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The Best Episodes of Animal Kingdom

Every episode of Animal Kingdom ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Animal Kingdom!

Binge this in 2d 9h•Peaking at 9.1/10

17-year-old Joshua "J" Cody moves in with his freewheeling relatives in their Southern California beach town after his mother dies of a heroin overdose. Headed by boot-tough matriarch Janine "Smurf" Cody and her right-hand Baz,

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Animal Kingdom Season 1 Episode 10 - What Have You Done
    9.1/10(7 votes)

    #1 - What Have You Done

    S1:E10

    Puzzled by Catherine's disappearance, Baz hunts down all leads. With J caught in the middle, the cops close in on the Codys and threaten to take them all down.

    Director:John Wells
    Writer:Jonathan Lisco

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  2. Animal Kingdom Season 2 Episode 5 - Forgive Us Our Trespasses
    8.8/10(5 votes)

    #2 - Forgive Us Our Trespasses

    S2:E5

    As the boys put the megachurch heist in motion, Craig has second thoughts. Javi surprises Smurf with a visit.

    Director:Laura Innes
    Writer:T.J. Brady

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  3. Animal Kingdom Season 1 Episode 8 - Man In
    8.7/10(5 votes)

    #3 - Man In

    S1:E8

    Tensions run high as the Codys prepare for their big heist. Catherine gets a shock and must decide what's best for her family. J faces pressure from the cops.

    Director:Larry Teng
    Writer:Megan Martin

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  4. Animal Kingdom Season 2 Episode 10 - Treasure
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #4 - Treasure

    S2:E10

    As Craig leads the boys and Nicky in pirating the yacht, Smurf tries to find out who robbed her. Meanwhile, Baz considers what life would be like without Smurf calling all the shots.

    Director:Josef Kubota Wladyka
    Writer:T.J. Brady

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  5. Animal Kingdom Season 2 Episode 3 - Bleed For It
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #5 - Bleed For It

    S2:E3

    Smurf takes J to the desert for an old friend’s wake. Baz visits Lucy in Mexico and Pope bonds with Amy from the megachurch while babysitting Lena. Deran considers what he’ll risk to get a liquor license for the bar.

    Director:J. Michael Muro
    Writer:Megan Martin

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  6. Animal Kingdom Season 2 Episode 9 - Custody
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #6 - Custody

    S2:E9

    When Baz bows out of the yacht heist, Craig and Deran consider their options. Meanwhile, Baz recruits J for a more personal job.

    Director:Gary B. Coleman
    Writer:Etan Frankel

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Animal Kingdom

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  7. Animal Kingdom Season 2 Episode 12 - You Will Be Gutted
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #7 - You Will Be Gutted

    S2:E12

    With Smurf in jail, Baz makes his move to run the family, but his brothers have other plans.

    Director:Larry Teng
    Writer:Jonathan Lisco

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  8. Animal Kingdom Season 4 Episode 12 - Ghosts
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #8 - Ghosts

    S4:E12

    The Cody family sets off on Smurf’s mysterious heist, unaware of the surprises that await them when they arrive, which will change the family forever.

    Director:John Wells
    Writer:John Wells

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  9. Animal Kingdom Season 5 Episode 1 - Red Handed
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #9 - Red Handed

    S5:E1

    Dealing with the blowback from Season 4, the Codys are forced to tie up some loose ends with the cousins and figure out what the family looks like without Smurf.

    Director:Nick Copus
    Writer:Daniele Nathanson

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  10. Animal Kingdom Season 2 Episode 8 - Grace
    8.4/10(5 votes)

    #10 - Grace

    S2:E8

    As cops press Amy about the church robbery, Pope diverts their suspicions. Craig plans an unusual heist of his own. Baz tails Smurf to find out what she’s really hiding.

    Director:Cherie Nowlan
    Writer:Megan Martin

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  11. Animal Kingdom Season 2 Episode 13 - Betrayal
    8.3/10(3 votes)

    #11 - Betrayal

    S2:E13

    When Smurf realizes she may be in jail a lot longer than expected, she pits her sons against one another, the consequences be damned.

    Director:John Wells
    Writer:John Wells

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  12. Animal Kingdom Season 2 Episode 6 - Cry Havoc
    8.2/10(4 votes)

    #12 - Cry Havoc

    S2:E6

    As Javi ratchets up the pressure on Smurf, she enlists J to help her. Baz is confronted by a secret Catherine kept from him. Pope and Baz clash in the wake of the megachurch job.

    Director:Larry Teng
    Writer:Jonathan Lisco

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  13. Animal Kingdom Season 4 Episode 6 - Into the Black
    8.2/10(4 votes)

    #13 - Into the Black

    S4:E6

    Suspicion grows when Smurf learns of a new threat to the family. Craig tracks down Frankie in the wake of her betrayal, and Deran makes a dangerous decision to try and protect his relationship with Adrian.

