The crime drama Ozark follows the Byrde family’s journey from their relatively small money-laundering business to running a criminal enterprise in Missouri. Ozark has often been compared to Breaking Bad, but it deals with a very different kind of criminal world. While Breaking Bad shows the descent of one man, Ozark shows more of the family’s will to survive.
The characters in Ozark begin the show as comparatively small-time criminals. Financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) launders money for a drug cartel, but his life changes when they murder his partner. Thinking quickly, Marty claims that he can launder $500 million in five years if he moves to the Ozarks. Ozark lasted for four seasons, with reviewers wondering if Marty’s gamble would eventually pay off.
While Ozark came to a proper but somewhat open-ended finish, the audience was divided over the final episodes of the show. The fates of Ozark‘s main characters often felt unfair, with some getting away with major crimes and other fan-favorite characters being wronged. That said, upon re-watching the show, it is actually a perfect ending.
Ozark’s Ending Got A Mixed Response, But It Was Perfect For The Netflix Show
Ozark Avoided The Controversial Ending The Sopranos Gave Us
The four seasons of Ozark increase the threat against the Byrde family until it seems that there are only three plausible choices left for their fate. It appeared that the Byrde family was destined for escape, prison, or death. The final episode, “A Hard Way To Go,” answered this question, but it got a very mixed response from viewers.
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Ozark‘s ending is not as over-dramatic or explosive as that of Breaking Bad, and it stays consistent with the tone of the show. It is more realistic than the ending of many crime shows, which often prioritize fan service over realism, and the message that riches can shield one from criminal consequences is more true to real life than many would admit.
Additionally, Netflix shows are often gritty and unflinching, without seeing a neat, happy ending as necessary. By the end of Ozark, the Byrde family has become virtually untouchable, and Jonah’s (Skylar Gaertner) shocking twist sees him finally choose to join his family’s criminal empire. This corrupt but grounded finale was ultimately perfect for the Netflix show, despite dividing its viewers.
The Ozark finale is the lowest-rated episode of the show, with 6.7/10 on IMDb.
In contrast, The Sopranos has one of the most controversial finales of all time, with its protagonist seemingly being murdered, but no confirmation as the screen cuts to black. This unexpected and unsatisfying conclusion also divided its fanbase and overshadowed the rest of the show, which was otherwise a masterpiece. Ozark‘s ending looked set to mirror the Sopranos finale, but one detail was changed.
Ozark avoided The Sopranos‘ finale mistake by taking away the ambiguity. When the family returns home to find Mel Sattem (Adam Rothenberg) waiting for them with enough evidence to take them down, Jonah appears with a shotgun. While the screen cuts to black, the sound of the gun going off is then heard, implying that Jonah shot Mel dead.
Ruth’s Fate Was Tragic, But It Was The Only Way Her Story Could Have Ended
Ruth’s Ending Was The Best In Ozark
Ruth is arguably Ozark‘s most popular character, and Julia Garner won two Emmy Awards for her performance. Ruth suffers the most throughout the show as a result of working for the Byrdes, including losing everything she loves. Despite this, the Byrdes allow her to die at the hands of the cartel.
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When the new cartel boss, Camila Elizzondro (Verónica Falcón), learns that Ruth is the one who killed Javi (Alfonso Herrera), she ambushes Ruth on her way home and shoots her in revenge. This ending is tragic, as Ruth appeared to be free at last, with two legitimate jobs and an expunged criminal record. That said, it was the only way her story could have ended.
Ruth’s death felt unfair to many, as she had been built up to be a tragic antihero. However, her death underlines one of the main themes of the show, which is that power protects its own. Ruth’s final fate was a challenge for Ozark‘s creators, but it broke the “Langmore family curse” that she claimed would get her.
Ruth might die in the Ozark finale, but she goes out on her own terms.
Ruth Langmore’s story has a recurring theme in that she is destined to suffer from the Langmore family curse, that everyone in the Langmore family would either end up dead or a failure. Ruth’s family grew from a long line of abuse, pain, and crime, and her story arc is the best in Ozark as she fights to escape this.
Ruth might die in the Ozark finale, but she goes out on her own terms. After building a life for herself with career prospects, a newfound confidence, and future plans, she is far from a failure. Ruth’s ending is devastating, but it breaks part of the Langmore family curse, making it the best in Ozark.
The Byrdes’ Ending Wasn’t Shocking, But It Made Sense For Their Characters
Jonah Ozark’s Twist Was Perfectly Bleak & Fitting For The Show
While it was always possible that the Byrde family would be taken down in the final minutes of Ozark, this was not a realistic ending for them, and would not have fit with the tone of the show. Marty and Wendy Byrde (Laura Linney) have one of the best relationships in Ozark, and they are formidable when they combine their best traits.
The fact that the family essentially got away with their crimes by striking a deal with the FBI in exchange for immunity was not surprising. The Byrdes always protected themselves by partnering with anyone they thought could get them what they wanted, and a different ending would not have been true to their characters or the overall series.
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Meanwhile, Jonah’s transformation throughout Ozark is fascinating and full of suspense right up until the end. He spends most of the show trying desperately to distance himself from his family’s criminal business, while still feeling incredibly protective of them. Jonah sets himself up as their home security in season 3, and this foreshadows the finale twist.
Just as it seemed that Mel could persecute the Byrde family, Jonah arrives to save them at the last possible second. If he had decided to walk away, this would have been a loose end that left his fate ambiguous. By finally choosing to join his family’s criminal life, there is no way back for him, wrapping this storyline up for the finale.
Ozark’s Ending Deserves To Be Reassessed Years Later
There Is Potential For An Ozark Season 5, But It May Look Very Different
Netflix has a habit of canceling shows too soon, creating unsatisfying cliffhangers and unfinished story threads. But Ozark was not canceled, and the show ended on its own terms. The ending might not have given the Byrde family the fate that they deserved, but this does not mean that it was necessarily bad. After three years, Ozark‘s finale deserves another chance.
It might be interesting to see if their past lives catch up with them in another season of Ozark, but this would look very different.
Looking back at Ozark‘s polarizing ending, it is clear that it wraps up the story without being too neat or unrealistic. The acting is fantastic, especially Jason Bateman and Julia Garner, and there are still some surprises and twists. Ozark could never have created an ending that satisfied every viewer, and the finale has been judged too harshly compared to other crime shows.
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Ozark Seasons Rotten Tomatoes Audience Ratings |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Season |
Year |
Score |
|
1 |
2017 |
92% |
|
2 |
2018 |
91% |
|
3 |
2020 |
88% |
|
4 |
2022 |
71% |
While Ozark officially ends with season 4, the family is set to become players in the political world, which will open them up to an entirely new circle, with more opportunities for crime. It might be interesting to see if their past lives catch up with them in another season of Ozark, but this would look very different.
While Ozark is regularly compared to Breaking Bad and The Sopranos, Ozark season 5 would likely focus on the family’s rise to political power. This would almost certainly draw a comparison with House of Cards, which focuses on a corrupt political dynasty. It might be an interesting change, but it is not needed after Ozark‘s finale.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
