smurf Cody for themselves.
