Ozark
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Netflixs description of this episode is Marty finds a way to control Ruth.
As anyOzarkfan knows, controlling Ruth is a short-term proposition at best.
Still, its interesting to see the Marty-Ruth dynamic becoming an episodes centerpiece so early.
After all, the walls are already closing in during My Dripping Sleep.
Think about where Marty is at in this episode.
He was going to kill himselfyesterday.
Now it gets real.
Now he has to find a way to make his proposal to Del a reality.
And hes losing sleep.
How they manipulate people around them through the secrets they keep and those they share.
Take the end of the previous episode, when Wendy told the kids why they were there.
Was it a power play?
Marty sure thinks so, accusing her of using the information to turn them against him.
Meanwhile, Jonah has some questions ,and Charlotte has landed a job interview.
Oh, yeah, and the vultures are circling overhead.
Cut to the Langmore compound, where Ruth is talking to her moronic uncle Boyd.
He wants a cut, as does his brother Russ.
(Seriously, that songrules.
And the opening line feels very Marty: You always won every time you placed a bet.)
He has no idea that the tourist who just walked in is an FBI agent named Petty.
Would Petty really get that close to Marty that early?
Probably not, but he is a little reckless.
And maybe he just really wanted a $5 burger with his fill-up.
While Wendy drives around town looking for organic pistachio ice cream for Charlotte, she thinks shes being followed.
Wendy is trying to carve out her identity in this episode as much as Marty.
She needs a project, too.
She promises him money to escape, a promise shes still trying to pay off at the shows conclusion.
These are the dreamers, the pair trying to get away from their dismal, doomed families.
If Petty goes the subtle route, his former romantic partner is coming inhot.
He tells Marty that theyre looking into Bruces disappearance and likely death.
And then Evans drops the hammer and reveals Bruce was going to be an informant.
And here is a major early moment that could easily be missed but feels vital.
Evans offers the Byrdes witness protection.
They could say yes and leave probablythat day.And guess who immediately turns it down?
Would Marty have considered it?
As Wendys paranoia grows, so does Martys insomnia.
He wakes to hear some activity on the lake.
Its Mason Young (the great Michael Mosley)!
Some in Mr. Byrdes position might stay for some spiritual guidance.
At the Blue Cat, business dynamics are forming among Ruth, Rachel, and Marty.
Jordana Spiro has a nice beat when she tells Marty, Dont get my hopes up.
She sells a back story with a dark past through her defeated mannerisms.
This woman has been let down many times before.
Back at home, Wendy is startled to see the vultures eating a possum carcass on her lawn.
She speeds to the Langmores, thinking theyre behind it after what happened with Charlotte and Wyatt.
Linney herselfsees this sceneas a major turning point because its when she realizes that Shes not from Chicago.
Dont mess with Wendy Byrde.
Martys insomnia has reached dangerous levels, and not just because hes quoting Bob Seger.
He knows they dont have enough money for Del.
It will not work.
Its going to get worse before it gets better.
Im going to take the money and KILL him, she says.
Got anything to say about that?!?!
No, Ruth, we dont.
Dirty Laundry
Someone on theOzarkteam really likes initiate the Jewels.
The show isso bluein this episode, right from the very beginning.
