J is introduced at age 17 after watching his mother Julia die of a heroin overdose, entering the volatile Cody crime family as a quiet, emotionally guarded outsider. He uses his bleak upbringing and early adversity as fuel, displaying an unnatural calm when facing extreme violence or disrespect from his uncles. Unlike his impulsive uncles (Craig, Deran, and Pope), J possesses a sharp intellect and strategic mind, treating family members as tools for his own long-term survival and financial consolidation. Initially perceived as an innocent kid seeking a place to belong or avenging his mother's shunning by matriarch Janine "Smurf" Cody, J's primary driver ultimately shifts to absolute power and wealth.

Raised by a manipulative mother (Smurf) who treated vulnerability as a weakness, Deran masks his pain and fears behind hostility and cold detachment. Constantly needing to prove himself next to his older brothers, he carries a sharp chip on his shoulder. He struggles early on to accept his sexuality in a hyper-macho, toxic environment before gradually claiming his autonomy. Unlike his chaotic brothers, Deran seeks control and normalcy by purchasing and running his own beachside bar, The Drop. His past as a competitive surfer links him to the Oceanside community outside of crime, serving as a constant reminder of the clean life he wishes he had.

Constantly chases extreme highs through speed, dangerous heists, alcohol, and recreational drugs. Acts purely on emotion and desire, often creating chaos or jeopardizing criminal operations because he fails to think ahead. Frequently underestimated in intelligence, though he occasionally displays clever instincts during jobs when given the space to lead. Manipulated by his mother, Janine "Smurf" Cody, who views him as easily manageable due to his addiction and reckless lifestyle. Shares a close, protective bond with his younger brother Deran, rooted in surfing and shared trauma. His trajectory shifts when he becomes a father to Nicholas with Renn Randall, exposing a deep-seated desire to be a stable, masculine provider, though constantly undermined by his substance struggles.

Outwardly the most level-headed, Baz doesn't just participate in armed robberies, he coordinates and plans them. Functions as her trusted confidant and second-in-command, though their relationship is built on mutual criminal utility rather than pure love. Driven by ambition, Baz eventually tries to usurp Smurf by stealing her hidden money to escape the family, which seals his fate. Uses people—including partners like Catherine and Lucy—to secure his own safety, power, and wealth. Viewers on Reddit generally reach a consensus that Baz is a self-serving, dishonest, and careless father who uses and manipulates those closest to him. Haunted by an abusive childhood before Smurf took him in at age 12, trapping him in a cycle of abuse and control.

Raised by his manipulative mother, Smurf, Pope was conditioned from childhood to view violence as a normal reaction and tool for survival. Throughout the series, Pope exhibits severe symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), complex PTSD, and extreme social isolation. He functions as the lethal muscle for the family, yet unlike cold-hearted criminals, his violent outbursts are driven by a fractured mental state and desperation. Pope’s relationship with Smurf is a toxic mix of maternal worship, fear, and profound psychological enmeshment that dictates most of his adult choices. Despite his instability, he shows deep, tender care for select family members and children, notably trying to protect and care for Lena after tragic events. He absorbs the heavy emotional and legal burdens for his siblings, often acting as the tragic martyr for a family that exploits his unstable mental state.

Smurf weaponizes affection, blurring the lines between nurturing love and suffocating possession to keep her sons emotionally dependent. Rather than protecting her children, she intentionally molds them into violent career criminals to secure her own power and financial survival. Shaped by an abusive, neglectful childhood where her own mother was shot during a robbery, Smurf views the world as a predatory space where empathy is a fatal weakness. She routinely pits her sons and adopted associates (like Baz) against one another to ensure no single person gains enough leverage to challenge her throne.Beneath her domestic facade of cooking and caring lies a ruthless sociopath who will sacrifice or order hits on anyone—including family—if they threaten her absolute authority.