Ozark Season Three Returns with Powerful Performances and Substantial Drama
Warning: Mild spoilers ahead for the series!
Returning for a third season, Netflix’s Ozark remains an exceptional balance of drama and suspense. The newest season is packed with slowly ratcheted tension that showcases the abundance of talent which fans have come to expect from creators Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams. Sometimes long-winded but always rich in character development, Ozark season three rewards loyal fans with a heavy dose of the unexpected. Through the arc of ten episodes, recognizable faces return and new ones emerge. The familiar restrained tone of the show is confronted by new forces, which threaten to blow everything wide open. The feeling of season three is that of a smoldering fire: one small movement or breath could cause an explosion of flames threatening to burn everything down.
Almost half a year after the conclusion of season two, Marty and Wendy Byrde (Jason Bateman and Laura Linney) continue their money laundering scheme within the thriving new casino, The Missouri Belle. Now involved in Marty and Wendy’s venture are their teenage children, Charlotte and Jonah (Sofia Hublitz and Skylar Gaertner), each offering differing outlooks that often clash with their parents’ vision. Ever present in the affairs of the Byrdes is lawyer Helen Pierce (Janet McTeer), the steely-eyed representative of the Navarro drug cartel. Meanwhile, at the helm of casino operations, Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner) continues her exemplary work for the Byrdes, even as her relationship with estranged cousin Wyatt (Charlie Tahan) continues to break down. An expansion at the casino triggers an FBI audit, which takes the form of Special Agent Maya Miller (Jessica Frances Dukes), a no-nonsense forensic accountant who threatens to leave no stone unturned. Everything seems to be running smoothly until Wendy’s younger brother Ben Davis (Tom Pelphrey) turns up. The presence of Ben and Maya begins to alter the orbit of the Byrde’s strategies, threatening to cause worlds to collide.
Viewers of Ozark will be familiar with the slow-paced, character-driven plot. The past interactions between each character are hinted at and often used as leverage throughout season three. However, very little revisiting needs to be done in order to grasp the events that take place in season three. The foundations have been set in previous seasons and this season effortlessly piles on a more ornate and beautifully written façade. Early in the season, care is taken to place all of the characters in close proximity to each other. Because of this, past resentments and actions are allowed to eat away at that foundation. After the introductions of Maya and Ben, chaos seems to be inevitable, but throughout the season Marty and Wendy somehow appear to hold everything together. Chaos often feels like it is right around the corner, but this show is so well-written and restrained, trouble is often diffused. Inevitably, the pressure is too much and cracks begin to show. The latter third of the season is when the drama explodes exponentially. Here is where strong performances really grip their roles and the sublime begins to take shape.
One episode of particular importance is episode nine, “Fire Pink.” The building tension comes to a heartbreakingly powerful apex in the penultimate episode. The episode features Tom Pelphrey commanding each scene with his depiction of Ben’s struggle with Bipolar Disorder. In “Fire Pink,” Ben is wrestling with the consequences of his actions, all while sister Wendy achingly attempts to rescue her brother from a predetermined fate at the hands of the cartel. Pelphrey turns in an extremely intricate and nuanced performance as Ben is consumed by his actions and his efforts to grapple with what he has discovered about his sister’s criminal life. One sequence in particular reveals a manic Ben in the back of taxi, discussing through monologue and in close-up, events from his past as well as his philosophical views. Here Ben is laying himself bare to the audience, and in this moment the audience connects with him on a deeply personal level. Throughout this episode, the cold-calculated world of the Byrde’s is exposed and the family feels real threats, not only from outside factors but also from within their inner circle. “Fire Pink” brilliantly sets up the season finale, which acts as a culmination of every action each character has taken.
The actions of the characters are of extreme importance, especially the actions of the women who inhabit the world of Ozark. From the outset of season three, Marty’s role is more subdued and the roles of Ruth, Helen, Wendy, and newly introduced Maya really expand. Each woman is driven by her own desires and passions, whether it be Wendy who demands a bigger seat at the table and will gladly go toe to toe with a callous drug lord to obtain it, or Helen whose protective nature for her daughter comes into direct odds with her line of work as she must find balance or risk losing it all. Maya, as the force of good in the gray areas of Ozark, is constantly compelling with her ability to navigate the troubled waters surrounding the Byrdes and the way in which she still tries to find the admirable qualities in others. However, one of the most powerful characters in season three is Julia Garner’s Ruth. Her performance and narrative arc is one of the strongest of the season. Ruth is intertwined with every character and everything literally depends on her decisions throughout season three. It feels very much as though the women of Ozark determine the direction of this season, and the most important moments of Ozark season three center around the actions of strong women.
Season three of Ozark is laced with drama and dripping with suspense. The brilliant performances of series regulars and the addition of two new fascinating characters enriches an already scintillating show. The character-driven plot really opens up with the inclusion of bigger roles for the female characters in Ozark. The result is an enthralling season of television that will grip you tightly, twist you, turn you, and wring out all of your expectations.
