There are many gripping original series that Netflix has produced, but Ozark is a show that only makes bigger waves with each new season. The dark crime drama had a strong debut season on the streaming service, but Ozark has impressively turned up the stakes with each new year and delivered their most satisfying season yet. Ozark follows the formula of many dramas that have come before it where a normal family is slowly transformed as they succumb deeper to the allures of crime.
Ozark has maintained a strong balance and found ways to make the series surprising, while never pushing credibility too far. Jason Bateman and the rest of the talented cast on Ozark will hopefully get many more seasons of challenging storylines, but until there’s news of a fourth season, there’s never been a better time to revisit the first three.
15 The Show Actually Learned How To Launder Money
When it comes to shows like Ozark, it's important that certain details look realistic and that the show does the proper research required for what they dig into. The Ozark team actually had an FBI agent come in and talk to them about her experience with the crime. The writers were able to pick the agent's brain in order to make sure that all of their money laundering material was accurate, according to The Fuss.
14 Jason Bateman Wasn't Supposed To Act In the Series
Jason Bateman is great on Arrested Development, and his portrayal of Marty Byrde has provided a wonderful insight into what Bateman is capable of with dramatic roles, but he initially came to Ozark as a project to direct. Bateman was eager to direct a dramatic series, but after being allowed to take on such a level of responsibility with Ozark, he eventually also became interested in the role of Marty too, reports Collider.
13 Each Episode's Title Card Foreshadows The Events Of The Episode
One of the more creative turns in Ozark is the way that it goes about presenting its title card. Each episode features a different collection of images, all of which spell out "OZARK" in a stylized way. The images collected in the big "O" are always different and emblematic of what happens in the episode. This creative and minimalist approach was developed by Fred Davis, a graphic designer, reports Decider.
12 The Series Pulls From The Creator's Own History
No, Bill Dubuque, the creator of Ozark didn't launder money, but he did spend his teenage years working at the Ozarks. Dubuque worked as a dockhand at the famous resort and marina that the show is largely based around. Clearly the sights and people from the area made an impression on him and he wanted to use it for the show’s setting.
11 Julia Garner Nearly Had A Panic Attack Over A Scene With A Mouse
Julia Garner does an incredible job in the role of Ruth Langmore and she's quickly becoming the show's best and most sympathetic character. It turns out that Garner has a crippling fear of mice, so when she was required to pick up a rodent and drop it in water for a scene, she was unable to perform. In the end a hand double was required to pull off the moment. Garner was embarrassed, she tells W Magazine, but couldn't help it.
10 It Was Laura Linney's Idea For Wendy To Become More Intense
Linney is excellent in the role of Wendy Byrde, but she told The Wrap that she wanted to make sure that Wendy wasn't just a typical housewife character and that she had more stakes. Linney voiced these concerns to the production and Wendy was slowly given more to do independent of Marty's character and she's taken on an edge of her own.
9 Tom Pelphrey Studied Mental Illness For His Role In Season 3
The third season of Ozark adds a lot of new obstacles for the Byrdes, one of which is Ben Davis, Wendy's brother. Tom Pelphrey delicately plays the character who struggles with bipolar disorder and mental illness and it's one of the best aspects of the third season. In order to properly portray the complexity of Ben Davis, Pelphrey took the role seriously and did the proper research.
8 Marty Byrde Wears Jason Bateman's Favorite Brand Of Tennis Shoes
A subtle detail on Ozark is that Marty Byrdes' footwear is the New Balance brand of tennis shoes. It's nothing too fancy, but it turns out that it's actually Jason Bateman's favorite kind of shoe and what he wears in all of his TV and movies. At least Marty can have comfortable feet when he's running away.
7 The Show Isn't Filmed On The Ozarks
While a select few scenes from the series' pilot were filmed on Lake Ozark in Missouri, the majority of the series is shot in the Atlanta area on Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier. This is largely due to the tax incentives that Georgia provides for filming, but they cover up the geographical difference well.
6 Jason Bateman Was Supposed To Be The Sole Director For Season 1
One of the best things about Ozark is Jason Bateman's fantastic performance as Marty Byrde, but he's also one of the series' talented directors. Bateman directs four episodes in season one, and more with each new season, but the original plan was for him to direct the entire first season, the actor tells Rotten Tomatoes. When scheduling didn't permit Bateman for enough prep time, he scaled back and other directors came aboard.
