S01.E10: The Toll

[ZoloftBlob]

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Pretending that the Snells just grow a crop of poppies to sell at the farmers market was pretty daft stuff too.   They just aren't that popular for decoration, Missouri has kind of brutal winters and a lot of insects, that's going to be true anywhere.  I also understand that the cop didn't actually buy the poppy cover story, but the DEA does flyovers in rural areas looking for pot.  They'd notice giant fields of poppies and wouldn't buy that story.  So it really was a moment, for me, of registering that it made no sense whatsoever and then just waiting to see what they would do with it, knowing it was nonsensical.  

Like, I don't pretend to plan to manufacture heroin or anything but yes, this was kind of a big eyeroll in the plot. If I have learned anything from Into The Badlands (hee) it's that you don't just grow poppies and collect heroin seeds. It's actually pretty complex and requires some infrastructure. 

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Ruth was actively choosing something that made sense for the character.  Marty had introduced the concept of a hopeful future -- at least comparatively -- for her.  He'd treated her decently and actually recognized when she was doing a good job and told her so without any coded put downs.   It just wasn't the only thing going on and I found that to be pretty deft writing.  They'd developed her relationship with her cousins to the point that it also made sense that she would choose to kill her uncles to keep them close by and not just for herself, but for their sakes. 

Agree, and the idea that Ruth was... choosing a brighter future for herself was an interesting concept. Yes, managing a strip club isn't glamorous but Marty was putting her in a position of responsibility, and paying her well for her work and she was *liking it*. And doing well. I had the idea while watching that she might be perfectly fine at some poit with just dropping the whole "learn money laundering and murder Marty" plan simply because she now had a good job that could support her.

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I also loved the moment with Ruth's uncles, where one brother tried to encourage his brother to come out and let him know that a) he knew and had known b) that was okay he still loved him. 

I liked this as well, in part because it was allowing the possibility that they weren't writing a raging stereotype - I know poor white trash families that have no issue with gay relatives.

[stillshimpy]

3 hours ago, ZoloftBlob said:

Agree, and the idea that Ruth was... choosing a brighter future for herself was an interesting concept. Yes, managing a strip club isn't glamorous but Marty was putting her in a position of responsibility, and paying her well for her work and she was *liking it*. And doing well. I had the idea while watching that she might be perfectly fine at some poit with just dropping the whole "learn money laundering and murder Marty" plan simply because she now had a good job that could support her.

They also included a detail that was very poignant but they had the wisdom not to go after it hammer and tongs so that a viewer couldn't possibly miss it.  They just created the two contrasting moments and didn't add any expository dialogue.     Ruth has tried to kill Marty and would have if Agent Psychotic Rage hadn't unrigged the dock.   Ruth ends up with a black eye from her uncle hitting her.  When she goes to see Wendy, Wendy who has kind of a lot going on, nonetheless sees it, drops everything.  Tends to the wound, reaches out to Ruth emotionally and sincerely.  

So they played all of that well.  Wendy isn't overly solicitous but it's obvious that she cares and lets Ruth know that they have something common and that she's there for her.  

Then she goes to see her father and we previously saw her making an effort with her appearance for her jail visits to him and he makes that horrible remark about her face, accusing her of wearing too much makeup and making it known, he could not possibly care less that someone has hit her.   When she goes out to the car crying, Wendy and her daughter do the kindest thing:  they make it obvious that they've noted she's crying and they don't look away from it or pry into it.  The entire scene exudes compassion for her.  

Later, after she kills her uncles to keep her cousins close by and also to spare Marty's life, Marty immediately understands what she's done and goes to her and comforts her like a dad.  

It isn't just the 4k a week to manage a strip club or (as the scenes with her father make clear) the obviously novel feeling of being told she's doing a good job, that she has value, it's that moment with Marty where she looks a thousand years old, probably feels it, and he comforts her like a dad would a daughter.   

They managed to bring across a lot of emotional development for Ruth without drawing too much attention to it and then they did the wisest thing yet:  They saved the revelation that Ruth's mother died when she was younger, that she loved her, misses her and that part of what happens when she makes all of those choices, is she's reacting to being allowed access to a land that she'd been barred from by the death of her mom:  open affection, affirmation and a confirmation of worth, all without begging for it.  

