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Ozark is an American crime drama streaming television series created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams for Netflix and produced by Media Rights Capital. The series stars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney as a married couple who relocate their family to the Ozarks for money laundering.
Why It Rocks[]
- Ozark is the kind of series that you have to give your full attention.
- It quickly sets itself apart with a fresh, unexpected backdrop and a twisty, dramatic plot.
- Good acting, especially from Jason Bateman as Marty and Julia Garner as Ruth.
- Great premise similar to Breaking Bad. It also takes a very scary approach to the Mafia, showing the horrors of being involved in that life, even if not directly, and being more disturbing and intense as a result.
- Great suspense to keep you constantly engaged, with the plots of each season starting off already very intense only for them to have plenty of rising action through various plot points until it reaches a climax.
- It’s a mysterious and beautiful backdrop that functions as its own character, and it has a very detailed depiction of the Ozarks, especially with it's absolutely breathtaking cinematography.
- Well-placed twists and flashbacks. One even gives a pretty good plot twist, revealing Wendy knew about Marty's involvement with Del and his real job with him.
- Very shocking deaths, with some at the end of season one coming out of nowhere and changing the plot of the entire series.
- Sweeping dialogue.
- Decent amounts of dark humor.
- A very interesting soundtrack that does a great job building up the suspense.
Bad Qualities[]
- Characters can be arguably more unlikeable than necessary at times, especially Marty's wife in the first few episodes.
- The first season, while great, can be a bit slow at times.
- The finale was ultimately considered disappointing compared to the directions that the series went before, especially as it kills off a beloved character and ends on a cliffhanger that will never be resolved. Granted, the latter part is a little more excusable since a finale can still be great on a cliffhanger (consider The Wire, Angel, and The Sopranos), but in this case, it felt punishing towards the audience rather than rewarding, and more like it was setting up plot points for another season rather than tying up the whole show.
Reception[]
Critical Reception[]
Season 1[]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season had an approval rating of 70% based on 69 reviews, with an average rating of 6.84/10. The website's critics consensus read: "Ozark hasn't yet reached the same level as the classic crime dramas to which it will inevitably be compared, but its satisfyingly complex plot – and a gripping performance from Jason Bateman – suggest greater potential." On Metacritic, it had a weighted average score of 66 out of 100, based on 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Brian Lowry of CNN wrote, "While the fish-out-of-water concept is one of TV's oldest, Ozark carves out its own path with clever twists—including a late-in-the-run flashback explaining how the cartel came into his life—and the sheer strength of the performances." TV critic Sonia Saraiya of Variety wrote that Ozark is "smart, well-crafted, and says something," and that the series "comes together under Bateman's disarming and deceptively complex performance as Marty." Tim Dowling of The Guardian wrote "Laura Linney is, as ever, magnificent". Critics favorably compared the show to Breaking Bad, since both involve a seemingly normal protagonist suddenly immersed in a world of crime. Nick Hanover wrote in Film Daily, "Once you get past the surface similarities, Ozark shines as something special and inventive, an intense crime opera where the scenery is as much the star as anyone in the cast."
Season 2[]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season had an approval rating of 76% based on 45 reviews, with an average rating of 6.54/10. The website's critics consensus read: "Engaging and entertaining – if not particularly challenging – Ozark's descent into darker waters is kept afloat by another superb turn from Laura Linney." On Metacritic, it had a weighted average score of 59 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Alison Foreman of Mashable said the female characters are not just "emotional fodder" for the male characters, stating "Season 2 of Netflix's Ozark, however, champions female stories through all 10 of its episodes with an array of women that rivals the ensemble complexity of HBO's The Sopranos."
Season 3[]
As of December 2020, on Rotten Tomatoes, the third season had an approval rating of 97% based on 34 reviews, with an average rating of 8.23/10. The website's critics consensus read: "Ozark finally finds its footing in a third season that ramps up the tension and shines a brighter spotlight on Laura Linney's exceptional performance." As of October 2020, on Metacritic, it had a weighted average score of 77 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".