Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Netflix series Ozark.
With the recent premiere of the first half of Ozark’s final season, fans are seeing the end of the riveting storylines of some of their favorite characters. The Byrdes and Navarro are facing their biggest challenges, and everyone around them is caught in the crossfire.
From Ruth’s heartbreaking journey to Wendy’s increasingly cutthroat personality, the best story arcs in the drama series often take countless twists and turns. The characters’ drastic transformations over the seasons are often prompted by extreme circumstances that require them to make difficult decisions. While all of the main characters’ story arcs are incredibly well-written, some are more fascinating than others.
Omar Navarro
Despite being one of the most powerful characters in Ozark, Navarro’s story arc is less interesting compared to other characters on the show. He’s depicted as a stereotypical aggressive, brutal, and somewhat mysterious drug lord who can kill people like Helen on a whim.
He hasn’t exactly drastically changed much throughout the seasons, as his personality has mostly remained the same. The only major shift in his character is when he decides to step down from the cartel to make a deal with the FBI, and even that doesn’t work out in the end.
Charlotte Byrde
There’s no shortage of surprising changes in Charlotte’s personality and storyline in the series. She has gone from being an angsty and rebellious teenager to her mom’s loyal assistant. Fans may recall how at one point, she despises her parents enough that she asks a lawyer to help her with emancipation.
She has gone in the opposite direction lately, though, as she adapts more of her mom’s traits. Jonah is understandably annoyed that she’s actively helping their parents with their criminal activities. While there have been numerous changes in her story arc, they haven’t all made sense and may even be bothersome for fans who feel bad for how her choices and shifting stance have affected Jonah.
Ben Davis
Although Ben was only around for a short time, his story arc is one that fans won’t soon forget. The way he goes from Wendy’s supportive sibling and Ruth’s romantic partner to a paranoid mess who endangers the cartel is riveting, all the way to his heartbreaking death thanks to Helen’s persistence.
Part of what makes Ben so compelling is that fans likely can’t help but root for him. He’s the only one who seems to be genuinely bothered by how twisted the Byrdes’ dangerous ventures are. The only major drawback is that viewers were probably hoping to see more of him, but Wendy and Helen made sure that wouldn’t be the case.
Helen Pierce
In Ruth’s words, Helen always seemed “like some giant f*****g machine.” From the moment she’s first introduced, she has a cool and intimidating composure and a determination to always get things done. Throughout the seasons, fans see her more vulnerable side, particularly in the way she wants to shield her family from what she does.
It’s strange to start to see her buckle under pressure, especially when her daughter finds out the truth about her role in the cartel. She knew how to play the game, but not enough to beat the Byrdes, but it was wildly entertaining to see her try. The only gripe some fans may have about her story arc is the way it ends abruptly, but for some viewers, it’s the perfect conclusion to her long career in the unpredictable organization.
Wyatt Langmore
Wyatt’s story arc may be a frustrating one to watch unfold, but that doesn’t mean it’s not good. In fact, the way the Byrdes and the cartel affect Wyatt’s life is just another important example of how destructive Marty’s involvement in anything can be.
The teenager is robbed of any optimism he had about going to college and escaping his life of petty crime, in large part due to how devastating his life as a Langmore has been. Instead of improving his future, he actively runs towards danger by marrying Darlene. His fate was sealed the moment he turned down Ruth’s offer of running away and starting over somewhere new. His story may not be as impactful as Ruth’s, but it’s still a vital catalyst for the finale.
Marty Byrde
Marty’s transformation over the seasons may not be as drastic as Wendy’s or Ruth’s, but it’s still remarkable to watch. Audiences see the unforgiving world through his eyes for quite a while, so it’s easy to feel invested in every single thing that happens to him.
It’s his priority to keep his family safe by minimizing the risks as much as possible, which is why he often clashes with Wendy and her more ambitious plans. His ingenious solutions and witty banter with Ruth are always amusing, but it’s his more emotional scenes as he realizes how messed up their circumstances are that hit the hardest.
Darlene Snell
Part of what makes Darlene’s character so appealing is how unpredictable she can be. While she may seem like Jacob’s assistant when viewers first meet her, they quickly learn that she can easily run the whole drug business without him.
Darlene feels no hesitation or remorse when it comes to killing, even if it is her own husband on the other end of the knife. Fans have watched her do ridiculously horrific things for the sake of her pride or dignity. Her relationship with Wyatt is definitely a point of contention in the fanbase, but it’s a small aspect of an otherwise flawless story arc.
Jonah Byrde
Fans can’t be blamed for feeling bad for Jonah from the very beginning. When he learns of the awful things the cartel is capable of, his first instinct is to learn how to use guns to protect his family. It doesn’t help that Wendy encourages him to shoot someone and launder money for her.
It’s satisfying but still upsetting to watch as he slowly realizes how terrible his parents actually are, and the clear turning point for the character is when Ben dies. The way he uses money laundering to get back at his parents and to get away from them is smart, and the tension that has been escalating between him and Wendy is an aspect viewers are likely waiting for the series to explore further.
Wendy Byrde
Wendy’s transformation in Ozark has been enthralling to watch. Whether fans like her or not, no one can deny that she has a way of getting what she wants. She may have started out with the short end of the stick after losing her lover and almost getting killed by Del, but she has quickly regained confidence and established herself as a powerful player in her new home.
It’s absorbing to watch as Wendy grapples with her newfound ambitions and desires and her responsibilities to keep her family safe. The way she’s able to reconcile everything from using Jonah to launder money to killing her own brother is almost too painful to watch at times, but viewers likely find that they can’t help but be curious about what she does next.
Ruth Langmore
Without a doubt, Ruth’s story arc is the best one in Ozark. She has come a long way from being a petty thief who wanted to kill Marty and take his dirty money. Her priority has always been to find a way for Wyatt and Three to escape the “Langmore curse,” which is why the final episode of the first part was such a devastating one.
It’s difficult to see Ruth struggle to pick herself back up after every new disappointment. When fans see her crying in private about Cade or Ben, they likely can’t help but empathize with the character who often portrays herself as invincible in front of other people. It’s easy to see why she’s a fan favorite, as no one else in the series has the same fierceness, bravery, and capacity to love that she has.
