Animal Kingdom 6×9 Review: “Gethsemane”

Animal Kingdom season 6 episode 9, ‘Gethsemane’, had the walls close in on Andrew as the rest of the Codys tried to figure out a way to protect him while preventing their criminal empire from crumbling.

I was provided with a free screener of ‘Gethsemane’ for review. The opinions I have shared are my own.

With Andrew letting Joshua and Deran know about Detective Thompson coming after him in the previous episode, I liked how the writers used ‘Gethsemane’ to show how the younger Codys dealt with such an unexpected predicament in their own ways. Joshua’s the type of person who looks out for himself. Sure he’s helped his uncles along the way, but only because he knows he needs them to continue growing the Cody family business. But when push comes to shove, I feel that Joshua will immediately choose himself over his uncles.

That’s why I wouldn’t be surprised if Joshua was already planning something to face the fallout of Andrew going to prison. Joshua wants to be in control. He’s all about being manipulative and a schemer. That’s his comfort zone. So, understandably, Andrew being put behind bars for murdering Catherine rubbed Joshua the wrong way. He didn’t work so hard to get where he currently was just for it all to be snatched away and that too due to an uncle he doesn’t really like.

Now, to be fair, Joshua did come across as a bit lost when he told Penny about Andrew’s predicament near the end of the episode. But I think Joshua’s at his most dangerous when he feels lost. Joshua’s killed people before to get what he wants. And I predict he will do it again. Or at least, come close to doing it. Joshua vs Andrew has a high chance of happening.

The only Joshua-centric scenes I didn’t like were the ones where he interacted with Penny. I don’t have anything against the actress playing Penny. She’s doing a good job in such a role. However, I just feel that the current narrative didn’t need this particular subplot. This is the final season after all, and with only four more episodes left, Penny and Joshua’s “relationship” feels like an unnecessary distraction. The writers had Joshua comfort Penny after her drug addict sister was hospitalized and I felt bored. I just couldn’t make myself care.

Maybe not letting go of Penny (whose husband is coming back from the army) will result in Joshua’s downfall? Is this specific storyline working toward teaching Joshua a lesson about the dangers of being too greedy? I don’t know. As for now, their dynamic is ‘meh!’ to me.

In contrast to Joshua, Deran was more comforting toward Andrew. With how Andrew supported Deran wanting to start a new life with Adrian, away from the Codys, I liked how Deran repaid the favor by standing with Andrew. The scene where the two men talked about the old days, by the pool, was definitely a highlight. Both actors delivered amazing performances as their characters realized that they were unable to turn back time. They had no choice but to face what was coming for them.

Craig showed tough love to Andrew and demanded that the Codys talked about what to do next as a family. But, from what happened to Andrew as the episode progressed, I think the end is near for the Cody men. Smurf had too tight a grip on Andrew’s psyche. She had spent decades grooming him to always protect the family, and that grooming stopped Andrew from standing up to Smurf even when she ordered Andrew to kill Catherine. Craig understood why Andrew did what he did. I don’t think Craig blamed Andrew. But Craig was still, understandably, angry at the entire situation.

Deran telling Craig that none of them were ever strong enough to say no to Smurf did make me laugh a little, though. Deran had it in him to stand up to his mother when she ordered him to kill Adrian. Not only that, but Andrew also supported Deran’s plan to help Adrian run away from the country. So, it’s not like there wasn’t a way for Andrew to deal with Catherine without killing her. But then again, during the timeline when Smurf went after Adrian, we were seeing a very different Andrew compared to who he was back in season one. So, I guess, Catherine had to die? Hmmm.

Over the course of the seasons, we have seen the weight of Andrew’s sins clearly doing a number on him. And ‘Gethsemane’ continued the trend by having Detective Thompson apply more pressure on the oldest Cody. I get that certain fans don’t like Thompson. But I’m here for her. Yes, she’s been going after Andrew by using methods that aren’t befitting a cop. However, as I have said before in my coverage, you need to play dirty if you want to bring down the Codys. And Thompson understands that.

Having a one-on-one with Andrew in the interrogation room without his lawyer present was such a powerful move. Thompson knew which buttons to press. The way she used Lena and Amy to get Andrew to talk was an effective strategy. Again, my only gripe when it comes to Thompson is how the writers haven’t explained why she has it out for Andrew in the first place. Thompson’s going about the entire thing as if he personally harmed her or someone she cared about in the past.

Coming back to the rest of the Codys, with Andrew now in jail, Deran and Craig have clearly given up. Deran went as far as refusing to do any more robberies with Tommy and outright fired him. Craig, from what I could understand, was contemplating moving to Texas with Renn and baby Nick. I’m very excited to see what will happen next.

As for the flashback scenes, they were all about Smurf finding ways to blame Julia for what Baz and Andrew were going through. Yes, Smurf’s not a good mother. But even I have to agree with Smurf on this one. A bunch of their current domestic issues could have been avoided if Baz and Julia had managed to keep it in their pants. In a sense, I think Julia wanted to hook up with Baz because she wanted a way to pull him away from Smurf’s control. Julia wanted to undermine Smurf and things didn’t work out the way she had planned.

Smurf’s clearly still in control of the boys. Smurf had Andrew lose his virginity under her conditions (having him select a girl from the three she brought home), and she gave Baz his own house. Julia can keep trying to find ways to fight Smurf, but she has, unfortunately, picked a battle that’s impossible to win.

What did you think of ‘Gethsemane’? Do you think Joshua will come for Andrew?

Let us know.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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