So truly, they hit a lot of emotional home runs in this for me and Ruth's characterization was responsible for a lot of them particularly every time she goes to visit her father and despite his being locked behind a wall, he rains nonstop emotional blows down upon her.  

I hope next season opens with the Cartel just freaking taking out the Snells because it is partly how well developed all of the Langmores were that made the Carboard Characterizations of the "They done stole all our lands from our kin and we want revenge!" Snells and that's.all.there.is.to.them.   

Weird that a series managed to have such a fully developed and emotionally subtle story going on with the Langmores and yet just had the We Are Sinister: Worst Midwives Division Snells and that was honestly some of the worst writing I've seen in a while. I know, I've gone on about this but part of the reason the writing being that poor for them stands out a mile is that clearly, the writers were capable of more.   

Make Paster Gunshot take that baby to the DEA so that he can exit stage whatever and have him tell them his story of "I can't prove it, but they told me they would do this, there's no trace of my wife AND THEY GROW FIELDS OF POPPIES"  because that right there?  Local law enforcement being bought off is one thing.  Pretending that would be the end of that story is just weak writing.  

So three-quarters of the writing was really strong in a remarkable way and then the other quarter was like sunwarmed sushi for how much it stank. 

Edited September 10, 2017 by stillshimpy

[Kerri Okie]

Marty hiding $50 million in the walls at the Blue Cat, and all I can think is, "There's always money in the banana stand."

[Samsnee]

Finished this last night. It did remind me of Breaking Bad. But I’m glad they didn’t keep the wife or kids in the dark. Tired of that trope. It honestly felt like a twisted version of Arrested Development. 

 

Rachel’s shack is the banana stand “There’s always money in the banana stand!”

 

Marty/Michael trying to build the church/model home. 

 

Marty’s partner essentially being Gob “ I’ve made a huge mistake.”

 

Marty’s kid is basically George Michael in his awkwardness. 

 

Overall I did enjoy it even if it wasn’t the most original. 

[viamber]

Just wanna say a few things: 1) OZARK really reminded me of BLOODLINE in terms of the atmospheric music and mood. That ominous music was SPOT ON!! CREEPY at times!! 2) Loved the family tensions and relationships. 3) Loved the multilayered Russ and genuinely felt sorry for him when Petty betrayed him. Ouch. 4) As far as Rachel and the money....she didn't take that much. She can deposit up to $10,000 in a bank. She can use the cash for groceries, gas and renting a condo or apartment, right? It's not like it's bank robbery money. She can go to Canada or Mexico and stay for years depending on how much she took. I don't see her coming back to town.  Didn't Kathleen Turner flee the country after she snookered William Hurt and got a bunch of cash? She (Rachel) struck me as being very smart. 5) Finally, I think Wendy and the kids almost HAD to come back: they are a family, after all. Maybe they'll wind up dying together. Or walking into the lake and ducking underwater...

[viamber]

A quick question for you torture aficionados: does pulling off toenails really inflict that much pain? Is there blood loss? I noticed Marty was walking around normally afterwards, no limp or anything. I must say I was expecting worse when I saw those evil looking pliers.

[LadyFiona]

Pulling off nails is excruciating. My daughter accidentally got her finger caught in a door when she was little and pulled one of her fingernails out. She cried for about an hour and was still upset for a long time afterwards. Yes it bled. Not a huge amount, but it needed bandaging. It's like having the top layers of your skin removed...it's a meaty bloody mess and super sensitive until it heals over. As far as limping goes....I noticed that too. It wouldn't necessarily affect his gait since it is just the top of his toes, but I imagine putting them in shoes would be agony and every step would rub them. I rather expected him to show discomfort of some kind upon walking. When I saw the pliers, I thought they were going to pull his fingers off at the first joint. The toenail pulling was worse. Gives me the heebee jeebies.

As a  mother, the baby baptism was horrifying. I was shouting out loud, " No! No!" Babies are not typically immersed, for obvious reasons! You wouldn't even keep an adult under that long. The only rationale I can come up with is that the show is messing with our heads and somehow it was a "time slowed" scenario where it didn't last nearly as long as it seemed. The fake baby carry to the shore was not well done either. 

