#FIRSTLOOK: “OZARK” SEASON 4

By Mr. Will Wong

While the end is being signaled for highly-acclaimed Netflix Series OZARK, we at least get the final season rationed in two parts to make it a bit easier to say goodbye. The first-half of Season Four is before is and we catch-up with The Byrdes who refuse to go down in defeat in this game of money laundering.

Enter to the picture Javi (Alfonso Herrera), the erratic nephew of kingpin Omar Navarro (Felix Angel Solis). Unpredictable, he is looking to take the reins and breathe new life into his family’s business, and he could care less about his uncles allegiance to the Byrdes. Using every single resource they have, the Byrdes who are own their successful casino and are more hated than ever in Ozark. Wendy (Laura Linney) is out to clean-up her reputation, attaching herself to philanthropic work, and she is more ferocious than ever, no longer just the supportive wife in the background. She and Marty (Jason Bateman) are in deeper trouble than ever before. And at a quick turn of temper, Javi could end it all for them. And at this point really, what do they have to lose? So they go all in.

At the heart of this first-half of the final season are themes of grieving and feuding. Noah (Skylar Gaertner) rebels against and betrays his family, numb from all his family has brought him through, but when things get really scary, this truly tests the strength of their familial bond. Ruth (Julia Garner) also is coping with the loss of her father and also her lover, Ben (Tom Pelphrey), Wendy‘s brother. Wendy also is coping with the loss too, but is forced to pretend she doesn’t know he’s dead. We see Ruth try to navigate this sense of sadness with rage as she’s looking to build an empire of her own. And though she’s been there to help the Byrde family in the past, their relationship falls on shaky footing this season.

The performances continue to mesmerize and Garner continues to deliver some phenomenal work as Ruth, single-handedly stealing the entire show. She balances the quiet pain that Ruth is experiencing within this season and more than ever before we see her vulnerability beneath her outbursts and tough exterior. Linney also is so good that Wendy convinces herself of all the contrivances she’s created, learning to harness her power as an equal partner in this family operation.

As expected, we’re left on a bit of a cliffhanger, but can’t wait to see how the second-half of this season plays out. Tune-in if you’re looking for an anxiety-ridden good time as the first-half of OZARK Season Four streams Friday, January 21, 2022 on Netflix.