    Director:Loren Yaconelli
    Writer:Bill Balas

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  14. Animal Kingdom Season 5 Episode 2 - What Remains
    8.0/10(4 votes)

    #14 - What Remains

    S5:E2

    As Pope deals with Smurf's remains, Craig and Renn balance their old lives with being new parents. J finds a new job through an old contact, and Deran can't outrun his past with Adrian.

    Director:Mark Strand
    Writer:Bill Balas

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  15. Animal Kingdom Season 6 Episode 7 - Incognito
    8.0/10(3 votes)

    #15 - Incognito

    S6:E7

    Pope prepares to see an old friend. Craig needs Deran’s help when Nick’s in trouble. J pursues Penny romantically. Andrew wants to be called Pope.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Animal Kingdom Season 6 Episode 12 - Exodus
    8.0/10(3 votes)

    #16 - Exodus

    S6:E12

    Pope offers information on a cold case in exchange for a prison transfer. Deran says goodbye to the bar, J makes plans with Penny, and Craig chooses Renn and Nick. Smurf learns Julia has been dishonest.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Animal Kingdom Season 6 Episode 13 - Fubar
    8.0/10(3 votes)

    #17 - Fubar

    S6:E13

    The Cody boys embark on their most dangerous job yet. Andrew commits the original sin that destroyed the family.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Animal Kingdom Season 3 Episode 2 - In The Red
    7.8/10(5 votes)

    #18 - In The Red

    S3:E2

    J struggles to keep the family business afloat after Smurf enlists him to make sure all the bills get paid. Deran makes his own moves independent of the family. Pope learns the ins and outs of parenting as he cares for Lena, and Craig makes enemies in Mexico.

    Director:David Rodriguez
    Writer:Eliza Clark

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  19. Animal Kingdom Season 3 Episode 8 - Incoming
    7.8/10(4 votes)

    #19 - Incoming

    S3:E8

    The weed heist goes awry and leaves J and Deran stranded. Pope and Billy butt heads as Craig tries to keep the peace between them. Smurf learns about what J has been hiding from her since she's been away.

    Director:David Rodriguez
    Writer:Daniele Nathanson

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  20. Animal Kingdom Season 3 Episode 11 - Jackpot
    7.8/10(4 votes)

    #20 - Jackpot

    S3:E11

    Smurf enlists the boys in a surprise job that results in devastating consequences; Pope is forced to confront the truth about Baz's murder as J steps up for the family in an unexpected way.

    Director:Shawn Hatosy
    Writer:Matt Kester

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  21. Animal Kingdom Season 3 Episode 7 - Low Man
    7.7/10(5 votes)

    #21 - Low Man

    S3:E7

    Deran leads the charge in planning the weed heist; Lucy calls Pope down to Mexico for some intel on Baz's murder; J reaches a breaking point with Smurf; Craig learns more about Billy's girlfriend, Frankie.

    Director:Cherie Nowlan
    Writer:Eliza Clark

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  22. Animal Kingdom Season 5 Episode 13 - Launch
    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #22 - Launch

    S5:E13

    It's all hands on deck as the Cody family uses all their tools, tricks, and vehicles to pull off the job of their lives and settle all scores. A deadly secret from the past is also revealed. Season finale.

    Director:Nick Copus
    Writer:Daniele Nathanson

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  23. Animal Kingdom Season 3 Episode 3 - The Center Will Hold
    7.6/10(5 votes)

    #23 - The Center Will Hold

    S3:E3

    Smurf navigates prison politics in pursuit of a potential job. J pulls the Cody boys together to keep the family enterprise going. Nicky gets into serious trouble when she tries to impress an old friend.

    Director:Alex Zakrzewski
    Writer:Daniele Nathanson

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  24. Animal Kingdom Season 2 Episode 2 - Karma
    7.5/10(6 votes)

    #24 - Karma

    S2:E2

    As Smurf adjusts to being sidelined, the boys scope out their next job. Deran needs quick cash, and Pope and Craig lend him a hand while Baz investigates Catherine’s disappearance.

    Director:Thomas Carter
    Writer:Eliza Clark

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  25. Animal Kingdom Season 3 Episode 6 - Broke from the Box
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #25 - Broke from the Box

    S3:E6

    J tries to make his relationship with Nicky work as he faces pressure from Smurf to clean up loose ends; Craig gathers the boys to defend the Cody's reputation in town when outsiders move in on their territory; Billy gives Deran an idea for a job.

    Director:Mark Strand
    Writer:Matt Kester

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Best Episodes Summary

"What Have You Done" is the best rated episode of "Animal Kingdom". It scored 9.1/10 based on 7 votes. Directed by John Wells and written by Jonathan Lisco, it aired on 8/9/2016. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Forgive Us Our Trespasses".