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Bloodline (TV series)

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Bloodline
GenreThriller
Drama
Created byTodd A. Kessler
Glenn Kessler
Daniel Zelman
StarringKyle Chandler
Ben Mendelsohn
Linda Cardellini
Norbert Leo Butz
Jacinda Barrett
Jamie McShane
Enrique Murciano
Sam Shepard
Sissy Spacek
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producersTodd A. Kessler
Glenn Kessler
Daniel Zelman
Production locationFlorida Keys
Running time49–65 minutes
Production companiesKZK Productions
Sony Pictures Television
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20) –
present

Bloodline is an American Netflix original thriller–drama television series[1][2] created by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman, and produced by Sony Pictures Television.[3] The series premiered on February 9, 2015, in the Berlinale Special Galas section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival,[1] and the 13-episode first season premiered in its entirety, on Netflix, on March 20, 2015.[3]

The first season earned strong reviews, with several outlets dubbing it the best Netflix original to date. On March 31, 2015, Bloodline was officially renewed for a second season to debut in 2016.[4]

The family featured in the series has many striking similarities to the Good Family, the proprietors of Sugarloaf Lodge on Sugarloaf Key. Lloyd and Miriam Good purchased the Lodge in 1973, moving their young Family to the Keys from Philadelphia to operate the business and grow up in these unique environs.

Cast

Main cast

  • Sam Shepard[3] as Robert Rayburn, the patriarch
  • Sissy Spacek[3] as Sally Rayburn, the matriarch
  • Kyle Chandler[3] as John Rayburn, the second son; a detective and local sheriff[5] with the Monroe County sheriff's office
  • Ben Mendelsohn[3] as Danny Rayburn, the oldest son and black sheep of the family
  • Norbert Leo Butz[3] as Kevin Rayburn, the hot-headed youngest son; he refurbishes boats at Indian Key Channel Marina
  • Linda Cardellini[3] as Meg Rayburn, the daughter and youngest sibling; an attorney and family peacekeeper[6]
  • Jacinda Barrett[3] as Diana Rayburn, John's wife; she runs a plant nursery
  • Enrique Murciano[7] as Marco Diaz, Meg's fiancé; a detective with the Monroe County sheriff's office and John's partner
  • Jamie McShane[3] as Eric O'Bannon, Danny's friend; a parolee

Recurring cast

  • Chloë Sevigny[8] as Chelsea O'Bannon, Eric's younger sister; a nurse
  • Katie Finneran[7] as Belle Rayburn, Kevin's estranged wife[9]
  • Steven Pasquale[8] as Alec Wolos, Meg's legal client and lover
  • Mia Kirshner[7][10][11] as Sarah Rayburn, the elder daughter
  • Eliezer Castro as Carlos Mejia, a former employee of the Rayburns' who hires Meg as a lawyer
  • Glenn Morshower as Wayne Lowry, a local drug distributor who owns a bait shop
  • Gino Vento as Rafi Quintana, Lowry's employee
  • Frank Hoyt Taylor as Lenny Potts, an old friend of Robert's and a retired Monroe County detective

Production

The series was announced in October 2014 as part of a partnership between Netflix and Sony Pictures Television, after Netflix struck its first major deal with a major film studio for a television series.[12] Bloodline stars Kyle Chandler along with Ben Mendelsohn,[13] Linda Cardellini, Sam Shepard, and Sissy Spacek, among others. The series is created and executive produced by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman, who previously created the FX series Damages. According to a press release, Bloodline "centers on a close-knit family of four adult siblings whose secrets and scars are revealed when their black sheep brother returns home". The first season consists of 13 episodes that were released simultaneously on March 20, 2015.[1][14] A teaser trailer was released on October 23, 2014.[15] The first full-length trailer was released on February 9, 2015.[1]

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Release date
1"Part 1"Johan RenckTodd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel ZelmanMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
2"Part 2"Johan RenckTeleplay by: Jeff Shakoor
Story by: Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman		March 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
3"Part 3"Adam BernsteinTeleplay by: Jonathan Glatzer
Story by: Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman		March 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
4"Part 4"Todd A. KesslerTodd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel ZelmanMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
5"Part 5"Jean de SegonzacJonathan GlatzerMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
6"Part 6"Alex GravesJeff ShakoorMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
7"Part 7"Tate DonovanAddison McQuiggMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
8"Part 8"Dan AttiasArthur PhillipsMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
9"Part 9"Simon Cellan JonesJonathan GlatzerMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
10"Part 10"Michael MorrisCarter HarrisMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
11"Part 11"Ed BianchiArthur PhillipsMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
12"Part 12"Carl FranklinTodd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel ZelmanMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)
13"Part 13"Ed BianchiTodd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel ZelmanMarch 20, 2015 (2015-03-20)

Reception

Critical

Critics received the first three episodes of Bloodline for initial review, and reception was positive; the show received a score of 74 out of 100 based on 30 reviews on Metacritic.[16]

