Discuss Ozark
Discuss → TV Shows → Ozark → General
Ending of S4 E7 (Spoilers, of course)
posted by Daddie0STAFFMOD on January 29, 2022 at 1:12 PM
I really enjoyed the first installment of S7. I was surprised in coming back to it how much I had missed the show and it's characters. As farcical as it is, the show is still entertaining once you enter it's world. What did surprise me--in more ways than one--was the ending of S4E7. (Spoilers ahead...you've been warned twice now!)
When Javi killed Darlene, then Wyatt (with the dismissively brutal line, "I'm sorry...whoever your are.") I thought they were going to cut the episode there...a shocking and great cliff-hanger. Then Ruth shows up with her wedding present, hears Zeke crying, and enters to silence...another great ending, but no, it continues. Then Ruth tears out of the Snell property, driving erratically...we all know what she's thinking: the KC Mob is responsible. But then it goes on to her making the call, talking to Jr., confronting the Byrds and screaming "You'll have to...KILL ME!!!" This I don't understand.
What did that add to the mid-season? Why include it now? Seems so strange. For me, it took a lot of the power out of the episode. I mean, in the end it doesn't change much as it will just continue in Ep8, but why not leave more energy in the series? What do you think? Was the addendum adding something that I'm missing?
Reply by cpheonix
on February 4, 2022 at 5:31 PM
First of all, I get what you mean about the show and how ludicrous the whole thing is (how are all of the Bryde family still alive??). But you're right, once you buy into its world it's pretty entertaining with some nice acting. Part of me was hoping they'd bring Ben back somehow because he was a fantastic character and actor, plus I don't recall we're ever shown his death/body.
Onto your ending question; I did also wonder why they'd cut the half season at this point of Ruth driving. But I guess they wanted to show that it's going to begin again with us on Ruth's journey of vengeance. Stopping it at Javi killing Darlene and Wyatt wouldn't have achieved the same emotional impact of seeing Ruth discover it in a different episode. It pretty much happened all in one sequence which I felt was a good call as we, the audience, were still in the heat of the moment. I dunno, that's how I personally felt.
Reply by Daddie0
on February 11, 2022 at 12:22 PM
@cpheonix: I appreciate your thoughtful reply. That's the thing...they didn't cut with her driving. They waited until she went to the Byrds and screamed "You'll have to kill me!!!" Like we didn't know she would feel that way. Interestingly, for me, that decision took a lot of power out of the mid-season ending. I'd bet when they "recap" they'll only include the killing and Darlene's erratic driving, since that communicates all we really need to know.
Reply by cpheonix
on February 12, 2022 at 4:07 AM
No probs for the response, great to have someone to discuss this with.
Sorry I meant they cut from Ruth driving after she had that confrontation with the Byrds.
Like I mentioned before, I think without showing this confrontation immediately after the fact she discovered the deaths the emotional impact of her confrontation with Byrds would've been lost. To me this scene felt really powerful (especially because of the acting by Julie Garner). If this happened at the start of the next mid season I'm sure it wouldn't have had as much of an impact.
I dunno, I was expecting them to cut at Ruth approaching Javi or something like that. But otherwise I get what you mean, it did seem like an anti-climax.