'Animate being Kingdom' Season 4, Episode ane "Janine": Past is Prologue in Potent Opener [SPOILER REVIEW]

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Finally! Wait no more, friends! TNT'due south Animate being Kingdom is back with fourth-season premiere "Janine"… and it comes correct out of the gate swinging in ways you may not have seen coming.

At present earlier we go any farther, let me just say… I was right!

Astute readers may call back that upon hearing casting news, I speculated that nosotros were going to exist dipping into Smurf'due south past for more storylines, and we definitely were – and it did not disappoint.

Before we move forward, two things to keep in heed…

animal kingdom

…and did we mention nosotros were right?

Animal Kingdom flavour 4, episode 1 "Janine": In the season 4 premiere, the Codys pull off a risky robbery that results in a big realization for Craig (Ben Robson). The relationship between Smurf (Ellen Barkin) and Pope (Shawn Hatosy) remains rocky even as Pope tries out a new outlet for his anger. Deran (Jake Weary) involves Adrian (Spencer Treat Clark) in the family business despite warnings from Craig, as J (Finn Cole) tests the waters of his new identity outside the Cody empire. A new criminal crew is introduced with a surprising connection to the Codys.

The premiere opens with an epic bank heist that we don't realize is actually set in the 1970'southward until after. The swell heist is pulled off past The Wicked Witch of the West, Fidel Castro, Charlie Chaplin, and George Washington… with Abraham Lincoln every bit their getaway driver. Somehow, that makes sense.

Okay, information technology's not the bodily historical figures robbing the depository financial institution – it'southward really Janine under the Chaplin mask. Yep, our Janine. Nosotros acquire that Janine (Leila George) joined upward with this crew because her boyfriend Jake (Jon Beavers) brought her aboard (not that the remainder of the crew is stoked virtually having a girlfriend tag along).

Turns out what nosotros merely witnessed was baby's kickoff bank heist!

animal kingdom
TNT

Now Let'southward Go Dorsum to the Future…

Pope (Shawn Hatosy) has gone full "Edward Norton" and has Smurf (Ellen Barkin) betting on him in an underground fight guild-MMA muzzle fight lucifer-ii buff grown men beating the shite out of each other. I gauge this is her way of having him cope with his mental instability?

Questionable parenting at best… and to no one's surprise, Pope is still not okay.

Adrian (Spencer Treat Clark) and Deran (Jake Weary) are however in an adorable domestic human relationship, with Deran running the bar and Adrian gallivanting all over the world to surf in competitions. Sounds pretty good, right?

Did nosotros mention he's throwing the competitions and was picked up as a drug mule and is currently being hella pressured by a DEA agent asshole to give upwards the supplier who stuffed 5 kilos of coke in his board (which we saw at the end of final season)? A really important point to keep in mind…

Animal Kingdom - "Janine" - season 4, episode 1
TNT

J (Finn Cole) graduated high school and is now taking higher courses, still maintaining his nerd status between the family business and owning/operating his new bowling alley – while getting totally played by Mia (Sohvi Rodriguez). To add some other layer to what we saw at the cease of final season, her ex-boyfriend Tupi (Eddie Ramos) is back in the fray and leaning hard on Mia to totally betray J.

Craig is having tenant problems – maybe being a landlord isn't the best career path for sweet meathead surfer boy Craig. Of class, I'm also on board with any career path for him that involves every bit much shirtless screen fourth dimension as possible, simply I digress. Speaking of shirtless Craig… the morning of their big heist, familiar lady friend Frankie (Dichen Lachman) walks into his firm (Baz's old house) with a new job – and a warning that working for Smurf is going to end desperately.

And with that, our boys are back to hitting banks! J (aided by his annoying secret girlfriend Mia) serves as the diversion / leverage, Adrian is the alibi for Deran (in the cutest way possible) while Deran serves every bit lookout as Craig and Pope hit the vault and make bank…

…except for the part where Pope has a death wish and derails their slick motorcycle getaway past pulling a handgun on an oncoming cop car.

Smooth one, buddy. No style that could always end poorly!

The Past is Prologue

Back in the past, we end on Janine (future Smurf) having made up her mind that she will be running this crew one day – and will be the all-time damn depository financial institution robber that 1970'due south Southern California has ever seen. Fin.

Such an artful style to finish an episode, and a corking way to prepare the flavor. Of class, I love the swingin' 70s scenes more than annihilation – they are adding levels of understanding virtually the previous seasons and the cast that viewers had been defective upwardly to this signal. I'k certain the flashbacks volition continue (because they're likewise good to not to go on going), and I hope they keep to show us how Janine became Smurf – and how things got to exist then complicated for the family.

What were your thoughts? Was the premiere worth the look? What exercise you think the season has in store for Smurf and all of her boys? Is Frankie a threat? And more importantly, will poor sweet Adrian torpedo his surf career and spend 25 years in the pokey for drug smuggling?

TNT'south Animal Kingdom airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. – and here's a look at next week'south episode "Angela":

Animal Kingdom season 4, episode 2 "Angela": J (Finn Cole) reconsiders his relationship with Smurf (Ellen Barkin) after he gets bad news well-nigh Morgan's expiry. Frankie (Dichen Lachman) lures Craig (Ben Robson) with the promise of another big score. The arrival of an former family friend surprises Pope (Shawn Hatosy); and Deran (Jake Weary) questions if Adrian (Spencer Treat Clark) is really gear up to accept him for who he is. Directed by John Wells and written by Daniele Nathanson.

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About Eden Arnold

Having spent far too much time in front of the television growing up, Eden has lots of opinions about television (as well as movies and everything else). She puts this to good employ along with her journalism caste and writing feel with past-lines over the years in many print publications, books, and online media outlets. You lot can notice her on Twitter at @Edenhasopinions