‘Ozark’ Season 4 Episode 11 Recap: “Pound of Flesh and Still Kickin'”

By
Alison Helms
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Ozark Season 4 Episode 11 Ruth Garner
Julia Garner as Ruth Langmore in ‘Ozark’ season 4 episode 11 (Photo Courtesy of Netflix © 2022)

Netflix’s Ozark season four episode 11 picks up with Marty (Jason Bateman) watching a woman clean up the blood of the man he had killed before going outside to play fetch with Navarro’s dog. (Something Navarro often did.) Marty seems to be fitting right in as the temporary head of a drug cartel.

He gets back to business and meets with the woman who was once Javi’s lawyer, asking if the trucks are still on standby in Chicago.

Javi’s mom, Camila (Veronica Falcón), requests Marty find a way to allow her to see her brother, Omar. Marty says he doesn’t think he can set that up but she insists. (Remember, she’s unaware her brother’s in a coma.) Marty placates her by saying he’ll see what he can do.

Wendy (Laura Linney) heads off to see Senator Randall Schafer (Bruce Davison) and it’s obvious he’s not happy when he screams, “So where’s the money, Wendy?!”

Schafer heard that Shaw Medical backed out and now political races are hanging in the balance with no money coming in. Wendy tries to assure him there was a “minor” situation with Shaw Medical. However, Schafer’s privy to some news Wendy’s unaware of. Mexican lawyers are backpedaling and want to keep Navarro on the SDN list. Wendy wants to know when this happened and he reveals it was the night before.

Ruth (Julia Garner) is on a plane and from the looks of it it’s the first time she’s ever been on one. She seems both excited and a little nervous. We’re in for a shock when it’s disclosed she hopped on a plane to visit Rachel (Jordana Spiro), one-time owner of the Blue Cat Lodge back in the Ozarks who had a troubled history with the Byrdes. (That seems to be a recurring theme with anyone who knows the Byrdes).

Ruth shows up unexpectedly at Rachel’s current place of business and is rude to a customer Rachel’s helping. After getting over the shock of seeing Ruth, Rachel learns Ruth’s there with a business proposal.

Marty finally makes it back to the Ozarks and has dinner with his family – minus Jonah. Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) asks how it was in Mexico and Marty describes it as better than the previous times he went there. Charlotte says Ruth called and wants to set up a meeting with them tomorrow. Apparently, it’s about the foundation and she hinted she’s willing to play ball. They agree to the meeting.

Marty changes the subject by asking Wendy how her meeting with Schafer went. She replies that it was tricky and informs Marty that someone in Mexico is lobbying OFAC to keep Navarro on the SDN list. By the look on Marty’s face, it appears he just figured out who it could be.

It’s confirmed in the next scene when he tells Wendy that Camila is the only one he told about getting Navarro off the SDN list. Plus, she’s close with Javi’s lawyer. It suddenly dawns on Marty that he killed an innocent man. Wendy tries to make him feel better by reminding him he was tasked with acting as Navarro and that’s what Navarro would have done. Therefore it wasn’t his fault the man was killed. With that logic no wonder she doesn’t have any trouble getting over the things she’s done.

Marty pays Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) a visit at the motel and finds him with Wendy’s dad, Nathan (Richard Thomas). Grandpa leaves to give them space and Jonah apologizes for not coming to dinner the previous evening, explaining he believes it’s better if he keeps his distance. Marty asks if he needs anything – like money or groceries – and offers Jonah a ride to school, but Jonah declines.

Before taking off, Marty tells his son he misses him and misses having him at the house. Jonah confesses he misses him as well.

Ozark Season 4 Episode 11 Marty and Wendy
Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde and Laura Linney as Wendy Byrde in ‘Ozark’ season 4 episode 11 (Photo Credit: Tina Rowden / Netflix © 2022)

Rachel sees the casino for the first time and is amazed. She and Ruth walk in and, of course, Wendy and Marty are shocked to see her. Marty greets her with a hug asking how she is and where she’s living. Wendy doesn’t care and isn’t into small talk so she interrupts them, wanting to get on with things. Ruth gets to the point and announces she wants to buy them out of the casino. If they sell it to her, they’ll get the money from Shaw for their foundation and she’ll get control of the Belle.

Wendy can only laugh in response but Marty immediately wants to know why she wants the casino. Ruth gives a nonchalant reply along the lines of why not? After all, she ran the place. Once Wendy gets control of herself, she points out Ruth has a criminal record and won’t be able to get a license. Ruth explains that’s what Rachel’s doing in town. They will be partners, but it will all be in Rachel’s name. Rachel points out that since it was Darlene’s land it feels right for it to be run by locals.

Marty tries to offer Ruth 10% and she turns that down but counters that she’s willing to do 85%. Wendy, with that smug smirk that seems to be a permanent fixture on her face, wants to know if Ruth offered Rachel money or drugs. Rachel informs them she’s sober. Wendy congratulates her in a condescending tone.

