Ozark - new Netflix series starring Jason Bateman

[SpiritOf1903]

Basically an amalgamation of Breaking Bad, The Wire and every other thriller - drug - crime series.

Very watchable though - Bateman is class.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

Just started watching this. Two episodes in and it's very intriguing.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Loving it. Best TV series I have seen in a while. Best thing about it is it kicks off from the very first episode so you get dragged in right from the start. Characters are brilliant although I have a peeve on that score but don't want to give it away with a spoiler.

 

[USofA]

Excellent series. Just got done with season 2. I believe it has been renewed for a 3rd season.

FYI, adult oriented, so caution for children watching.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

Season 3 dropped a few weeks ago.

 

[MenInG]

Enjoying it again.

 

[Hermoine Green]

Thanks for recommendation. Gonna watch it.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Season 3 dropped a few weeks ago.

It starts off a bit slower this time, but starts ramping up again by the third episode. Ruth is one brilliantly conceived character.

 

[IMMY69]

Just started season 3..

Absolutely brilliant show and Jason Bateman is excellent, both acting and directing..

 

[Gotham Cronie]

It starts off a bit slower this time, but starts ramping up again by the third episode. Ruth is one brilliantly conceived character.

Finished Season 3...brilliant stuff

 

[MenInG]

What I love about Ozarks is the way things get soooo complicated and how they are brought back to an even keel- just amazing script and cast/characters

 

[khiska]

Just finished the penultimate episode, Ben's (Tom) character has been exceptional, right from the start of ep 9 to the end just the range was magnificent
I read reviews of how people didn't like the season as much but it has managed to keep me hooked

 

[Saj]

Going to give this another go.

I remember watching the first 3 or 4 episodes and giving up on it.

Time to try it again.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Other than the extremely unsavoury relationship between an octogenarian and a boy, phenomenal series which might warrant comparison with Breaking Bad. Bateman excellent again.

Eagerly await teh final installment.

 

[Afzal_K]

Going to give this another go.

I remember watching the first 3 or 4 episodes and giving up on it.

Time to try it again.

It will take time to grow, almost breaking bad'ish

 

[Saj]

It will take time to grow, almost breaking bad'ish

I've watched the first 4 episodes again and it seems to be more interesting 2nd time around.

Last time I got to about 3 episodes and gave up on it.

 

[topspin]

I've watched the first 4 episodes again and it seems to be more interesting 2nd time around.

Last time I got to about 3 episodes and gave up on it.

I've completed the series and believe me it's very good.

 

[Saj]

I've completed the series and believe me it's very good.

Bateman is one of the reasons why I've gone back to it. Superb actor.

 

[topspin]

Bateman is one of thee reasons why I've gone back to it. Superb actor.

He's absolutely brilliant as Marty Bird. Top actor.

 

[Afzal_K]

I've watched the first 4 episodes again and it seems to be more interesting 2nd time around.

Last time I got to about 3 episodes and gave up on it.

Especially the growth of Julia Garner, she is simply brilliant. You should watch "Inventing Anna" on Netflix too, true story and she was brilliant in it

 

[Saj]

Especially the growth of Julia Garner, she is simply brilliant. You should watch "Inventing Anna" on Netflix too, true story and she was brilliant in it

Yes watched that.

Brilliant.

 

[Saj]

Thought season 2 started slowly, but things really warming up.

Up to episode 5 now in season 2.

 

[Saj]

Coming to the end of season 3.

Enjoyed it, but the mentally ill brother stuff is dragging on and on.

 

[oatmeal]

This is one of the best TV shows on Netflix. Can't wait for the second part of season 4.

 

[Saj]

Anyone seen the second part of season 4 yet?

 

[IMMY69]

Anyone seen the second part of season 4 yet?

I didn't know it was out already!!!
Will definitely watch it soon

 

[MenInG]

yep started

its addictive!

 

[Saj]

Finished the latest episodes.

Brilliant viewing that.

Is that the end of this now or can there be more to come?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I finished it last week, personally I thought the final season was a bit of a let down to what has been one of the top shows in the last few years. I will expand later with protective spoiler fields for those who are still catching up.

 

[Robert]

I finished it last week, personally I thought the final season was a bit of a let down to what has been one of the top shows in the last few years. I will expand later with protective spoiler fields for those who are still catching up.

Yes, season four was the least good of the four, though stil gripping. The defanging of Omar seemed contrived.

I was NOT happy about what happened to

Spoiler

Ruth

who was the only character I much liked.

Marty and Wendy had become progressively more evil (especially Wendy) and I wanted retribution.

That smirk from Wendy in the final moments where Jonah

Spoiler

followed his parents into hell.

