Ozark (2017)

I started Ozark thinking I'd watch an episode or two. Three sleepless nights later I'd finished the entire run. Jason Bateman's dramatic range is just unmatched. Marty Byrde is one of the great characters in TV history.

I haven't been this invested in characters since I was a kid. Marty Byrde is brilliantly written — you understand exactly why they make terrible decisions. Julia Garner's scene-stealing Ruth Langmore is the best part of an already excellent show.

Ozark is excellent television but I wouldn't rank it as the all-time greatest. the Missouri Ozarks atmosphere is legitimately fantastic but some middle episodes lose momentum. Worth watching absolutely, just with tempered expectations.

Ozark lives up to maybe 80% of the hype. Julia Garner's scene-stealing Ruth Langmore is genuinely excellent. The rural crime dynamics element is well done. My only complaint is that things drag slightly in the middle. Still four stars.

There are no filler episodes in Ozark. Every single hour justifies its existence. Wendy Byrde has one of the great character arcs in television. I've already rewatched it twice.

Ozark is a masterclass in television storytelling. Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams's writing is meticulous — every episode builds towards something. The theme of money laundering and its costs runs through every storyline. A must-watch.

Ozark showed me what television can do. The money laundering and its costs storyline is handled with more intelligence than most films. Jason Bateman's dramatic range elevates the whole thing. Required viewing for anyone who cares about storytelling.

Wendy Byrde is played with incredible subtlety. You believe every choice they make even when those choices are catastrophic. Jason Bateman's dramatic range is a big reason this show rose above its peers.

Ozark takes a few episodes to find its feet. By the time you reach All In, you understand what the show is going for. Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams has a long game in mind and it pays off beautifully.

Ozark will be talked about in TV history discussions for decades. The way it handles money laundering and its costs is mature, nuanced, and unflinching. Ruth Langmore is one of the most complex characters ever written for television.