A month ago, on this very platform I vowed to bring back my famous weekly movie reviews and bring you my honest, unbiased opinion on the latest masterpieces, disasters and bang-averages on the silver screen.

I got through a grand total of ... one review ... before cinemas closed down and almost every major release in the schedule got pushed back to the end of this year or even next thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

Obviously, the current state of affairs means that more than ever, we are stuck indoors with our Netflix, Amazon Prime and, hopeully very soon when it releases in Bahrain, Disney+ subscriptions.

I will change tack and try my hand at TV show and video game reviewing for the forseeable future until things return to normal and the cinemas open their doors again.

I must admit, I'm not much of a binge watcher. I can't sit through more than two or three episodes of the same show in a row without having to do something or watch something else, but I will do my best to change these habits and get you my opinion as fast as possible!

The first show I decided to choose, upon recommendations from a number of excited friends, was Ozark. Having season Season 1 a while back, I finally watched the second last month in preparation for the third, which landed a few days back. Here are my thoughts!

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I'm glad to report that Ozark has lost none of its potency in its third season, thanks to another round of brilliant performances from Jason Bateman (Marty), Laura Linney (Wendy), and a stacked ensemble that rarely disappoints.

Season 3 broadens the scope of the series beyond the confines of the Missouri tourist scene, in order to bring in some new heavy-hitters, like Felix Solis' Omar Navarro - Marty and Wendy's drug-dealing (and often murderous) boss. Navarro raises the stakes for everyone involved in the family business, which adds a heightened level of suspense throughout.

Series creators Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams have found compelling new ways to challenge their characters in Season 3; especially Marty and Wendy, who continue their love/hate relationship as their criminal empire expands with the addition of their shiny new casino, The Missouri Belle.

Bateman and Linney have developed uncanny chemistry over the past three seasons, especially when it comes to loathing each other on-screen. If either character makes a decision that the other believes will compromise the business, the fights that ensue range from long bouts of yelling, to subtle glances that speak louder than words.

While their volatile dynamic remains one of the more enjoyable aspects of the show, it's Marty and Wendy's interactions with some of the new cast members that elevates this season.

For Wendy, the sudden appearance of her bipolar brother, Ben (Tom Pelphrey), shows us a side of her we've never seen before. Wendy is being pushed to the brink of insanity as she tries to juggle a criminal empire, her children, her husband, and now Ben, whose unpredictable outbursts put a strain on the family's dealings with the cartel.

If Season 3 is any indication, it appears that Wendy is becoming the more ambitious Byrde, which should lead to an intriguing power dynamic between her and Marty if the series is renewed for a fourth season.

One of Marty's many obstacles this season is dealing directly with Navarro, who has a more violent disposition when it comes to taking care of his problems, but is every bit as strategic as Marty.  His interactions with Navarro are brief, but Bateman and Solis are captivating to watch as adversaries.

While it's not quite Breaking Bad, Ozark has generally done a solid job of making its own mark in the increasingly crowded crime family TV genre, especially when it comes to the kids. Unlike Walt Jr. and Skyler, the Byrde family is well aware of what's going with the drug cartels, gambling, money laundering, and other assorted dirty dealings they're involved in.

Unfortunately, in Season 3, Jonah (Skylar Gaertner) and Charlotte (Sofia Hublitz) don't have a lot to do. Their respective storylines, which typically comprise of basic teenage shenanigans, doesn't match the stakes that their parents and older acquaintances are going through. 

Furtermore, like most shows with large ensembles, not every plot thread is a home run and fall distinctly flat. Perhaps the 10-episode season would have benefited from a tauter eight-epsode run with less fluff.

Despite those shortfalls, Ozark Season 3 continues to move the Byrde family's crime-ridden story along with the potential for more seasons if Netflix opts for it.  It's not that Helen and Wendy are good people, but it's easy to see their side in all of this when it comes to protecting their families.

Creators Dubuque and Williams continue to humanise their characters in new and interesting ways and I for one am excited for a potential Season 4.

Rating: 4/5