Animal Kingdom

As gritty, dysfunctional family, crime-fueled dramas go, Animal Kingdom roars with dark promise.

The most interesting character, or certainly most compelling, is Barkin’s Smurf. She’s a Ma Barker with cleavage, a brownie-baking Gemma Teller (“Sons of Anarchy”). Ultimately, she may be the one to seal the pact here.

They’re not a sympathetic collection of characters, but they can be compelling in their twistedness.

The concerned viewer will of course want him [J] to get as far away from them [the Codys] as possible, somewhere he can do his math homework in peace. At the same time, most every character gives you something to relate to; each has his secrets and cares. Executive producer John Wellsdirected the opening episodes; and the series is expertly made, and subtler than the premise suggests.

It’s a measured portrait of a complicated family that gives some credit to its audience.

It’s too easy to think of this family as sharks. Sharks are much kinder to their young. Animal Kingdom bites hard and doesn’t let up.

As the (unofficially) adopted son, Baz has always had more to prove than his siblings, but that status also motivates him to get out of Smurf’s thrall. Animal Kingdom could similarly hold sway over its audience, as long as it plays to the strengths of its cast.

Lisco and his writers do a good job weaving a compelling narrative, one that’s filled with action, but more significantly defined by the complexity of the individual characters.

Oh my goodness is this one filled with testosterone, reminding me a bit of FX’s “Sons of Anarchy.” ... Watch for Shawn Hatosy (“Southland”). He's creepy good as the whacko son with a mean streak.

A surfboard Sons of Anarchy adapted from an acclaimed 2010 Aussie flick, Animal Kingdom lives at the intersection of Polished Cable Pulp and Who Cares? The performances are good enough to enliven the antihero familiarity.

Animal Kingdom is not exactly a cerebral series. It's a show about guys doing guy things, complete with action sequences. And the characters are intriguing--although a little bit of Barkin goes a long way.

Animal Kingdom has a lot going for it, and its adrenaline-junkie characters benefit from not being weighed down by more dramatic darkness than they warrant. In particular, it’s a joy to watch Barkin sink her teeth into a role as juicy as Smurf.

It’s hard to shake the feeling this is another show without a protagonist; a remnant from the previous decade where antiheroes reigned and genuine do-gooders were passé.