'Ozark' Season 3: Wendy is a 'power-hungry b***h' but why do fans still love her?

No matter how manipulative and shrewd she is, Wendy's character is what makes 'Ozark' so gripping and gritty, isn't it?
Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde (Netflix)
Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde (Netflix)

Spoilers for 'Ozark' Season 3 Episode 1-10

Wicked and shrewd, Wendy Byrde (Laura Linney) seems to have taken the spotlight in 'Ozark' Season 3 as she didn't even leave her husband Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) out of the power battle.

Perhaps, the best scene in the season was when Sue Shelby (Marylouise Burke), the therapist, finally brings the cat out of the bag: "What does it say about a marriage when a husband and wife both try to bribe the therapist?" When the couple finds out they are both doing the same thing to keep arguments at bay, more arguments ensue and it soon turns into a big fight. When Marty blatantly calls Wendy a "power-hungry b***h", she storms off.

Fans agree that she certainly is a "power-hungry b***h", but they still seem to love her character. "I'm sorry but I have no problem with Wendy and Marty. Someone, please shoot Helen and Darlene. #ozark," one wrote.

Jason Bateman as Marty and Laura Linney as Wendy (Netflix)

Another fan posted, "Wendy is a boss b***h towards the end of Season 2 while Marty is being a little b***h #Ozark."

It isn't surprising, considering even after taking some really selfish and manipulative steps, she is still ahead in the game. One fan went on to say, "Just here to remind you that Wendy and Ruth are the superior characters in #Ozark."

Another posted, "Wendy is such a f******g phenomenal character. Laura Linney knocks it out of the F*****G park. #Ozark." Another fan posted, "Laura Linney’s warm and comforting smile is a major part of what makes the cold and sinister side of Wendy Byrde so great. #Ozark."

Not all viewers seem to like her though. Some, just like Marty, believe that she is a b***h indeed. "I’m not feeling Wendy this season. Episode 4 and she out of pocket," one said and another posted, "Wendy Byrde is such a snake. I don't trust that one bit."

Tom Pelphrey as Ben Davis and Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde (Netflix)

At the end of the season, after Wendy leaves her brother Ben Davis (Tom Pelphrey) to die, her humanity comes through in waves. Impressed by the narrative, fans complimented the graph and said, "@batemanjason Season 3 Episode 9 of #Ozark is easily the saddest TV episode I have ever seen. So raw. So real. It humanized Wendy. It made me feel so sad for Ben. It really highlighted mental illness issues and the struggles that families deal with for their loved ones. Well done." Another viewer said, "I can’t believe Wendy left her bro to die. What a fkn b***h."

What's more, Ben's death is also an indication that her son Jonah Byrde (Skylar Gaertner) might soon turn against her. Nevertheless, Wendy's character is what keeps the show gripping and gritty, isn't it? Perhaps, that's why it is Helen Pierce (Janet McTeer) who gets the bullet in her head.

As the show gets renewed for Season 4, it will be interesting to see what the Byrdes do to survive the upcoming storms. If you still haven't watched the show, catch up on all 10 episodes on Netflix.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

'Mindhunter' fans long believed high production costs hurt the show’s future, but Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos now has a different explanation
21 minutes ago
Paramount+ Head of Originals, Jane Wiseman, and James Jordan reflected on writing and filming updates for the upcoming season.
1 hour ago
Episode 6 of ‘Furious’ ends in a thrilling cliffhanger after Alice and Catherine connect through their shared trauma
1 hour ago
OG protagonists Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert's daughter is headed to Hillman in the sequel series
2 hours ago
After Louie’s death, Langdon returns from rehab, and the team’s ongoing conflict stems from the emotional fallout.
13 hours ago
'IT: Welcome to Derry' received an exciting Season 2 update with a terrifying 1935 story, but HBO is still keeping some major details under wraps.
15 hours ago
'The Diplomat' Season 4 puts Kate Wyler at the center of a dangerous conspiracy as her marriage and a fragile international peace begin to unravel.
16 hours ago
Chris Pratt returns as James Reece in 'The Terminal List' Season 2, with a new conspiracy pushing his next mission far beyond familiar territory.
17 hours ago
‘Scrubs’ cast announces the revival of its OG love triangle at its D23 panel named ‘Scrubs: Scrubbing Back’
22 hours ago
When Abin Sur’s spacecraft crashed on Earth, the dying alien’s power ring chose two candidates to replace him as Earth’s Green Lantern
23 hours ago