Despite a few last-minute twists, "Ozark" can't find its former legs in an anticlimactic ending. [Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “Ozark” Season 2, including the ending. For a spoiler-free review, read IndieWire’s initial reaction.] If the first season of “Ozark” saw the Byrde family in denial about their circumstances and trying to bargain their way to freedom, then the second season moves through depression and into acceptance. The Kübler-Ross model for processing grief may not seem like a fitting comparison for a family sent spiraling from one catastrophe to the next, but remember this: That model isn’t actually for processing grief; it’s for people who know they’re going to die, and that seems about right for Marty (Jason Bateman) and Wendy (Laura Linney), if a bit dark for their two kids. Under this framework, the ending is reasonable, but it’s also indicative of what went wrong with Season 2. Chris Mundy’s thrilling first season hit the gas so hard it feels like these new episodes are constantly slamming on the brakes, for fear of running out of road. The results are less exciting: Marty promised he’d build a casino, and he pulled it off. Yes, the exposition made it clear this was a difficult task, but his back-door bartering didn’t evoke the same tension as his life-or-death decisions made in Season 1. Wendy, meanwhile, broke bad like Walter White. “This is who I am, and this is who I want to be,” is a line fans will be wrestling with for some time, since, despite 10 full hours to find it, Season 2 didn’t provide much motivation for Wendy’s turn. Naturally, there’s less tension in watching someone accept their fate instead of rebelling against it. But when that person is part of a high-octane series and their acceptance is largely unjustified, reactions shift from complacency to frustration. That’s where “Ozark” leaves us, with Wendy as the new boss and Marty a reluctant tag-along; seeing a role reversal favoring a woman in power would be exciting (after all, it’s Laura Linney) except it’s a hollow switch used to elongate the story more than a believable choice. When Wendy says, “It’s always better to be the person holding the gun than the person running from the gunman,” it’s hard to imagine anyone exclaiming, “Oh, yeah! I see why Wendy enjoys her role as an executioner.” Jessica Miglio/Netflix Still, that’s not to say Season 3 isn’t set up for fireworks. Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) could be emancipated, now that she’s got her dad on her side. How Ruth (Julia Garner) responds to her father’s murder is anyone’s guess, and the same can be said for how Darlene (Lisa Emery) will run her end of the business without Jacob (Peter Mullan) to keep her flights of fury in check. Oh, and the Kansas City mob is clearly pissed at Marty for screwing with their union jobs, as evidenced by them blowing up his office. That’s plenty to build from, but the main characters’ growth (or lack thereof) informs what’s next just as much, if not more. So at the close of Season 2, here’s where everyone ends up: Wendy Byrde Wendy has assumed control of the empire. With Janet McTeer’s lawyer headed back to Chicago and the Snells neutralized (for now), Wendy has the political power and means to wield it. She’s taken a step the cartel’s attorney said she can’t come back from: killing. Wendy had Ruth’s father, Cade (Trevor Long), murdered rather than let him muck up the business, and she’s looking to go after Darlene next. It’s a stark contrast to where she was at the start of the season. In the first episode, Wendy confronts Marty about their moral responsibility for everything that’s happened. She just wants him to admit “it’s been good” for them, and, at the time, it’s clear Marty barely believes what he’s saying and Wendy isn’t abiding one bit of it. Still, after pushing politics to their extreme (a Missouri representative killed himself after being pressured to abstain on the casino vote), standing tall to pressure from local political powerhouse Charlie (Darren Goldstein) and the wayward FBI Agent Petty (Jason Butler Harner), and repeatedly making decisions for the family without consulting Marty, Wendy has built up the confidence to ride this life into the sunset. Or so she thinks. One could make the argument things really changed for Wendy when she’s kidnapped by Mason (Michael Mosley) and survives. Seeing the evil in a man who claims to be close with God — and has a baby to care for — may have pushed Wendy past her emotional headspace into a rational one; if he could do all that, what’s stopping anyone else? What’s stopping her? She saw her life on the line and lived. Now, she’s done being on the other end of the knife, negotiating for her life. …eh. That logic only adds up if you really want it to, and there are still doubts. Wendy isn’t fascinated by the darkness (a la Walter White) or delighting in her power (like so many bad men before her); she’s comfortable in her role. She trusts the cartel to have their back, and that’s a rocky bed to sleep in. If anything, the fickle nature of their decision-making should show Wendy why they’re not to be trusted, just as her less-than-convincing quote about who she wants to be falls apart under the slightest scrutiny: “It’s always better to be the person holding the gun than the person running from the gunman” — a line that just as easily could be, “It’s always better to kill than be killed.” Marty wants to leave killing behind, but why doesn’t Wendy want that anymore? Fear, misplaced trust, or whatever the reason, it’s not defined enough to make her conviction compelling. Jessica Miglio/Netflix Marty Byrde If Wendy went from the bottom to the top, then Marty’s arc took him from the peak of the roller coaster to its most terrorizing depths.<doc-sep>The Byrde family tries in vain to push forward with their plans, just as the show can't keep the momentum that made Season 1 so thrilling. “Ozark” Season 1 made so many bold choices, so quickly, that Season 2 was bound to slow things down. Engaging viewers with the escalating series of crises Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) and his family had to deal with immediately, the Netflix drama ate up a ton of narrative to provide its breakneck pace. Now that the ex-suburbanites have their backwoods criminal enterprise up and sailing, instead of plugging holes in a sinking ship, a steadier, more character-driven story comes with the territory. But the degree to which “Ozark” slams on the breaks is disconcerting; the downshift in pacing creates an antsy viewing experience that transitions into blandness, as the follow-up season spends nearly seven hours setting up a moral turning point it could’ve easily implemented much sooner. While still a sharp, attentive, and altogether capable drama, the benefits of a successful first season don’t transfer to the Byrdes in Season 2 — or viewers watching them. By all accounts, “Ozark” Season 2 looked like it was going to be (to use a colloquialism formalized by “Friends”) “The One With the Casino.” At the end of Season 1, Marty and Wendy successfully brokered a deal between Omar Navarro’s Mexican cartel and the local drug lords known as the Snells. The cartel will buy the heroin locally, rather than lose 20 percent from smuggling it over the border, and Marty’s proposed riverboat casino would launder the fresh influx of cash. That the finale also features Darlene Snell taking umbrage with Camino “Del” Rio’s flippant use of the word “redneck” — and shooting him in the head — well, that may or may not get in the way of the deal. Jessica Miglio/Netflix Without spoiling anything the trailers haven’t already put out there, the casino is a prevalent topic and objective in Season 2, but it’s not a defining element of the episodes. The cartel sends their highly trusted and unflinching lawyer to town (played by the highly trusted and unflinching Janet McTeer), Wendy puts her political lobbying skills to good work with Missouri’s big-wig congressional influencer, and Marty tries to keep the peace between his testy new partners. FBI Agent Petty (Jason Butler Harner) keeps investigating (though his arc is more professionally focused, and less personally raw), and audiences might see a bit more of Blue Cat Lodge owner Rachel Garrison (Jordana Spiro). Throughout, thematic buttons from Season 1 are pushed once more; the Byrde children, Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) and Jonah (Skylar Gaertner), find new ways to illustrate their decaying ethical standards in the wake of their parents’ sins; fan-favorite Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner) keeps trying to forge a viable life for her working-class family within Marty’s world of wealth, which now includes her recently released father; Marty and Wendy check in on their status as business partners vs. husband and wife. What the season does best in its first eight episodes is utilize its gradual pace to dwell on Wendy’s burgeoning power (and her comfort with it) while examining Marty’s opposite reaction to his newfound importance to both a Mexican cartel and Missouri drug farmer. Bateman remains excellent in the role; though his character’s actions can be ever so slightly manipulated to serve the plot, the actor regularly finds subtle, natural reactions to illustrate where Marty’s at emotionally. Linney similarly enlivens her part, pushing Wendy to new territory with ease and taking command with relish when called upon. Jessica Miglio/Netflix Showrunner Chris Mundy is carefully pushing both lead characters toward conscious acknowledgment of who they’ve become: The decisions they made in Season 1 have consequences, and while things were moving too quickly to consider their wide-spreading ramifications before, now the Byrdes have to face