About “Animal Kingdom” in a few words:

Animal Kingdom is an American television drama series that premiered in 2016 on TNT. Based on the 2010 Australian film of the same name, the series follows the lives of a Southern California family involved in criminal activities. Led by the matriarch Smurf, her sons J, Craig, Deran, and Baz navigate their dangerous world of heists, drugs, and violence, while also dealing with their own personal issues and relationships. With intense plot twists and complex characters, Animal Kingdom has become a fan favorite for its gritty portrayal of family dynamics in the criminal underworld.

Meet the characters from Animal Kingdom

Andrew ‘Pope’ Cody

Pope is the old, slow-burning kind of menace who pretends not to notice anything and somehow notices everything — the family’s moral calculator and walking encyclopedia of grudges. He talks like a philosopher half the time and like a threat the other half, which is confusing but also very effective; he’ll quote scripture then smirk about a heist, like it’s the same thing. Weird little details: collects seashells from random beaches but hates the ocean, and he hums opera when he’s thinking, which is either charming or terrifying depending on your life choices. Loyal to a fault (or to his own rules), he runs the emotional ledger for the Codys and will remember your betrayal longer than you’ll exist.

Craig Cody

Craig is the quiet backbone, the practical fixer who would rather do the math, patch a tire, or calm a panicking cousin than shout about it in public. He’s deceptively steady — the guy who keeps receipts and knows how late everyone is coming home — but don’t assume he’s boring; he has tiny rebellions (like terrible puns and an inexplicable collection of novelty socks). He can be stubbornly private, cries at commercials sometimes (which he denies loudly), and bakes an alarmingly good cinnamon roll when he’s trying to be human. Protective but low-key, Craig’s the sibling you call at midnight and also the one who will judge your haircut in a very specific way.

Deran Cody

Deran is chaos wrapped in self-consciousness; equal parts soft and volatile, always bristling between wanting out and being impossibly loyal to the messy family machine. He’s impulsive — tattoos, last-minute road trips, borderline genius at getting into trouble — but also has this surprising love for birds and vinyl, which is cute and slightly unexpected. One minute he’s cracking jokes like a sitcom narrator, the next he’s silent and clearly processing trauma, and honestly that’s his vibe: unpredictable emotional weather. He’s trying to find himself between the wreckage and the plans everyone else makes for him, which makes him exhausting and heartbreaking all at once.

Joshua ‘J’ Cody

J is the kid who learned early that smiles can be weapons and silence can be a plan; sharp, intense, and a little too comfortable in the dark parts of the family business. He’s young but feels ancient in the worst way — brilliant at reading people, dangerous when cornered, and prone to sudden philosophical one-liners that make you stare for a second. Cute oddities: he likes Saturday morning cartoons and keeps a notebook full of oddly poetic complaints, and sometimes he scares himself with how calm he gets during bad decisions. He’s the kind of character you root for and fear at the same time, like watching someone you love walk on a tightrope over a pit.

Janine “Smurf” Cody

Smurf is the puppeteer matriarch — charming, ruthless, and somehow maternal while running the whole operation with a grin and a very specific playlist of lullabies and lies. She mother-hens her crew with one hand and sharpens knives with the other; you never know which version you’ll get, and that is exactly the point. Little weirdnesses: she buys fresh flowers for every job (tastefully arranged, very on-brand) and can quote old country songs but also has an uncanny love for crossword puzzles at 3 a.m. Manipulative but magnetic, Smurf makes empire-running look like a family dinner, and she will absolutely get you to do what she wants while you think it was your idea.