Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark drama has loads of drugs, violence, sex, cartel crime.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Ozark
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 20 parent reviews
Based on 22 kid reviews
Kids say this show has an engaging story with strong performances, but it's filled with graphic violence, sexual content, and explicit language that make it unsuitable for younger viewers. Many felt it was best suited for older teens and adults due to its mature themes and intense scenes, with some ratings recommending it for ages 16 and up.
- graphic violence
- mature themes
- explicit language
- older teen suitability
- captivating storyline
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In Netflix's mature drama OZARK, Martin Byrde (Jason Bateman) is a fake financial advisor and con man who's been laundering money for a decade for a Mexican drug cartel under the supervision of kingpin Del (Esai Morales). When Martin and Del discover one fateful night that Martin's longtime partner has been skimming from the till, Del sets Martin up with an almost-impossible challenge: launder $500 million for the cartel in just five years. And Martin has to do it from the Missouri tourist town Lake of the Ozarks, where he's immediately to move with his harried, double-dealing wife Wendy (Laura Linney) as well as their bewildered teen children, Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) and Jonah (Skylar Gaertner). It's a lot to handle, but it's better than the alternative: no future at all for the Byrde family.
Is It Any Good?
Alas, this show is a bit of a grim slog, clearly hoping to borrow a little of the shimmer of Breaking Bad, but lacking that show's spark and quirky characters. Bateman, who oozes charm in just about every role he's ever played, is curiously opaque in Ozark, hard to relate to. Unlike Breaking Bad's Walter, a righteously furious man who makes the wrong choices for the right reasons (at least at first), Bateman's Marty already broke bad, a decade ago. This makes him a lot tougher to relate to, which muddies the central conflict: It's not as much fun to watch a creep wiggle through a tough situation as it is to see a good guy caught in the grip of something bad.
Linney's huffy, knowing Wendy is more interesting to watch as the Byrdes settle in to their new home and start questing for the next great money-laundering scheme. Will it be a strip club? A tourist resort? A local evangelical church? And how soon before the local lowlifes come crawling out of the woodwork to start creating their own complications? As the twists start piling up, viewers may find themselves pulled into the drama, despite the script's tendency to have its characters pause to make stentorian speeches about the American work ethic or the criminal activities of immigrants. Fans of Netflix's serious dramas should give this one a try, but the unconverted are unlikely to stick around.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why criminal settings, particularly ones connected with illegal drugs, are so common for modern television dramas. What dramatic possibilities does Ozark offer? Find out when your teens are ready for complex content like this show.
How is the viewer supposed to relate to the character of Martin Byrde? Is he sympathetic? A villain? A flawed hero? How can you tell how viewers are supposed to feel about him?
Movies and TV shows often communicate with a characteristic color palette: cheerful musicals will have eye-popping bright colors, horror productions will have lots of red and black. What's the color palette of this drama? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 21, 2017
- Cast : Jason Bateman , Laura Linney , Sofia Hublitz
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 2, 2025
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