Additional thoughts: I have not seen either Breaking Bad or Justified, so I cannot comment on similarities. To me, it reminded me more of Weeds crossed with the Sopranos. I probably would not have watched the show at all if it wasn't named Ozark...(it's not really my style) but I lived at the Lake of the Ozarks for 4 years. While the writers clearly have some knowledge (party cove was pretty spot on), they make it seem like it's all backwoods and run down mom and pop stores. Maybe that's what it was like 50 years ago, but not any more. Yes, there are rednecks and trailer parks. Yes there are fancy yachts sailed around by snobby tourists. There is also a year round community with multiple schools. I'm pretty sure they would have that organic pistachio ice cream at Hy-Vee. Heck, there's a Cold Stone Creamery at the outlet mall. There's lots of NICE resorts, restaurants, grocery stores, and million dollar homes. I mean, they really must've been on the WRONG side of the lake. I find it odd that two shows (this one, and Resurrection) are both set in Missouri, but the locale is horribly inaccurate because they filmed them both in GEORGIA. Nothing against Georgia...I lived there too, but for authenticity, it's just a different beast. I've had the odd experience of living in both of the places these shows were "set" and been disappointed at the results. 

So to sum up, as far as suspension of disbelief...

Drugs--yes, there were drug issues

Huge heroin farm--unlikely

Disgruntled families holding a grudge that their town was flooded--possibly. The entire town of Linn Creek was flooded, but the power company rebuilt it on higher ground. If the residents and the descendants held onto their assets, they would have some very valuable lake front property.

Accidents on the Lake? Sadly, yes, but usually involves alcohol.

Churches? LOTS of them. Big ones, small ones, of every denomination. There are probably live services on boats, but there is no great need to build one on land...there are plenty already.

Tourists? YES. LOTS.

Dying businesses? Probably some, but lots of thriving businesses as well. Oh and there are 3 strip clubs.

People at the Lake do not have north Georgia accents.

Edited October 3, 2017 by LadyFiona

[animalnurse]

I saw the baby drowning/ baptism as a test. He was doubting that God saved him from dying by gunshot so he was going to see if He would save the baby from drowning. 

[magdalene]

I hope next season gets rid of the Snells right away. They just don't work as characters or villains for me at all.  And get rid of this ridiculous character of the FBI agent who entrapped Ruth' uncle.  I don't claim to be a law enforcement expert but somehow I don't think that the FBI can successfully have people prosecuted by their agents fucking them and entrapping them. I am hoping in real life such an agent would go to prison.

Concentrate on what works - Marty and his family and Ruth and her younger cousins.

[ganesh]

I thought Marty went in with the Snells for the casino river boat. They seemed to buy in to that the casino would be very profitable. 

I agree that the Snells are just bad at being criminals. There needs to be some consequences of them shooting Marty's boss. 

[Rockfish]

I ended up really enjoying Ozark. The writing, combined with Bateman’s and Linney’s acting, showed a realistic marriage—the good stuff and the bad—which made the show more compelling to me. Also, since both of them were written as believable  characters it was easy for me to empathize with their predicament and wondering what I’d do if I was in a similar situation. The rootability of these two let me overlook other flaws of the show, I guess. Another thing I appreciated was how Jason Bateman's character would flat out tell people the truth, even if it was dangerous to do so, but he did it in a way that made people stop their rash behavior and listen. 

[Casually Observant]

Question for you all:

When the two brothers were found in their boat smoking from electrocution and both Rachel and Marty (with tailing cartel guy) ran over there to see what the smoke coming from the water was, the cartel guy asked who the dead boat inhabitants were. Marty says he recognizes them and that they were the Langmore brothers. They notice the rifles and other items in the boat. Rachel then looks at the pried open electric box and wires dangling in the water and states that the electrocution was due to the wiring being 'rigged'.  She then asks Marty if he did it. He looks at her with surprise and before he answers she says something to the effect of, "You knew they wanted to kill you!" 

How did she know the Langmore brothers wanted to kill Marty?  Did Marty even know they wanted to kill him?  He didn't even know that Ruth had attempted his electrocution earlier.  So, did I miss something here?  I don't believe there was anything Rachel knew about the Langmore family other than the common knowledge of their reputation for being involved in a number of local crimes of robbery, theft, etc., and she didn't trust them and didn't want Ruth to be working at the Blue Cat.

Does anyone know why she would say this or have knowledge of this?

Or... was she assuming that the cartel who Marty had said would kill him and his family if he didn't finish the job would enlist the local thugs to do it and Marty had foreknowledge of this potentiality? 

Thoughts anyone?