But I suppose that in this dark American Gothic world, the powerful were always going to crush the weak. The Byrds corrode and tear everyone apart. Not like the neo-Western world of Breaking Bad where evil finally gets its comeuppance and there is some possibility of redemption too.

 

[MenInG]

Something so captivating about this whole series! Really grows on you.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Bit of a rushed ending

 

[Sir-fraz]

Season was a let down and marty never grew throughout the show, he was made into a simp. He shouldve left wendy and her crazy @$$.. she was off the rails

 

[Robert]

Season was a let down and marty never grew throughout the show, he was made into a simp. He shouldve left wendy and her crazy @$$.. she was off the rails

You could argue that he was in charge in season 1 and 2 while she took over in 3 and 4.

Ruth and Jonah showed the most growth.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I suppose it was inevitable that the series would lose some of it's charm once it started widening outside of the Ozarks, but I think what spoiled it for me was it lost credibility for the following reason mainly:

Spoiler

The central theme of the show originally was the menace posed by the Mexican cartel, and this was always in the background, although this took a bit of a jolt when the charismatic Del's head was blown off by Grandma Darlene. But at that point it fit the storyline in that no one could have predicted such a scenario, so it introduced some intrigue.

But then in Season 3 the cartel Kingpin Omar himself was dumb enough to walk himself into FBI hands, then in season 4 his acting head nephew got put down by rising bumpkin Ruth, and finally the big honcho himself was manipulated into getting shot by his own sister. There is a massive difference here with Breaking Bad where you genuinely felt there was real danger posed by Mexican cartels, here they ended up mostly getting gunned down by illiterate hillbillies living in trailers.

 

[in_cutter]

Overrated. Another series that cannot sustain a good story.

 

[bones]

I suppose it was inevitable that the series would lose some of it's charm once it started widening outside of the Ozarks

Spot on. Two seasons was enough.

By the way how good was the relationship between Marty and Ruth?

 

[Colorblind Genius]

I thought Ruth, before dying, was gonna tell Navaro’s sister that Marty and Wendy were there when she killed her son, And this would put another twist into an already over twisted story.

I think a few episodes were really good but mostly it was an OK series. A few gay scenes in the initial episodes were a total turn off for me - but I am glad they got over with it pretty soon.

I liked Marty’s character where, no matter what you throw at him, he doesn't say No.

 

[Robert]

I suppose it was inevitable that the series would lose some of it's charm once it started widening outside of the Ozarks, but I think what spoiled it for me was it lost credibility for the following reason mainly:

Spoiler

The central theme of the show originally was the menace posed by the Mexican cartel, and this was always in the background, although this took a bit of a jolt when the charismatic Del's head was blown off by Grandma Darlene. But at that point it fit the storyline in that no one could have predicted such a scenario, so it introduced some intrigue.

But then in Season 3 the cartel Kingpin Omar himself was dumb enough to walk himself into FBI hands, then in season 4 his acting head nephew got put down by rising bumpkin Ruth, and finally the big honcho himself was manipulated into getting shot by his own sister. There is a massive difference here with Breaking Bad where you genuinely felt there was real danger posed by Mexican cartels, here they ended up mostly getting gunned down by illiterate hillbillies living in trailers.

Omar handing himself to the Federales stretched credibility. Why go from being a feudal lord to a prisoner in another land? He could have just retired and become a figurehead like Junior Soprano.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Omar handing himself to the Federales stretched credibility. Why go from being a feudal lord to a prisoner in another land? He could have just retired and become a figurehead like Junior Soprano.

Probably it’s a different culture between cartel and mafia where you are a lot more prone to getting killed by the old foes in cartel business, even after retirement?

Navarro had a new born and he probably wanted to move to the US or at least get out of Mexico in an attempt to have a bit more safer retirement life with his family - and hence the desperation resulted in a wrong call?
Didn’t seems like he had any interest left in Mexico.

The most cringeworthy to me was Marty’s son.
His acting was plain, and emotional-less with a flat face during this entire series.

The way he flipped on his family and showing signs of some sorta Autism was stupid. On one hand, he is smart enough to write code and launder money at the age 14 but then stupid enough not to realize that his mom was put in such a heart wrenching situation where she had to choose between the life of her brother or her kids?
And Wendy took such a tough decision to let her brother go. This should’ve earned a lot more respect and compassion towards her. Even though she wasn’t an angel in many other aspects but this one was not on her.

But in the end, I think he did one last good thing by taking out that psycho ex-cop.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Spot on. Two seasons was enough.

By the way how good was the relationship between Marty and Ruth?

Spoiler

I think Marty Byrd, his wife Wendy, and Ruth were the lifeblood of the series. I liked Jason Bateman even before Ozark, I think his character and Wendy's were pretty much great all the way through. They were very politically tuned in.