what they’ve done. Still, the decisions are simply more exciting than the consideration, especially when that means putting off inevitable actions. There’s a scene near the season’s midway point where a guy holds someone at gunpoint; this happens a lot in Season 2 (and “Ozark” overall), so the action itself is far from a spoiler, but it’s still notable. Given the circumstances, the characters involved, and the precedent set by the many, many cold-blooded kills in Season 1, this should be a moment packed with tension. No one watching wants this person to die, but the guy with a gun sure does, and “Ozark” spent its entire first season proving how willing it was to pull the trigger. In Season 2, it’s not. By this point, it’s clear “Ozark” isn’t going to go that far anymore — or, at least, viewers have been conditioned to expect a more cautious approach. Before, “Ozark” was winningly reckless. Now, it’s too safe for its own good. Pulling the trigger isn’t about killing off a character for the shock value; it’s about forward momentum. Season 2 lacks urgency beside the basic danger of the Byrdes’ continuing their work in order to escape it, and glimpses inside Marty and Wendy’s moral outlooks aren’t compelling enough to make up for the lack of action. All of this may help “Ozark” last an extra two or three seasons, but it dulls the series’ once-vibrant darkness into a murky, stagnant lake. Grade: C+ “Ozark” Season 2 premieres August 31 on Netflix. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.<doc-sep>Ozark The Gold Coast Season 2 Episode 10 Editor’s Rating 4 stars * * * * « Previous Next » Photo: Tina Rowden/Netflix/Tina Rowden/Netflix Now that the season is over, it’s time to look back at the entire second season of Ozark and ask two key questions: What was it really about and was it any good? As for the first question, the theme of deadly family ties has been a part of both seasons, amplified this year by the presence of Cade Langmore, the worthless sociopath who basically tried to destroy everyone who gave even the smallest damn about him. Death hung heavy this year as Mason Young, Jimmy ‘Buddy’ Small, Jacob Snell, FBI Agent Roy Petty, and Cade Langmore all shuffled off this mortal coil. And here’s something that perhaps no one considered until the end of the season, maybe not even her husband: Was their fatal mistake entering the life of Wendy Byrde? If the first season of Ozark was about Marty Byrde running from powerful crime figures, the second was about his wife Wendy realizing she wanted to become one herself. When did she know? Did the political capital given her by Charlie Wilkes help her realize how much she could do in the Ozarks? Did she look at Helen Pearce and Darlene Snell and realize women can rule in this world? Whenever it happened, the final scenes of this season make it clear that Wendy Byrde is ready to be Queen. She destroys Marty Byrde’s well-laid plans to leave the same day that the casino operation finally opens, basically telling him that they’re not going anywhere. And as he realizes that she had Cade Langmore gunned down in the street and left for dead like a dog, he knows he’s stuck. He may eventually leave, but he’s not leaving with his family. As it was last season, the finale of Ozark was about tying up loose ends, including ending the lives of two of its most violent, awful characters. First, Cade Langmore beat Roy Petty to death with his own tackle box. There’s something poignant about the fact that Petty wouldn’t have even been there if not or his connection with Russ last season. But now he’s at the bottom of the river with a few rocks in his pockets. Near the end, the authorities find his car, and they will find his body. Will this come back to Cade or could someone else get in trouble? And will the writers replace Petty with another lunatic lawman next season? Of course, the other big loose end was Cade himself, who was incredibly close to getting away with his insanity. Sure, his daughter almost shot him and he dragged Charlotte Byrde across the ground, but he got a bag of cash from Wendy Byrde and drove away singing along to “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” before taking a few shots to the chest. Wendy set him up. He was not going to get away at all, much less with her money. It almost raises the question as to whether or not baby Zeke is better off out of the Byrde household. Yes, Mason Young’s son going to the woman who killed his wife is something we saw coming a few recaps ago, but it was still interesting to watch it play out. Darlene Snell made it clear, especially after shaving Jonah Byrde’s head, that it was the only solution, and so Marty took it. And he did so without telling Wendy. It’s interesting to consider if not being looped in on that decision led to the one Wendy made at the end of the episode when she insisted on staying. She always likes to one-up