Netflix’s most recent release, Black Rabbit, is a crime thriller series that takes the viewer into a Manhattan restaurant filled with ambition, danger, and treachery. The show tackles themes of family, power, and tension.
Black Rabbit, created by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, takes the audience into a world where success is a commodity worth sacrificing morality, life, and even the semblance of humanity for.
Set against the backdrop of New York City’s bustling culinary scene, Black Rabbit introduces viewers to Jake, who is in the throes of dealing with his brother, the troubled Vince, as they spiral into multi-faceted webs of finances, crime, and profound betrayal while torn in the vicious grasp of high tension. Despite being a crime thriller, Black Rabbit is filled with thought-provoking questions surrounding morality and grey areas.
Black Rabbit writers explain why Anna was killed midseason
Black Rabbit tackles complex issues surrounding family, ambition, and the loyalty that is shadowed by tension and danger in the veins of the rat race. Halfway through episode 4, the death of Anna, played by Abbey Lee, is meant to be one of the most riveting moments in the series.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunners and writers Zach Baylin and Kate Susman elucidated Anna’s death as the spurring force of character. They described:
“I think a lot of inspiration for the show came from stories of not just restaurants, but ambitious, high-octane work environments where the ambition and ideas of success, the ‘anything goes’ attitude curdled into some terrible behavior with real victims. It was important to us to show that what happened to Anna wasn’t frivolous. It’s heavy stuff, it impacts Jake, Vince, and everyone at the restaurant.”
Susman added:
“Roxie turned a blind eye. Not that she was complicit, but the tragedy of Anna’s death and what that means for Roxie is snapping out of what she’s willfully ignored or chosen not to see regarding Anna’s prior assault. It presents her with a point from which she can no longer return. Her life can never be the same without Anna. We made those stakes clear for Roxie.”
The showrunners clarified that killing off Anna was the only way to raise the stakes for Roxie, and it also allowed the show to move forward. The dreadful event acted as a catalyst in the lives of everyone who was involved with the character.
Black Rabbit stars on the show’s dark dynamics
The portrayal of the relationships between the two main characters of the series, Jake and Vince, is the focus of the series. The relationships are very crucial to the story. Jason Bateman, who plays Vince, explained to Netflix the relationship between the two brothers, saying:
“Everybody can relate to that. Everybody’s either got a sibling, or a friendship where you love being with one another, but it’s kind of dangerous; where that person usually gets you in trouble, but they’re really exciting to be around.”
Jude Law, who plays Jake, emphasized the introspective journey his character undergoes, stating:
“It’s about reckoning. It’s about realizing when you evaluate your life whether you’re living someone else’s dream or your own dream. I think that’s the essence of Jake’s journey, certainly.”
Both actors emphasise the impact of ambition, addiction, and moral compromise on the family’s deep connections. This is the central conflict of the series, Black Rabbit.
What is Netflix's latest Black Rabbit about?
In addition to the two brothers, Black Rabbit has several supporting characters, each of whom is essential to the rising conflict. Anna’s character, despite her limited screentime, serves a pivotal role in the story. The events leading up to her death act as an enabler for Roxie’s confrontation with Jake, leading her to take his head chef position and open a restaurant named after Anna, illustrating the lasting influence her character has on the plot.
From the very first episode of the series, the perfect fusion of immense crime, family feuds, and surrounding work pressure results in open-ended plotlines that keep the audience on their toes. Black Rabbit, like any Netflix original, is filled with morally grey characters, uproarious and devastating plot lines, and unexpected twists.
The intricately woven plot is filled with rich drama and unrelenting suspense waiting to be uncovered by the audience. The show promises to be a thoughtful drama and is definitely worth watching.