Janine Smurf Confirms Baz is J’s Dad in Animal Kingdom

One of Animal Kingdom’s crucial plotlines has been J trying to figure out who his father was after his mother died. In the beginning, we see him move in with the Cody family, and the tale of crime, drama, and family ensues.

Over the seasons, we’ve seen J seek answers from different people, including Smurf and Baz. He confronted both of them when he thought it could be Baz. The two didn’t confirm his suspicion, but they didn’t deny it either.

However, J wasn’t convinced by their response, and it became really important for him to know. So, was Baz really J’s father?

Baz was J’s father. Janine Smurf Cody confirmed this in season 3 after Baz passed away. When J visited Smurf in prison and asked her again, she affirmed it.

The first time J asked Janine was right at the very beginning. J figures that Baz might be his father because his mother always spoke about him when he was alive. He even tries to contact him, but that turns out to be an unsuccessful attempt.

So in season 1, episode 3, he asks Janine, and she merely says that his mother had been around a lot of guys. This was to imply that she would’ve slept with multiple men, and anyone could be his dad. However, she added that she loved only one of those men – A man who Smurf had brought into the family.

This is the first clue, considering Baz was taken in by her when he was pretty young. She rescued him from an abusive household and adopted him when he was 12 years old. He became close with all other siblings but was closest to Pope. Although Baz and Pope weren’t real brothers, their bond was much stronger. Baz, later on, went on to become Janine’s right-hand/second-in-command and led all the criminal activities of the family.

The conversation doesn’t end there. J asks if she is talking about Baz but doesn’t get any answers.

In episode 8, J confronts Baz directly. He gives the same answer as Janine but also mentions that there was a weird man who had sex with Julia (J’s mother) while she was unconscious, and 9 months later, J was born.

If you look at the various instances, you’ll realize that on one hand, Baz had tried to divert J, but Janine had dropped little hints and clues while ensuring she doesn’t make it obvious. In season 3, episode 1, we get an absolute answer.

J went to the prison to meet with Janine Smurf Cody. This was after Baz was brutally murdered. When he asked one last time, in a desperate attempt to know about his background and where he came from, he got his answers. Her exact words were, ‘Course, he was, sweetie.’ Thus, it is confirmed beyond doubt that Baz was J’s father.

Currently, the final season of Animal Kingdom is airing. Two more episodes remain, and the finale will air on 28th August 2022.

About Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom is an American drama television series developed by Jonathan Lisco. It is based on the 2010 Australian film of the same name directed by David Michôd, who is executive producer for the series, alongside Liz Watts, who also produced the 2010 film.

The series follows a 17-year-old boy, who, after the death of his mother, moves in with his estranged relatives, the Codys, a criminal family clan governed by the matriarch Smurf.

The crime drama stars Ellen Barkin, Shawn Hatosy, Ben Robson, Jake Weary, Finn Cole, Danielle Alonso, Molly Gordon, and Denis Leary. Season 6 will be the final season of the show.