Wendy bets Ruth left a few things out of whatever she told Rachel to convince her to return. She wonders if Ruth told her the money she made came from selling Darlene’s heroin or if she told her she just killed a man who was head of a cartel and that the cartel’s probably after her now. She continues, suggesting this isn’t about business; it’s punishment because Ruth blames them for Wyatt and Ben’s death – and rightfully so.

Wendy claims she just wants Rachel to know what she’s getting herself into. With that, she leaves and Marty trails behind her like he always does.

Marty tries to get Wendy to reconsider Ruth’s offer since they need money for their foundation. Wendy won’t bend but instead uses her favorite methods…threats and blackmail…to get her point across. She reminds Marty that Clare promised Javi’s mother stock in Shaw Medical, and she wants to use that to get Clare and Shaw Medical back to donating money to their foundation. Marty thinks Camila won’t be alive long when Navarro finds out his sister tried to him killed. Wendy says the truth can wait; they can give Camila up to Omar anytime.

Marty wants to know what makes her think Camila won’t go after Navarro again. He suggests, again, that they accept Ruth’s offer. Wendy, the pants-wearer in the relationship, tells him no and walks away.

Rachel’s clearly upset that Ruth didn’t tell her everything and that she made it seem like the Byrdes already had their bags packed for Chicago. “It’s not what you think,” says Ruth, and Rachel suggests she’s been spending too much time with Marty.

“You have no idea the hole I had to pull myself out of and now you are leading me straight back into quicksand,” says Rachel. Rachel pulls out of being involved in this business venture.

Ruth returns home to find PI Mel (Adam Rothenberg) waiting for her. He informs her he’s working the same case but with a new boss (Nathan). Ruth gives him just five minutes to get his questioning done and Mel shows her proof that Ben did not leave on his own. He goes over everything Ben and Wendy did on their road trip, ending with the fact that the two of them went into a restaurant together and only one of them left.

He assumes the Byrdes have been good to her and that she might have even helped them out of some tight spots. Mel asks if she helped Wendy out with this and Ruth says Ben wasn’t caught up in anything. Mel thinks maybe Wendy’s hiding Ben. Ruth doesn’t have to answer because Jonah suddenly shows up.

Ruth asks Jonah to wait outside and tells Mel, “All I know is Ben picked up my calls, then one day he stopped.”

Agent Hannah Clay (Tess Malis Kincaid) calls Marty and lets him know Navarro is awake and is asking for him. Marty confirms he can be in Chicago the next day and Clay requests a meeting to debrief him. She asks about the timing of the next drop and he reminds her he sent over all the details already.

Clay wants to know how Navarro’s lieutenant responded to Marty stepping in and he explains it went well. She suggests if Navarro doesn’t make a full recovery maybe they can make this a permanent position for Marty. Marty assures her Navarro will make a full recovery and be able to take charge again.

Marty lets Wendy know Omar’s awake and wants to see him. He strongly believes they need to tell Navarro about his sister trying to have him killed. Master manipulator Wendy plays “the man is barely conscious, give him time to recover” card in response.

Marty and Navarro (Felix Solis) meet, and Omar’s anxious to know how his family and business are doing. Marty confirms his men are falling in line and Navarro believes that’s a good thing, saying, “It’s not an easy job to be me.”

Navarro asks how his sister took the news and Marty, letting Wendy be in control yet again, only says she took it well. Marty changes the subject to Cabrera, admitting they had a problem with him and it’s been handled. Omar orders Marty to increase the amount of money they’re laundering through the casino because the other men need to be rewarded for their loyalty. He asks Marty if he hesitated when he found out that it was Cabrera who betrayed him. Marty confirms he didn’t.

Ozark Season 4 Episode 11 Recap
Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde and Veronica Falcón as Camila Elizondro in ‘Ozark’ season 4 episode 11 (Photo Credit: Tina Rowden / Netflix © 2022)

Once the meeting’s concluded, Marty comes home to discover Camila in his house sitting down with Wendy and drinking wine. Wendy explains she reached out to Camila and is going to take her to Chicago to meet Clare Shaw. Camila asks if Marty had any luck getting her to see her brother. He says no.

After Camila leaves, Wendy claims this is a good plan. (Of course she thinks that! She believes all of her plans are good plans). Marty disagrees and points out Camila will murder him when she learns what really happened to Javi. Wendy only cares about her deal with Clare. Marty reminds her she only made this deal so she didn’t have to take money from Ruth.

Nathan and Ruth have a talk and he reveals Mel thinks she knows more than what she’s let on. Ruth claims she doesn’t but adds that sometimes she wishes Ben never came to the Ozarks. She feels like it wasn’t a good fit for him. Nathan changes the subject and comments on noticing Wendy and Ruth arguing the day of the bake sale. He wonders if she hired Jonah to protect him from Wendy. Ruth explains she hired Jonah because he’s a smart kid and a good worker.

Rachel remained in town and goes to see Tuck, her close friend with Down syndrome who was employed at Blue Cat when she owned it. He informs her he no longer works there because people stopped coming in after the casino opened. He was let go and doesn’t have a job.

An angry Rachel calls Marty, upset because he broke his promise to look after Tuck. He makes the excuse that he’s been busy and that doesn’t sit well with Rachel.

