Blu-ray News and Reviews | High Def Digest
Film & TV All News Blu-Ray Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders 4K Ultra HD Reviews Release Dates News Pre-orders Gear Reviews News Home Theater 101 Best Gear Film & TV
Blu-Ray : Highly Recommended
Ranking:
Release Date: January 21st, 2022 Movie Release Year: 2022

Ozark: Season 4 Part 1 Review (Netflix)

Overview -

It's the beginning of the end as Season 4, Episode 1's title states in Netflix's hit crime thriller Ozark. This last season will be a super-sized platter of a whopping fourteen episodes spread across two parts with seven episodes each. Part One sets the stage for the Byrde family of what's to come of their future within the Mexican drug cartel. Navigating an intense and bloody web of new members of the cartel, local enemies, and an aggravating private detective, each member of the Byrds have their work cut out for them as the series comes to a finale. With some truly phenomenal performances, as always, and some extreme violence, everything is in play in Season 4, as the violence, thrills, and stakes are at an all-time high. This first part of season 4 of Ozark is outstanding. Highly Recommended. 

Ozark: Season 4 Part One is now streaming on Netflix - Gift Someone A Netflix Membership!

 

OVERALL:
Highly Recommended
Rating Breakdown
STORY
VIDEO
AUDIO
SPECIAL FEATURES
Tech Specs & Release Details
Release Date:
January 21st, 2022

Storyline: Our Reviewer's Take

Ranking:

Back when Ozark started a few years ago, it took its cues from Breaking Bad, where a seemingly normal family got involved in some high-volume crime and violence. Instead of fueling cancer payments with meth sales, Ozark focused on Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) who was hired by the Mexican drug cartel to do their accounting and financials. After Marty's business partner was caught skimming the loot, Marty quickly hatched a plan to get their money back by moving his family and the cartel's money to the Ozarks. Since then, Marty, his wife Wendy (Laura Linney), and their two teenage kids Charlotte and Jonah (Sofia Hublitz and Skylar Gaertner) are deep in the know about everything their dad does and what they must do to stay alive.

The family has purchased a casino on the water, has dealt with a smattering of members of the Kansas City mafia, and has crossed paths with the ruthless and heartless heroin dealer in town Darlene Snell (Lisa Emery). As season three came to a close in Mexico at Omar Navarro's (the head of the cartel) mansion, Wendy and Marty avoided a gruesome death and sealed their permanent relationship with Navarro and his family - for better or worse.

In this fourth and final season, it's quickly made known that both Navarro and the Byrde family are working together for the same goal. They both want out of the drug business and both sides need each other to accomplish this major feat in order to avoid prison time and keep most, if not all of their money. Charlotte is the most level-headed character this season and knows what must happen in order to ensure everyone's safety. She's much like her father Marty in this respect. She and Marty are always calm, collected, and respectful to a degree. If everyone just listened to Marty and kept cool, everyone would get what they want, but volatile characters come out of the woodwork and create major problems with dire consequences. Their stern, yet friendly faces and calm delivery of their dialogue are pitch-perfect as if they are playing chess in their head to make their next moves.

On the other hand, Wendy is the polar opposite of her husband. In this climactic season, Wendy is highly confrontational as she moves and shakes everyone around her to align with her mission. Her maternal instincts rarely come into play where Linney just owns and commands the screen with her vocal prowess and delivery forcing every character around her to fall in line. She's a force to be reckoned with. Jonah is now going through a big rebellious phase and utterly dislikes his mom, due to the death of her brother last season. He takes up his money laundering skills to help Ruth Langmore (fan favorite Julia Garner), who is still on the fence about the Byrde family.

Ruth is trying to work and get closer to the only family she has left with her cousin Wyatt (Charlie Tahan) who is still in an unfortunate relationship with Darlene. Meanwhile, Navarro's nephew Javi Elizondro (Alfonso Herrera) is ready to take over and despite his suave American look and law degree, he is more ruthless and irrational than Navarro. In this maze of mayhem and bloodshed, The Byrdes are also trying to get Wendy's political career off the ground with their Byrde foundation, which also causes many issues in their world.

 

Video Review

Ranking:

Audio Review

Ranking:

Special Features

Ranking:

Final Thoughts

The suspense throughout each episode is through the roof and nobody is safe as this amazing series comes to a close. Like Breaking Bad did with the opening scene of each season, Ozark does with season four-part one, revealing something big happening present day, but then going back to second after the third season ended. It's a great way to tell this story, considering that first scene. And everyone's favorite Ruth Langmore is as incredible as ever. Garner has cemented this character into a cult icon in such little time. Ruth is strong and ruthless when she needs to be, but has the gooey center of pleasantness with those she loves. There are enemies that become allies and vice versa in this season and it's not going to stop any time soon. It's great to see that Robin Wright has directed an episode this season as well. Ozark Season 4 is an incredible start to the end of this fantastic show. Highly Recommended!

 Ozark: Season 4 Part One is now streaming on Netflix - Gift Someone A Netflix Membership!