Emmy Episodes: Ozark

It’s always my policy to watch every Emmy-nominated episode each year, which leads me to sample a handful of shows that I don’t tune in to on a regular basis. For the fourth year in a row, I’m making a special effort to spotlight each of those installments to offer my perspective on shows that I don’t review each week.

Ozark: Season 2, Episode 2 “The Precious Blood of Jesus” (B-)

It’s somewhat helpful to continue on from the last hour I watched in screening the second of the six installments submitted for Best Drama Series consideration by this show. I thought that maybe this was Laura Linney’s choice for her episode given how she was featured, but apparently her episode comes later on in this season. She performed commendably in getting things done with time to spare to have meals prepared for her family members who didn’t bother remembering or thanking her, and she even stood up to an indecent proposal, refusing to let herself be used in that way. Marty’s response to her explaining what happened wasn’t terribly supportive, though I seem to remember something about romance not being the centerpiece of their relationship, especially at this particularly worrisome juncture. Her work paid off, and she managed to get what she wanted even without compromising her integrity. Ruth demonstrated just how fierce and fearless she is when she made a new deal for the boat, but now she has to face her father’s criminal tendencies and his unwillingness to let her follow a more legitimate path to financial success. Marty’s conversation with Charlotte about why she should be careful getting high was definitely not a typical parenting moment, but this family isn’t operating normally in any way, even if getting homework done is still an important value emphasized in this household. Rachel being turned by Roy is a deeply troubling development, yet another threat coming for Marty that he’ll have to find a way to quell.