[AuntiePam]

On 1/2/2018 at 0:50 PM, Casually Observant said:

Question for you all:

When the two brothers were found in their boat smoking from electrocution and both Rachel and Marty (with tailing cartel guy) ran over there to see what the smoke coming from the water was, the cartel guy asked who the dead boat inhabitants were. Marty says he recognizes them and that they were the Langmore brothers. They notice the rifles and other items in the boat. Rachel then looks at the pried open electric box and wires dangling in the water and states that the electrocution was due to the wiring being 'rigged'.  She then asks Marty if he did it. He looks at her with surprise and before he answers she says something to the effect of, "You knew they wanted to kill you!" 

How did she know the Langmore brothers wanted to kill Marty?  [snipped]

I'm just starting episode 9 -- if Rachel knew, it had to be something that happens in 9 or 10, because so far, all she knows is that Marty is laundering money for someone. 

If your question is answered in these last two episodes, I'll let you know. 

[AuntiePam]

Okay, just finished #9.  Rachel assumed the Langmores wanted Marty dead because of the go-bag in the boat -- rope, duct tape, guns.  It doesn't appear that she has a clue about who rigged the dock.

[AuntiePam]

Looking forward to the second season, mostly for the demise (please please please) of that godawful Snell woman! 

I like the kids.  Charlotte reminded me of Cate Blanchett, and I was all "You go girl!" when she grabbed the car keys and insisted that her mother tell her what the hell was going on with Marty.  Wendy was just going to drive away and not tell the kids what was up with their dad? 

The script could have used a bit more humor.  I chuckled at the real estate guy saying that he'd always think of his mother when he took out the garbage -- you could see Wendy trying not to react.  Jonah not wanting "phlegm" as a nickname was kinda funny too. 

I want more Wyatt -- I liked him.

[wallofsound]

I enjoyed the show itself more than I enjoyed the finale, but I feel like that happens a lot with shows and books.    I really liked the characters of Wyatt and Buddy - probably because they both started out so odious but then became likeabke.   I love Jason Bateman in pretty much everything, but I did tire of his calm, rational smooth talk that got him out of each and every situation throughout this series.    Over and over again   

Laura Linney and the kids were good, Ruth was good.   Esai Morales was awesome and I’m disappointed that he’s been killed off.  The acting and actors definitely made this entertaining and compelling television    The story itself was not that strong    

[ganesh]

1 hour ago, wallofsound said:

I love Jason Bateman in pretty much everything, but I did tire of his calm, rational smooth talk that got him out of each and every situation throughout this series.    Over and over again

But he saw his predecessor literally get his eyes clawed out. I think that would have motivated him to be much more strategic in his thinking. 

[AuntiePam]

His best response in those situations was the truth, honesty.  He'd try everything else but when push came to shove, he had to lay it all out.  It's like he'd just get tired and say "Fuck it -- let's see if this works." 

Like Judge Judy says, if you tell the truth, you don't need a good memory.

[Tabbygirl521]

I just finished binge watching the season. I am in for Season 2. 

One thing bothering me: wasn’t Tuck Rachel’s son? It looked like she took off alone after she panicked and grabbed that cash out of the wall. 

I didn’t think Wendy and the kids returning made for a happy ending as such. I was fascinated by the parade of conflicting emotions on the faces of Bateman and Linney. They know well that this is not happily-ever-after. 

I am really liking the portrayal of Ruth. 

[Mindthinkr]

I guess it’s good that I came into this not having seen Breaking Bad, Justified and much of Jason Bateman’s acting. It allowed me fresh eyes. Also never been to the Ozark region so I didn’t get miffed about Georgia accents and scenery. It was gritty and implausible at times but it was a good escape and I’m now a Bateman fan. He’s up for some Emmy’s and I’m in for the second season which will come out in a little over a month from now. Anything else that I’m thinking has already been covered by other viewers. 

[Paloma]

On 8/8/2017 at 12:55 PM, HollyG said:

And did I miss the explanation about why the Langford boys are called Two & Three? And who is One.

The older Langford boy is called Wyatt, not Two. But my husband and I also wondered about the younger one being called Three, and my theory is that he is actually the "Third"--with his grandfather being Sr. and his father being Jr. Then he could have been given Three as a cute nickname for Russell Langford III. But there is no evidence for this theory.

