Why did Baz die in Animal Kingdom? Full story behind his exit
The question "Why did Baz die in Animal Kingdom?" leads to one of the show’s most surprising and emotional moments. Baz was part of the Cody family, and his life was cut short due to betrayal and greed. His own adopted mother, Smurf, ordered the hit.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Why did Baz die in Animal Kingdom?
- Baz’s role in Animal Kingdom
- The betrayal that led to his downfall
- Baz's shocking murder: Baz was killed before he escaped to Mexico
- Who killed Baz in Animal Kingdom?
- Behind the scenes: Why the actor left
- Frequently asked questions
- Why was Baz killed in Animal Kingdom?
- Is Baz J's father?
- What happens to Lena when Baz dies?
- Does Baz come back to Animal Kingdom?
- Who killed Smurf in Animal Kingdom?
- Who dies in Animal Kingdom?
- Wrapping up
Key takeaways
- Baz's life was cut short in Season 3 while trying to escape to Mexico with stolen money.
- He was killed by Mia Benitez, J’s girlfriend, who was secretly working under Smurf’s orders.
- Baz’s death led to major shifts in power, trust, and loyalty within the Cody family.
- J avenged Baz’s death by ending Mia's life after she confessed to the murder in Season 4.
- This article contains spoilers.
Why did Baz die in Animal Kingdom?
Baz Blackwell’s death in Animal Kingdom was one of the most shocking and pivotal moments of the series. As per Distractify, Baz died because he betrayed Smurf by stealing her hidden money and framing her for murder.
Animal Kingdom is an American crime drama television series that premiered on 14 June 2016 and concluded on 28 August 2022. It follows the adventures of a family known as the Codys while they ran a criminal enterprise in California.
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Baz’s role in Animal Kingdom
Baz from Animal Kingdom is a central character in the crime drama television series, played by Scott Speedman. He was adopted by Smurf at the age of 12 to escape an abusive home. Smurf then raised and groomed him into her criminal lifestyle, making him one of her most trusted and loyal operatives.
The betrayal that led to his downfall
In the finale of Season 2, Baz betrays Smurf by secretly stealing millions of dollars in cash and jewellery from her hidden storage unit. He shared some with his brothers and J, but kept a large portion for himself.
Baz then frames Smurf for the murder of Javi, a rival criminal, and has her arrested. While Smurf is in jail, Baz plans to escape to Mexico with his girlfriend Lucy and start fresh.
Baz's shocking murder: Baz was killed before he escaped to Mexico
In the season 2 finale, Betrayal, just as Baz was leaving for Mexico, he was shot four times in the chest by a masked gunman off-screen. The season ended at that moment, and fans were left wondering who shot him 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.
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Who killed Baz in Animal Kingdom?
In Animal Kingdom Season 3, Episode 3, it is revealed that Baz was killed by Mia Benitez, as per The Cinemaholic. Mia is Pete Trujillo's niece and was also J’s girlfriend. Later, in Episode 11, it was confirmed that Mia was following Smurf’s orders when she ended Baz's life.
Smurf always knew who got her in prison and believed that Baz might try to leave her behind, so she had him killed. While in prison, she met the Trujillo gang and paid them to protect her, which is how she got to know Mia.
Smurf only admitted the truth when Lucy put her in a tough spot during Pope’s kidnapping. Even then, Smurf did not fully take the blame; she said it was Lucy’s fault for turning her adopted son against the family.
In Season 4, Episode 8, Mia finally tells J that she was the one who ended Baz's life. This turns out to be a big mistake, as J gets his revenge by shooting and killing her.
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Behind the scenes: Why the actor left
Scott Speedman, who played Baz, left the show during Season 3. According to The Direct, the actor left the show because he asked.
Animal Kingdom is based on an Australian film where Baz dies early, so the writers felt it was time to follow that storyline. Executive producer John Wells said Baz from Animal Kingdom’s death was meant to show that crime has consequences, and that no character is truly safe.
In a 2018 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Animal Kingdom executive producer John Wells explained that Baz’s death was a creative decision based on the show’s storyline, not because Scott Speedman wanted to leave:
It was a year later than we thought we were going to do it. The series is based on the Australian film by David Michod, and the Baz character dies in the first 15 minutes of the movie. So that's where we thought we were going, and then we realised we had more material for Baz, more stories we wanted to tell, so we put it off a little bit.
Wells also mentioned that Scott Speedman knew from early on that Baz would not last through the entire series:
But for the activities that the Codys are involved in, we want the show to feel as if there are consequences for what they do, so it was a pretty straightforward, easy decision to make. I'd always talked to Scott [Speedman] about the fact that I didn't think it would be a five- or six-year deal, so he was prepared for it when it happened.
Source: UGC
Frequently asked questions
Why was Baz killed in Animal Kingdom?
Baz was killed to stay true to the original Animal Kingdom film’s storyline.
Is Baz J's father?
Baz is believed to be J’s father, as confirmed by Smurf and supported by key moments in the series.
What happens to Lena when Baz dies?
When Baz dies, his daughter Lena is first cared for by his girlfriend Lucy, then briefly stays with the Codys, but ends up in foster care after the family is deemed unfit to raise her.
Does Baz come back to Animal Kingdom?
Baz does not return to the present-day storyline of Animal Kingdom after he died in the Season 3 premiere.
Who killed Smurf in Animal Kingdom?
Smurf's life was ended by her grandson J in Season 4 after she orchestrated a deadly mission, and he fulfilled her wish by shooting her.
Who dies in Animal Kingdom?
In Animal Kingdom, major characters who die include Baz, Catherine, Smurf, Craig, Pope, and Penny.
Wrapping up
Baz died in Animal Kingdom because he betrayed Smurf by stealing her hidden money and trying to get her arrested, even though she had raised and trusted him like family. Smurf secretly ordered Mia to kill Baz to protect her power. His death sparked betrayals, power struggles, and revenge that shaped the rest of the series.
READ MORE: Who does Liza end up with in 'Younger': Josh or Charles?
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Over 'Younger's seven seasons, Liza falls in love with Josh, a younger tattoo artist and Charles, her more age-appropriate boss. Josh represents Liza's reclaimed youth, while Charles offers a stable romance.
Source: Briefly News
