Originally published May 13, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.
Gary McCurry reviews the eighth episode of Bloodline…
I have spent the majority of these reviews speaking about the pace of Bloodline, a small judgement choice has major consequences for later episodes. Everything happening for a reason and the character development occurring naturally has been typed multiple times. We have a change here, this will explain why “Part 8” played out like it was from a different show.
Along with my slight disappointment, you’ll find spoilers.
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Although it takes steps towards the conclusion, you’ll find a two steps forward three steps back approach is in effect. Just like many others I revel in watching both Kyle Chandler (John Rayburn) and his on-screen brother Danny, played by Ben Mendelsohn. The one on one moments they share are engaging and captivating, you just wish that the surrounding players and plot lines are on the same level.
Let’s start with the boys night out that John and Danny find themselves on. Normally we have the foundation built so each action follows a meticulous process and when these happen you can easily point out that how it got to that point. Throughout watching I kept wondering how we arrived in a place that John is heavily drinking and looking at girls. I’m well aware things just happen for no particular reason, it’s just that Bloodline had set up a formula that they had stuck with for better or worse and then dropped.
The majority of the story is very convenient. Danny meets Meg’s client at a cock-fighting event and Marco again wanting to marry Meg, why not eh? Been a while since the last get together. Not to forget Diana, she is given the generic task of telling her Husband that she can sense something is wrong and bans Danny from being around her children. Bloodline has succeeded in staying away from the routine, despite its seemingly run of the mill plot. Sadly it fails here and allows itself to go through the motions without ever progressing any of the characters.
We’ll take a look at Danny’s new business venture. Having changed seafood vendor, he also takes in cocaine (or as we later find out, sugar) as ordered by his new employer. On the other side his brother, Detective Rayburn is looking for a member of Danny’s new circle in relation to the murder of the girl many episodes ago. Any bets on whether these two crossroads will meet?
All these moments are made more strange due to it slotting in the narration that had been missing as of late. Working well here, we get a glimpse at the now traditional flash forward and the decisions the family are “forced” to make.
Sissy Spacek brings a subtlety rarely found in this installment and the moment she has with her son, Kevin is a highlight. Her character, Sally Rayburn brings such pain and empathy to a small segment that you want to reveal all your problems as you know that she’ll make everything OK.
Gary McCurry – Follow me on Twitter
https://youtu.be/8HTiU_hrLms?list=PL18yMRIfoszFLSgML6ddazw180SXMvMz5
