Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark family drama is gripping, addictive -- and grim.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Bloodline
What's the Story?
As the longtime proprietors of a picturesque oceanfront inn, the Rayburns -- patriarch Robert (Sam Shepard), matriarch Sally (Sissy Spacek), dependable John (Kyle Chandler), carefree Kevin (Norbert Leo Butz), and peacekeeping Meg (Linda Cardellini) -- have a lot to be thankful for, including a successful business and an unassailable reputation in their idyllic Key West community. But when an anniversary celebration brings estranged eldest son Danny (Ben Mendelsohn) back into the fold, the family's BLOODLINE clogs with long-buried secrets that come bubbling back to the surface.
Is It Any Good?
One of the things this series does exceedingly well -- apart from serving as a showcase for stellar performances from its great cast -- is creating a palpable sense of place packed with blue skies, stunning shorelines, and balmy breezes that, when viewed from the comfort of your living room, feel so real that you start to pine for them. Contrast that with the series' darker themes of violence and retribution, and you've got an addictive mix of good and evil that's easy to OD on, which is precisely what its creators had in mind.
That said, Bloodline is more of a slow burn that takes its time divulging its secrets through creative storytelling, an approach that works well for binge watchers but might frustrate more traditional viewers who want their questions answered upfront. Nevertheless, it's one of Netflix's most intriguing offerings to date, presenting a complex tale of loss and family dysfunction with an ending you never quite see coming, no matter how soon you think you've got it figured out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about crime, punishment, and retribution and how Bloodline weighs in on the issue of justice. Do good intentions (or a terrible childhood) excuse bad choices? Is it possible to get away with murder if you factor in a guilty conscience?
How would Bloodline's main characters rate as role models if you had to rank them from best to worst? Who's "right" and who's "wrong" -- and does it matter? Does everyone pay equally for their actions?
How realistically does Bloodline handle the topic of child abuse and its lingering effects? Which other factors influenced Danny's choices and the course of his life?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 20, 2015
- Cast : Kyle Chandler , Sissy Spacek , Ben Mendelsohn
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- TV rating :
- Award : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate