Spoilers for Animal Kingdom ahead.Barry "Baz" Blackwell's death in most powerful characters in Animal Kingdom.

It's long suggested that Baz is J's (Finn Cole) biological father, and he acts like something of a fatherly figure at first. He seems to be the most level-headed of all the Cody brothers. It's this more mature mentality that makes his death all the more shocking. There are a lot of sad deaths and departures in Animal Kingdom, and because the criminal family at the center is a literal family, the weight of these killings is heavy. What was even more intriguing was that the show did not reveal who killed Baz until episodes later.

Baz's Death In Animal Kingdom Explained

Baz Was Killed Just As He Was Planning To Run Away To Mexico

Everone in the Cody family looks out for themselves above all, but Baz took it a step further and decided to break into Smurf's secret storage room in season 2 to reveal the millions she has skimmed off the top of what her family brings in. Smurf sidesteps the issue, claiming that it's insurance for the family's future. Baz has had enough, however, and plans to escape with Lucy (Carolina Guerra), his lover, to Mexico. He frames Smurf for a murder which puts her in jail, giving him the perfect opportunity to abscond with the family's money.

Just as he's about to leave though in the season 2 finale, "Betrayal", Baz is shot four times by someone off-screen. The season ends on that moment, but we don't learn Baz's fate until the premiere of the next season. In season 3, episode 1, "The Killing", Baz is rushed to the hospital after the shooting, but he dies on the operating table. Friends and family have been killed before in Animal Kingdom. That's nothing new. But what makes this one different is that the rest of the Codys have no idea who could be responsible.

Why Mia Benitez Killed Baz & Who Was Working With Her

Smurf Ordered The Hit On Baz

It's revealed in Animal Kingdom season 3, episode 3, "The Center Will Hold", that Baz's murderer was Mia Benitez (Sohvi Rodriguez). Mia is Pete Trujillo's (Rey Gallegos) niece and a love interest of J's. It's revealed in season 3, episode 11, "Jackpot", that Mia was working under Smurf's orders. Smurf knew all along who sent her to prison and suspected that Baz may run out on her, so she had him killed. In prison, she came in with the Trujillo gang and paid them to protect her there, which is how she came to know Mia.

Smurf only itted this when Lucy managed to get her in a compromising position with Pope's (Shawn Hatosy) kidnapping, but even then Smurf didn't take full responsibility. She blamed Lucy for poisoning her adoptive son against his family. Mia eventually comes clean to J in season 4, episode 8, "Ambo", telling him that she killed Baz. It's a mistake and J coldly avenges his father by shooting and killing Mia. Baz's death is eventually fully avenged at the end of season 4, once again, courtesy of J.

Baz's Death Was One Of Animal Kingdom's Saddest Twists

J Lost His Father With Baz's Death

Baz's death is one of the more tragic in the whole series. His death leaves a big hole in the Cody family, and his character remains critical to the show, as evidenced by how frequently he appears in flashback sequences. Baz's death affects J in ways that inform his arc for the rest of the series. The reason that Mia told J that she killed Baz was because she wanted J to see just how treacherous and monstrous his family was. If Smurf was willing to kill his father, she would be willing to do anything.

Baz is played by Joel Edgerton in the 2010 movie, which the Animal Kingdom TV series is based on.

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While J reacts poorly to this information, it sticks with him. Later, when Smurf demands Pope shoot her, J shoots Smurf instead and kills her. For a moment, it seemed like someone was going to get out of Smurf and the Cody's grasp, but then he was struck down. It's a shocking twist and one that you didn't see coming considering the show was only in its second season and Baz was such a big part of it. As sad as it was, the mystery that followed was an important and intriguing storyline within Animal Kingdom.