Wrapping your mind around the concept that television series are a costly and finite resource is an emotionally and intellectually brutal exercise. In the age of Netflix and binge watching, it should never be over and it should be impossible to run out of episodes before the release of a new season. But that's just my inner irrational fiction fiend talking. Every good story has a timely end and we should welcome it with open arms and welcome new series with open arms and an open mind.
Josie and I binge through Netflix's new series BLOODLINE over a week, since we were jonesing so hard for something to watch. It has undeniable talent attached to it, Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard are all established actors who feed off a similar vibe and who all have the charisma necessary to carry a narrative. Despite receiving some pretty mediocre reviews from the critics, I thought that BLOODLINE was a rather sophisticated take on noir that might not reinvent the wheel, but that took pride in what it offered.
Here are my cliff notes.
- I thought, probably like many other, that Kyle Chandler would churn an angsty spin off Coach Taylor, from FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, but he was a pleasant surprise. Chandler has strong, memorable (and unbotoxed) features, but his acting game is nuanced enough to avoid typecasting. Granted he's being spoon fed quality lines, his silences and his trademark scowls helped texture self-righteous family man John Rayburn.
- Thanks to Amanda Gowin, I became obsessed with the symbolism and the character of Sam Shepard in BLOODLINE, so I started going back and forth between episodes, looking for clues that would help me to put the Rayburn family history together. Turned out I almost had to watch the damn thing twice, not that it was unpleasant mind you. Just watch out for that goddamn Ukulele. That ukulele speaks volumes.
- Although I like to use that term as little as I can nowadays, I believe that noir is a qualifier that applies to BLOODLINE. The first person narration by Kyle Chandler, the impending doom and the foreseen fatality, the wandering on both sides of the law by various members of the Rayburn family were all standout aspects of the show. It has been compared to John Updike meets Charles Willeford by some critics.
- To a certain extent, every story is about heart fighting reason. It's the fundamental conflict of human nature. BLOODLINE doesn't reinvent anything in that regard, but shine through its execution. Pitting family against law and narrating it through the point of view of a policeman establishes a clear sense of boundaries, and BLOODLINE is all about crossing them boundaries over and over again. This is solid writing both on a technical and emotional level.
- Kudos to the casting team for avoiding actors who has their facial features congealed through botox and plastic surgery. The lines on Linda Cardellini's face couldn't be more visible and it doesn't take anything away from her stunning beauty. Kyle Chandler and Norbert Butz also have an endearing rawness to their features. That makes Sissy Spacek's nose so obvious, it looks like an alien in the center of her face whenever she's on screen.
- BLOODLINE has been renewed for a second season this week, and judging from the cliffhanger ending of the first and the emotional baggage gathered by the characters, the possibilities are endless. A television series is about developing a relationship of trust with the viewers and season one, although it became slightly uneven towards the end, has built a strong foundation for things to come. It's gearing up to be a great on-screen family saga, folks. It's a series you'll be missing and remembering fondly when it's over.