I’m not typically one to watch a whole lot of TV. I keep busy and don’t find myself with a lot of downtime, and I generally prefer to read a book at bed before I fall asleep at night. Occasionally, I get hooked on a really good show and plow through it with my hubby, but normally I’m the girl that just watches This is Us once a week and otherwise the TV stays off.
That was the case at least until the COVID-19 quarantine struck.
Suddenly, my social calendar was freed up and I found myself spending a lot more time at home. Not only that, but my life was seriously lacking any excitement. I know I’m not the only one that feels that way right now.
Just about the time that I started to really throw myself a quarantine-induced pity party, I heard several trustworthy sources raving about the new season of Ozark that had just dropped on Netflix. I’m also a sucker for Jason Bateman, so I convinced my husband we needed to give the show a try. We quickly got sucked right in and just recently wrapped up the last episode of the show.
Here are a few reasons why Ozark was the perfect show to watch during a stressful time:
- The Byrde family has so much drama in their lives that you’ll immediately feel better about your current circumstances. The drama starts in the first episode with Wendy’s affair and it just Never. Stops. Coming. There’s violence, there are angsty teenagers, there’s unexpected romance, and let’s not forget, there’s an unhappy boss/drug cartel ringleader. Suddenly, being stuck at home safe, sound, and bored doesn’t sound nearly so bad.
- The plot contains so many twists and turns that you’ll be on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to come next. When I’m dealing with personal stress, I want my evening “me” time to give me the opportunity to escape from my current reality and take my mind off of real life. Ozark does exactly that. I was constantly wondering what was going to happen next and it kept me coming back for more each night. Having something to look forward to at the end of every day was a really nice feeling, too!
- The characters are so well developed that you’ll start to think about them like they’re real. My husband and I have found ourselves talking about the characters from Ozark even when we aren’t watching the show. The acting is on point and the characters are so unique that you start to feel really devoted to them. I found myself cheering for Marty and Wendy to work out their marital issues. I also felt really connected to Ruth Langmore and truly looked forward to any scene where she made an appearance (which was, luckily for me, a lot of them). She was the perfect come-from-behind underdog with a pistol personality that keeps you on your toes. I loved her character.
- You might learn something new – even if it’s not anything useful. After the first episode or two, I asked myself what exactly it means to “wash money.” We found ourselves having a lengthy discussion about how money laundering actually works. Practical life skill, certainly not, but it was still fascinating to wrap my head around this totally foreign (to me) concept.
Have you watched Ozark? If so, I would love to hear if you enjoyed it or not. If you haven’t watched it, what was your COVID-Quarantine binge show of choice – and why?