Clare (Katrina Lenk) is surprised to find Wendy’s back in Chicago and tells her they’re no longer in business together. Wendy reminds her that she promised stock to Javi’s mom and she came all the way from Mexico to hear about it. Clare disagrees because Javi is dead.

“This is the sister of a cartel boss we’re talking about. Show some respect,” says Wendy.

Agent Clay informs Marty that the money truck heading to New Orleans was empty. She demands to know what’s going on and Marty takes the blame. He explains that having one of their trucks seized right after he took over wouldn’t look good and he would lose their trust. Marty assures her that she’ll get her money when it’s safe and he’ll make sure it’s double the amount.

Clare shows Camila what she can give her without raising eyebrows with her board. Camila believes it’s fair but wants to know about the other deal she made with Javi – the one where Clare agreed to use their product for the next five years and donate $150 million to the Byrde Foundation. Clare mistakenly believes that since it was never in writing, the deal’s off. Camila thinks if her son, Javi, told her then Clare in fact agreed to it and must uphold the deal. Clare has no choice but to do so.

Rachel rethinks her decision to not be involved in the casino after her angry call with Marty. She asks Ruth if she really killed a drug lord and if she’s done dealing Darlene’s heroin. Ruth answers and Rachel cuts to the chase, asking why she’s doing all this. “Either I do all this or I go back in that trailer and I never come back out,” says Ruth.

After Rachel agrees to the deal she has a thought. Darlene had a stake in the casino and Wyatt married Darlene. Did Wyatt have a will? Ruth seriously doubts he did. Rachel suggests Ruth speak with a lawyer because she might not need the Byrdes after all.

Wendy delivers the good news to Marty about Clare being back on board. He could care less because they have bigger problems. He explains the last seizure was a fake and that Camila’s trying to flush them out. He gave Javi’s lawyer the order to move those trucks full and then right after that he saw Camila and the lawyer talking. Marty needs to tell Navarro the truth but Wendy insists they can’t. She already promised Camila she would take her to see Navarro.

Marty’s about to ask Wendy what’s wrong with her (a question we all would like answered) but their conversation’s interrupted when they notice Camila’s standing nearby.

Ruth and Rachel learn from a lawyer that when Ruth took legal guardianship of Wyatt that meant she became the heir of his belongings when he died. The lawyer believes Ruth owns half if not all of the casino. However, getting her name on a casino license is tricky.

Ruth and Rachel seek out Jonah to learn who his parents were rubbing elbows with when they were lobbying to get a license. He supplies them with the name Charles Wilkes. They want to know how to get invited to his house and Jonah reveals they need to say the meeting is for “Mike Fleming.”

Wendy and Marty are having a rough time of it but even returning home doesn’t give them a reprieve from their troubles. Nathan and Mel are there to talk about Ben and this time they know facts Wendy kept to herself. Wendy attempts to lie about the last time she saw Ben but Mel has photos from cameras showing her with Ben. She flicks the photos away like a child and asks to speak to her father alone.

Wendy claims she and Ben got into a fight and she left him. She also claims Ben is on the run and doesn’t want to be found. They argue back and forth and Wendy accuses her dad of driving her out of the house. “Well, you’re a lot less easy to love,” says Nathan.

Marty lies to Charlotte and tells her everything in Chicago went fine. She correctly points out that he doesn’t seem fine and then guesses her mom’s probably the cause. Marty initially says Wendy’s just doing what she can to help the family, but then finally admits Wendy always wants to be in the driver’s seat. That’s usually okay with him but now she’s driving them right off a cliff. Once the floodgates are open and the truth spills out, Marty reveals everything and says that no matter what Wendy is always mad at him. Charlotte suggests maybe they should go see the marriage counselor again.

Nathan returns to his hotel room and lets his girlfriend know he needs to be alone. He begins to drink.

Mel fills Maya (Jessica Frances Dukes) in on new developments and says the guy he saw on one of the surveillance cameras when Ben was last seen was just in the Byrdes’ driveway. Maya confirms that the man works for the cartel. She knows that because he once put a bag over her head and drove her to a private airfield. Maya gives Mel the okay to keep going with the investigation.

Wendy and Marty take Camila to see Navarro and it seems like a happy family reunion until Wendy steps in and drops a bombshell that Marty certainly doesn’t see coming. She asks Navarro if his sister can take over for Marty in Mexico since Camila can move freely and she knows the business. Marty, as usual, goes along with the suggestion while in Omar’s presence.

On the way home he and Wendy get stuck in traffic and Wendy uses the opportunity to discuss why what she did was the smart thing to do. She claims she did it for Marty so he wouldn’t have to go to Mexico again. Marty doesn’t want to hear it and turns the music up in the van. Another driver honks at them and flips Marty off and…finally…Marty has had enough. He gets out of the car and yells at the other driver and then punches him. A brief scuffle follows and Marty seems to lose all control, punching the guy repeatedly until he’s pulled away.

Season four episode 11 ends with Marty walking away from the scene.




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