Some incredible crime thriller TV shows have come out since the inception of the 21st century, but only a few seem to come close to being as compelling as a brilliant Netflix show. The show in question is not as highly acclaimed as many others, but it still has an above-average Rotten Tomatoes score of 82%.
“Crime thriller” is easily one of the most recognizable and followed genres on television. While some viewers are more inclined towards action-centric crime thriller shows like Reacher, Bosch, and Bodyguard, others admire the ones that gradually walk through the moral descent of a seemingly ordinary individual.
Belonging to the latter category, Netflix’s best crime thriller premiered in 2017. While most shows on the streamer struggle to last beyond two seasons, the series in question had a strong four-season run. Although its ending is still considered divisive, its bleak closing arc is arguably what makes it even better than other epic crime dramas like Breaking Bad.
Ozark Is The Ultimate American Family Crime Drama
In most crime dramas, the main antiheroic character’s family drama is portrayed more as a side plot to highlight the slow decline of their immorality. In Ozark, however, the Byrde family unit is the very heart of the story. The two main characters, Marty and Wendy Byrde, make every decision in the criminal world to ensure their family’s survival.
Even their children, Charlotte and Jonah, gradually get involved in the overarching criminal machinery, which highlights how no one will be spared from the dark world of Ozark. This adds a whole new layer of inevitability and tragedy, showing how unchecked corruption and ambition slowly plague every corner of one’s domestic life.
The show’s emphasis on an entire family’s moral decline also makes it a grim satire on the mindless pursuit of chasing the American Dream. Apart from focusing on the Byrdes, Ozark also walks through the harrowing tales of other families immersed in the life of crime and how none of them escape the corrosive impact of the grim world they choose to inhabit.
Why Ozark Is The Best Crime Drama Series Of The 21st Century (Even More Than Breaking Bad)
Breaking Bad is easily one of the best offerings of the crime thriller genre, but Ozark is arguably better. The reason being that Ozark rarely features filler episodes and even avoids stretching out its plot lines too far. The Netflix crime thriller show remains taut and gripping throughout its runtime, keeping the viewer guessing what could happen next.
Even when it comes to predictability, Breaking Bad features many story threads that a viewer can easily foresee. Walter White’s fate, too, seems quite unsurprising because it aligns with the course of his actions throughout the series. Ozark, however, does not shy away from defying expectations.
Did You Know: To add to Ozark‘s realism, an FBI agent well-versed in financial crimes was brought onboard by the show’s creators to accurately portray money laundering.
Ozark season 4 part 2’s ending strays away from the norm by showing how its main morally bankrupt characters end up surviving. Instead of giving the Byrde family the expected downfall that usually caps off such stories, it leaves them intact, seemingly making a statement about how power and wealth can often protect the guilty in the real world.
Ozark’s Influence Is Already Seen In Other Crime Dramas
Ozark redefined how crime dramas could unfold in more ways than one. The show’s influence still seems to linger, and many new TV shows like The Waterfront and Your Friends & Neighbors are seemingly drawing from its story elements. While these new shows help fill the void left behind by Netflix‘s Ozark, they are yet to replicate its raw intensity and unflinching portrayal of a family’s descent into crime.
