Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Netflix series Ozark and discussions of suicide and gun violence.
Fans of Netflix’s Ozark know that the crime-drama series doesn’t shy away from shocking and often gruesome deaths. The popular show still manages to surprise viewers every time a character dies, with some meeting harsher endings than others.
Not counting offscreen deaths likeBen Davis’ and Sue Shelby’s, nor relatively peaceful deaths like Buddy Dieker’s, the most brutal deaths on the show so far almost always depict the characters suffering in some way. With the recent release of the second part of Ozark‘s final season, there are undoubtedly a few more jarring deaths in store, which will be added to the already high kill count from the past four seasons.
Cade Langmore’s Murderous Roadblock
Cade is one of the least likable characters in Ozark, which is why most viewers likely weren’t too fazed by his death. He had been lurking in the background up to that point, wreaking havoc within his own family and around town through petty crimes. His big mistake was hurting Charlotte, though, as this crossed the line for Wendy, who was quick to find a way to dispose of him.
After a brief meeting where she gives him an offer he can’t refuse, he drives off thinking he’s rich and free, only to encounter someone blocking the road. Audiences could see his death from a mile away, as it’s not too hard to spot Nelson slowly walking towards him. It’s a predictable ending that isn’t too brutal compared to others in the show.
Sheriff John Nix’s Death By The Doorway
Just when Sheriff Nix was finally about to do something decent in his job, he meets his untimely end in Javi’s hands. After being pressed by Mel to do his job and find out what happened to Helen, the corrupt sheriff knocks on Javi’s door.
It’s a terrible choice for him and great timing for Javi, who had been complaining about the potential threat he poses to the cartel’s operations. There’s a dramatic moment where Javi turns up the volume of the classical music he’s listening to before shooting John in the chest and the head right by the doorway. It’s a relatively quick, but still disturbing death that highlights the antagonist’s impulsive personality.
Camino Del Rio’s Sudden Headshot
Del is far from being the most decent person on the show, but his death was still likely unsettling for most viewers. He walked into the Snells’ home not knowing their customs and personalities, so he makes a terrible mistake by insulting the characters.
Darlene immediately pulls out her shotgun and shoots Del in the head. There’s a brief moment of confusion before Jacob starts killing his companions, too. It’s a chaotic, but still relatively quick death that’s more shocking than brutal. It’s also a character-defining moment for Darlene, who will do far worse in the months ahead.
Mason Young’s Accidental Shooting
One of the most memorable story arcs in Ozark is that of Pastor Mason Young. The idealistic pastor loses so much in his life after meeting the Byrdes, from his congregation on the lake to his wife and infant son. At one point, it becomes too much for him and he decides to kidnap Wendy in an attempt to get Zeke back.
Marty pulls some strings and gets the impossible deed done, but it’s clear that Mason is unwell. When he starts to attack, Marty accidentally shoots him in the neck, and he bleeds out in his own basement. It’s a messy scene that shakes Marty to his core, but it’s not the first or most awful death he’ll have to witness in the series.
Helen Pierce’s Shocking Termination
A huge plot twist in Ozark occurs right after the Byrdes land in Mexico with Helen. They’re meeting Navarro to discuss the future of the cartel, but little do they know he’s about to kill Helen right in front of them.
Nelson seems to pull the gun out of nowhere, shooting Helen right in the head. It’s a quick death for sure, but it’s gruesome because of the way her blood splatters onto Wendy and Marty, who are too stunned to say anything after she falls to the ground.
Darlene Snell And Wyatt Langmore’s Deadly Honeymoon
Ruth’s most iconic scene is unfortunately spurred by a surprising event in the Snells’ home. Darlene and Wyatt come home after their wedding to an unwelcome guest, Javi, who has already previously shown fans that he can be hot-headed and impulsive.
This is sadly the case in this situation as well, as Darlene is only able to get a few words in before Javi shoots her. It’s almost too painful to watch Wyatt’s jaw drop as he sits next to his now-dead wife, but Javi decides to put him out of his misery soon enough with a perfectly-aimed headshot.
Jacob Snell’s Poisoning
Darlene proves she’s an even bigger villain than Jacob after he goes against her wishes and decides to give in to what the Byrdes are demanding. Right when he’s about to kill her out in the woods, he realizes that something is wrong as he falls to the ground.
His wife saw his attempt coming and beat him to it by placing ground-up cherry pits in his morning coffee. This leads to a slow and painful death by poisoning, but he still manages to laugh about how brilliant Darlene really is, declaring his love for her during his last agonizing moments.
Russ And Boyd Langmore’s Electrocution
Ruth hasn’t always had the best relationship with her uncles, but no matter how dim-witted they can be, they’re still family. This is why it’s so heartbreaking that she has to make the decision to kill them after they choose to go to the Blue Cat Lodge to murder Marty and steal his money.
Just like she tried to do with Marty earlier in the season, she rigs the dock in preparation for their arrival. What follows is a truly horrifying scene as Russ and Boyd get electrocuted to death after touching the dock. The show even goes as far as showing their burnt corpses when Marty goes to their boat to investigate.
Roy Petty’s Bludgeoning
One of the earliest senseless and seemingly arbitrary deaths in the series is that of Agent Roy Petty’s. Granted, nobody was too sad about his passing, but it just seemed to be so sudden considering how he was almost out of the Ozarks and the Byrdes’ lives. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and in this case, talking to the wrong person.
Cade quickly loses his temper when he realizes Roy can’t help him, and the agent’s insults are the last straw. Cade hits him once, and he seems to realize there will be consequences for killing an FBI agent, so he starts bludgeoning him to death with his own bait box. It’s an unnecessarily bloody ending for the villain, who just wanted to go back to his ill mother.
Gary Silverberg’s Fall From A Skyscraper
The most brutal death in Ozark also happens to be one of the first in the series. When Marty finds out Wendy is plotting to run away with her secret lover, Gary Silverberg, he rushes over to his apartment to stop his cheating wife. A well-timed phone call from Del reveals that the villain beat him to it, and is already in the process of determining Wendy’s fate.
On his way to the building, Marty is greeted by Gary’s body falling from the skyscraper and hitting the pavement right in front of him. He perfectly describes the jarring moment to Wendy, later on, telling her how “the satisfying sound of” her “lover smacking the pavement” helps him sleep at night.
