Reflection and Personal Analysis of the Netflix TV Series The Family (2016)

Reflection and Personal Analysis of the Netflix TV Series The Family (2016)

Throughout humanity, irrespective of the existing differences in religion, social, and economic status, the family is the most revered institution. Whether related by affinity (such as marriage) or by consanguinity (through birth), family members often tend to hold each other with high regard, caring for each other’s welfare, including emotionally, physically, and financially. From my perspective as a lover of drama and family television series, I think there are very few shows that have portrayed this aspect of love, commitment, expressed appreciation, good communication, time together, strong marriage, and positive outlook than the 2016 Netflix TV series titled “The Family.”

This 12-episode American thriller was executive-produced and created by Bans Jenna, a former writer with Shondaland TV Production Company. The entire story revolves around Mayor Claire Warren’s family. Warren (Allen Joan) is serving as the mayor of Red Pines, Maine, after clinching the seat on a Republican ticket. She was primarily elected because of her stand on family values. Willa (Pill Allison) works as the chief of staff for her mother, Warren, while the oldest son, Danny (Gilford Zach), is an alcoholic who is always inebriated. John (Graves Rupert), Warren’s distant husband, is a novelist who authors books about mourning processes. Just before announcing her intention to contest for the gubernatorial seat, Warren’s youngest son, Ben Murphy/Adam Warren, reappears after presumably being dead for about ten years. Adam had been kidnapped. Hank Asher, Adam’s imprisoned murderer, is almost immediately released from jail. The story gets interesting when Meyer Nina (Bingham Margot), the cop who has supposedly had a romantic relationship with Warren’s distant husband (John) for nearly ten years since the disappearance of their son Adam, gets involved in Hank’s case, trying to solve the puzzle about their son’s disappearance (Moylan).

My take is that the entire first season is completely intriguing. I like the suspense created from episode to episode and the unresolved mysteries. It is without question the primary reason that makes each episode interesting. For instance, I am still wondering what truly happened to Adam even after watching the entire 12 episodes. After being kidnapped, he was held hostage inside a tiny room in the forest (Andreeva). The people involved in his kidnapping and how he arrived there, as well as the truth about his escape, are still a mystery. The boy is very horrified and is seemingly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because he oversleeps and can barely speak (IMDb).

Another thing I find very interesting about “The Family” is that everybody in Warren’s family, as well as other cast members, seems to hold some kind of secret. The cop Nina and Warren’s husband have a secret relationship. Warren’s eldest daughter, Willa, also seemingly has something to hide. She is apparently guilty of “fingering” Hank, the young man suspected of killing his younger brother Adam – who she was required to watch in the first place. Hank, who is apparently not guilty of Adam’s kidnapping, also hides from the public the fact that he is a pedophile. Besides just the mysteries and secrets, I think the storytelling aspect of the series is the next level. The scriptwriter managed to convey clearly and organize in an orderly manner the key events, which build beautifully on one another.

Works Cited

Andreeva, Nellie. “Liam James Cast in ABC Jenna Bans Pilot.” Deadline, 19 Feb. 2015, https://deadline.com/2015/02/liam-james-cast-jenna-bans-pilot-abc-1201376891/. Accessed 11 Dec. 2020.

IMDb. “The Family (2016). IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5193720/?ref_=adv_li_tt. Accessed 11 Dec. 2020.

Moylan, Brian. “The Family: ABC’s Buzzed About Thriller is an Intriguing but Generic Imposter.” The Guardian, 3 Mar. 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/mar/03/the-family-review-abc-joan-allen-andrew-mccarthy-room-the-imposter. Accessed 11 Dec. 2020.

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The Family (2016)

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