WARNING: This article contains spoilers for the fourth season of Animal Kingdom. Read at your own risk.
Animal Kingdom season 5 has no official release date at the moment, but TNT has been sharing updates on what's coming in the next installment. Many things transpired in the previous season, with the Cody Boys now living in a new era following Smurf's (Ellen Barkin) death.
Animal Kingdom season 5 picks up where season 4 left off. Smurf is the one operating the business of the family, but she died at the end of the previous installment. One of the Cody Boys needs to step up and take over her place to run their empire.
J (Finn Cole), Deran (Jake Weary), Craig (Ben Robson), and Pope (Shawn Hatosy) must navigate their operation now that Smurf is gone. They will be starting from scratch, and they'll be dealing on their own. The biggest problem, however, is agreeing on who will be their new boss.
While they may agree on sharing responsibilities at first, tension could arise along the way, and power struggle could be the major source of conflict. Although J is the most capable one, he lacks empathy, and it could lead them to trouble. Deran, Craig, and Pope will likely question his ability as a leader.
Meanwhile, Angela will have a significant role in the lives of the Codys in Animal Kingdom season 5 and she could hem them with their operations. Pamela Johnson's (Milauna Jackson) storyline will be fleshed out, as well. Her connection with Smurf will, particularly, be addressed.
In addition, The upcoming installment will further explore Smurf's past. Even though the character is dead, her backstory will be further explored. The younger version of the character will be featured, and the people from her life before will emerge.
For instance, Anthony Konechny is set to play a recurring character in Animal Kingdom season 5. He will be portraying the younger version of Denis Leary's Billy, Deran's estranged father. He is a significant part of Smurf's past. The story will address how they first met and eventually separated.
The good news is that the fifth installment won't be the last one for the series. Ahead of its official release date, TNT renewed the show for the sixth season. But then, the network also announced that this will serve as the series finale and will wrap up the storyline of the Codys.
Animal Kingdom season 5 is slated to premiere this coming summer.
