Ozark : Is Wendy Byrde Evil?

If you disapprove of the concept that a highly intelligent couple would turn their backs on their comfortable, suburban life, for a life of money laundering, while evading the FBI, then Netflix’s Ozark is not for you.

However, if you’re intrigued at the prospect that this same couple scheme to conceal their double-life from their two teenage kids through a tangled web of lies and deception; a couple who convince their kids that relocating to Ozark, Missouri is for their sake; though from the outset, it never was.

If the question of how a highly intelligent couple could find themselves indebted to a Mexican cartel, piques your interest, then you’re in luck.

And best of all, if you’ve worked your way through many a Breaking Bad rerun and are spoiling for a crime drama in a similar vein, then congrats. Your prayers have been answered.

Many of us arrive at the sudden realization that our childhood dreams of becoming a pro-athlete or a rockstar will never come true.

Many of us come to the realization that when you strive for the American dream of the white picket fence, the 2.3 kids, and the Lexus out front, none of this stuff will ever give you the wealth, the power, and the respect you deserve, and, come to think of it, you’re certain your spouse is having an affair.

Meet Marty and Wendy Byrde, the money laundering, sibling murdering heroes of Ozark. If neither of these two characters rings a bell, where have you been since 2017?

At this juncture of my story, let’s turn our attention to the “better half” of our villainous couple.

Meet Wendy Byrde

In season 1, Wendy (played by Laura Linney) is introduced to you as the other half to a money-laundering financial adviser.

In the opening of the show, viewers would be forgiven for assuming that Wendy’s character would be relegated to minor plot lines.

However, in sharp contrast to the standard characterization of a criminal’s spouse, Wendy becomes the central arc of the story, which would ordinarily focus on the nefarious, male protagonist.

Unlike the wives depicted in “The Sopranos” and “Breaking Bad”, as the plot unfolds, we witness Wendy’s character emerging as a central arc to the storyline.

Whether you love her or despise her, Wendy Byrde is far from the unknowing wife, playing second fiddle to her husband.

On reviewing the persona of Wendy, the show’s creators Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams, have added depth to her character - shining a torch on Wendy’s judgment fails, duplicity, ingenuity, intelligence, and screw ups, thus rendering her characterization eerily relatable to the viewer.

Though you may not always side with her decisions, though you may marvel at her coldness, Wendy is no ordinary bored, suburban housewife. In this aspect of the crime genre, Wendy’s flaws (warts and all) are allowed to thrive.

In 2018, Laura Linney was quizzed by Steve Colbert on “The Late Show” as to whether she saw Wendy Byrde as a villain. Linney’s answer to a seemingly binary question was far from straightforward. And that’s the point.

You see, Wendy is a multi-faceted character who is as impulsive, as she is calculating. But fundamentally, Wendy’s persona can switch from mama bear to a stone-cold executioner from one episode to the next.

Take her decision to flee with her lover, leaving her family behind in season 1. Her clandestine plans are subsequently derailed when her lover is executed in front of her by Del, the chief lieutenant of the Mexican cartel.

On witnessing what would have given most people PTSD, as her lover is thrown off a high-rise building, Wendy metaphorically dusts herself down, and assumes the role of the supportive spouse, joining husband Marty and the kids as they relocate to Ozark.

I admire the way, in this twisted plot line, that Wendy’s character does not resort to sentimentality.

Indeed, following the brutal execution of her lover, the show’s creators steered away from sentimental flashbacks of Wendy tearfully reminiscing the good times she and her lover once shared.

To draw similar comparisons, think of the fate that usually befalls the Bond girl. For James Bond, he never thinks twice about their demise, nor mentions their names again.

And while such sociopathic behavior shouldn’t be applauded, Ozark breaks away from an otherwise double standard.

In keeping with the moody theme of the show, the cinematography implements a cyan filter throughout. Thus bringing to life the dark-themed underbelly of each episode.

In my opinion, Wendy inherits a flexible moral compass that is challenged on many occasions. On the one hand, the protection of her family remains at the core, no matter the cost.

A Random, Petty Crime

Though Wendy’s youth is never fully explored, there are subtle cues, that she used to get her thrills by breaking into homes and committing acts of petty larceny.

As a nod to her teenage recklessness, the opening of season 3 depicts a tense first meeting between Wendy and Omar Navarro, head of the Mexican cartel.

When the meeting ends abruptly, Wendy is unsure of the outcome, and a twinge of uncertainty sets in.

Later that day, Wendy takes a detour to Chicago to stalk the new family now living in her former home.

As the new occupants leave the house for the evening, Wendy breaks in, wanders into the kitchen, and helps herself to a beer from the refrigerator. From the refrigerator light, Wendy is observed spiking a milk carton with food coloring.

Before she exits the scene, she observes a family portrait of the new occupants. For Wendy, the sight of the portrait serves as a cruel reminder that the life she once had, is now gone.

As Wendy observes the portrait, she can barely conceal her contempt. Contempt for the perfect family life the portrait seeks to imply. As she exits the house, Wendy takes a final look at the family portrait which now hangs satanically upside-down.

On the surface, this random, reckless act makes no sense, as Wendy’s teenage years have long passed.

However, prior to the break-in, Wendy had a tense first meeting with Navarro where she felt that at any moment he or his henchmen could kill her.

You see, the home break-in was (in my opinion) an attempt for her to reset the balance of power. Unlike her meeting with Navarro, the break-in enabled her to hold the keys to her power.

In this example, Wendy calmly walks back to her car - knowing what will greet the new occupants on their return.

Wendy The Executioner

Later in season 3, the sudden arrival of Wendy’s younger brother Ben throws the Byrde family into peril.

Sadly, Ben’s fate is sealed when he confronts Helen (Navarro’s legal counsel). In an unpredictable outburst, Ben accuses Helen of laundering cartel money and in the heat of the confrontation, Helen’s daughter Erin discovers exactly how her mother earns a living.

As a result of Ben’s misstep, Wendy comes to the conclusion that Ben is a loose cannon. With his erratic behavior brought on by his refusal to take his bipolar medication, coupled with the threat of Ben exposing their cartel connections, Wendy orchestrates her brother’s execution.

For many of you who witnessed this shocking turn of events, it would be easy to write Wendy off as a sociopath. A sociopath who will stop at nothing to maintain control and good standing with the cartel.

While Ozark’s creators make sure to show Wendy’s guilt and remorse for ordering her brother’s execution, then cremating his remains; in my opinion, this was just the start.

The Hypocrisy

Wendy’s behavior takes a more sinister turn in the aftermath of Ben’s execution when (in season 4) she seizes upon the opportunity to capitalize on her brother's bipolar disorder.

On the pretext that her brother is “missing” Wendy sets up a charitable foundation in his honor.

In truth, the charitable foundation is a front to rig elections and bribe politicians using laundered money and thus, lay the groundwork for Wendy’s plan to build a dynasty for her family.

As word spreads about Ben’s demise, Wendy’s hypocrisy scandalizes Darlene Snell, the local heroin dealer.

In my opinion, if your actions scandalize the local heroin dealer, that should serve as a wake-up call to reassess your actions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, though Wendy displays sociopathic behaviors, it’s important to note that this personality disorder is based upon a spectrum.

Throughout each season, the storyline suggests that Marty and Wendy’s ultimate plan is to pay their dues to the cartel, then ride off into the sunset.

This happy ending, however, given Wendy’s thirst for danger, seems unlikely and like the opium addict as they solemnly swear each hit will be their last, in reality, it never is.

Author: Ella Graysun