Ozark: Season 4 Part 2 Review (Netflix)

Ozark navigates those moral compromises that a person might make when crossed with loads of power and money to help their family get ahead of the game. Season one and two perfectly revealed some intense situations that involved brutal killings and questionable decisions made by the Byrde family in order to stay alive and keep working for the Mexican drug cartel. No matter how tiny and seemingly inconsequential those moral compromises were, they all had a consequence, some of which pop up in these final episodes and rear their blood-soaked head to throw obstacles in front of the Byrde family. 

Breaking Bad had an uncanny and wonderful way of revealing the future at the start of each season that told a fantastic story that gave away almost no plot points. This element was implemented in the first part of Season 4 a few months ago showing the Byrde family in a horrific car wreck when Marty (Bateman) swerved to avoid an 18-Wheeler that caused his car to flip multiple times in a violent fashion. From then on, it's been a flashback that will somehow lead up to that terrifying moment in Ozark. When rewatching the entire series, it's easy to see how vehicle accidents have played a very important role in the show. Many characters have met their end inside a car or by a vehicle crashing into them. It was only fitting to have the unanswered Byrde family wreck be a major plot point going into these last episodes.

The last thing everybody watched in Part 1 was how Omar Navarro was captured and sent to prison, where his business-savvy nephew Javi was set to take control over the cartel with Marty and his family running the finances. Meanwhile, Ruth has had a breakdown over a tragedy and has become unhinged, as a Chicago private investigator has been digging into the Byrde's affairs. These last seven episodes are a rollercoaster of betrayals, new friendships, and unlikely allies as every character tries to stay alive. Of course, bodies pile up, and old faces come back into the fray, all while Marty and Wendy Byrde try and secure their own safety while finishing the turbulent race they think is their American Dream. 

Suspense and tension with each storyline are at an all-time high with everything from the cartel, the FBI, the private investigator, and the casino coming to a head all at once. Add to that the Byrde family problems and missing people that seem to not go away, which all result in some heart-pounding action and drama. The spotlight is on Laura Linney though as she is given the most screen-time to walk her character in and out of every suspenseful situation. The show finally reveals her soft and vulnerable side, something nobody has really seen, given she is a force to be reckoned with, and Linney plays it perfectly. Bateman again plays Marty as straight as an arrow with the exception of a fantastic scene of pure unadulterated violence that flares up for a minute. It's a great way to see the two sides to Marty and how he allows the progress of his work to play out. 

The last 72-minute finale episode brings Bateman back to the director's chair where that fine line of shocking violence along with the unavoidable conclusions of every character meet right in the middle. It's the perfect ending for the Byrde family that takes it all the way back to Season One. There's no doubt that many fans of the show will have different reactions to really any ending of a series they enjoy, but with Ozark, it feels perfect in all its glory. This was one violent, dark, and excellently made series by Netflix and it's sad to see it go. But who knows, when there's room for a show like Better Call Saul, there are plenty of characters in Ozark worthy of their own series. The final episodes of Ozark stream on Netflix on April 29th. Highly Recommended! 

Ozark: Season 4 Part Two Streams on Netflix April 29th - Gift Someone A Netflix Membership!