I have finally got round to watching part 1 of Ozark Season 4, and so far, it's a season
that's a masterstroke in tension, building to a potential great final 7 episodes releasing
this summer.
Yes, Part 1 does act as set up in its climactic moments, but it also capitalises on it's built
tension and plot threats to deliver a shocking ending that was always just around
the corner.
In this video essay, I'm going to be discussing why Ozark Season 4 Part 1 has the perfect
ending but also one that sets up the conclusion of the series in part 2 to be
hopefully even better.
There will be spoilers in this video, so if you haven't seen the latest season, then I
would recommend watching this upload after you've caught up.
But before I get into it, if you want to see more videos
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But without further ado, let's dive into my video essay for Ozark Season
4 Part 1.
In the final moments of Ozark season 3 when Helen Pierce got shot in the head, we watched
the horror on Marty and Wendy’s faces as they realise that they have no idea what they've
assigned themselves with.
In Season 4 Part 1, the first 7 episodes of a total 14, we return to the Byrdes in the
immediate aftermath as they’re literally washing the remains of Helen
off their faces and clothes.
This introduction to the final season sets the stage for a crazy conclusion and if you’ve
stuck with the tension...
yet stayed on the side of the Byrdes throughout, then these instalments are full
with perfect preludes that tell you... it's only the beginning.
Yet the first part capitalises on everything the show has been great for
thus far, not losing sight of its gripping tension and nuanced story beats.
The Byrde family have wanted to escape the money laundering business for a long time,
yet with each season and each new obstacle, it reminds us that
they have gone deeper and deeper into losing that entirely.
Just when you think Marty, Wendy or some of the other crucial characters are about
to bite the dust, they always give their worse cooperators a reason to keep them around.
The new season continues this trend as Omar Navarro gives the Byrde’s an almost impossible
task to pull off, one that will tear into the family
more than ever before.
And yet they are all still facing the aftermath of Wendy’s bipolar brother, Ben, one that
shows us even deeper how Wendy has gone straight into the deep
end of the pool.
And while alliances and loyalties have further changed, there's also Julia Garner’s grieving
Ruth, fresh off her Emmy award-winning performance in Season 3, leaving Marty in favour of Darlene
Snell and her rebooted heroin operation.
It's all messed up with Marty and Wendy attempting to fix the cracks in
their own family, all while dealing with a new Navarro in town and the unpredictable
Darlene.
Not to mention that their son Jonah can't get over the death of Ben, leading him straight
to working under Ruth, laundering Darlene Snell’s drug money.
And that new Navarro, Omar's worse nephew Javi, is a relentless performance by this
new character, one that is preparing to take over his Uncle’s Cartel operations
and doesn't see the value in keeping Marty and Wendy alive.
So we are left asking...
Is there really any way out for them?
I mean for most shows that give us satisfying endings tend
to bring a lot of death along with them come the end and I'm sure Part 1's car crash at
the beginning points us heavily in that direction.
But because Ozark is expertly crafted, we still don't have a complete answer to these
questions.
With Ozark ending, it's closing its elaborate money laundering schemes, and it’s all coming
back to its basic and more potentially heavy-hitting themes.
Essentially...
Are they going to get away with it, or are they going to
face the consequences?
While Season 4, Part 1 doesn't answer this and acts as a logical first step, it does
give us the big moments that bring us back for more shock.
After a whole half-season of tension, it ends with the death of Darlene and Wyatt along
with the primal retaliation of Ruth that we know is coming in Part 2, and
it's all the concrete needed for a second part of bloodshed, resolutions and outright
chaos.
Most of the early stuff of the Byrdes executing their objectives is predictable but once
the greater tension creeps in surrounding Javi and the survival of the show's main players,
the stakes are ultimately going to be through the roof come the true ending.
The familiarity comes when the Byrdes are once again given
an outlandish task, they then try to succeed, almost failing, but then pull out a wild idea
in the midst of more added suspense.
But all the while, we learn that it's eating away at them
this time, with examples like...
Marty thinking about the memories of buying an office and living a successful quiet life.
Or Ruth wanting to get away with Wyatt moments before he's
shot in the head.
And when that moment does come it's of course the final straw.
It's the moment where all the main players know that the axe
is coming down on them next.
Will they survive...
again the show suggests nothing good will happen, but it's remained impeccably tense
and unpredictable, suggesting that really, anything could happen at this point.
