Welp. I have never wanted to boo the finale of a series I liked more, and the robotic video above was chosen to reflect the mechanical nature of how the show ground to a halt.
To be fair, I would have been pissed about any "Ozark" conclusion that didn't involve Wendy -- one of the least likeable characters I can recall by a gifted actress, Laura Linney, who seems to specialize in playing such roles -- getting blown away.
However, to snuff out the iconic Ruth -- who carried the entire show -- while allowing the Byrdes to emerge scott free was too much to bear. The classist nature of having the Byrdes skate while the entire Langmore and Snell families were wiped out rang hollow and disturbing.
It became clear that the writing/directing team lost control of the plot line over the past couple of seasons, allowing what should have been a two-season show to meander into oblivion based on mass appeal.
Introducing random new characters, allowing the Marty-Wendy relationship to persist (they didn't even like each other, much less love each other), ignoring interesting subplots like the criminal maturation of Jonah, and reducing Three to some sort of occasional reminder that there were once way more Langmores ... these are unforgivable mistakes on a prestige show.
For a while, "Ozark" qualified as can't-miss art. By the end, it was reduced to swing-and-miss TV.
No comments:
Post a Comment