Ozark is my absolute by far most favorite, favorite TV series. Its intense storytelling, complex characters, and constant suspense keeps me coming back every year. I watched it when it first came out in the summer of 2017, and then from there I watch it every spring, since then. Every time that I watch it, I notice something new about the series that I didn’t catch before.

It first debuted in July of 2017. It’s a little tradition that I have yearly that holds special meaning and gives me a sense of joy, connection, and nostalgia. It serves as a little reminder to me that summer is just around the corner, just in time for beautiful weather and much needed rest and relaxation, since I am a teacher.  

Release Date: July 21, 2017

The television series was produced by MRC Television and Aggregate Films, with Jason Bateman serving as an executive producer. Bateman also directed several episodes and played the lead role of Marty Byrde. The show was co-created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams.

The first season came out in July of 2017. The second season was released on August 31, 2018; and the third season was released on March 27, 2020. The first three seasons are 10 episodes each. In June of 2020, the series was renewed for a fourth and final season consisting of 14 episodes split into two parts; the first part was released on January 21, 2022, and the second was released on April 29, 2022.

There’s something about Ozark that pulls me in deeper with every episode, each year that I watch it. It’s not just the gripping plot-it’s the way the show blurs the lines between right and wrong. Marty and Wendy Byrde aren’t heroes, but they’re not total villains either. They’re survivors, navigating an impossible situation with chilling precision and desperation.

I love the show’s atmosphere-the moody color palette, the haunting music, the quiet tension that simmers in every scene. It makes you feel like something explosive could happen at any second, and often, it does.

My three favorite characters in Ozark are Marty and Wendy Byrde and Ruth Langmore.

My favorite actor of all time, by far is Jason Bateman.

The show follows (Jason Bateman) and (Laura Linney) as Marty and Wendy Byrde.

Marty Byrde, a financial advisor who is forced to launder money for a Mexican drug cartel. He relocates his family to the Lake of the Ozarks, where things only get complicated. He’s a symbol of the “everyman” caught in extraordinary circumstances, doing whatever it takes to protect his family while slowly losing his ethical compass. What makes Marty particularly compelling is how he constantly has to balance the dangers of the cartel, the law, and local criminal elements while trying to maintain a semblance of normal life with his wife Wendy and their two children. His relationship with Wendy becomes increasingly complex as she starts taking a more active-and often ruthless-role in their operations. Marty isn’t flashy or violent, he is a down to Earth guy and his weapon is his intellect.

The second favorite character of mine, Wendy Byrde transforms more radically than Marty. She becomes the political strategist, increasingly manipulative and power hungry, representing the seductive nature of influence. She justifies her actions as being for the greater good, but it’s clear she craves control and legitimacy, often pushing further than Marty. Wendy starts with more traditional political ideals, but gradually shows how idealism can be warped when power is at stake. Though she claims to act in her family’s best interests, her methods often involve deception, betrayal, and even endangerment. Over the series, Wendy evolves from a supportive spouse to a central, often morally ambiguous, player in the cartel dealings. Her arc showcases how desperation and ambition can corrupt-and empower.

And then there’s Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner). Fierce, raw, and endlessly complex, she’s the heart of the show in so many ways. Her loyalty, her pain, and her fire make her unforgettable.  A central character in Ozark, is a fiercely intelligent, tough, and street-smart young woman from a criminal family in the Missouri Ozarks. Portrayed by Julia Garner, Ruth is known for her sharp tongue, fiery temper, and strong survival instincts. Despite her rough exterior and upbringing in a dysfunctional, often dangerous environment, she is deeply loyal and capable of deep emotional complexity. Ruth becomes closely entangled with the Byrde family’s money-laundering operation, often serving as both an ally and a foil to Marty Byrde. Marty see’s Ruth’s sharp mind and talents early on. Unlike most adults in her life, he treats her as an equal, which earns her admiration and loyalty. Over the series, she evolves from small-time criminal into a major player in the region’s illicit economy. Her journey is marked by constant tension between her ambitions, her loyalty to her family, and her longing for something better.

Ultimately, Ozark is about choices, consequences, and how far people will go to protect the ones they love-even in the process. And that’s why I can’t stop watching the series.

If you are looking for a really good television series to watch, check out Ozark, on Netflix.

Feel free to click on the link below for a preview of Ozark on Netflix.

Credits to: YouTube, Netflix and Pinterest for the picture.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Love,

Fran Martin xo