On 1/23/2018 at 12:46 PM, Tabbygirl521 said:

One thing bothering me: wasn’t Tuck Rachel’s son? It looked like she took off alone after she panicked and grabbed that cash out of the wall. 

My husband and I were confused by that also. We assumed he was her son because he was at the Blue Cat and Marty's standing up to a customer that insulted Tuck seemed to impress Rachel. But apparently Tuck was just a local kid who worked at the Blue Cat. Rachel probably felt protective toward him, but other than the scene with Marty there was nothing else to indicate Tuck was her son.

[Jersey Guy 87]

On 7/24/2017 at 11:30 AM, DoubleUTeeEff said:

Another surprise for me was when Ruth's uncles died. I cannot believe the second one was dumb enough to grab the first one as he was frying.

That didn't surprise me (the one grabbing the other).  He seemed dumb enough plus it was just a reaction.

On 7/30/2017 at 2:34 PM, Captanne said:

ETA:  And I didn't like the facile characterizations, much.  The "hillbilly redneck" comment is a good way to sum that up.  The stereotypes were over the top. Mean drug cartel Mexican, brilliant middle-class suburban white guy (smarter than everyone else in the game), rednecks in the woods in trailer camps, hillbillies literally in the hills, and klutzy uptight FBI agents, semi-corrupt local sheriff.......yawn.

For someone who is smarter than everyone else in the game Marty keeps digging himself in deeper and deeper.  The drug cartel guys are going to be vicious, that's how they work.

On 8/16/2017 at 8:19 AM, KaleyFirefly said:

I enjoyed the season mostly but didn't really like this episode. Holding a baby underwater for that long would kill the baby. He looked like a psycho. It was the preacher's own actions that got his wife killed, so he can shut up with calling Marty the devil.

I don't think Mason feels it was his actions that got Grace killed, at least he won't admit that to himself.  And had Marty not shown up and promised to build him a church he never would have known his services were actually a drug front.  So yeah, he feels Marty is the devil and has some justification.

On 8/25/2017 at 8:08 AM, Janc said:

Petty destroying the hotel room in silence was a great scene, I thought.  But why did the other FBI agent not tell the sheriff that he could produce the witness who could link Del to that Suburban, which was Petty?  

Probably because he wanted to keep Petty undercover.

[ganesh]

1 hour ago, Jersey Guy 87 said:

For someone who is smarter than everyone else in the game Marty keeps digging himself in deeper and deeper.

Marty thought he was smarter than everyone else and figured he'd be able to easily put one over on the 'rednecks', but that clearly wasn't the case and he soon found out he was in very deep. That why his plan at the end was so brilliant. 

[Armchair Critic]

The guy who played Petty the FBI guy reminded me of Michael Shannon who does creepy with underlying menace well.

My nitpicks were

1) If the Sims woman was so impulsive then it doesn't make sense that she wouldn't have killed Marty too since she blamed him for ruining things when he came to town

2) I thought the casting of the daughter was wrong, she looked like she could be a  hillbilly/redneck, they needed somebody with a more innocent/high class look. 

 

On 9/29/2017 at 10:28 PM, viamber said:

Just wanna say a few things: 1) OZARK really reminded me of BLOODLINE

Me too in that I was tense every episode and that the main character (Marty/John Rayburn) I rooted for even though they did bad things. 

.

Edited August 18, 2018 by Armchair Critic

[atlantaloves]

I really enjoyed this show except for the actors that play the Snells...they are so awful and their acting is so BAD, I fast forward through their bullshit, so glad there will be Season Two at the end of this month. I don't even like Jason Bateman and I thought he was terrific, and Linney is always a treasure.  I totally recommend this show. I love a show that can make me just jump out of my skin every now and then, and this is just the ticket. See you guys after August 31 when the new season drops!  

[Quilt Fairy]

On ‎8‎/‎23‎/‎2018 at 3:17 PM, atlantaloves said:

I really enjoyed this show except for the actors that play the Snells...they are so awful and their acting is so BAD

Yeah, Mr Snell is played by the same actor that played James Delos in Westworld and I didn't like him there, either.  Although he got tons of praise, so what do I know?  Of course, in the case of Delos, I didn't like the character whereas in Ozark I just think the actor was miscast.

[Dminches]

On 8/18/2018 at 7:40 PM, Armchair Critic said:

My nitpicks were

1) If the Sims woman was so impulsive then it doesn't make sense that she wouldn't have killed Marty too since she blamed him for ruining things when he came to town

.

