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'Ozark' Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Will wicked Wendy overpower manipulative Marty in their battle for power?

The thought of a perfect family is short-lived as Wendy Byrde expresses her desires of "expansion" to Marty Byrde

Spoilers for 'Ozark' Season 3 Episode 1

Season 3 of 'Ozark' doesn't take long to grab your attention. At the very beginning itself, it gives you the taste of the ongoing Mexican drug cartel war which sees explosions, butchered body parts and floating bills. 

The Byrdes have established themselves as the top players in the world of gambling with the Missouri Bell up and running. The family seems to have gotten closer than ever as they continue to reside at Buddy Dyker's place (Harris Yulin). 

The thought of a perfect family is short-lived as Wendy Byrde (Laura Linney) expresses her desires of "expansion" to Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), while the latter is highly reluctant to go back to doing what he never wanted to do in the first place. 

Furthermore, Wendy's fanaticism seems to have no end as she feels an association with the Navarro Cartel would insulate her family and keep them safe, unaware of the perils it could bring to everyone. 

Undeniably, Wendy takes center stage in ‘Wartime’ as she makes certain choices that are going to cost her family a lot and also goes behind Marty's back to enlist Helen's help in making her idealistic plans come true. 

Wendy, who once waged war against some of the evilest forces to protect her family, is now risking everything she has worked on by sparking a working relationship with the drug lord. 

When Marty says he wouldn’t entertain her proposal only because she's lapsed into boredom, Wendy dismisses him saying she has some “big plans” which will help them make millions that could be used in charity. 

Wendy realizes the consequences of her greed when Helen (Janet McTeer) seals deal with Navarro, and the former is now bound in the deadly world, with no other way to escape besides delivering what she promised. 

Marty, who seems to have forcefully come to terms with his wife’s new ways bribes their marriage counselor to make Wendy believe all her motives are driven by greed and the well being and security of their family is only an excuse to mask her intentions. 

However, what strikes the most about Wendy’s character is the fact that she wouldn't budge from her decision, despite immense opposition from Marty and numerous obstacles in her way of becoming the "public face of Missouri gambling". 

We need to wait and watch if Marty and Wendy are barking up the wrong tree going against each other, unaware of bigger threats that await them.

'Ozark' Season 3 is available to stream on Netflix.