Especially positive reviews came from several sources. Ken Tucker of Yahoo! TV called it a "twisty mood piece ... well worth your time".[17] Dorothy Rabinowitz, writing for The Wall Street Journal, said the series possesses a "magnetic pull".[18] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter raved, "Chalk up another forceful punch [for Netflix] with Bloodline, a riveting, superbly cast slow-burn family drama set between the oceanfront paradise and the murky mangrove swamps of the Florida Keys."[19] Other strong reviews came from The A.V. Club,[20] the Los Angeles Times,[21] the New York Times,[22] the Philadelphia Inquirer,[23] Variety,[24] Entertainment Weekly,[25] and the San Francisco Chronicle.[26] Cinema Blend, Decider, Badass Digest and Forbes have hailed Bloodline as the best Netflix original to date.[9][27][28][29]

Debate ensued among some critics who felt the three episodes provided by Netflix for review were insufficient. As Hank Stuever wrote in his review for The Washington Post, "I’ve enjoyed Bloodline so far, but it’s impossible to say if it’s consistently this good, because Netflix would share only three episodes (out of 13) with critics ... In Netflix’s case, all 13 episodes must be readied for delivery to all its customers on the same day, so there’s no compelling reason to not share more (if not all) the episodes with trusted reviewers, so that we can more fairly gauge — not spoil — the experience for the binge viewer. Sending me three episodes of Bloodline is like asking a film critic to leave a media screening 30 minutes after it starts and telling her to come back on Friday to see the rest of the movie on opening day."[30] Those more critical of the first three episodes especially echoed the sentiment. For HitFix, Alan Sepinwall (who awarded the three episodes a B-) said, "We'll see if they play those [time-shifting] games to this extent with Bloodline — Todd Kessler has suggested to at least one reporter that the flash-forwards won't be a series-long (or even season-long) device — but for now, the new show seems more style over substance."[31] For Vulture, Margaret Lyons wrote: "Maybe the show gets a lot better as the season wears on ... The show's deliberate murkiness is frustrating in the three episodes Netflix made available to critics, but perhaps once the season really gets going, that slow burn will really catch fire."[32] However, Sean Fitz-Gerald, who reviewed the season as a whole for Vulture, wrote in sum: Bloodline was a gripping, slow burn of a journey, so stressful, engaging, and uncomfortable ... KZK did a fantastic job crafting something real enough to find introspective truth in."[33]

In his full season review for Vox.com, Todd VanDerWerff wrote that the show built in quality and in impact on its opening episodes: "As the season progressed, I found myself more and more drawn into Bloodline ... In fact, I liked it a fair bit more than any single season of House of Cards." He awarded the show a score of 3.5 out of 5.[34] IGN reviewer Matt Fowler gave the entire first season an 8.8 out of 10 'great' score, saying "if you can get through the initial setup and create a bit of headway, Bloodline is a gripping, haunting affair with rich characters and a truly mesmerizing performance by Ben Mendelsohn. Everyone shines on the show...but its Mendelsohn's lanky, damaged, bitter Danny Rayburn that truly drives the show into harrowing places. Spectacular work that I hope gets recognized come awards season."[35]

The Playlist named Bloodline the normative successor to Breaking Bad because of its complex and tragic anti-hero narrative. The piece's author, critic Nikola Grozdavonic, explicated the assertion by determining the show's value:

As TV shows continue to soar during this golden age of television, the bar keeps rising higher and higher ... Right now [Bloodline is] the greatest example of how profoundly effective the 13-episode format can be in modern storytelling. Of course, shows have to be technically sound in order to represent their story in the greatest possible light, and the team behind Bloodline does an outstanding job in every technical department. Breathtaking cinematography, an immersive soundtrack, and a coyly observant camera all enhancing the viewing experience by a noticeable degree. The picturesque location of the Florida Keys, divided between gorgeous coral reefs and dark mangroves, is captured with an eye for the sensual and the symbolic. And yet, all of this would turn to dust if the story didn't reach as deep as it does, and the writing and performances weren't as spectacular as they are.[36]

Indiewire asserted that Bloodline's mix of noir and family drama allows it to successfully confront complex familial dynamics. According to author David Canfield, "The opening minutes of Bloodline rather perfectly ascertain a new trend happening in dramatic television right now: the family noir ... The conceit of these new series is to realize what's common to family-centric fiction within a construct that is both unsettling and pessimistic ... Bloodline identifies the origins of familial roles, each shaped by a cataclysmic event in the Rayburn siblings' childhood. The time-shifting is intrinsic to the show's ideas, exploring the formation of identity through flashbacks and, via glimpses of the future, affirming their inflexibility."[37]

