Ozark Season 4 Ending Explained, Ozark Ending Review, And Cast
by Krishika M | Updated Feb 28, 2023
Ozark Season 4 Ending Explained
In Part two of the show, Ruth becomes unstable and seeks revenge for Wyatt's death by killing Javi in front of the Byrdes and Shaw medical boss Clare Shaw. To protect Ruth, the Byrdes cover up her actions by pretending that Javi has disappeared and is presumed dead. However, this puts Navarro in a position to reaffirm his extradition deal with the FBI, but he first needs to regain control of his drug cartel. To do this, he asks Marty to personally deliver the message that he killed Javi and sends him to act as his emissary in Mexico. However, Navarro's sister Camila tries to kill him in response to the news. Meanwhile, Clare Shaw is unhappy with the Byrdes after helping to clean up Javi's blood and decides to work with Ruth to use the Darlene-inherited drugs to supply Shaw medical and oust the Byrdes from their arrangement. Ruth plans to use the earnings from this to buy the majority shares of the casino, The Missouri Belle, from the Byrdes.
Despite the fact that The Missouri Belle is the main money-laundering business for the cartel, Ruth Langmore, being a Langmore, refuses to quit. Through inheriting Darlene's estate and shares in the Belle, she becomes the majority owner of the casino, making her the first clean Langmore in five generations. However, the loss of the Belle poses a problem for the Byrdes as they need it to launder Navarro's money, and Navarro has moved up his extradition plans. Wendy Byrde manages to negotiate a five-year drug-supply deal with the cartel and a $150 million donation to the Byrde foundation, as well as shares for Camila in Shaw Medical, but they still need a way to launder the money. When the FBI mentions that they would be happy for Marty to run the cartel if Navarro were to die, the Byrdes formulate another plan to keep their drug seizures rolling in.
The plan to have Navarro killed and replaced by his sister is not successful for the Byrdes, but Wendy sees an opportunity in it. Despite her questionable actions, her love for her children is fierce, and she is determined to get them back. Amidst the chaos, Wendy's father finds out that she ordered the hit on her brother, and he coerces Charlotte and Jonah to move away with him. This news causes Wendy to commit herself to an institution until Marty brings them back.
Marty delegates the task of bringing them back to Ruth, who agrees to help by threatening to tell Camila the truth about Ben's death. Ruth convinces Charlotte and Jonah to see the truth about their grandfather, and they confront Wendy about her attempts to control them. Wendy admits that she and their father were trying to build something for the family, but promises not to trap them in it. Eventually, they reconcile and agree to reunite as a family, moving forward together.
After the heart-to-heart conversation, a car crash scene follows, which was shown at the beginning of the season as a flashforward. The Byrdes manage to escape unharmed, and they proceed to attend the Belle-Byrde foundation event that evening, ready to celebrate. Things seem to be going well for the Byrdes as they approach their exit from the drug business. They have entrusted the laundering operations of the Missouri Belle to Ruth and Rachel, who has returned legally with the FBI's approval as a cooperating witness, ensuring that Ruth's record remains clean. However, as expected in Ozark, there are still more unexpected twists and turns to come.
During the foundation fundraising event, Camila suspects that the Byrde family and Clare may have information about her son's death that they are not disclosing. This suspicion grows stronger when she learns that her own brother is not responsible for her son's death, although she still goes ahead to have him killed and take over his business, displaying questionable behavior as a sibling. The Byrdes remain quiet, but a slip of the tongue from Clare leads to the revelation that Ruth was the one responsible for Camila's son's death. Camila orders her henchman to harm the Byrde children if Ruth is warned about the impending danger. Despite the Byrdes' distress, they keep their cool while Ruth, who was once their ally, is murdered by Camila at the side of the road. This bitter conclusion marks the end of their dysfunctional pseudo-family relationship, and this theme resonates heavily throughout the final part of Ozark. Nevertheless, as is typical of the show, there is one final surprise for the Byrdes.
Mel Sattem, the disgraced cop-turned-PI who was determined to prove that the Byrdes killed Ben, is back in Missouri after Wendy and Marty pull some strings to get him his job back in exchange for dropping the Ben case. However, Mel's moral compass keeps pointing north, and he confronts the Byrdes with evidence that Ben is dead.
Despite their usual tactic of bribery, they fail to sway Mel this time, and their secrets are about to be exposed. But before that happens, Jonah, who detests their criminal life, shoots Mel dead.
This act, committed by the youngest member of the Byrde family, traps him in the very life that Wendy had been trying to save him from. While Marty and Wendy may have finally achieved the freedom they desired, their actions have had a profound impact on their children, whom they value above all else. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of their immoral deeds.
Ozark Ending Review
In the final moments of the season, as Mel Sattem confronts the Byrdes with evidence of Ben's death, Jonah, the youngest member of the family, pulls the trigger, killing Mel. The screen then abruptly cuts to black as a gunshot is heard. The fact that the Byrdes survive the latest obstacle in their dangerous journey is a testament to their ability to navigate the treacherous world of crime and corruption.
According to showrunner Chris Mundy, Jonah was chosen to deliver the final shot because he was the last Byrde to fully embrace the family's criminal lifestyle. The loss of Ben, his uncle, had caused a rift between Jonah and his parents, but his eventual acceptance of their ways ultimately led to him taking decisive action to protect his family.
Despite their miraculous survival, the season's events serve as a reminder of the devastating consequences of the Byrdes' criminal actions. Their selfish pursuit of power and wealth has not only put themselves at risk but also their loved ones, particularly their children. As the Byrdes continue to navigate the dangerous world of the Ozarks, it remains to be seen if they can maintain their grip on their criminal empire while keeping their family intact.
Master manipulator Wendy Byrde and her accountant husband, Marty, survived numerous obstacles and dangerous situations that threatened their lives and their freedom. Despite the odds stacked against them, the Byrdes managed to outmaneuver their enemies and the authorities, ultimately getting away with their crimes. They were not killed, and they were not thrown in jail. Their survival and success can be attributed to their intelligence, cunning, and strategic thinking. Throughout the series, they showed an incredible ability to manipulate those around them, make calculated decisions, and stay one step ahead of their enemies. In the end, the Byrdes' survival and freedom serve as a reminder of the high stakes of the world of crime and corruption. While they may have gotten away with it, the toll it took on their family and their conscience cannot be ignored.
Ozark Season 4 Cast
Here is the cast of Ozark Season 4:
Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde.
Skylar Gaertnar as Jonah Byrde.
Sofia Hublitz as Charlotte Byrde.
Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore.
Felix Solis as Omar Navarro.
Jessica Frances Dukes as Maya Miller.
Alfonso Herrera as Javi Elizonndro.
Ozark Season 4 Ending Explained - FAQs
The Byrdes survived through their intelligence, cunning, and strategic thinking. They were able to manipulate those around them, make calculated decisions, and stay one step ahead of their enemies.
Yes, the Byrdes managed to get away with their crimes in the end. They were not killed or thrown in jail.
The Byrdes' pursuit of power and wealth caused them to lose sight of what truly mattered, and they ultimately paid a heavy price for it. Their actions and decisions had devastating consequences on their family, particularly their children.
Jonah played a significant role in the Byrdes' survival by taking out Mel Sattem, a disgraced cop-turned-PI who had evidence that could incriminate the Byrdes. This act ultimately trapped him in the life his parents had tried to save him from.
The Byrdes' survival and freedom serve as a reminder of the high stakes of the world of crime and corruption. While they may have gotten away with it, the toll it took on their family and their conscience cannot be ignored.