Christian Cieri / Staff Illustrator
Netflix has dropped gold on its viewers once more with the release of “Bloodline,” the family-drama starring Kyle Chandler and Sissy Spacek. The show also features impressive performances by Ben Mendelsohn, Norbert Leo Butz and Linda Cardellini. In a pilot episode that wastes no time engaging the viewer in a toss-up between past, present and future, “Bloodline” has solidified its place among its network counterparts. “Bloodline” is the 13-episode narrative of the Rayburn clan, a laid-back family in the Florida Keys who own a successful Bed & Breakfast. Ma and Pa Rayburn, played as archetypical Floridian retirees by Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard, have run the Rayburn house for decades while their three children remain close to their childhood roots. The youngest son, Kevin, who is brought to life by musical theater vet Norbert Leo Butz, is volatile, immature and impulsive. Little Meg, the creation of Linda Cardellini, is the family lawyer dabbling in her own illicit affairs. And older brother John, the most likable character as played by Kyle Chandler, has remained in the Keys as a police detective. We are introduced to the Rayburns as they are welcoming guests for an annual family gathering at their B&B. They announce that their town will be naming a new pier in their honor. Trouble arises when the oldest Rayburn son, Danny, played by Australian thespian Ben Mendelsohn, returns to his family after years of no contact. What follows is a family’s tumble into the dirty deeds that come with protecting those they love. John’s narration, describing his family as good people, layers the episode: “We are good people”.
But what defines a good person? Why does he have to prove his family’s merit? Interspersed throughout the episode is John, dressed in a seersucker suit, wading through chest-high water with his unconscious brother in tow. Is this a rescue? A death sentence?
As the episode comes to a close, we are forced to watch an action that will surely play through our minds as the season continues. Mendelsohn should be lauded for his efforts on screen. Easily giving the most cringe-worthy
performance, Mendelsohn has concocted in Danny an individual that reeks of charm and treachery. Each member of the Rayburn clan has their vices and has worked hard to suppress those realities. But Mendelsohn’s presence forces the bad back out. It isn’t just with his family either. The audience feels just as betrayed when the seemingly victimized Danny lashes out. Quite frankly, Bloodline has it all: a compelling story line, a seasoned ensemble cast and the forward momentum of its network. It’s a delight to see a show like this that can manage the complexity of “CSI,” but also utilize the adult content of “The Wire.” A new era of higher quality programming for the mature audience could be right around the corner.
Gilboard is a member of
the class of 2015.
