The Toll

Best episode so far. The shocking twists. The acting, music, directing. Top notch. Reminds me of Breaking Bad.

What a season finale. This was a great episode in which all the characters' arcs were intertwined which made for some great intense scenes. The ending also didn't outright assume that there would be a second season. It resolved the story while leaving possibilities for a second season which we are getting. The performances have been top notch throughout the whole season with the standout being Jason Bateman. It has been an entertaining 10 hours of television and I can't wait for season 2 to come out.

Little late to this party, I accept, but I've just finished the wonderful first season of "Ozark".

Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) launders money for the Mexican cartels and has done successfully for years. When his business partner is accused of skimming money off the top and murdered, Marty convinces the cartel that he has a plan to launder millions more of their money around the Ozark region of Missouri. Together with his wife Wendy (Laura Linney) and two children, they uproot to the region and Marty tries every trick he can think of to clean the money before the cartels deadline. But some of the residents don't take too kindly to the upheaval that Marty brings to their lives and businesses.

Filling that "Breaking Bad" shaped hole, "Ozark" is another series about a relatively good man, pushed into a bad situation and playing around at the limits of what he's prepared to do firstly to make money, and then to keep himself and his family safe. As with "Breaking Bad" the law only provide one of many threats to his continued safety, as the Cartel, generally taking the form of Esai Morales, in a typically charismatic performance, are a looming presence. But not his only one, a redneck family, led by Julia Garner (making another great career choice after being in "The Americans") have simple designs on stealing the money and potentially killing Marty to do so. Even more dangerous, the area of the Ozark's is already dominated by a criminal family, the Snell's, Heroine producers and who definitely don't appreciate the increased scrutiny that Bryde brings, as well as the disruption to their enterprise that he creates. This family is led by the always amazing Peter Mullan and Lisa Emery.

So yes, whilst the performances are great, the story is also excellent. It wisely doesn't try to recreate "Breaking Bad's" attempt to keep his criminal enterprise under wraps, the family are aware pretty much from the outset, and the people that he uses to launder the money either find out pretty quickly, or are recruited because they're amenable to it outright. There is a gnawing dread to the show and you can feel the various nooses tightening around Marty's neck. Jason Bateman really is wonderful, and his transformation into serious roles, along with new producing and directing roles is a revelation.

Can't wait to start season two.

The opening episode of Ozark very much hits the ground running (if you pardon the pun at the expense of one of the characters); it is urgent, impacting, and violent. It very much lives in the moment and it sums up the elements of this show that work well. Although subsequent episodes turn down the pace, it keeps that air reasonably well, and keeps the jeopardy moving, with new and altered risks and threats at each turn. On this front it is not remarkable, but it does the job well.

Ozark has had endless comparisons to Breaking Bad, which is unfair because the two are not alike where it matters. Marty is not on a journey in the way Walter was; his character is defined in the first episode and he really doesn't move from there. On the face of it, this is a family man in his neck of crime trying to get out, but it is a mire he willingly stepped into, and the skills he uses to try to get out are the same skills he used on day 1. This is a problem though - and not because it makes it less like Breaking Bad. The problem is that the show doesn't feel like it is driving down or into the story or characters, but rather that it is living on the action alone, which puts a strain on the writing to always come up with a problem, but one that can be overcome. It makes it engaging in the moment generally, but I didn't get drawn in as it could have done.

Despite this writing weakness, the cast do well, and the show benefits from a lot of talent, and a lot of people who have great presence. Bateman in particular does this, and he holds attention well. Likewise Linney is a strong bit of casting. Support is good but not perfect. For example Harner tries hard, but his character doesn't totally convince; Mullan is a terrific actor doing a character of still menace - well worn turf, and while he does well, he doesn't raise the bar. Garner is good, and is giving the most complex character - only downside is that she doesn't always come across clear to the viewer.

It is all very professionally made though, and it has more than enough incident and pace to hold the attention, although it doesn't ever have the feeling of depth or anything that would make you invest too deeply in the people. Entertainingly grim and dramatic though.

And Beethoven strung it all together. Without him, we would be without tears in the end.