Animal Kingdom has always emphasized that Julia (whose death kick-started the saga) had a difficult relationship with Janine “Smurf” Cody, her mother, but it was not until Seasons 5 and 6 that the series delved into the complications surrounding this mother-daughter dynamic.
The flashbacks finally gave insight into what was wrong between Julia and Smurf, and why the latter seemingly hated her own daughter.
Animal Kingdom Season 5 reveals why Smurf hates Julia
The TNT series is filled with drama and family complications, much like its source material, David Michôd’s film Animal Kingdom. But as this is a series, it includes much more exposition and many more plotlines than the original movie.
One notable element in the series is the complex relationship between Smurf and Julia. The primary conflict emerged between them when Smurf slowly started pushing her daughter toward criminal activities. Julia was openly resistant to the criminal lifestyle, which created a rift between her and Smurf.
Smurf eventually sensed that Julia was threatening her authority with her defiance. Julia was also close to her twin brother, Pope, and adopted brother, Baz. This further threatened Smurf’s authority and criminal plans. If Julia were to lure her brothers away from this life, it could put an end to the empire that Smurf worked so hard to build.
Moreover, Julia always had a strong moral compass, which put her at odds with the rest of the family.
The flashback sequence in Animal Kingdom Season 6 Episode 12 reveals that Smurf violently kicked Julia out of their family home after discovering that she had stolen money from the family.
Following this, Julia began using drugs and consuming alcohol to cope with her life. This eventually led to her death. Some theories even claim that Smurf played a more direct role in Julia’s death.
