Ep 4. Power

Animal Kingdom is a television drama series that tells the story of a Southern Californian family involved in criminal activities. It revolves around a family's patriarch, Smurf, who controls an extended family of criminals.

Season 5 of Animal Kingdom premiered on July 11, 2021, and episode 4 of the fifth season is titled "Power." This episode takes place in the aftermath of Smurf's death in the previous episodes, and the Cody family is left dealing with the power vacuum that her passing has created.

J has taken over the family business, but his lack of experience is evident, and his decisions are being questioned by the rest of the family. Pope and Deran are particularly critical of J's leadership, and they begin to plot their own power move against him.

Meanwhile, as Janine's funeral approaches, the police are closing in on the family's criminal activities. In the previous episode, a rogue cop, Pearce, had connected the Cody family to Smurf's murder and warned J that they have the family under surveillance. It is clear that the Codys need to cover their tracks before the police gather enough evidence to put them behind bars.

The episode's central conflict revolves around the Codys' attempt to consolidate power before they are all arrested. J is struggling to assert his dominance and earn the respect of the rest of the family. He confronts Pope and Deran to try and find out if they are planning a coup against him. The scene intensifies as the two brothers confront J and make it clear that they don't trust his leadership.

As the family's tension reaches its peak, the episode takes a dramatic turn when a new player enters the scene. A woman named Mia arrives at Smurf's house, claiming to be a friend of J's mother. The family is skeptical of her, but J decides to give her a chance, as he believes that she can help him consolidate power.

Mia is mysterious, and her motives are unclear. She quickly impresses J by taking care of business in a way he never thought possible. Her acts resonate within the family, but they still can't fully trust her since they don't know where she came from and previously to whom she belonged.

In the meantime, the Cody family is also working to tie up some loose ends. They need to figure out how to protect their wealth and assets before the police can seize them. They recruit some old allies to help them create a diversion that will throw the police off the scent.

Ultimately, everything comes to a head in the episode's final moments, as the family's power struggle comes to a chaotic conclusion. The Codys find themselves in a dangerous situation where they are forced to think on their feet to save their family and their fortune.

In conclusion, Animal Kingdom season 5 episode 4, titled "Power," is an episode that tackles the central conflict around the Codys' attempt to consolidate power in the absence of their matriarch Smurf. J is struggling to assert his dominance and earn the respect of the rest of the family, which leads to a rift between Pope, Deran, and J. The episode ends with a cliffhanger that leaves the future of the Cody family in the balance. With the stakes higher than ever, the upcoming episodes promise an action-packed ride for fans of the series.