Rapid Insights: ‘Black Rabbit’ Blends Dysfunctional Brothers With Dark Crime Chaos

Who’s been adding this dark thriller to their queue? 
We’re seeing an audience that skews toward men (54%) and those 35+ (78%), but not too different from the gender-balanced viewership of Ozark (50% men / 50% women), also starring Jason Bateman. Other Netflix-based action-laced crime dramas like Narcos and Peaky Blinders tended to bring in even more men.

What’s the show’s main pull? 
The brothers. The show follows ambitious, slimy restaurateur Jake and his seedy gambling-addict brother Vince, and their fraught, dysfunctional Sibling Relationship (160) is Black Rabbit’s #1 overall viewership driver. The pair have a long history of codependency, resentment, and trauma (Family Dysfunction, 121), and their current dynamic–a reignition of greed, anger, and Sibling Rivalry (115) after a long period of estrangement–sets up such an arresting trainwreck that viewers can’t look away. At the same time, and even in spite of mutual Betrayals (118), the pair’s loyalty runs bone-deep, with Jake risking his own neck and club to save Vince from past bad decisions. These multiple layers of complexity make for a compelling central relationship.

What’s making the show so addictive?
Suspense and tension. When Vince rolls back into town, on the run yet again from another deal gone bad, he’s suddenly faced with repaying a substantial debt to a dangerous loan shark who’s extremely eager to collect. With the loan shark’s enforcers threatening their livelihoods and loved ones (Near Death Experience, 115), the brothers must figure out how to get the money without getting anyone killed (High Stakes, 120; Under Threat, 114) or losing ownership of Jake’s top-tier restaurant. The series goes to some very bleak, pitch-black places (Dark Themes, 125) as it follows the pair’s chaotic decision-making, and it’s this overarching sense of stress and darkness that’s keeping viewers tuned in to see what happens next.

What could earn the show another season? 
The bookies. If Netflix and the showrunners change their minds about stopping at one season, there’s more juice to be squeezed from the unique and compelling Criminal Organization (135) that’s introduced in the show. Head boss Mancuso, his brutal henchmen, his keen-to-prove-himself son, and their wider criminal network are collectively Black Rabbit’s top driver for longevity, and the ins and outs of their sordid business offer plenty of opportunities for future storylines. Audiences will want to return for more of the same dark overtones and tense-filled emotions (Aggressiveness, 125; Contempt, 121; Disapproval, 113) that they ate up in season one.

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