Ozark

  My new obsession is Ozark. I am about a couple of episodes into the first season. What really hooked me was how chaotic it was and how the plot paced well. Marty discovers an infidelity with Wendy in his marriage, and I thought it was interesting to convey that, and then everything explodes almost instantly with the cartel's power. I thought the constant tension for each character, personally as well as collectively as a family, was accurately depicted. The stress of moving to an unfamiliar place, evading the FBI, laundering money, and fearing the cartel shows how resilient they all are. In the first couple of episodes alone, the show conveys broader themes prominently through financial crisis (owing the boss $8 million), sudden instability (leaving for Missouri), family breakdowns, and just the dynamic of knowing you're a criminal or knowing you're associated. There were some gruesome killings, and how graphic it was reflects how dangerous these people can be. Ozark is compelling because of how it can mirror real-world fears. I think Wendy Bryde's story is intense because the man she was seeing was killed, she had to pack up and leave, and convince her kids, knowing the lives they currently have, and she had to get a job and was helping with real estate.