When it comes to Netflix history, its first original series, House of Cards, went down in the history books. But while the political drama is a part
When it comes to Netflix history, its first original series, House of Cards, went down in the history books. But while the political drama is a part of Netflix’s legacy, another original series from the streaming giant, that was released almost two years later, never relied on the call sheet to bring in viewers, and still delivered a standout series. The series in question here is Bloodline, starring Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler, and it’s one of the most enthralling and surprising drama shows Netflix has ever had.
Created by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman, Bloodline was first released on March 20, 2015, and continued for three seasons before coming to an end. And while the quality of the show dwindled over time, Season 1 of Bloodline, which earned 81% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 88% from the public, is a must-see one-season watch.
What Is ‘Bloodline’ About?
Taking place in the shining and soggy Florida Keys, Bloodline tells a family drama about the Rayburns, a respected and powerful family who own a beachfront hotel. Among them are the Rayburn siblings, John (Chandler), Meg (Linda Cardellini), and Kevin (Norbert Leo Butz), who each play a part in keeping the family together. The series kicks off as they’re joined by their relatives for the 45th anniversary of their parents, Robert (Sam Shepard) and Sally (Sissy Spacek). While celebrating, the siblings are shocked to find out that their brother Danny (Ben Mendelsohn), long considered to be the black sheep of their family, has made an unexpected return.
Danny’s return immediately causes tensions to rise, bringing up aged resentments, jeopardizing the sanctity of long-kept secrets and bringing up unresolved family trauma back to the surface. More than ever, the Rayburns’ reputation as a close-knit, put-together family is under threat, and the siblings are put in an increasingly complex positions to protect their family’s reputation. By going back to the present, while turning up the heat in the past, Bloodline delivers a multi-faceted story all about family loyalty and how far people will go to protect the people they love.
‘Bloodline’ Is One of Netflix’s Biggest Hidden Gems
From the Rotten Tomatoes scores alone, it’s safe and sound to say the first season of Bloodline was a hit with critics and audiences alike. After all, while the actor lineup is impressive in itself, Bloodline’s writing and directing make it a standout, expertly introducing compelling characters at the start, and letting their storylines unravel slowly but steadily throughout the season. “Bloodline is expert in its mix of complex characterization and killer twists and should be just the ticket for any Netflixers seeking another dark drama binge,” wrote one review on the aggregator. “It’s an irresponsible thing to say, but I’m addicted, and I’d like you to be too,” wrote another.
Among the highlights are the performances by Chandler and Mendelsohn. While fans of Friday Night Lights were already won over by the actor, Chandler’s detective slowly reveals himself as anything but the morally correct and family man Coach Taylor once was. As for Mendelsohn’s Danny, he’s initially framed as being intentionally provocative and a real danger, but as viewers learn more about him and his past, it’s made clear that he has been ostracized from his family his whole life, and that his rebellion was just a means of coping with isolation and mistreatment. By doing so, Mendelsohn was able to create a character who was charismatic, tragic, and intimidating all at once. Chandler received two Primetime Emmy nominations for his role, while Mendelsohn earned three nominations and one Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2016.
Ultimately, while House of Cards will forever be known as Netflix’s first original series, more of the first original shows from the platform deserve more attention. Bloodline‘s first season delivers the perfect blend of character development, suspense, family drama, and a redemption arc worth watching until the very end. It might be advertised as a show about the lengths family members will go for love, but it soon becomes a warning sign about the dangers of family loyalty.
- Release Date
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2015 – 2017-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Mikael Håfström, Todd A. Kessler, Michael Morris, Ed Bianchi, Mario Van Peebles, Jean de Segonzac, Johan Renck, Daniel Zelman, Dennie Gordon, David Manson, Alex Graves, Michael Apted, Daniel Attias, Simon Cellan Jones, Stephen Williams, Tate Donovan, Carl Franklin
