This was posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Netflix has been making quick decisions lately on its new shows. It dumped "Gypsy" after just six weeks. It gave "Glow" a second season after seven weeks. And now, it's giving Jason Bateman's dark drama "Ozark," shot in metro Atlanta, a second season less than a month after its debut.
Variety says it will get another 10 episodes.
When I interviewed him last month, Bateman hedged his bets about the show having multiple seasons.
In his mind, it’s more an extended movie, not a series.
“It doesn’t end in a way that’s obnoxiously open ended,” he said. “We wanted to give everything we had in hopes people will like it enough to do a sequel as opposed to a second season… There is a clear beginning, middle and end.”
Bateman, who was an executive director and directed a few episodes, plays Marty Byrde, a money launderer for a major Mexican drug cartel who gets in trouble with his boss and flees Chicago for the Ozarks where he has to cleanse several million dollars. The Ozark natives are not amused by their presence. His wife, played by Emmy-winning actress Laura Linney, had cheated on him in Chicago, but they shakily remain together as a family with their two kids, both whom eventually learn about their parents' less-than-ethical career decisions.
"Ozark" received mostly positive reviews, garnering a 67 out of 100 among critics on Metacritic and a more positive 8.3 out of 10 among 194 viewers. In comparison, the cancelled "Gypsy" starring Naomi Watts received just a 45 out of 100 on Metacritic and a 7.5 among just 63 viewers. (We don't get ratings from Netflix but it's likely far fewer people have watched "Gypsy" than "Ozark.")
Comedic 1980s wrestling drama "Glow" pulled in an 81 out of 100 on Metacritic with an 8 out of 10 from 141 viewers.
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