I loved Ruth too for most of this series until she suddenly started to become the female equivalent of Clint Eastwood. The back story of the Langmore and Snell famiy's rise against the Mexican cartel had some disturbing undertones. I don't play video games, but for some reason Redneck Redemption kept cropping up in my mind.

 

[Robert]

Probably it’s a different culture between cartel and mafia where you are a lot more prone to getting killed by the old foes in cartel business, even after retirement?

Navarro had a new born and he probably wanted to move to the US or at least get out of Mexico in an attempt to have a bit more safer retirement life with his family - and hence the desperation resulted in a wrong call?
Didn’t seems like he had any interest left in Mexico.

The most cringeworthy to me was Marty’s son.
His acting was plain, and emotional-less with a flat face during this entire series.

The way he flipped on his family and showing signs of some sorta Autism was stupid. On one hand, he is smart enough to write code and launder money at the age 14 but then stupid enough not to realize that his mom was put in such a heart wrenching situation where she had to choose between the life of her brother or her kids?
And Wendy took such a tough decision to let her brother go. This should’ve earned a lot more respect and compassion towards her. Even though she wasn’t an angel in many other aspects but this one was not on her.

But in the end, I think he did one last good thing by taking out that psycho ex-cop.

I think Jonah was played well. Marty was quite emotionless for most of the series and the son followed the father. Marty and especially Wendy set him a terrible amoral example and he was confused.

His last act broke my heart, actually - PI / cop was trying to do the just thing - reveal murder. The Byrds had fallen into evil and I wanted justice to be done to them. Jonah could have been redeemed - he said he wanted to "go straight" and could have done well in finance but finally, the parents pulled him down with them. That smirk from Wendy - I hated her in that moment.

But at least it made a sort of sense unlike the wreck of the last episode of Game of Thrones.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I think Jonah was played well. Marty was quite emotionless for most of the series and the son followed the father. Marty and especially Wendy set him a terrible amoral example and he was confused.

His last act broke my heart, actually - PI / cop was trying to do the just thing - reveal murder. The Byrds had fallen into evil and I wanted justice to be done to them. Jonah could have been redeemed - he said he wanted to "go straight" and could have done well in finance but finally, the parents pulled him down with them. That smirk from Wendy - I hated her in that moment.

But at least it made a sort of sense unlike the wreck of the last episode of Game of Thrones.

I don't agree, I thought Marty was fantastic all the way through. He had to keep adapting to the mess made by his wife, his kids, Ruth and the Mexicans and still come out alive with his family. I found it touching that he tried to stay loyal to his people as long as possible as well, such as Ruth, whereas Wendy was quite ruthless in comparison.

 

[ElRaja]

wendy, and how she was played by laura linney, was a standout for me, her expressions, mannerism, everything just dripped with duplicity and manipulation. nearly all the other characters had some redeeming features, but linney pulled off a wendy with no redeeming features yet without turning her into a charicature was masterful.

generally agree with the sentiments tho, that much like house of cards, there was a point where the story got too big for the writers and it lost it along the way.

but i still really enjoyed it for the characters.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

I think Jonah was played well. Marty was quite emotionless for most of the series and the son followed the father. Marty and especially Wendy set him a terrible amoral example and he was confused.

His last act broke my heart, actually - PI / cop was trying to do the just thing - reveal murder. The Byrds had fallen into evil and I wanted justice to be done to them. Jonah could have been redeemed - he said he wanted to "go straight" and could have done well in finance but finally, the parents pulled him down with them. That smirk from Wendy - I hated her in that moment.

But at least it made a sort of sense unlike the wreck of the last episode of Game of Thrones.

I think punishing the evil piece wouldn’t be exactly right cuz these guys were a very small fish in a dirty pond of huge alligators. The entire system was rigged, from FBI to top politicians to drug lords to low low level law enforcement, I mean, you name it.

I fast forwarded about 1/3rd of the series (especially the Hilly Billy and Jonah and a few people other scenes) as I was impressed by Marty Byrd’s ability to handle whatever situation he was put in, so his and Wendy’s scenes were the core.

Darlene’s character was also very off. That woman looked more like a ran down, drug addicted, STD infested trailer trash than being the largest land owner in the state.

The largest land owners in the state don’t exactly look and act and live like this, and I know this because I live about an hour and half away from the Ozark, and been there quite a few times.

And I think the fate of Zeke was left to the imagination of the viewers or was it just a poor story line?

 

[Robert]

wendy, and how she was played by laura linney, was a standout for me, her expressions, mannerism, everything just dripped with duplicity and manipulation. nearly all the other characters had some redeeming features, but linney pulled off a wendy with no redeeming features yet without turning her into a charicature was masterful.

Totally. If Marty was 6/10 evil with some redeeming features, Wendy developed through seasons three and four into 9/10 evil. Bad to the last instant. Linney was brilliant.