people. So, where are we? Ruth Langmore is free — free of the guilt about killing her uncles, free of her father’s horrible influence. Marty gave her all of his trust and all of his cash, but how will she respond when they don’t leave? Will she remain a part of the power structure or get pushed out by Wendy? Let’s not forget about Frank Cosgrove, the head of the Kansas City mob who is none too happy with Marty right now. He even blows up the offices of Byrde Enterprises. Is he the main villain of season three? Despite seeing her in a tender moment singing “Walk the Line” to her new son, it seems unlikely Darlene Snell is all smiles and kisses next year too. And have we seen the last of Helen Pearce, saying that she’s headed back to Chicago, but maybe she sticks around? What about the Byrde kids? Marty basically tells Charlotte to run at the end of the season, knowing that emancipation may save her life. And Jonah seems to be falling deeper into the family business. Most importantly, was this season a good one? Yes and no. Despite a flurry of activity — and remarkable amount of carnage in the supporting cast — the pace sagged sometimes and the writing sometimes felt cheap. There’s a difference between hurried and exciting, and Ozark sometimes felt like it was throwing plot twists in just to feed the machine. The loss of so many characters may actually be good for Ozark, allowing it to focus a bit more next year. They’d be smart to cut back an episode or two and realize that not every episode needs to run 60 minutes or more. The performances were once again the show’s strongest asset, particularly Jason Bateman, Janet McTeer, Peter Mullan, Jordana Spiro, and the show’s MVP two seasons in a row, Julia Garner. What of Laura Linney? The performance felt a little inconsistent at times, but that’s more a product of writing than acting. If the show fulfills on this year’s set-up and Wendy really becomes the Queen of the criminal empire in the Ozarks, that could be fun to watch the Oscar nominee really sink her teeth into. Over all, it feels like Ozark is pretty much, more or less, where it was at the end of season one in terms of quality.<doc-sep>Ozark season two trailer starring Jason Bateman FREE now for the biggest moments from morning TV SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow for the biggest moments from morning TV When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Season three of Ozark arrived recently with 10 new episodes with viewers racing through. Nevertheless, many have lots of fans have lots of questions. Here's a look at one of the former characters of the show and how her child baby Zeke is still very much part of the story. Trending WARNING: This article contains spoilers from season 1 & 2 of Ozark Season two of Ozark picked up right where it left off with the Byrde family coming back to Missouri with a new plan to save themselves from the Mexican cartel. The second season of the Netflix hit also saw lots of loose ends tied up. Sadly, Pastor Mason Young (played by Michael Mosley) learnt the truth about his wife Grace (Bethany Anne Lind). He previously thought his wife had upped and left him and their baby son out of the blue. READ MORE: Ozark: Why did Jacob Snell star Peter Mullan really leave the series? Grace Young in Ozark met a tragic end Grace Young in Ozark met a tragic end READ MORE Ozark: What photo makes Ben angry while he is teaching? What happened to Grace in Ozark? As fans will remember from season one, Grace was taken by the Snells but we never saw what happened to her in the final moments of her life. All we know is that the baby she was carrying was left for her husband Mason. In season two Mason finally discovered in episode seven - titled One Way Out - the truth about Grace after he kidnapped Wendy (Laura Linney). While Mason held her hostage, Wendy revealed that Grace hadn’t just left him and that she was killed by the Snells because she posed a threat to their heroin business. READ MORE: Ozark season 4 Netflix release date: Will there be another series? Grace Young in Ozark met a tragic end Jason Bateman and Laura Linney in Ozark season 2 Grace’s bones turned up in the soil of the Snells’ burnt poppy field after the FBI launched an investigation into the couple and started quite literally digging around. However, the Byrdes bribed the medical examiners to ensure that the remains only revealed DNA from the Snells, which would fit with their story about their ancestors being buried on the farm. In reality, it’s highly likely that her remains along with those of other people that the Snells have killed over the years are on the farm. Sadly, there was no chance for Mason to get justice after Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) panicked and accidentally shot him dead. READ MORE: Ozark season 3 final scene explained: Was Helen's fate confirmed? The pair then disposed of Mason’s body and cared for his baby son Zeke, before eventually handing the child over to Darlene Snell (Lisa Emery) in exchange for ensuring that the casino business went ahead. It was a sick twist of irony as the person responsible for the death of Zeke’s mother was now going to be caring for him. Although this loose end involving Grace has now been tied up, it’s very likely that someone is going to get suspicious about Grace and Mason disappearing without a trace. If season three does get the green light from Netflix, the death of the Masons is probably going to come back to haunt Marty and Wendy. Wendy also suggested that she would be fighting Darlene to get the child back. DON'T MISS... Ozark cast: Who plays Frank Cosgrove Jr? 