Ozark: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 404 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 404 Ratings

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Ozark

Now Playing: Ozark

Season Details & Credits

Netflix | Season Premiere Date: July 21, 2017

Summary: Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), his wife Wendy (Laura Linney) and their two kids move from Chicago to The Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri to escape a drug lord (Esai Morales) after a money-laundering scheme goes wrong in this drama created by Bill Dubuque.

Creator: Bill Dubuque

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. The Toll
Air Date: July 21, 2017
tbd
S1:E9. Coffee, Black
Air Date: July 21, 2017
tbd
S1:E8. Kaleidoscope
Air Date: July 21, 2017

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Mark A. Perigard

Jul 21, 2017

The violence is stunning, shocking, messy and unexpected. Bateman, who also serves as executive producer, directed four episodes and is a master behind the camera. His work squeezes the suspense in any scene. The locations are both beautiful and sinister, and the show is superbly scored. Ozark will resonate with fans of “Breaking Bad,” although Walter White has little in common with Marty. Read full review

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Jul 19, 2017

Ozark makes its bones via Bateman’s solid work, another reliably strong performance from Linney and an intriguing if sometimes over-populated immorality play that tantalizingly firms its grip. Read full review

Rob Lowman

Jul 20, 2017

The good news is that Ozark isn’t all that predictable and develops its own quirky rhythm. ... Even when the series seems to be drifting, it keeps luring you in. Read full review

David James

Jul 7, 2017

It’s not as good as all-time classics like The Sopranos, The Wire and Breaking Bad, but it shares the same enquiring nature: intelligently examining the psychology, sociology and economics that fuel crime. Read full review

Ken Tucker

Jul 21, 2017

The show has an occasionally suspenseful twist. (Electrocution in the water: Watch out!) But as it proceeds, Ozark takes way too long to make a few good points and to showcase a few good performances, most prominently Jason Bateman’s. Read full review

Josh Bell

Jul 20, 2017

The producers have come up with a somber, plodding, almost entirely humorless mix of Breaking Bad and Justified, when they should have made a show about this spitfire of a character, the only one in the ensemble who isn’t bringing everything down. Read full review

UPROXX Alan Sepinwall

Jul 18, 2017

What might have felt like a novel idea 10 or 15 years ago--middle-aged white anti-hero does something terrible to help his family, and only gets pulled in deeper and deeper--is now so tired that it would require sheer brilliance to come out feeling as fresh and untainted as all the money that Marty cleans. And Ozark isn’t up to that challenge. Read full review

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User Score

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8.3

User Reviews

Umamom

Aug 2, 2017

I have been waiting for a new series that would keep me interested and Ozark has done it! I can't wait until the next season! Best show by far on Netflix!

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

KR1527

Aug 9, 2017

Aside from Animal Kingdom, this is probably the best new series I have watched this year. It's kind of like Breaking Bad but better. Jason Bateman is incredible!!!

On a side note, it seems like so-called critics seem to rate down netlfix shows. This show is top notch and definitely betterAside from Animal Kingdom, this is probably the best new series I have watched this year. It's kind of like Breaking Bad but better. Jason Bateman is incredible!!!

On a side note, it seems like so-called critics seem to rate down netlfix shows. This show is top notch and definitely better than the average critic rating of 67. Critics are a joke!!… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

I8yourreview

Jul 25, 2017

I was shocked that Ozark, easily the best show set or dealing with rural Americana since Rectify, wasn't rated in the low 90s. This show is highly underrated and that's a real shame. I read many of the negative reviews and some from legendary critics I respect (such as Yahoo!'s Ken Tucker)I was shocked that Ozark, easily the best show set or dealing with rural Americana since Rectify, wasn't rated in the low 90s. This show is highly underrated and that's a real shame. I read many of the negative reviews and some from legendary critics I respect (such as Yahoo!'s Ken Tucker) who IMO really miffed this one.
The best way to go into Ozark is with zero background and no expectations.
I think the worst way to go into Ozark is by comparing it to heavy hitters like breaking bad or weeds. The latter, Weeds no disrespect to Qween Jenji) hit less emotional beats in their last 3 seasons than Ozark does in just 3 episodes. It's laughable how many tv critics repeat the "this show is the new breaking bad" meme, so much so I normally wouldn't dignify them with a response.

However, the comparisons between BB and Ozark highlight a flaw with this show's reviews and contemporary tv criticism at large. "Prestige garishness" is when a show so overtly panders to critics and NATAS that the effort is cringeworthy and often lacks the taste it so craves. And, it's true that miffed Prestige tropes run rampant throughout the so called 'embarrassment of riches' that is the 2017 TV landscape. However A 'Prestige Trope' isn't inherently a bad thing. Bateman (Ozark's star and director) flirts with some basic 'prestige tropes' but instead of falling face first into them, Bateman deftly subverts them. Compare Ozark first season against Breaking bad's slow burn of a first season, and we see two shows with similar premises and thematic elements however these show are vastly different. Obviously BB season 1 wins against Ozark season 1 in most conceivable categories (particularly in style, balance and protagonist character development) however Ozark's first season IMO comes ahead of BB s01 when it comes to pacing, cast wide character development and episode-to-episode entwining of thematic and symbolic elements with their plot.

