The series “Ozark” has caused us a tremendous amount of suffering throughout the years. The crime drama on Netflix has no qualms about putting its numerous characters in danger and increasing the death toll season by season. When your main characters are involved with a brutal drug gang, violence is inevitable, especially if they have a knack for entangling random people in their potentially fatal plans. The Byrdes are comparable to the Ozarks’ equivalent of a black hole, pulling everyone into their mayhem and sending them on a downward trajectory to death. The majority of the time, their desperate attempts to survive result in the loss of another person’s life. So sure, as Season 4 Part 1 and the beginning of the end began, fans knew there would be many bodies to bury by the conclusion. If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t anticipate the gut-punching death that “Ozark” delivered in the season’s last episode.
Spoilers for “Ozark” Season 4 Part 1 Episode 7
The Tragedy of Wyatt Langmore
The Langmores are the actual tragedy of “Ozark,” not the Byrdes.
Without a doubt, it’s unfortunate that Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) and Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) are involved in risky cartel transactions because of their negligent parents. And sure, every now and then I still feel bad for Marty and Wendy, but they’ve damaged so many lives that I don’t have as much sympathy for them. Overall, everyone involved in this story is destined for one or more terrible circumstances, but Wyatt Langmore (Charlie Tahan), who has no control over his lifelong disasters, is by far the most miserable character.
Wyatt already had a lot to deal with when the Byrdes arrived. His mother had moved away, and his family had a lengthy history of criminal activity. However, he was still young and had dreams of a better life, one where he could go to college and leave the Ozarks behind. Wyatt was able to achieve his goals thanks to his adored cousin Ruth (Julia Garner), who served as a check on him. Ruth intended to save money for Wyatt’s education after she started dating Marty, even though they didn’t exactly have the resources for it. He started working and submitted an application to the University of Missouri after his father passed away.
The Sins of Darlene Snell
The choice that would change Ruth’s life for the rest of her life would be to kill her uncles in order to save Marty Byrde, but it would also derail Wyatt’s plans to leave the Ozarks. Like her, he was powerless to change the situation. He was so overcome with grief that he was unable to think about or actively seek an escape. And having nowhere else to turn, he ultimately caught Darlene Snell’s eye (Lisa Emery).
Wyatt Langmore is the most recent in a long line of unintended consequences brought on by the Byrdes’ presence, though they are by no means solely to blame. As many fans had predicted, Darlene was Wyatt’s downfall. A large portion of the “Ozark” catastrophes are the fault of the lifelong nemesis and matriarchal heroin farmer; she is the woman who once tore a baby from its mother’s womb and, after killing her own husband, adopted such orphan to fill the emptiness. There were a tonne of reasons to be worried when Sarah developed feelings for Wyatt. Sure, the enormous age difference between the two of them was a very good place to start, but there’s also the issue of her being completely insane. How would the young and impressionable Wyatt do any better if he faced up against his wife of many years, if Jacob Snell didn’t stand a chance? Wyatt succeeded despite all odds, nonetheless. Wyatt genuinely loved Darlene as their mutual attraction turned passionate. She and her foster child, Zeke, became a welcome source of delight for him (ya know, the one she carved out of a woman).
Wyatt started to fear Darlene during a significant portion of Season 4 Part 1, as he observed how her savage attitude may be translated into murder. But in the end, he choose to remain by her side as opposed to making a run for it with his family. Even so, he decided to wed her. Zeke, the orphaned child who would otherwise be placed in foster care, would benefit, he assured Ruth, but Darlene was also a factor. And therein lies the issue.
The Langmore Curse Strikes Again
Here is one of MANY factors that make Wyatt Langmore’s death so heartbreaking since you can see it coming before Javi (Alfonso Herrera) fires the gun. When Wyatt and Darlene step through the door, their fate is set in stone the instant they do. It’s no accident that Javi spent the first half of the season screaming and raving about the “redneck” poppy farmer who killed Del; he has now arrived to exact his vengeance. Darlene comes up in their very first conversation with him and the Byrdes. It seemed inevitable that Javi would pay a visit to the Snell farm; he lacks patience and frequently makes snap decisions. The newlyweds are therefore already designated for execution when they enter through the door. The fact that Javi found them after waiting this long is the only surprise; after all, he shot the sheriff at random. Darlene was helpless without access to her go-to shotgun and no one to shield her. And regrettably, Wyatt will also meet his end because of her.
Javi has come for Darlene, so he shoots her dead after making one more cruel remark. There is a pause when Wyatt responds, but if for a split second you believe Javi will end it there, you are mistaken. He makes a sarcastic apology. He then shoots Wyatt Langmore in the head after saying “Sorry… Whoever you are.” His sad story comes to an end here.
“You asked why I belong at Mizzou? The simple answer is, I don’t. An undercurrent of savagery pervaded my life long before the violence truly began. My dad made grand theft auto seem like a good career path like we were entrepreneurs in a start-up. Only our start-up was the motor of one else’s car. Or truck. Or boat.
My childhood traumas are not like yours. My mother’s leaving is not like your mother’s leaving. You see, I’m a cursed Langmore, long inured to violence and death. ‘Taken too soon?’ people ask me of an untimely death. And in the case of a Langmore, perhaps not soon enough.”
Recall the college essay Wyatt wrote to gain admission to Mizzou? His future was brightened by those remarks, but they also threw a gloomy shadow over the Langmores because he described them as “cursed” in his brutally honest article. Given that there are now only two Langmores left, he could be right. Wyatt penned:
