Ozark: Season 2/ Episode 3 “Once a Langmore” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)

When it rains it pours for the Byrdes. For just as it seems everything will run smoothly, nearly everything gets shut down.


Network
Netflix
Director(s) Andrew Bernstein
Writer(s) Alyson Feltes
Air Date 8/31/2018

Do Better: Ruth, Wyatt, Roy, Cade, Marty

While Ruth knows she has a place in Marty’s organization, there is still a need to prove herself in a way. After all, compared to her own father, there is so much Marty can teach her and also a lot to prove she has mastered. Take for instance her finding good properties to launder money through. One of the boat refilling and repairing stations she approaches, in her court clothes, to convince the owner to let Marty invest – no go. So, taking a page out of her biological daddy’s book, she causes a problem that only Marty’s money can solve.

This is one win for Ruth amongst many that are a bit downers. Mostly in the form of Cade really kicking the hell out of her – not physically but mentally. For it is the idea she will not get or know better which Ruth has been fighting a long time. Which, when Wyatt and her were seeing eye to eye, it made it feel like they were going to change the so-called destiny of the Langmore Family. That is, until he turns in an essay that sounds like a borderline suicide note and Cade gets in her head. To the point she decides against looking at a house for the family and then Marty? Just when she is looking for Marty to pat her on the back she gets told she can no longer be seen as the gambling commission is supposed to inspect them.

And while this happens, Petty has had Marty’s world shut down and is ready to send out Rachel who probably needs to go to rehab more than be a snitch on anybody. But, you know, he desperately needs to save face and his options are few.

Figure Out How, Never Tell Me No: Charles, Wendy, Darlene, Jacob

With everything being shut down, naturally, it is assumed Charles did it since Wendy has first hand seen his influence. Yet, in the long run, despite it seeming like retribution for saying the Snell family won’t sell, it wasn’t him. It makes perfect sense why she would think that, but nope. But, in the process of trying to win back his favor, she does handle a pending lawsuit which could have dragged his name through the mud. Something he is thankful for but cost him $500,000 in the process.

Well, that is on top of Jacob and Darlene setting his favorite boat on fire. You know, to send a message. Which got them so hot and bothered they had some good sex. Jacob can’t speak hardly a word kind of sex. With Darlene pushing her baby idea in there.

Commentary

Taking note they are partners, I wonder if Wendy really has the authority to be giving half of the 3% Marty is making? Never mind the audacity to say Charles would give half a million of his money to a woman who was ready to blame him for her husband’s death. But, like Ruth, maybe beyond when I think about it, Wendy has adapted to Marty’s needs, wants, and vision and has surpassed the need for him to say something needs to be done.

However, there remains the need to wonder, as Wendy gets a firm grip on how things run, will there ever come a time she’ll separate from Marty? Which I say mostly because of that comment Marty made, in the last episode, which made her sound like a commodity to be traded more than a person. Since it is clear Charles is ready when she is and while they did have sex an episode before, this relationship staying together, the family staying together, seems purely about survival vs. love sometimes.

There Really Is Only So Much You Can Do: Roy, Rachel, Marty

It is pretty much do or go to jail for Rachel and she blows it when trying to get Marty to say something on a wire. But, what do you expect? Making Marty’s main focus just using her to get things up and running within a week. Because when production slows down, it causes a direct hit which will lead to everyone’s favorite middleman taking the hit.

Commentary

Between Rachel and the reporter who seemingly wants to make her career by investigating Charles’ associates, one of the two might just take down Marty. Oh, who are we kidding? Neither has the ability to do so. The only one who can truly take down Marty is Wendy or Jonah. Someone who puts $5000 into a bank account – because he is an idiot. Though, let’s not discount Charlotte co-signing the situation.

Other Noteworthy Facts & Moments

  • Wasn’t it amazing how Ruth was using all the proper terminology when speaking with Taylor?
  • The reason Wyatt and Charlotte haven’t kissed or anything, despite it being 5 months of knowing each other, is because he fears becoming just a story she tells after she has long left him behind.
  • Wendy has a manic-depressive brother and 10 years ago she lost a child and had a bou of depression.

Question(s) Left Unanswered

  1. What got Darlene into reading palms?
  2. What kind of drugs was Rachel smoking to blow through $200,000 in the matter of a few months?
  3. Why didn’t Jacob and Darlene have kids, and where are the rest of the Snell family? Are they truly the last ones?

Highlights

  1. Ruth really putting into action what she learned from both Marty and Cade.

Low Points

  1. Wendy and Marty’s kids remaining such liabilities.

On The Fence

  1. Taking note I just praised showing how complicated it is to keep things going, I gotta admit sudden issues throwing Marty’s plan off is starting to make me feel his frustrations deeply.


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2 Comments

  1. I don’t think Cade is the one who had everything shut down. He isn’t that smart and doesn’t know about all the businesses. I think it was Petty– that is how he insures that Marty will need Rachel to come back. I think he said something about it to her when he was wiring her up. I am wondering if/how the little video made by Tuck (?) will surface.

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