How did Baz die on Animal Kingdom? Scott Speedman's exit, explored

Baz Blackwell’s death on Animal Kingdom was one of the most shocking and pivotal moments of the series, not only because of how abruptly it happened but also due to the layers of betrayal surrounding it.

In the finale of Season 2, Baz frames Smurf for a murder and has her arrested, opening the way for him to run away with the family money. However, he is shot as the season ends and, at the start of Season 3, he succumbs to his injuries in the hospital. Who killed Baz remains a mystery till that point in Animal Kingdom.

How did Bazz die on Animal Kingdom?

As mentioned, Baz is seen betraying Smurf in Season 2. Just as he is about to escape with Lucy to Mexico, he is shot multiple times, per ScreenRant. He is bleeding, barely clinging to life at the start of Season 3, and taken to the hospital where he dies from the injuries. This marks the exit of Scott Speedman, the actor cast as Baz on Animal Kingdom.

Who was the gunman or who killed Baz becomes a mystery, with several characters emerging as suspects. However, by the end of Season 3, the truth is revealed — and it is more complicated than expected. Baz’s downfall in Animal Kingdom began when he robbed Smurf’s hidden storage unit, containing millions in cash and jewellery including watches she had claimed were destroyed. Although he allegedly split the loot with his brothers and J, he kept a bigger share.

Smurf was saving money for her family's future, but the tension escalates when Baz frames Smurf for Javi's murder and has her arrested. He planned to flee to Mexico with Lucy, his girlfriend, following this. While the plan worked, it ultimately sealed his fate, as Smurf retaliated by having him killed.

While Smurf was the mastermind, Mia, a hitwoman and gang affiliate who later becomes J’s girlfriend, is revealed to be the one who shot Baz. What was surprising was that even from behind bars, Smurf successfully orchestrated the killing as retaliation, for Baz stealing from her and trying to oust her from power. It was a chilling reminder of Smurf’s ruthless control and willingness to kill even those she considered family.

The reasons behind Scott Speedman's exit from Animal Kingdom explored

The circumstances surrounding Scott Speedman’s exit from Animal Kingdom remain a bit murky due to conflicting accounts from those involved in the show. In a HuffPost interview, Ellen Barkin claimed that Scott had requested to leave the show, and thus the writers killed off his character. Barkin saw the situation as gender bais, as her request was canceled by the show makers while his was approved.

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John Wells, one of the executive producers, claims that killing Baz was a creative decision, and not based on the actor's request. According to CBR, Wells said the Animal Kingdom team had always planned Baz’s death, citing the show's inspiration — an original Australian film of the same name — where Baz dies within the first 15 minutes. However, in the series, they decided to delay the death as they had more story to tell.

It can be speculated that Speedman may have expressed a willingness to leave the show, and the writers simply used that moment to align with the show’s original narrative plan, as based on the film. The actor never confirmed an official reason for his exit.

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