The Netflix suspense drama continues to deliver with methodical brilliance.
Previous seasons of Netflix’s Ozark followed Martin and Wendy Byrde’s (Jason Bateman and Laura Linney) quest to survive death and prove their family’s worth to the cartel and their violent rivals. Now, in the fourth and final season, the Byrdes must figure out if they can survive without their dark, criminal lives. They sacrificed a lot to get to the top—but what would they sacrifice to stay there? Thanks to this ask and its answers, Ozark Season 4 Part 1 is slow-burn suspense at its finest, with the Byrde’s maneuvering to stay on top, no matter the personal costs.
As Ozark’s end begins, Marty and Wendy have ascended to new heights in the Navarro Cartel, only for Omar Navarro (Felix Solis) to suddenly murder Helen Pierce (Janet McTeer)—one of the organization’s lawyers— right in front of them. On top of witnessing this, they need to outmaneuver Navarro’s unpredictable nephew Javi (Alfonso Herrera), aggressive FBI Agent Maya Miller (Jessica Frances Duke), heroin matriarch Darlene Snell (Lisa Emery) and her new business partner, Ruth Langmore (Julia Gardner). To ratchet the pressure higher still, a private investigator Mel Sattem (Adam Rothenberg) starts digging into Helen’s disappearance, and in the course of his investigation catches wind of everyone’s schemes and secrets.
The Byrde family has been Ozark’s dysfunctional heart from the beginning, and they remain so in the final season. Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz)’s settling in fine with her family’s new way of life. Jonah (Skylar Gaertner)’s having a harder time accepting that his mom ordered the hit on their uncle and Wendy’s brother Ben (Tom Pelphrey). This pushes him towards a new family—becoming Ruth and Darlene’s money launderer. Wendy may object, but Marty can’t help but show a little bit of fatherly pride in his son’s endeavors. Conversely, when Charlotte kicks Ruth out of the Missouri Belle for attempting to steal software, her tough tactics earn her praise from her mother—who sees herself in her daughter’s actions. Even with all their scheming and their ruthless manipulations of others, the Byrde family’s relationships are healthier and more honest thanks to their criminal lives.
[I]n this final stretch it’s Linney’s devious work as Wendy that commands particular attention
Ozark’s cast has been strong from the word go, and in this final stretch it’s Linney’s devious work as Wendy that commands particular attention. In previous seasons, Wendy might have turned to proxies to get dirty work done—ordering her brother’s assassination, for instance—in the alleged name of protecting her family. Now though, Wendy is far more willing to act directly, to bring the full brunt of her power to bear. Linney hides Wendy’s ruthlessness under a veneer of “Midwest nice” and “mother knows best” in order to get what she wants. It’s chilling—particularly at the end of episode six, where the depths of Wendy’s cold-blooded behavior become apparent and Linney grins a wicked grin as things play out.
As for Bateman, it’s fair to say that Ozark owes a great deal of its look and feel to his work behind the camera—he directed the pilot and many subsequent episodes, and won an Emmy the 2019 episode “Reparations.” His direction is much like his portrayal of Marty: stoic, observant, and restrained—creating space for the ensemble lead the way. He and his fellow directors took Missouri’s nickname “The Show-Me State” to heart, standing back and letting the cast show the whole of the Byrdes and their fellows’ conniving, twisted ways.
With Ozark showrunner Chris Mundy and the writers crafted a slow-burn thriller that unravels the truth about America: no one stands on an unimpeachable moral high ground. Wendy and Marty tell themselves they’re doing bad things to justify all the good they’ll do in the future—even as Navarro notes to Wendy that the hardest part of a post-crime life will be stillness. Agent Miller tells herself that her shady dealings with Marty will help bring down the cartels, only to realize that the FBI is just as dangerous and exploitative as their opponents.
For all of this final season’s twists and turns, Ozark’s greatest pleasure lies in its poking at the rot in America’s soul, the rot in its capitalist dreams. The question, as the finale approaches, is this: will the Byrdes outrun that rot? Or will it devour them? The answer is waiting, and the journey to it is well worth taking—methodically observed and brilliantly acted.
Ozark returns to turn the screws on Netflix on January 21st.
Ozark Season 4 Part 1 Trailer:
Read next: The Spool's Best New Releases
Streaming guides
The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
The praises of live TV streaming services don’t need to be further sung. By now, we all know that compared to clunky, commitment-heavy cable, live TV is cheaper and much easier to manage. But just in case you’re still on the fence about jumping over to the other side, or if you’re just unhappy with ... The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
Season 3 of the hotly anticipated Power spin-off, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is arriving on Starz soon, so you know what that means: it’s the ’90s again in The Southside, and we’re back with the Thomas family as they navigate the ins and outs of the criminal underworld they’re helping build. Mekai Curtis is ... How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so back! To celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, the BBC is producing a three-episode special starring none other than the Tenth/Fourteenth Doctor himself, David Tennant. And to the supreme delight of fans (that would be me, dear reader), the Doctor will be joined by old-time companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and ... How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
For whatever reason, The Hunger Games series isn’t available in the same countries around the world. You’ll find the first and second (aka the best) installments in Hong Kong, for instance, but not the third and fourth. It’s a frustrating dilemma, especially if you don’t even have a single entry in your region, which is ... Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
How to watch Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Season 2
After a years-long hiatus, scientist and explorer Albert Lin is coming back to National Geographic with a fresh new season of Lost Cities, renamed “Lost Cities Revealed.” In the past, Lin, who is probably the closest we’ll ever get to a real-life Indiana Jones, has traveled everywhere from the ancient Knights Templar in Israel to ... How to watch Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Season 2
How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
To date, Paramount Network has only two original shows on air right now: Yellowstone and Bar Rescue. The network seems to have its hands full with on-demand streaming service Paramount+, which is constantly stacked with a fresh supply of new shows. But Yellowstone and Bar Rescue are so sturdy and expansive that the network doesn’t ... How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
Previously “Women’s Entertainment,” We TV has since rebranded to accurately reflect its name and be a more inclusive lifestyle channel. It’s home to addictive reality gems like Bold and Bougie, Bridezillas, Marriage Boot Camp, and The Untold Stories of Hip Hop. And when it’s not airing original titles, it has on syndicated shows like 9-1-1, ... How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad show airing on FX. The channel has made a name for itself as a bastion of high-brow TV, along with HBO and AMC. It’s produced shows like Atlanta, Fargo, The Americans, Archer, and more recently, Shogun. But because it’s owned by Disney, it still airs several blockbusters in ... How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
How to Watch A&E With A Free Trial
If you’re a fan of true crime and insider docu-shows like The First 48 and Court Cam, then you’re probably already familiar with A&E. The cable channel is home to other reality TV gems like Hoarders, Duck Dynasty, and Storage Wars (they’ve moved on to spin-offs like Road Wars, Customer Wars, and Prison Wars now). ... How to Watch A&E With A Free Trial
How to Watch Unimás With a Free Trial
As the sister channel of the much bigger Univision, Unimás is home to popular Spanish-language telenovelas and talk shows (yes, including El Gordo y La Flaca), as well as a couple of sports events and programs. Most notably, however, Unimás also operates a couple of station affiliates around the country, so it also reports local ... How to Watch Unimás With a Free Trial
How to Watch TNT With A Free Trial
For many sports fans, TNT is a non-negotiable. It broadcasts NBA, MLB, NHL, college basketball, and All Elite Wrestling matches. And, as a bonus, it also has reruns of shows like Supernatural, Charmed, and NCIS, as well as films like The Avengers, Dune, and Justice League. But while TNT used to be a cable staple, ... How to Watch TNT With A Free Trial