Sugarwood

I've never commented on a specific episode of a series, but I just saw the first of Ozark and I'm in awe. Jason Batman's directing work is magnificent. We'll talk about his performance when I get my pulse back. Wow!

I have been putting off this show for some time. After watching this episode, I wish I watched it sooner. This episode was filled with intense moments and great performances. The episode also had some great ideas that future episodes can expand upon.

A really bold, highlighted pilot episode I've seen in a while, this episode doesn't hold any punches when showcasing the good and flaws sides of the characters. A bit tense, the plot setup paces really quick, a major plot point is reveal and sets the track for the rest of the season. The show is a gritty crime drama that I'd like to compare to Breaking Bad especially the integration of suburban family crisis in the central plot. The cast is pitch-perfect, the technical elements are of top-calibre, right from the first frame of this show, I knew I won't be watching the typical Netflix show but rather a sophisticated, well-made series. My only downside with the episode is that has a pacing issue and tries a bit hard to shock the audience, other than I think this show going to be a blast.

Everybody is different, some like comic cartoonish series, some comedic, some action etc. This series and this episode is exactly made for the kind of people who likes "serious drama", but wants constant excitement. It starts just like anything, but then, it puts the pressure on and on and on, and it's a rush of joy and tension watching it. As a pilot it could have been just a movie and i would have been more than happy, gladly we got more and i can say it's absolutely worth the watch, but the first episode really impress me. Have to add this before i forgot to mention it. The script, the writting in this series is top notch. Sometimes after some dialog so well written, i had to stop and concluded that was very well written. It's nice to see well written shows for grownups.

Jason Bateman is your go to guy as your every-man for comedies. He has been doing it as a kid in series such as Valerie/The Hogan Family.

In the opening episode of Ozark he directs, produces as well as being the star in this dark crime thriller.

He plays Marty Byrde a financial adviser for a small firm in Chicago with his partner, Bruce (Josh Randall). The firm is far from legitimate, they are laundering money for a Mexican cartel.

The episode hits it stride with a bloody massacre as gangster Del (Esai Morales) suspects the firm is skimming money and Bruce owes up to it. It later transpires that Del did not know for sure, he just suspected.

While others are killed, Marty pleads for his life with an idea that he can launder more money, up to half a billion dollars in 5 years if he relocates to Lake Ozark in Missouri.

Marty's last minute thinking might have saved his life, he tries to liquidate his assets including withdrawing everything from his bank. However Marty's wife Wendy (Laura Linney) double crosses him by trying to flee with everything with her lover. That porn film Marty kept watching turns out to be his wife with her lover.

Again it is Del who has also found out what Wendy has been up to and dealt with her lover by having him thrown off from a high rise block.

Marty heads to the Ozark with a plan and an uncertain future. Del will not hesitate to shoot him and his family and he cannot trust his wife.

I am not convinced that Bateman has the chops for a dark dramatic turn. It clearly is darkly lit but at least the opening episode was not a slow burner, it really did go out with a bang thanks to Morales conniving gangster.

The biggest problem is you really have no one to care enough about in this episode to root for. Marty and Bruce fleeced a well to do ordinary couple in the opening scenes who came in for some financial advice.