“Bloodline”—An Intravenous Infusion of Disaster

“Bloodline”, a dramatic thriller from the creators of “Damages,” just completed its second season on Neftlix Originals. Exploring the darkest secrets of an affluent American family in the Florida Keys, Bloodline digs deep into the underbelly of the Rayburns, the upstanding pillars of society for their small coastal community. Their past, however, contains dark secrets that have damaged all of them. After an unthinkable crime takes place, the façade of the tight-knit caring family disintegrates, replaced by betrayal, abandonment, and more criminal behavior.

The theme of family is always a heady combination with the addition of crime and dysfunction. “Bloodline” punches us in the guts as we ask ourselves what would we do if we were accessories to a crime in the name of family solidarity. Family roles change, and in “Bloodlines” we see the dark side of each family member morph and astonish. With Sissy Spacek playing the matriarch, and Kyle Chandler as the titular head of the family and Ben Mendelsohn as his brother, we can understand the Emmy-nominated performances in this riveting family-thriller. The ghosts of the past dictate limited options and new role formation for each. This is another outstanding series on the ferocious nature of family sagas and the Rashomon perspectives and chameleon nature of family structure. Highly recommended. Season 3 will be released next summer.