Ozark
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The penultimate episode ofOzarkfelt like it inherently had to feature at least one character death, right?
Theres no way everyone is getting out of this show alive.
And yet the first body to fall is a bit unexpected.
Up until that unexpected final scene, Mud is mostly about Wendys mental breakdown.
After losing her kids to her awful father last episode, Wendy has snapped.
Wendy has exercised every option to save her family, and now shes got nowhere left to go.
Where does she go first?
The Central Ozarks Behavioral Health Center.
Shes muttering to herself and knows she needs some serious psychological help.
Privileged Wendy Byrde thinks she can get service immediately, but she just gets a list of therapists.
She inherited Darlenes shares and got her name on the license.
Ruth is in peacock mode, showing off to Marty, with Rachel serving as her hype man.
But Marty knows how dangerous this all is.
The Navarros could have them all killed for messing with their business.
Ruth doesnt seem to care.
Will this be her downfall?
Underestimating the danger that Marty has really kept her from all this time?
Marty has to go to prison and tell Omar and Camila whats up with his kids and cash flow.
Omar insists they use the Belle to launder money, but Marty knows they cant know.
He tells Omar it wont be a problem.
(It will be.)
Wendy gets this news while marching through a cemetery to collect one of their stash bags of cash.
She goes and pounds on Nathans door, dropping the bag on the bed.
Its $2 million.
He doesnt seem persuaded.
She implores him to take the life-changing money and run, but he doesnt budge.
And then Wendy drops her final card: I will kill you before I let you take my kids.
Nathan should believe her.
After all, she had Ben killed, and she loved him a great deal more than Nathan.
Marty begs Ruth and his children in subsequent scenes.
First, he tries to convince Ruth to give up the Belle play.
Ruth attests that she needs to keep her clean record and doesnt give in.
Wendy is in danger mode.
Shes operating in the red zone and is making mistakes that will likely get someone killed.
Part of the problem is everyone is done with her shit.
Even Rachel says, I got no use for you.
A rogue Wendy is a dangerous Wendy.
And that danger comes to life when Nelson puts a gun to Rachels head.
He threatens her and insists they execute the money through the Belle.
(Rachel probably wishes she was still in Miami.)
She confronts Marty the next day.
He swears he didnt know but begs again to do this one last laundering operation.
It will be the last time he asks anything of Ruth and Rachel.
He tries to call Wendy, but shes not answering.
She tries to call Jonah, but hes not answering.
The Byrdes are all disconnected now.
Wendy goes back to the hospital but doesnt go in.
She has another crazy idea.
Is this Wendys final play?
She fights with Marty about the Belle vs. the Foundation and reveals her plan.
Give it all to Camila.
Turn her into the new FBI patsy.
Make her an offer to maintain power, kill her brother, and keep it all.
Its an incredibly risky move that relies on Camila not just turning around and killing them on the spot.
While Camila thinks Omar had Javi killed, what if shes uncertain about that?
Marty lets it unfold.
They let Camila in on everything, and she looks unsure about what to do next.
What makes you think I wont kill you?
Everything and nothing at once.
That could be a problem.
Alone with her brother, they share memories of their youth.
He swears he didnt have Javi killed, and she looks at him long and hard.
She asks who told Omar about Javi, and it was Wendy, of course.
Omar is convinced Wendy knows more than shes letting on, and hes determined to look into it.
Things are getting scary.
Isnt there another option here that Marty and Wendy could take?
Tell Camila whoactuallykilled Javi.
Of course, that gets Ruth killed …
Father Benitez comes to talk to Wendy.
Omar wants to see her, but first, a little chat.
He speaks of violence in youth and how his father hit him and his mother.
Ive forgiven him, of course, he says.
Can Wendy forgive her father and the violent people around her?
Can she forgive herself?
Benitez says, There was a time when it was either kill the man or join the church.
She tells Marty that she wont leave until she gets her kids back.
In the episodes climax, Ruth is driving late at night in the rain when a car follows her.
Parking at the police station, she marches toward the killer and flips him off in the rain.
If Wycoff tells anyone, who would believe him?
But it should get the innocent guy out of jail, right?
When she goes outside, Nelson is gone, but this worries Ruth even more.
She calls panics and calls Rachel, who is busy watchingDuck Dynasty.
The first shot wounds him, the second appears to kill him.
Will they send another Nelson?
Rachel and Ruth will find out soon.
Dirty Laundry
The little touches in the sound design ofOzarkare underrated.
Wendy says theyre going to smurf the money through the Belle.
Who makes it out ofOzarkalive?
Rachel has long felt like an expendable character, but the writers turned that around this week.
The Byrdes all likely survive.
Is anyone else worried about Ruth?
