LaToya Anitri
Ozark has FINALLY returned to Netflix to wrap up the final chapter of the notorious Byrde family.
Yes, this is the fourth and final season of one of the best shows on TV/streaming service, since the phenomenal Breaking Bad. That’s my statement and I’m sticking to it. Fight me.
Season 4 of Ozark opened with a huge shocker in the first episode of this season, with the Byrde family nestled closely together. Then, the audience saw a major time-jump backward to pick up right where it left off in Season 3, during the end of the murderous meeting between Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), Wendy Byrde (Laura Linney), Helen Pierce (Janet McTeer) and their new handler, Omar Navarro (Felix Solis), who is the head of an infamous Mexican drug/gun cartel.
During their meeting at Navarro’s luxurious villa, Marty and Wendy make acquaintances with new character, Javi Elizondro (Alphonso Herrera), who is Navarro’s nephew and one psychotic son-of-a-bitch.
The Byrde couple arrives home to the Ozarks, calls a meeting with Darlene Snell (Lisa Emery) and her new crew (since she murdered her own husband last season), which now includes Marty’s old partner-in-crime, Ruth Langmore (Julie Garner) and Darlene’s new loverboy, Wyatt Langmore (Charlie Tahan), and gives them Navarro’s explicit instructions on how things are going to run from now on.
Ruth and Marty are still on the outs and their relationship is more strained than ever since has opened shop with that loose cannon, Darlene. Darlene’s running the show, while Wyatt jumps to her every beck and call like a lovesick puppy. Yep, the couple is still going hot and heavy since we last saw them in Season 3, although Wyatt is old enough to be Darlene’s damn grandson. Whoa!
We can’t forget about the Byrde children, Charlotte (Sophia Hublitz) and Jonah (Skylar Gaetner). They are pretty much grown up and doing their own thing. Surprisingly, Charlotte has adopted an if-you-can’t-beat-’em-join-’em attitude when it comes to her parents, as she willingly helps to run the family’s crime-filled business, with no sass. Jonah, on the other hand, whose on his way to becoming a criminal mastermind like his dad and gives ALL the sass, especially to Momma Wendy. I don’t feel sorry for her one bit. Jonah has Wendy running around like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to keep him at bay, while he can’t stand to be in the same room with her. It’s evident that Jonah is not feeling his mom; he’s still pissed about how things went down with his Uncle Ben and vehemently blames Wendy every chance he gets—as he should. His words cut through her like a knife and he relishes in seeing her blood on the floor.
Anyway, the Ozark gang is all here. And it looks like they are coming to give us a hell of a ride and I’m here for every single second of it.
Shows that make the viewers feel like they are thrust into the characters’ lives, usually, make for the best TV. That’s how Ozark has made me feel from the very beginning of Season 1. It’s like I’m taking this crazy journey with the Byrde family and all their wild associates. I feel like I have a room right there in the lakehouse with them, as well as a front seat to all the crooked business dealings that go down on nearly every episode.
Jason Bateman and Laura Linney play off each other remarkably. The chemistry between those co-stars are damn near unmatched. While Bateman’s Marty is seemingly cool as a cucumber, regardless of what is transpiring in the moment, Linney’s Wendy, although cunning and calculating, is known to fly off the handle at any given time. That’s one lady I would be scared to piss off. Especially if my name was Ruth Langmore. Sheesh!
Speaking of Garner’s Ruth, she has been my favorite character since the beginning and that has not changed. You know whenever Garner enters the scene, she’s about to go off, like a little blonde ticking time bomb. Ruth doesn’t take anyone’s stuff and I love everytime she’s in a scene. Garner definitely plays that role like the champion that she is.
Although the actors are superb, we cannot sleep on the expert writing that is this show. The words on the scripts have been magnificent since Ozark was in its newborn phase. The dialogue, as well as the delivery hits the mark nearly every single time. Sitting in on an Ozark table read would be one of my dreams come true, next to writing my own show.
Finally, the cinematography is wonderful. From how the crew captures the beauty of the town as well as its crime-ridden underbelly, is amazing.
As of right now, I’m halfway done with this final season. You could say that I’m taking my time with it. I definitely don’t want to rush it because I don’t want it to end.
In reality, I know that it’s winding down and I have to just accept that fact. It’s going to be hard getting off this rollercoaster; I’m definitely going to miss all the twists, turns, drops, and hanging upside down from time to time.
Stay tuned for the final wrap-up, coming soon!
Comments
Loading…