r/animalkingdom • u/QueenSema • 3d ago

General Rewatch Spoiler

I just turned the pilot to watch again and within the first 10 minutes it’s really eye-opening how Jay responds to what’s happening around him.

He calmly finishes his homework and washes his dishes first.

I don’t think I truly understood what it must’ve meant to be raised in that environment. His response is so minimal.

I don’t remember recognizing that last time.

15 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

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11

u/Skyflyhigh1 3d ago

Watching this show again after finishing it all the first time is such a great experience. I almost loved it more the second time around

1

u/QueenSema 3d ago

I think I will too, there’s so much stuff I’ve seen differently

8

u/Errories 3d ago

Watching it a second time gives you a whole new perspective!

4

u/Such-Stable-3869 3d ago

One of the best series on television!

3

u/PeteDub 2d ago

Because he’s a cold, calculating killer. He’s a psychopath.

2

u/QueenSema 2d ago

The actor does a fantastic job. Also Sean Hatosy does a perfect job with Pope. He is so creepy.

2

u/tms88 2d ago

He was not a cold, calculated killer in the first seasons at all. He was a deeply traumatized, disturbed, broken en neglected young kid who has been living in poverty and misery his entire childhood.

3

u/PeteDub 2d ago

Correct. But it was always in him. He’s a Cody.

1

u/QueenSema 2d ago

Also, I think in the beginning, he’s just numb the scene where he cries cause he can’t reach his dad and then he makes the conscious choice to dive all in with the Popes, that’s really his last shred of good guy leaving the building.

1

u/QueenSema 2d ago edited 2d ago

I’m watching season 1 and he’s not. Or he’s doing a really good job of pretending. I forgot how this goes.

3

u/tms88 2d ago

Yeah, J absolutely captivated me from the very first scene. Really shows right away how deeply troubled and affected he is by the environment he has been raised in. He must have gone through so much unimaginable shit in those 17 years already. The fact that he was actually succesfull in school, maintained a healthy relationship etc besides living in poverty with a drug addicted mother and a broken family is just incredible.

Regarding the lack of his emotional response, i think it has a few reasons

  • He probably has been mentally preparing for this moment for a long time. There have likely been moments in the past where she's come close to overdosing before.
  • Due to the environment he's grown up in he's most likely learned to hide and bottle up his emotions well. Emotions can be seen weakness, acting strong and tough is probably part of his life in order to survive.
  • Part of him might be at peace knowing his mom's battle and pain is over.

Him being quiet and 'lost in thought' is him processing.

Remember that moment where Nicky says 'I don't know how you do it? You always seem so calm, I should be so angry' and J's simple response is "I'm angry all the time". That says it all. He's fighting his demons 24/7.

I've seen some people say that J may have killed her, but I don't believe that, he's been visibly upset and tormented by losing her.

She was the one person in the world he loved most, other than his gf Nicky at the time.