In one scene on the porch she suggested that she get some lemonade which is their signal to kill a guest but her husband told her to hold off.

[AnnieHeights]

I am surprised there isn't more love for this show.....everyone kept telling my husband and I how we had to watch Ozark so (obviously late to the party) we did.   Breaking Bad is the Holy Grail IMO and I understand the comparisons but this is not to the BB level (there is no Jessie and it would be almost impossible to beat Bryan Cranston).  However, we really enjoyed it!  Jason Bateman does pretty much always play the same straight man character but he upped his game in this series.  Laura Linney can do no wrong and I am grateful she isn't all botoxed up, she played Wendy to the hilt, she could have been a very unsympathetic character with her being defiant about the affair but managed to make me root for her and Marty.  I liked the kids fine.  Ruth might be one of my all time favorite characters.  She is tough as nails yet manages to show this beautiful vulnerability and shreds of hopefulness.  Love her.  Count me in on hating to see Esai Morales leave the show....he is gorgeous and ruthless.  Ok.....the Snells......I live in Alabama and the term hillbilly isn't really used here.  I personally think Mr. Snell is perfect for his role.....he is what I would refer to as more 'country' as he has manners, is clean, is a blue jean/flannel shirt wearing guy, slow talking but not ignorant, has morals (as f'd up as they are) etc.....I have seen a lot of men that look like him over the years.  Mrs. Snell, I am just not sure what category I would put her in....still not sure what to think about her.....she is just nuts.   

I am not sure law enforcement has been bought by the Snell's as much as they are afraid of them. 

[Ottis]

On 9/10/2017 at 11:49 AM, stillshimpy said:

They also included a detail that was very poignant but they had the wisdom not to go after it hammer and tongs so that a viewer couldn't possibly miss it.  They just created the two contrasting moments and didn't add any expository dialogue.     Ruth has tried to kill Marty and would have if Agent Psychotic Rage hadn't unrigged the dock.   Ruth ends up with a black eye from her uncle hitting her.  When she goes to see Wendy, Wendy who has kind of a lot going on, nonetheless sees it, drops everything.  Tends to the wound, reaches out to Ruth emotionally and sincerely.  

So they played all of that well.  Wendy isn't overly solicitous but it's obvious that she cares and lets Ruth know that they have something common and that she's there for her.  

Then she goes to see her father and we previously saw her making an effort with her appearance for her jail visits to him and he makes that horrible remark about her face, accusing her of wearing too much makeup and making it known, he could not possibly care less that someone has hit her.   When she goes out to the car crying, Wendy and her daughter do the kindest thing:  they make it obvious that they've noted she's crying and they don't look away from it or pry into it.  The entire scene exudes compassion for her.  

Later, after she kills her uncles to keep her cousins close by and also to spare Marty's life, Marty immediately understands what she's done and goes to her and comforts her like a dad.  

It isn't just the 4k a week to manage a strip club or (as the scenes with her father make clear) the obviously novel feeling of being told she's doing a good job, that she has value, it's that moment with Marty where she looks a thousand years old, probably feels it, and he comforts her like a dad would a daughter.   

They managed to bring across a lot of emotional development for Ruth without drawing too much attention to it and then they did the wisest thing yet:  They saved the revelation that Ruth's mother died when she was younger, that she loved her, misses her and that part of what happens when she makes all of those choices, is she's reacting to being allowed access to a land that she'd been barred from by the death of her mom:  open affection, affirmation and a confirmation of worth, all without begging for it.  

Genius. So well said, thank you. I felt every one of those moments for Ruth, and it's why I love when she is on the screen. I've never seen that actress before, but damn, she is good at her job.

On 8/28/2018 at 7:31 PM, Dminches said:

In one scene on the porch she suggested that she get some lemonade which is their signal to kill a guest but her husband told her to hold off.

Every single time she begins with the lemonade conversation, I start laughing. She's always a second away from killing someone.

On 9/18/2018 at 10:46 AM, AnnieHeights said:

I am surprised there isn't more love for this show.....everyone kept telling my husband and I how we had to watch Ozark so (obviously late to the party) we did.   Breaking Bad is the Holy Grail IMO and I understand the comparisons but this is not to the BB level (there is no Jessie and it would be almost impossible to beat Bryan Cranston).  However, we really enjoyed it!

