Netflix renews Ozark for an expanded fourth and final season

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

One of the best shows currently on television is coming to an end. It has been announced that Netflix has renewed its Emmy-winning series, Ozark, for a fourth and final season. The good news is that the fourth season will be expanded and split into two parts to complete the crime saga's impressive run.

Netflix has ordered 14 episodes for season four, up from the 10 episodes that have been ordered for the prior three seasons. Dates for the new season haven't been revealed yet, mostly because it's not quite clear when production can begin on the new season due to the ongoing issues with the COVID-19 pandemic. Showrunner and executive producer Chris Mundy had this to say about the final season renewal:

"We're so happy Netflix recognized the importance of giving Ozark more time to end the Byrdes' saga right. It's been such a great adventure for all of us — both on screen and off — so we're thrilled to get the chance to bring it home in the most fulfilling way possible."

Ozark stars Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Julia Garner, Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner, Charlie Tahan, and Lisa Emery. All of the performers are expected to return to the critically acclaimed series which follows a financial advisor that drags his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks, where he must launder money to appease a drug boss. The series has been one of the most popular shows on Netflix since it began its run and has also received a number of accolades. Ozark won two Emmys in 2019 for Bateman's direction and Julia Garner's supporting performance with the show racking up 14 nominations to date. Its third season, released in late March, averaged 8.7 million viewers over its first 10 days, according to Nielsen's SVOD ratings. That's a 74 percent jump over season two in 2018.

A part of me is so bummed the show is coming to an end but the other part of me is happy they're not going to just milk the show for all of its worth and keep it going when it's not creatively feasible to do so. It seems like the creators have a solid idea of how things will wrap up, given that Mundy did say he had a five-season plan for the show. While the show is ending earlier with season four, the expanded format may give all involved the opportunity to close the show as they see fit.

Are YOU sad to see Ozark go? What do YOU want to happen during the final season?