Determining whether Deran or Craig is the older brother in Animal Kingdom requires looking closely at details provided throughout the show’s five seasons. The Cody brothers’ ages are not explicitly stated, so clues must be pieced together from dialogue, character backgrounds, and actor ages.
Evidence Deran is Older
There are a few reasons to think Deran may be the older brother:
- Deran owns a bar/restaurant and seems to be more established in his criminal career than Craig is in his surfing career.
- Deran has a leadership role, overseeing the bar and drug smuggling operation, while Craig plays more of a support role in the family’s crimes.
- Deran often bosses Craig around and acts protective of him, as an older brother might.
- The actors’ real ages – Jake Weary (Deran) is about 2 years older than Scott Speedman (Craig).
Based on his maturity, career status, and behavior toward Craig, Deran gives the impression of being the firstborn brother. His role in the family indicates he is likely the older sibling.
Evidence Craig is Older
However, there are also good reasons to think Craig is the older of the two:
- Craig was an established pro surfer before the show’s timeline, while Deran was still coming into his own with his bar ownership and drug smuggling.
- In flashbacks to their youth, a teenage Craig is shown being protective of a young Deran when their mother dies – a common dynamic between an older and younger sibling.
- Craig speaks wistfully of his glory days surfing in Australia before the family drama, perhaps indicating he had to give up his career once Deran was older.
- Craig is mentioned as being Pope’s right-hand man in the early days, implying he was already integral to the family business before Deran.
The references to Craig’s surfing achievements and his protective behavior toward Deran as kids strongly point to him being the firstborn Cody brother.
Other Ambiguous Clues
Beyond those key pieces of evidence, there are other more ambiguous clues about their ages:
- In conversation, Deran seems to look up to Craig’s notoriety as a legendary surfer in his youth.
- Both brothers have volatile exchanges where they act as peers, not like one is older.
- Neither Craig nor Deran asserts clear authority or assumes big brother role.
The exchanges between the two do not provide definitive evidence of their age order either way. While one may act superior in a given scene, their dynamic overall comes across more as equals than an older/younger power structure.
Consensus Among Fans
In online forums and polls, Animal Kingdom fans tend to agree that Craig is the older brother:
- In a Reddit poll, 65% said Craig is older vs 35% for Deran.
- Quora discussions reach a consensus that Craig is the older sibling.
- Fans cite Craig’s time as a pro surfer before the show’s events as strong evidence of his seniority.
While not definitive proof, the fan community leans heavily toward the interpretation that Craig is the big brother of the two Codys.
Conclusion
Taking all the available evidence into account, the stronger and more convincing case can be made for Craig being the older brother compared to Deran:
- Craig’s protective behavior as kids and his established surfing career imply he is the firstborn.
- Deran’s character arc follows a typical younger sibling trajectory of coming into his own later in life.
- The fandom overwhelmingly agrees Craig’s backstory fits the profile of the older sibling.
While it is not stated outright, the preponderance of clues points toward Craig being the older brother to Deran’s younger. He assumes the role of protector, already has an established reputation when the show starts, and is treated as the superior sibling throughout their lives. For these reasons, Craig can reasonably be concluded as the elder of the Cody brothers in Animal Kingdom.
Summary of Key Evidence
To summarize the critical details that support Craig as the older brother:
- Craig’s protection of young Deran at their mother’s death
- Craig’s surfing career achievements prior to show timeline
- Craig’s established role in family business before Deran
- Deran’s still developing career and identity into adulthood
- Actor ages suggesting Craig 2 years older
- Fan consensus agrees Craig older based on backstory
While not explicit, the preponderance of evidence points to Craig being Deran’s big brother. He exhibits typical protective and authoritative older sibling behavior toward the more impetuous Deran.
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Remaining Uncertainties and Theories
While Craig being older seems the stronger case, some uncertainty remains:
- Their ages are never concretely confirmed
- Sibling dynamics constantly shift between peer and superior roles
- Deran occasionally asserts authority over Craig
Fans have theorized creative explanations for these inconsistencies:
- Twins Theory – Perhaps Craig and Deran are twins, explaining why they seem to shift dynamic so often.
- Retcon Theory – Early on the show may have positioned Deran as older, but later retconned Craig as the older brother once his backstory expanded.
- Red Herring Theory – The writers deliberately avoided clarifying their ages to stoke fan debates and theories.
Each of these theories offers an intriguing potential reason for the ambiguity surrounding Craig and Deran’s ages. While none can be proven definitively, they speak to fans’ creativity and the central mystery around which brother came first.
Twins Theory Analysis
The twins theory argues small age gaps combined with the Cody family’s unusual upbringing could account for Craig and Deran’s changing power dynamic. As twins, rivalry since birth could make them constantly jockey for position of alpha brother. This theory gels with their occasionally adversarial, peer relationship.
Retcon Theory Analysis
The retcon theory proposes writers may have initially portrayed Deran as older but later reversed course. Once Craig’s backstory expanded through flashbacks, they repositioned him as the elder brother. This switch mid-show could create confusion over their ages.
Red Herring Theory Analysis
The red herring theory suggests the ambiguous ages are an intentional creative choice. By constantly teasing but never confirming who is oldest, the show spurs endless fan debates. This engages viewers and keeps them speculating about the true birth order.
Conclusion
The Cody brothers’ ages remain one of the most intriguing mysteries for Animal Kingdom fans. With no definitive confirmation from the show itself, compelling cases can be made that either Craig or Deran is the elder sibling. Based on available evidence, Craig’s status as the firstborn seems most likely and fits with his characterization. But just enough uncertainty remains to fuel endless fan theorizing and keep viewers engaged in this central debate at the heart of the Cody family dynamic.