Here's my contribution: I love Jason Bateman, and when I heard he was in Ozark I looked it up. But the description of the show didn't interest me. It looked and felt like Longmire or some show set in the boonies, combined with a family drama. YMMV, but for me, there was little appeal. I only decided to watch the first episode when a friend mentioned it, and I was on a work trip and had time. Once I saw one episode, I binged the first season in a week. Now I'm ready to start season 2. Meanwhile Iron Fist and Sneaky Pete and even the new Man in the High Castle have dropped behind Ozark in my priorities.

[Drogo]

On ‎10‎/‎12‎/‎2017 at 6:07 PM, animalnurse said:

I saw the baby drowning/ baptism as a test. He was doubting that God saved him from dying by gunshot so he was going to see if He would save the baby from drowning. 

With you 100%.  He was vengeful and angry walking up to the lake, but hopeful and reborn coming out of it.  Baby wasn't the only one baptized that day. 

Rachel looked out for Tuck, but she wasn't his mom.  He also called her Rachel. 

[roughing it]

My take on the "baptism" is that after Mason had the conversation with his wife that he wasn't saved by God from his shooting like he believed, and his dealings with the Snells and Marty, that Mason was questioning his own beliefs. Losing Grace he was so distraught that he was out of his mind and went to drown the baby. However when he brought the baby back up and the baby was fine, that restored his belief in God and he turned it into a baptism.  But my thought was he intended to drown the baby.

[qtpye]

On 8/18/2018 at 7:40 PM, Armchair Critic said:

The guy who played Petty the FBI guy reminded me of Michael Shannon who does creepy with underlying menace well.

My nitpicks were

1) If the Sims woman was so impulsive then it doesn't make sense that she wouldn't have killed Marty too since she blamed him for ruining things when he came to town

2) I thought the casting of the daughter was wrong, she looked like she could be a  hillbilly/redneck, they needed somebody with a more innocent/high class look. 

Me too in that I was tense every episode and that the main character (Marty/John Rayburn) I rooted for even though they did bad things. 

.

Charlotte is a lovely girl but someone stated she has a lot of androgyny in her features and I could not get it out of my head that she looks a bit trans. There is nothing wrong with that but I kept expecting her to ask for some hormone shots.

[AZChristian]

On 7/21/2019 at 8:23 AM, qtpye said:

Charlotte is a lovely girl but someone stated she has a lot of androgyny in her features and I could not get it out of my head that she looks a bit trans. There is nothing wrong with that but I kept expecting her to ask for some hormone shots.

I'm just starting to watch the series.

Whenever I see Charlotte, I think that they should have cast Laura Dern as Wendy . . . Charlotte looks just like her, IMO.

[Raja]

On 4/20/2019 at 11:11 AM, roughing it said:

My take on the "baptism" is that after Mason had the conversation with his wife that he wasn't saved by God from his shooting like he believed, and his dealings with the Snells and Marty, that Mason was questioning his own beliefs. Losing Grace he was so distraught that he was out of his mind and went to drown the baby. However when he brought the baby back up and the baby was fine, that restored his belief in God and he turned it into a baptism.  But my thought was he intended to drown the baby.

I agree

After Jonah was not allowed to kill Garcia and no major story difference with Buddy firing the shot I was waiting for Pastor Jerry to pull his son up. It would be like the fear killing a show's pet dog and getting that horrible audience reaction. 

I think it was a murder suicide but he pulled back at the last moment. Going by the type of Christian with a non traditional church I would have made him for those that didn't baptize babies  when he came up and made the sign of the cross.

I wonder how this will play out since the Snell's have Marty's white back but a new devil from down south is a coming

[Blue Plastic]

I don't get why Wendy was so dismissive (more than once) of possibly going into witness protection. She has almost been murdered and Marty has been tortured and almost murdered even more often. They want that for their kids, really? Because realistically eventually they would all be killed and probably in some super horrific way.

It was weird the way Rachel seemed to be built up early on as a main character and one who didn't want to be involved in anything illegal, but then she just ran off with a bunch of the money. I guess maybe she figured Marty owed her a fresh start, but it seemed out of character for her.  I, too, thought at first that she was supposed to be Tuck's mother, but after she ran off Marty mentioned that Tuck lived with his mom so I guess not.