Commercial

The official trailer was released in mid-February, containing the Lissie cover of Metallica's song "Nothing Else Matters". After release of the trailer, Bloodline ranked eighth among all cable/streaming programs in Digital Audience Ratings and was the top trending program, despite being a month out of its premiere. According to Variety, "The first full trailer release for [Netflix's] upcoming drama “Bloodline” ... already has nearly 1 million more views in just a week’s time, landing the show on the Cable/Streaming and Trending leaderboards this week."[38]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Petski, Denise (February 9, 2015). "'Bloodline' Trailer: Kyle Chandler-Led Drama Premieres March 20 On Netflix". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  2. ^ Welch, Chris (October 23, 2014). "Netflix series 'Bloodline' starring Kyle Chandler will premiere in March". The Verge. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Spangler, Todd (October 23, 2014). "Netflix Sets Premiere for Original Drama 'Bloodline' from 'Damages' Creators'". Variety. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  4. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 31, 2015). "'Bloodline' Renewed For Second Season By Netflix". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  5. ^ Travers, Ben (March 3, 2015). "Review: 'Bloodline' Offers Stacked Cast & Netflix Pedigree, But Lacks Heart in the Darkness". Indiewire. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  6. ^ Kabango, Shad (Host) (March 25, 2015). "AsapSCIENCE founders, rising songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr., actress Linda Cardellini". WNYC. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c "Video: Netflix Releases Trailer and Key Art for New Family Thriller, "Bloodline"". The Futon Critic. February 9, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Rife, Katie (May 21, 2014). "Chloe Sevigny and Steven Pasquale join Netflix drama with Kyle Chandler". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Venable, Nick (March 22, 2015). "5 Reasons Bloodline Is Netflix's Best Drama Yet". Cinema Blend. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  10. ^ Kumari Upadhyaya, Kayla (March 25, 2015). "Bloodline: "Part 5"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  11. ^ Kumari Upadhyaya, Kayla (March 23, 2015). "Bloodline: "Part 4"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  12. ^ Kastrenakes, Jacob (October 14, 2014). "Netflix announces psychological thriller from 'Damages' creators". The Verge. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  13. ^ McFarland, K.M. (March 24, 2015). "Kyle Chandler Isn't Bloodline's Star. This Unknown Actor Is". Wired. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  14. ^ Harnick, Chris (October 23, 2014). "Kyle Chandler's Back! Bloodline Stars All Your Favorites—See the Netflix Teaser!". E! Online. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  15. ^ "Netflix teases new Sissy Spacek/Sam Shepard drama Bloodline – clip". The Guardian. October 23, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  16. ^ "Bloodline : Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  17. ^ Tucker, Ken (March 20, 2015). "'Bloodline': New Netflix Series Is Creepy-Good Family Drama". Yahoo! TV. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  18. ^ Rabinowitz, Dorothy (March 19, 2015). "'Bloodline' Review: Evil Under the Sun". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  19. ^ Rooney, David (February 10, 2015). "'Bloodline': Berlin Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  20. ^ Alston, Joshua (March 20, 2015). "Netflix's dark, family melodrama Bloodline demands to be binge-watched". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  21. ^ Lloyd, Robert (March 20, 2015). "In 'Bloodline,' dark business is afoot in the sunny Florida Keys". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  22. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (March 19, 2015). "Review: 'Bloodline,' on Netflix, Depicts a Family With Nasty Secrets". The New York Times. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  23. ^ Derakhshani, Tirdad (March 19, 2015). "Family tragedy deftly portrayed in 'Bloodline'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  24. ^ Lowry, Brian (March 2, 2015). "TV Review: Netflix's 'Bloodline'". Variety. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  25. ^ Maerz, Melissa (March 10, 2015). "Bloodline: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  26. ^ Wiegand, David (March 16, 2015). "TV review: 'Bloodline'a gripping family melodrama". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  27. ^ Armstrong, Olivia (March 20, 2015). "Five Reasons Why 'Bloodline' Is The Best Netflix Original Series Yet". Decider. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  28. ^ Canal, Emily (March 20, 2015). "Netflix's New Series 'Bloodline' Is One Of Its Best And Darkest Shows". Forbes. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  29. ^ Knight, Jacob (March 30, 2015). "BLOODLINE Season One Review: Ancestral Beasts of Burden". Badass Digest. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  30. ^ Stuever, Hank (March 19, 2015). "'Bloodline': Will superb acting and family secrets make for another Netflix hit?". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  31. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (March 19, 2015). "Review: Netflix's 'Bloodline' borrows the 'Damages' playbook, for good and ill". HitFix. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  32. ^ Lyons, Margaret (March 19, 2015). "Bloodline Comes Up Short". Vulture. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  33. ^ Fitz-Gerald, Sean (April 9, 2015). "Bloodline Recap: Bye-bye, Rayburns". Vulture. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  34. ^ VanDerWerff, Todd (March 23, 2015). "Bloodline shows what's wrong with most of Netflix's original series". Vox. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  35. ^ Fowler, Matt (March 24, 2015). "Bloodline: Season 1 Review". IGN. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  36. ^ Grozdanovic, Nikola (March 31, 2015). "Netflix Neo-Noir 'Bloodline' Gives Viewers The Tragic Anti-Hero Television Has Been Waiting For Since Walter White". Indiewire. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  37. ^ Canfield, David (April 4, 2015). "The Family Noir: Introducing TV's Newest Trend". Indiewire. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  38. ^ Klein, Jason (February 17, 2015). "Digital Audience Ratings: Ladies Love 'The Flash,' Netflix's 'Bloodline' Trends". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
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