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Ozark season two trailer starring Jason Bateman Season three of Ozark was released on Netflix recently with 10 more episodes. The new series came after nearly two years. Season three picked up six months after where it left off. Express.co.uk has a refresher of the main plot points from series two. Trending What happened at the end of Ozark season 2? Season two of Ozark landed on Netflix on Friday, August 31 and picked up straight from the events of the last episode. Ozark fans were left on the edge of their seats for another 10 episodes as the Byrde family struggled to make their latest venture float in a bid to keep the Mexican cartel off their backs. The second season saw Marty (played by Jason Bateman) and Wendy Byrde (Laura Linney) launching a brand new casino in a bid to make money for the cartel. They were also contending with a whole host of other characters. But what happened in the last episode of the season? READ MORE: Ozark: Why did Jacob Snell star Peter Mullan really leave the series? Ozark season 2 ended with lots of open ends Jason Bateman and Laura Linney in Ozark season 2 READ MORE Ozark plot hole: Fan baffled by forgotten Kansas City Mob plot WARNING: This article contains major spoilers from Ozark season 2 The Langmores Episode 10 of Ozark season two was titled Gold Coast and hinted that the family could once and for all escape the cartel and build a new life for themselves Down Under - sadly it was anything but straightforward. The instalment started off with Marty getting passport photos made as he put in motion his plans to move his family away from Missouri. He had even made his lieutenant Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner) his successor, showing her the ropes of his myriad of businesses. Despite Ruth finally getting the respect and responsibility that she’d been craving from Marty, her father Cade Langmore (Trevor Long) threw a spanner in the works when he started insisting that his daughter found her boss’s money. The fiercely loyal Ruth refused, leading to her father grow even angrier at her - and more importantly more desperate. When his words fell on deaf ears, Cade went to FBI agent Roy Petty (Jason Butler Harmer) to try to persuade him that he could take down Marty. Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde in Ozark season 2 Again, he was ignored, resulting in Cade getting violent with the FBI agent and killing him. In his panic, he went back to Ruth to provide him with an alibi which she wouldn’t do. He tried to blackmail his daughter by threatening to reveal to Wyatt (Charlie Tahan) who had really killed his father. In the end, Ruth confessed everything to a brokenhearted Wyatt. Cade was even more fraught. He eventually found himself sitting in a diner with Wendy, who convinced him to leave town with half a million dollars in a holdall. He obliged Wendy but sadly it didn’t end well with Cade killed on the road out of town and the bag of cash taken - in payment for the killing. Ruth was later seen bidding farewell to her father as she looked over his corpse in the morgue. Will she be prompted to take revenge on Marty? READ MORE: Ozark season 4 Netflix release date: Will there be another series? Julia Gardner as Ruth Langmore in Ozark season 2 The Snells Darlene (Lisa Emery) revealed that her beloved husband Jacob (Peter Mullan) had suddenly died and said his “heart failed him”. Darlene bumped off Jacob with some cyanide so that she could have her way with their business. She went on to tell Wendy that Jacob’s dying wish was that the casino wouldn’t go ahead and that she would make sure his deathbed “epiphany” was honoured. To make sure the Byrdes knew she was serious, she kidnapped their son Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) and shaved half his head. In order to pacify Darlene and to stop her from doing anything further, Marty went behind Wendy’s back and gave pastor Mason Young’s (Michael Mosley) baby son Zeke which seemed to work. But Wendy revealed at the end that she would fight tooth and nail to get the baby back. READ MORE: Ozark explained: What was really going on between Ruth and Cade?