Revisiting Ozark

I recently started rewatching Ozark, the series on Netflix created by Bill DuBuque and Mark Williams. The story line moves quickly due to the urgent situation the family at the center of the story finds themselves in. But upon rewatching, I’m finding that the script layers in everything, so that once something happens in story, it’s not jarring. For instance, in one of the opening scenes, a business partner hands their main character a tourist brochure about The Ozarks. Talks about what a great investment property there would be. The of course, the entire story moves from Chicago where it’s based to the Ozarks. Had that brochure not been in the scene, seemingly arbitrary in the moment, the family move to The Ozarks would not make as much sense. The script does a great job of planting tiny clues without going anything away. I’ve only really noticed this upon rewatching because the first time I watched it, I was caught up in the story. Part of what allows a viewer or a reader to be caught up in a story, is to make sure that those tiny clues or foreshadowing are planted. That way, once the action moves forward it makes sense to the person who’s watching. This is idea of foreshadowing is something I have felt resistant about at times, thinking that it’s better to have something be a total surprise. And it’s a tricky balancing act, how much to give away in the foreshadowing. But Ozark is a great example of giving the viewer just a taste of what’s coming.