Animal Kingdom: What can we expect in season 3?
Short answer: I have no idea.
TNT’s Animal Kingdom wrapped up its 13 episode season 2 a little more than a week ago and I am still thinking about it.
The most shocking moment of the season occurred in just the last few minutes of episode 13,“Betrayal,” in which Baz is shot and Lucy leaves him for dead. However, it is shown that Lucy and Marco are then stealing Baz’s loot (which he stole from Smurf) and we are to assume Marco is the one who shot Baz. Finally, we see Smurf looking solemn in her cell and J looking anti-social at his (read: Nicky’s) graduation party.
Ok. I want to begin with some theories, because I have plenty.
1. It is exactly what it looks like: Lucy instructed Marco to shoot Baz so the two could then steal his/Smurf’s money and head back to Mexico.
2. Smurf put Lucy and Marco up to shooting Baz and stealing her money back, and promised them a cut of the money for doing so. Though knowing Smurf, whether she actually gives them their cut is up in the air. (Note: this was my first theory).
3. J got to talking with Lucy (remember at the family meeting when he asked Baz where the rest of Smurf’s stolen money was?) and they devised the plan to have Marco shoot Baz and steal the money with Lucy, and all three will split the loot. (Note: this is my latest and most exciting theory, though it seems fairly unlikely and I totally see the holes in how it could play out).
4. The same theory as #3 but J shot Baz instead on Marco. (Again, unlikely. And is J’s aim really that good?).
Now that you’ve read my theories, I want to talk a little about the episode and my expectations (read: ideas) for season 3.
First, I was completely and utterly shocked when Baz was shot. It was unlike anything we’ve seen on the show. Even though Pope killed Catherine in season 1, I don’t remember it feeling as crazy as this moment. Perhaps it’s because we expected Pope to be capable of murder and falling victim to Smurf’s manipulation in the first season. It just seemed likely that he would go that far. In a way, we sort of saw it coming. It was still shocking, but it made sense.
Baz’s shooting was so insane because it was so unexpected. The promo for the season finale didn’t tease any deaths or shootings or really anything, which is why I actually expected to be a bit bored during the finale. And to be honest, I was... a little. Until the end. Looking back, I think the normal-ness of the episode created an even bigger shock upon seeing Baz get shot.
Seeing Lucy and Marco steal Smurf’s money from Baz’s house instantly made us think Lucy set the shooting up, but if I’ve learned anything from the amount of TV shows I watch, one should never be so quick to jump to conclusions. We just have to wait and see.
That said, here’s what I’d like to happen in season 3, organized by character:
Smurf: She was framed for Javi’s murder (I mean, she did orchestrate it when it happened but you saw what Baz did to make it look like she pulled the trigger herself) and was caught with all her fake passports and pretty much everything that could keep her locked up for quite some time. That said, I don’t expect her to get out of jail so soon. I do think she’ll still be calling some of the shots from her cell, but she’s certainly lost a large chunk of her power. I have no idea what to expect when it comes to Smurf.
J: This is the guy who now holds all the power. I see big things for him, especially after we actually didn’t see a whole lot of the smart, scheming J we saw in the first season finale (see: s1ep10 “What Have You Done”). I really want more of J calling the shots. I can’t particularly see him mapping out the next heist because I think he’s smarter than that (and Baz) and could find an even better way to rake in the dough. Although, I don’t want the heists to just disappear in season 3. So maybe J could plan a heist like Camp Pendleton or the Megachurch, but even smarter and better. And finally, will season 3 be the season we find out who J’s dad is?
Baz: All I know is that Baz was shot three times in the chest and I do NOT know how he could survive that. But what is Animal Kingdom without Baz? Perhaps we will see! (For the record, I could see all my theories playing out whether Baz lives or dies. I think some theories are more viable and will cause as much drama as the series needs even with Baz dead, but others not so much.)
Craig: I know he wants to get his act together, but what would Animal Kingdom be without crazy, fun Craig!? It would be cool to see Craig think up another heist, because his yacht heist actually went pretty well. I wouldn’t be mad about seeing him try to take on more responsibility in the life of crime, or perhaps just at Deran’s bar. I just want Craig to be happy. (lol).
Deran: Deran’s bar seems to be the new hangout spot with Smurf in jail/being cut out at the beginning of the season, and I really like it! I enjoy seeing Deran put his heart and soul into something and I really think he deserves his bar and its success. I would hate to see it blow up or something (AK writers, if you’re reading this, PLEASE do not get any ideas!). I don’t expect anything to happen to Deran’s bar and I think if something were to happen to it in season 3 it would be too soon anyway. Just leave Deran and his bar alone. Ok? Ok.
Pope: It’s so wild to me how much I loved Pope this season compared to how much he scared me in the first. I have read the theory that Lena is actually Pope’s kid and I don’t think it’s true, but I do think Pope is a better dad than Baz. I want more Pope and and I want more #JusticeforLena. I hate that Pope has so many demons and I really hope he was able to release some of those once Baz forgave him, though I don’t necessarily think he needed Baz to forgive him because I know he doesn’t forgive himself for killing Cath. Baz did tell Pope “It’s not your fault” so maybe he’ll finally understand that he fell victim to Smurf and her master manipulator abilities. I’m anxious to see what the writers have in store for Pope (and Amy?) in season 3.
Nicky: Did you really think I’d forget my girl Nicky? I think I’m the only person who actually likes her. Yes, she does stupid things that make it hard to justify exactly why I like her, but I think she’s a necessary character. Imagine just how powerful J would be without her. If he didn’t have to think about anyone else, J would’ve been running things from the moment Smurf took him in. But he’s only, what, 17? 18? It wouldn’t make sense for him not to have a girl and I think Nicky is perfect because she’s so involved. Think about it, J couldn’t have some normal, uninvolved girl, because she would never understand his actions or his uncles or the secrets he’d have to keep. The relationship wouldn’t last a week. Plus, as much as it hurts me, I think Nicky’s symbolic in a way. I think she is symbolic of J’s mother in a sense. For example, in the finale Baz tells J about his mother being raped nine months before J was born. He mentions she was on some insane number of painkillers and too drugged to care. Then, once Nicky gets wounded after breaking into her ex-friend’s house (a dumb move, I know) she asks for some prescription drug (Vicodin I think?) and J tells her she already had two, but she demands another and he gives it to her. So, in watching Nicky, we’re watching an element of J’s mom and J’s ultimate downfall (caring). He cares about Nicky and he cares about who got his mother pregnant with him. (Note: I’m not usually one to pick up on symbolism but I watched Sons of Anarchy this spring so I learned a thing or two). And I could be totally off on all of this but I just believe there’s a reason Nicky’s still here, and somebody’s gotta support her so I’ll do it. Anyway, the point of this was to say what I want for each character in the next season, so what I want from Nicky is for her to be smarter and to realize the power she has and learn how to use it.
And that is all I have to say about Animal Kingdom (for now)!
I’d be shocked if you read this lengthy post, but I sure enjoyed writing it. I’d love to hear thoughts on if you agree, disagree or have any theories of your own!
