People Fixate on the Violence and Drama in BMF — but They’re Totally Missing the Point

Spoilers ahead for the BMF finale.

When it comes to crime shows, it’s easy to get swept up in the drama and miss the true story — and that’s exactly what I think happens with the hit series BMF.

On the surface, the crime drama follows the rise and fall of the Black Mafia Family — one of the most influential crime families in the country. Formed in the 1980s by two brothers, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, BMF grew to become a large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering organization that also expanded into the music industry.

The series showcases the lives of the Flenory brothers, from their humble beginnings in Detroit and their entrance into the drug game to the building and destruction of their empire. It features everything associated with gang culture — violence, drug trafficking and sex. However, the story that I believe creator Randy Huggins is trying to tell is so much more than that.

Hidden beneath all of the violence and drama is a story rooted in familial love. BMF is a true demonstration of how far people will go to protect, care and provide for their family, whether that be blood-related or chosen.

At the heart of the show lies the brotherhood between Demetrius (portrayed by his son Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr.) and Terry (portrayed by actor Da’Vinchi). It starts off where their story began, showing them growing up in a poverty-stricken area in southwest Detroit.

The series’ success thrives on the brothers’ relationship and connection with one another. Despite all of their disagreements along the way, they always show up for, care for and protect each other. Their love for each other runs deep, which is shown in their frequently used phrase “womb to tomb.” The simple motto represents the entire purpose and meaning of the show.

Viewers are also introduced to the many challenges that the Flenory family faced, which mostly centered on their financial challenges. The family’s lack of money became one of the biggest factors that drove the brothers to begin their journey as small-time drug dealers.

The Flenory boys had a strong desire to elevate their family. In the show, it’s clear that their motivating factor for selling drugs is not only to obtain all of the material things that they wanted at the time, but also fulfill a need to help their family out of a tough situation.

As they continued their journey in the drug trade, they endured several new challenges, including Terry losing his eye in a shooting that almost cost him his life. However, over time, their loyalty to their trusted circle grew, as well as their organization. Eventually, their crew, the “50 Boyz,” became more like family and the love between them all was deep.

This evolution and the eventual change of their name to the “Black Mafia Family” is shown in the series. From family dinners to the different ways they’ve paid tribute to fallen members in their crew, the main sentiment that shined through was love.

Throughout the show, Huggins crafts a story that showcases all of the nuances of their crew, weaving in how each member shows up to support one another within the massive organization, and in spite of all the obstacles they encounter, it always comes back to their relationships.

That same familial love and loyalty extends beyond the Flenory boys and their crew. It is the driving force behind a lot of the antagonists on the show. Huggins has crafted complex characters all motivated by the same thing: a love for their family.

In the series, Steve Harris’ Detective Von Bryant seemingly only has one goal in mind: take down the Flenory boys. However, the deeper you get into the series, the more you’ll learn about his motivation for what he’s doing.

After losing his job and his reputation, Bryant is already set on taking the Flenory’s down. But, his anger and rage against the Flenorys is only heightened with the loss of his son, which he blames on the brothers. This tragic incident pushes Bryant to spend decades of his life in pursuit of taking down the Flenorys to avenge the death of his son.

A new antagonist this season, Myles Truitt’s B-Mickie is another example of this notion. Starting as one of the “50 Boyz,” his actions (which include becoming a double agent for Detective Bryant) left him exiled from the close crew.

In the latest season of BMF, he comes back into the fold through Terry, seemingly with good intentions. However, it’s later revealed that he’s only back in an attempt to help pay for his daughter’s medical bills, while simultaneously trying to undermine the people he once considered family.

B-Mickie is so blinded by his love-turned-hatred that he ends up orchestrating his own demise in the pursuit of revenge.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.  

As with many crime dramas, BMF has no shortage of violence. The show doesn’t shy away from the reality of what the Flenory brothers’ lives entailed, and it doesn’t glamorize it. Instead, it gives a frank point of view that allows you to see into their lives.

Huggins is not simply writing a story about two brothers who rose to prominence because of their connection to the drug trade and all of the people they came into contact with along the way. He’s crafting a story about family, loyalty and love. He’s giving context to the potential motivations behind one of the most popular criminal organizations in the world.

The story, at its core, is about so much more than violence and drama. It’s about how far you would go for your family — and that’s why I can’t stop watching.