Many great shows have one bad thing in common, the endings are usually not as good as the rest of the season. The most popular examples to prove this statement right is Game of Thrones, How I Met Your Mother, and Killing Eve. While Ozark managed to dodge this bullet, it also didn’t do well enough to be remembered among perfect season finales like Breaking Bad. Diving the final season of the show into two parts usually doesn’t end well but it proved favorable for Ozark.
In 2017 when Netflix released the 10-episode series focusing on a druglord in Missouri it instantly became the next big thing. I’ll be honest I started to watch this series quite late and even had a prejudice that it won’t ever match up to cult shows that also revolved around the world of drug dealing. One episode in and I was hooked on the show which is why I am glad they ended it at a reasonable time without stretching it to too many seasons.
The Ladies of Ozark Shine Brightly In Season 4 Part 2
In January the first part of the final season dropped and it kept the thrill level high. It starts right after the things go bad in Marty’s (Jason Bateman) and Wendy’s (Laura Linney) escape plan. In the beginning, Jason Bateman was my main reason to watch this show but the character of Wendy truly made me stay. Even in the final season, they didn’t lose some of the elements that made the show gripping. The last few episodes serve as a reality check to Ozark as well as the viewers. It tests the capability of human beings who goes down the path of destruction. There will be some scenes where viewers and Ozark simultaneously question whether the debate of good vs bad is even valid.
If you are expecting to see Marty and Wendy in action together then you might be a bit disappointed. This time around they aren’t working as a team, it’s more Marty doing what Wendy decides even if it’s self-destructive. Although he mostly does what she says, Marty’s reluctance isn’t hidden from the viewers. Most of the show focused on Marty’s unpredictable prowess portrayed by Bateman’s often perplexed expressions but the second part of the finale belonged to Linney’s conniving Wendy. She is the woman who wants it all without missing out on anything. Her motive is not only to get her family out of the mess she also wants to keep a pristine reputation that will promise them political power.
Besides Linney, Julia Garner’s acting will keep you on the edge of your seat. Her portrayal of Ruth’s despair and grief will ache your heart. Ruth’s plans are more dangerous than the Byrdes which means this time she didn’t have many scenes with Marty.
After watching the first part of the final season, you can already guess most of Marty and Wendy’s journey in the second half. They went through the routine of tricking the FBI, overpowering Ruth, trying to make amends with their children, and facing the consequences of Ben’s death.
Ozark Had a Rather Enjoyable Ending If You Don’t Expect Too Much
The most noticeable thing about Ozark’s final season is that the showrunner Chris Mundy has intentionally tried to play it rather safe. From not making any bold decisions to reappearing a few old characters they have tried their best to satisfy fans. To keep some of the situations easy, the writers even allowed characters to do things that completely didn’t make any sense. When Marty goes on a mission to Mexico he overlooks a few things which were totally out of character for him. It feels like his character has been written while keeping in mind how he should react in certain places instead of how he actually would.
Whenever a season finale gets divided into two parts it always draws the criticism of one half being better than the other. Undeniable Ozark will also have some fans who would prefer one over the other. For me, the second half of the final season felt more “Ozarky” than the first one. In part A the approach was more sentimental, it kept me guessing if any character would get any redemption. In part B it was all about one curveball after the others, it focused more on characters getting out of sticky situations by hooks or by crooks. For me that’s what Ozark was all about, it was a show which questioned the moral boundaries to an extent where you would think about what you would have done in a similar situation. One way to enjoy the finale is to not expect to get closure on every storyline. If you are expecting some big reveal or twist then it will feel anti-climactic to you. So just watch it without having many theories