The pastor storyline has been stupid. But I guess it wasn't enough to have a psycho FBI agent; we also had to have a psycho pastor.

How could the psycho FBI agent possibly still keep his job after basically having a fit at that bar and then trashing his hotel room? Somebody would surely report those things and the hotel would probably want extra money for the damage. It's not a fancy hotel but come on.

I do like that some of the stereotypical redneck characters such as Russ and Ruth were fleshed out and shown to be more than just one-note hicks.

I was expecting Del to be a longer-term antagonist. He was good at being menacing. However, I did enjoy the surprise at his being so suddenly eliminated. Was not expecting that!

[scrb]

Really surprised they killed off Del.

Next Mexican heavy better be as good.

He got his hands dirty so why wouldn’t the FBI have more on him?

They walked into someone else’s home, gave up their weapons but obviously the Snells had their guns ready.  How did Darlene hide a shotgun?

I thought they rushed over Wendy and Marty changing their minds.  The accident made them reassess?  She alluded to their money problems or rather modest budget.

Del was all sweet talk but as soon as Marty agreed, they kill the previous money launderer right in front of him.

Del seemed to take pride in being able to assess people, pick up their tells.  Well he missed on Darlene, deliberately provoking him.

[SG429]

On 10/10/2018 at 12:55 PM, Ottis said:

Every single time she begins with the lemonade conversation, I start laughing. She's always a second away from killing someone.

Lemonade came up when preacher came over after Grace died. Darlene said, "Not worth the squeeze."

[SlovakPrincess]

Poor Grace!  Poor Mason!  Poor tiny baby!  I'm actually grateful that the prop baby Mason carried into the water looked totally fake and basically like a napkin ... kept me distracted from the potential horrors of that scene.  

The Snells are grotesque freaks.  And now Marty is basically trapped with them ... ugh!  

Interesting how uncomfortable Del looked near the Snells - probably the palpable racism and insanity he was picking up on.  But still - first time we've ever seen Del look unsure or like he might not have the upper hand.  And as it turns out ... he didn't!  

Jason Bateman's acting in this episode is A+.  But it's also sort of tragic watching Marty be so brilliant in coming up with new schemes and improvising his way out of danger.  All that intelligence and what a waste -- all he's using it for is to help criminals and keep himself alive so he can continue being trapped in service to criminals.  

I wonder if we'll ever see Rachel again?

Petty's tantrum was a big eye-roll for me.  I felt worse for Evans.  

Edited May 9, 2022 by SlovakPrincess

[paramitch]

I enjoyed this, and the entire season, and admit that the shooting of Del had me jumping out of my seat. And that "baptism" of the baby? One of the hardest things I've ever watched. And I do think it went on a bit too long. But at least that ended well, out of everything.

I'd echo @stillshimpy and those who enjoyed some elements (the Langmores) while finding others (the Snells, Petty the FBI agent) a little more tiresome and clunkily written.

For me, a show will usually grab my loyalty with at least one character I fall in love with and care for. On "Breaking Bad," for me that was Aaron. Here, it's Ruth. Her arc is fascinating, Julia Garner is amazing in the role, and I've come to care about her so much. She's battling so much adversity, everything is against her, and she was absolutely trapped in her fate and circumstances, until (ironically) the Byrdes. Watching her come to accept kindness, compassion, even pride in her capabilities from Marty and Wendy has moved me so much. The fact that she killed Russ to protect Marty said so much, and that look on her face was just devastating. I was so glad Marty hugged her, and he just effortlessly seemed to fall into "father" mode there.

I also really like Wyatt (the actor is just terrific, and such a great casting choice), and care about Charlotte and Jonah and Buddy, too.

And while I care about Marty and Wendy almost in spite of myself, I'm also invested because I care about their marriage and family. The story is truly saying something interesting in that what they're doing is classic compartmentalization at its most extreme. They're decent people, caring parents, there has been a lot of genuine love and selflessness in their marriage (as well as betrayal), so watching Wendy fall apart here at the thought of Marty separating himself from them forever was so moving to me. As was that final, loving, disappointed, relieved, complicated look between Marty and Wendy when they returned him to him.

Jason Bateman has been doing a really gorgeous job with directing the show as well -- it's visually stunning. And it was an interesting musical choice here to end the episode on Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19: II (the Adagio). It added a sense of grandeur (and irony).

I'm definitely in for season 2.