Plot Synopsis

ANIMAL KINGDOM is a one-hour drama series that centers on 17-year-old Joshua "J" Cody, who moves in with his freewheeling relatives in their Southern California beach town after his mother dies of a heroin overdose. Headed by boot-tough matriarch Janine "Smurf" Cody, whose excessive lifestyle is fueled by her family's criminal activities, and her right-hand Baz, who runs the business and calls the shots, the clan also consists of Pope, the oldest and most dangerous of the Cody boys; Craig, the tough and fearless middle son; and Deran, the troubled, suspicious "baby" of the family. Also prominent are Nicky, J's steady girlfriend, and Catherine, Baz's de facto wife and the mother of their 3-year-old daughter, Lena. It isn't long before Josh is pulled into the family's life of indulgence and excess, but he soon discovers that it's all being funded by criminal activities. Joining the family comes with more danger and excitement than he might be ready to handle. On Monday, April 4, 2016 at 11:30pm ET/8:30pm PT, TNT premiered a sneak peek of ANIMAL KINGDOM immediately following the North Carolina Team Stream presentation of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship featuring Villanova and UNC. The series officially debuted on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 from 9-11pm ET/PT, as TNT premiered back-to-back new episodes. In the night's first new episode (9pm), "Pilot," J must prove his loyalty to stay alive, all the while learning that Smurf is the intense, beguiling and complicated matriarch who rules over "her boys" with a borderline incestuous love. In the night's second episode (10:05pm), "We Don't Hurt People," the Codys must deal with the aftermath of the heist, as they discover all did not go as planned. Smurf dispatches her boys to tie up loose ends, but her efforts are complicated by Baz and Pope's growing rivalry. As Pope gets increasingly volatile, J finds himself in the middle.

The 13-episode second season of ANIMAL KINGDOM premiered on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT on TNT. The Codys are back, and the ties that bind them are about to be stretched to the limit. As the second season opens, the Cody clan is back to their old ways and in the midst of a fun, high-adrenaline heist. But when things don't go as planned, the family dynamics become more fractured than ever as some members advocate for independence from Smurf. Adding fuel to the fire is an external threat from Smurf's past that has come back to haunt her. In the season opener, "Eat What You Kill," after a risky heist misfires, the boys blame Smurf, sending shock waves through the family. Baz copes with being a single parent, while Deran makes plans for the future.

Season 3 of ANIMAL KINGDOM premiered on Tuesday, May 29, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT on TNT, with Denis Leary joining the cast as Billy, Deran's drifter dad who Smurf kicked out years ago. In last season's shocking cliffhanger, Baz was shot while on his way to Mexico after framing Smurf for murder. Season 3 opens with Smurf in jail and her grandson J in charge of the family business. The Cody men find themselves increasingly divided as they fight for both control and their independence, but have to come together when outside threats emerge. Deran's drifter dad Billy comes back to make amends, but may have other motives.

The ruthless Cody crime family returned in ANIMAL KINGDOM's fourth season on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 9pm ET/PT on TNT, and they will be as much of a threat to each other as they are to their targets. The series stars Ellen Barkin, Shawn Hatosy, Ben Robson, Jake Weary, Finn Cole and Sohvi Rodriguez. Emily Deschanel also joins the cast this season in a recurring role. This season, Smurf is back on top reminding her boys who's boss no matter whom she hurts in the process. Trapped with Smurf and becoming increasingly unhinged, Pope has found new and dangerous ways to deal with his anger. J continues to scheme about how to take over the family business, Craig plots one of their most difficult heists and Deran is worried about his future with Adrian. As always, outsiders move in to threaten the Cody's fragile peace, including Angela (Deschanel), the former best friend of J's deceased mother and a recovering junkie, who tries to snake her way back into the family's good graces. A new criminal crew is also introduced with a surprising connection to the Codys. In the season opener, "Janine," the Codys pull off a risky robbery. Smurf and Pope remain at odds even as Pope finds a new outlet for his anger. Deran involves Adrian in the family business, and J tests the waters of his new identity outside the family.

The fifth season of ANIMAL KINGDOM premiered on Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 9pm ET/PT on TNT. In Season 5, Pope, Craig, Deran, and J are still dealing with the fallout from the events surrounding Smurf's death, including family members out for revenge. With their kingdom without a leader, the Cody family's struggle to maintain their fragile alliance, and to see which of them will come out on top. Meanwhile, they search for more information on Pamela Johnson whom Smurf made the beneficiary of her estate. And back in 1984, an increasingly volatile 29-year-old Smurf is forging her own path raising Pope and Julia and leading the charge on dangerous jobs with new and old friends.

TNT premiered the sixth and final season of ANIMAL KINGDOM on Sunday, June 19, 2022 with back-to-back episodes starting at 9pm ET/PT. In the final season, the Cody boys discover that they can't outrun their past. With their empire expanding, a cold case investigation sets off a series of events that puts the entire family in jeopardy. Revenge, betrayal, and a reckoning with long forgotten violence leads to an explosive conclusion six seasons in the making. With returning cast Shawn Hatosy, Ben Robson, Jake Weary, Finn Cole and Leila George. In the season opner, "1992" (9pm), Gia visits the Cody's with a job opportunity; J schemes finances. Deran learns new renters are disrupting the neighborhood; and Craig struggles with sobriety and co-parenting Nick under Renn's monitored visitation. Then, in the night's second episode, "Rise" (10pm), J holds a family meeting, on the hunt for a new attorney; Pope refuses to sell his vacant lot; Deran embraces his clout; Craig's sobriety is challenged; in 1992, Smurf & Andrew meet with a lawyer; and Julia struggles to be heard in the family.
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On Sunday, August 28, 2022 from 9-10:15pm ET/PT, TNT premiered "Fubar," the series finale of ANIMAL KINGDOM. The Cody boys embark on their most dangerous job yet; Andrew commits the original sin that destroyed the family.