Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
Its easy to relate to the main characters ofOzark, Netflixs hit crime drama.
Youre meant to get onboard quickly and stay onboard for the duration.
As such,Ozarks creative decisions make it the Platonic ideal of a Netflix drama.
It is its own unique beast.
Its not that those comparisons are unreasonable, of course.
Ozark, by contrast, begins with both Marty and Wendy Byrde knee-deep in criminality.
In essence,Ozarktakes the plot ofBreaking Badas read.
Its not so much breaking new ground as it is resuming construction in a prepared building site.
Youre not going to ask yourself, What the hell am I watching?
You know perfectly well.
Thats key toOzarks success.
So is its prestige-y color palette.
It makes everything look steely, somber, cold, and somehow unforgiving.
To quote the great George Costanza, its the mood ofMorning Mist.
It may be the kind of coloration youve seen before, butOzarkworks it to its unique advantage.
Depending on your perspective,Ozarkdoes this either despite or because of the way it overloads the plot.
And who issues these orders?
Youd almost have totryto slow the plot down with so many gun-toting motivators hanging around.
How will the Byrdes get out of this one?
Watch the next episode and find out!
They elevateOzarkbeyond its prestige-lite peers.
Theyre the vegetables (mm, delicious vegetables) you get to eat while youre spoon-feeding yourself Netflix sugar.
Foremost among these actors is Julia Garner, who plays the Langmore familys de facto leader, Ruth.
Shes an object lesson in how to make a supporting player into a co-protagonist.
Its tough to be bored by actors willing to take chances the way these are.
Its creative and aesthetic choices are designed to make those high jinks engaging without rocking the boat too much.
More like Pringles TV: Once you pop, you cant stop.