Inversely I foresee the potential for underestimation to mislead many a-viewers to overlook this wonderful series--thinking this is anything like bloodlines (yuck, I get bored and a bad taste in my mouth just saying it). While Ben Mendelsohn is acting gift from the TV gods, bloodlines is a steaming pile of boredom. I almost skipped Ozark because I assumed from a trailer that Ozark would just be a snarkyer Bloodlines with high caliber actors. I was thankfully very very wrong. Ozark May make you want to grab a triple beam scale or a graphic calculator but I guarantee after watching you'll never climb out of water and onto a dock the same way again.… Expand

23 of 25 users found this helpful232

derusscott

Aug 21, 2018

This show really caught me by surprise. The plot makes for some great tense scenes. I found the characters to be quite interesting. There is enough "dark" sequences that make this quite an interesting show. Think of this show kind of like a Breaking Bad Lite. Well worth my time watching.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nautico

Jul 24, 2017

I really enjoyed this show. A compelling plot and excellent character development. I would have given it a 10 had it not been for the relentless and gratuitous use of obscenities. What's with that anyway? It's as if the screen writers feel compelled to put the eff word in the mouths of everyI really enjoyed this show. A compelling plot and excellent character development. I would have given it a 10 had it not been for the relentless and gratuitous use of obscenities. What's with that anyway? It's as if the screen writers feel compelled to put the eff word in the mouths of every character in nearly every scene. Why? Because the medium gives them license to do so? Because they actually believe it "authentic"? "Earthy"? I served 20 years in the Navy, and I don't remember even sailors talking that way. Give it a rest.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

shamkasim

Jul 22, 2017

I'm going to stay clear of all the "Breaking Bad" comparisons, seems that's where pretty much every reviews goes to. That's kind of a High bar, I'm going to put this around how I felt about another Netflix series "Bloodline". Unfortunately Bloodline got weaker on it's second season and justI'm going to stay clear of all the "Breaking Bad" comparisons, seems that's where pretty much every reviews goes to. That's kind of a High bar, I'm going to put this around how I felt about another Netflix series "Bloodline". Unfortunately Bloodline got weaker on it's second season and just down right boring for it's final. I hope that's not what happens here. For Ozark, I did all 10 hours in one sitting. I was engaged enough to see it through. Bateman and Linney were fantastic and really the two who kept me engaged. I wasn't to keen on their children's story lines, Their daughter Charlotte does the standard teen sex cliche straight out of the 80's and 90's movie of the week. Their son, they really pushed those NRA buttons where it just got to the point where I had to say "okay I get it" right to the Screen. The rest of the cast was good. Episode flowed pretty good until the flashback "2007" episode which I thought was a mess. I know what they were going for but another pass through the editor might have been a good idea. The writing and direction were good, Bateman directed many of the episodes himself. Overall I want to see what happens with this family going forward and Ruth a character I really grew to like played very well by Julia Garner (Might recognize her from the Americans) One more season should complete this story I think, I really hope they don't stretch it to a 3rd season like "Bloodline" didn't need… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

millyera

Sep 11, 2018

Ozark or, as I've begun to call it. ODark, is compelling and has intriguing characters, but I'm finding it VERY DIFFICULT to watch a show that is soooo DARK that you can't see it. We've adjusted the lighting on our TV as friends have recommended and it's a bit better but still almostOzark or, as I've begun to call it. ODark, is compelling and has intriguing characters, but I'm finding it VERY DIFFICULT to watch a show that is soooo DARK that you can't see it. We've adjusted the lighting on our TV as friends have recommended and it's a bit better but still almost unwatchable. When it comes time for filming awards, whoever thought filming a show in darkness for whatever symbolic reason should go elsewhere and receive a score of 10 out of 100 Please improve the lighting or I will not strain my eyes for another season. Take note that the trailer is filmed in the dark as well - I am no fan of this type of presentation.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 95 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

69

Series Overview
Season 4.5

73
- Season 4.5 Overview
  Air Date: April 29, 2022
Season 4

78
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: January 21, 2022
Season 3

77
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: March 27, 2020
Season 2

59
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: August 31, 2018
Season 1

66
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: July 21, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E10. The Toll
  Air Date: July 21, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E9. Coffee, Black
  Air Date: July 21, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E8. Kaleidoscope
  Air Date: July 21, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E7. Nest Box
  Air Date: July 21, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E6. Book of Ruth
  Air Date: July 21, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E5. Ruling Days
  Air Date: July 21, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E4. Tonight We Improvise
  Air Date: July 21, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E3. My Dripping Sleep
  Air Date: July 21, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E2. Blue Cat
  Air Date: July 21, 2017
- 8.3
  S1:E1. Sugarwood
  Air Date: July 21, 2017