Bloodline is kind of an acquired taste. It starts out like a typical family drama, each of the kids with their own stories but quickly picks up steam as the family's horrible history catches up to them and the 3 living Rayburn children participate in the murder of their eldest brother, Danny. Those familiar with Damages will recognize some typical signature moves of Kessler shows: playing with time frames and flash backs, fantasies. The idea of one of the main character's being murdered in season 1 and still having a strong presence in the show is a good one. It also puts strong emphasis on the multi-generational issues of a family in chaos and how secrets and tragedies from long ago can become new tragedies.
Basically, the family has wracked up 2 murders by the final season and the creators do the smart thing of NOT having it neatly wrapped up with the cases being cracked. Instead their punishments are meted out through karma and they get their just desserts in other ways.
Less forgivable are the humongous plot holes in season 3. The team had around 5-6 years of story ideas and was forced to compress these ideas into one final season. But to accommodate the plot, they just have to ignore major issues of the plot. For example, Kevin ends up killing the police detective who has found out the truth on the family. But the cover-up is so ridiculous - the police chief who is 99% sure John had killed his brother in season 2 turns around and lets him run investigations on his own brother and a man is obviously and clearly railroaded, including police abuse for killing a cop he did not kill, and the police chief seems okay with this. Even when John confesses at the end, the chief basically says, "Nah, I'm going to a better job in Boston." What? Then later, Kevin is supposed to make a deal with the feds re Roy, the big kingpin, yet even after he dies, they ask him is he is going to testify. Against whom? The guy is dead. Chelsea seems way too friendly with the Rayburns move longer than it would take her to figure out her brother was screwed over by them. The John Leguizamo role seems kind of aimless, he basically kind of goes bananas. And there were many other things which seemed rushed and not well thought through.
Having said all of this, the acting is stellar and the gut-wrenching dynamic of this family is really entertaining. Spacek, Chandler, Norbert Butz, Mendelson and others give amazing performances. All in all a very good show, just wish they could have thought through season 3 a bit more. However, the collective punishment on the family does ultimately seem appropriate.
Basically, the family has wracked up 2 murders by the final season and the creators do the smart thing of NOT having it neatly wrapped up with the cases being cracked. Instead their punishments are meted out through karma and they get their just desserts in other ways.
Less forgivable are the humongous plot holes in season 3. The team had around 5-6 years of story ideas and was forced to compress these ideas into one final season. But to accommodate the plot, they just have to ignore major issues of the plot. For example, Kevin ends up killing the police detective who has found out the truth on the family. But the cover-up is so ridiculous - the police chief who is 99% sure John had killed his brother in season 2 turns around and lets him run investigations on his own brother and a man is obviously and clearly railroaded, including police abuse for killing a cop he did not kill, and the police chief seems okay with this. Even when John confesses at the end, the chief basically says, "Nah, I'm going to a better job in Boston." What? Then later, Kevin is supposed to make a deal with the feds re Roy, the big kingpin, yet even after he dies, they ask him is he is going to testify. Against whom? The guy is dead. Chelsea seems way too friendly with the Rayburns move longer than it would take her to figure out her brother was screwed over by them. The John Leguizamo role seems kind of aimless, he basically kind of goes bananas. And there were many other things which seemed rushed and not well thought through.
Having said all of this, the acting is stellar and the gut-wrenching dynamic of this family is really entertaining. Spacek, Chandler, Norbert Butz, Mendelson and others give amazing performances. All in all a very good show, just wish they could have thought through season 3 a bit more. However, the collective punishment on the family does ultimately seem appropriate.