And the acting led by Laura Linney’s heavy turns, keeps you glued to the small screen.
She's mesmerizing, dealing with a below ruthless persona,
far scarier than Bateman’s go-about-it attitude.
Whether it's dealing with Ben’s death or dealing with her own son's switch to the other
side, Wendy at times doesn't care what has to
be done to have things their way and has reached a solid rock-bottom.
Yes, she still cares about her family and does things for them to come out alive but
her decisions at times make you hate the people they've become.
Yet also entertained when you look at it from a performance standpoint.
It's all compelling stuff and it's not easy to say what will happen, all
thanks to how this first half goes about its characters, performances and central writing.
As the Byrdes expand from a typical upper-middle-class family into a super-wealthy political power
couple, they’re becoming more than a different undertaking.
Their goals to succeed with ever-rising funds in the face of everyone
coming down on them will eventually bare thin.
They essentially represent the corruption rooted within the country itself that the
show is all about, and while we've been with them
so long and want to see them somewhat escape, we know they won't.
Whether that be physically or mentally.
And like I said, Part 1 makes us not want them to succeed at times.
Especially through the way they toy with their own family, let alone with the Snells and
the Navarros.
And if Wendy keeps aggravating powerful people, can she really expect her money, power, and
privilege to stop the inevitable bullet.
And even if she and the Byrdes do manage to survive, will there be any good left?
Probably not, but there are still 7 episodes to resolve
these decisive questions and Part 1 sets them up perfectly.
It explores what’s kept us coming back to Ozark every season, whether it be the
tension, the thrills, performances or corruption.
Part 2 of course needs to hit the mark and deliver, following many final seasons of TV
being disappointing.
It's the problem that shows like Lost, Game Of Thrones, and House
of Cards have faced come their conclusion.
But now we are halfway through Ozark's ending and it's one that still has us on the edge
of our seats, expecting greatness and payoff come
part 2.
In its biggest narrative move yet with the death of two central players, it places Ruth
as the heart of the show, someone at the very focus of the action and right in harm’s
way.
But more importantly, this follows what much of this season tries to connect us to.
And that's the supporting players or the younger characters that face the consequences of the
older figures around them.
Whether it be Javi, who's grown into the more twisted and chaotic version of his uncle,
or how Charlotte and Jonah mirror two opposing ideologies of their
parent's effects.
Jonah almost despises what his mum and dad have done and sees no way out the more he
tries and Charlotte is fully helping them, hopeful that they will eventually get
out.
And then there's Ruth, on a path to confront and take down a source of her latest and greatest
pain.
But like every central player, we are left asking, will that be a source of
redemption or just a continuing sign of their descent?
We'll have to see but regardless, Ozark is on a path to be one of TV's great shows and
now it's time for that important final act.
One that if delivered on could place among the best.
But that was my video essay and thoughts on Ozark Season 4 Part 1.
Jason Bateman and Laura Linney are once again fantastic this season as they deliver multi-layered
performances, whether it be through showcasing their desperation
or grief.
We haven't really seen this since season one and it gives us a greater picture of the endgame
in store, one that leaves us asking, will they get out of this?
But then there's the other question of... should they?
They've gone so deep and beginning this season with a car crash of their own doing is a
perfect touch from the showrunners to really echo that message, one that will eventually
be repeated and one that we will eventually get an answer to.
But like recent seasons, it really is Julie Garner who steals the show,
giving us an incredible character arc of someone who is ultimately dealing with the ramifications
of the Byrdes and her aiding actions.
Will she make it out of Part 2... who knows?
But she won't go down without giving us another terrific performance.
Ultimately, the first half of Season 4 does a perfect job at merging the
line between its new elements such as the terrifying character Javi, while also bringing
the entire story to a satisfying close with characters and plotlines that have kept us
gripped throughout.
The stakes are as high as they can be and come Part 2, I have no idea what they are
going to do.
And that is a great place to be in when a show deals with this much tension
and thoughtful storytelling.
Maybe it will reach the heights of great shows of the past like Breaking Bad and The Sopranos
or maybe it will turn out to be another example of the failed
final season outcome for a TV Show.
We'll have to see, but right now, I predict it will be the former.
I'm giving Ozark Season 4 Part 1 a rating of 8.75 out of 10.
But to those who have already seen part 1 of the final season
what do you think of Ozark on Netflix, and do you agree that it has the potential to
have a truly great ending.
Let me know down below in the comments section.
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