OZARK .....the new Breaking Bad ??

ASHOK’s FIVE reasons to watch brings you a series that is quite different from what you would normally watch – OZARK on Netflix now streaming Season 3. This series has consistently improved season on season and is now on its way to reaching cult status on the lines of BREAKING BAD and I would highly recommend it for people who love an experiment with thrillers rooted in crime with protagonists who are grey but so very unique that they stand out and remain etched in your mind long after the television is switched off. The story captures the travails of Wendy and Marty Byrd and their family who relocate from Chicago to the picturesque Ozarks and get involved in a money laundering scheme that goes wrong.

1.Watch OZARK for a series where the next twist is truly difficult to predict. And this is on account of two things; the first is characters like Darlene who is ready to pull out a rifle and blow the brains out of just about anyone in the story and the second is amazingly crafted scenes like where Lord Navarro blows the brains out of a character while embracing the others even as they are all drenched in blood.

2. OZARK’s strength is a fine set of characters sketched out in great detail and supported by a fine cast that included Jason Bateman as Marty Byrd, Laura Linney who finds her place in the sun in season 3 as Wendy Byrd, Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore and many others. Season 3 also introduces Tom Pelphy as Wendy’s kid brother Ben in a neat cameo that is memorable.

3. OZARK is one series that is on its way to attaining cult status. Every season has been an improvement on the previous one as it explores multiple relationships even as the twists and turns become more ominous.

4. OZARK is the absolute definition of grey. On the one hand is the protagonist couple who launder money for a drug cartel but who also win your empathy as they struggle with the very same challenges that any average family would. They also manage a river-boat casino and deal with drug issues. Season 3 stands out for its focus on the strained relationship between the couple, almost reminding you of marriage story. The children Jonah and Charlotte are also in the know of what their parents are doing, and this makes for interesting complications. The issues don’t stop there; there is Ben who is introduced in Season 3 and he suffers from a bi-polar disorder and creates new problems for the couple. There is no hint of judgement calls anywhere in the series and your empathy for the couple and the family keeps increasing as you watch them take on every new challenge.

5. Watch OZARK for Jason Bateman as Marty Byrd. He remains unflappable through every terrifying new development and through every single reversal of fortune. His tone, tenor and mannerisms are always underplayed and his stoic ‘OK’ muttered under his breath is fascinating. Jason Bateman leads the cast and also acts as series director and is the soul of OZARK.

OZARK is not just another grey crime thriller. The emphasis is not on the crime or the criminals; instead it is the story of a normal family managing its everyday share of problems set against the backdrop of a grey environment. It is a master-class in facing and managing life’s challenges with strength and perseverance, while staying true to oneself and being conscious of one’s limitations!