Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Netflix series Ozark.
Netflix's Ozark introduced fans to the iconic Wendy Byrde, played by Laura Linney. She is the one character that seems to keep everything and everyone together. She can anticipate everyone's next move better than Marty and always seems to find the best way to get things done.
Her struggles between being a mother, a wife, and a money launderer have seen her develop into the most unforgettable female character on the show. Her impulsive reactions to conflicting situations, however, tend to put her at odds with Marty and, of course, the fans, which is why viewers can't help but love and hate her sometimes.
Updated on May 2nd, 2022, by Hannah Saab: Fans have found even more reasons to love or hate Ozark's Wendy Byrde over the past few seasons. A lot has happened since that memorable cheating episode with Gary Silverberg, and she has done far worse (and some good) things since then. With the highly-anticipated finale just a day away, it's the best time to look back at some of Wendy's most admirable and downright disturbing actions in the crime-drama series.
Times We Felt Bad For Wendy
When Marty Byrde Blackmailed Her
Cheating on Marty with Gary Silverberg was definitely evil of her, but Marty's inability to move on from it turned him into a bad guy, too. Wendy had already shown remorse for her actions and passed through a horrifying ordeal after watching her lover thrown to his death while she was spared. When she agreed to come to the Ozarks with Marty, she was already a broken woman who really needed a shoulder to lean on.
Just when she thought Marty was turning into that shoulder, he turned around and used the video of her affair to blackmail her. He prevented the creative and calculating Wendy fans have today from coming out for the whole first season of the show. It's worth asking why did Wendy cheat on Marty with Gary Silverberg in the first place, as it's obvious the married couple did not have the best relationship.
When Charlotte Byrde Wanted To Emancipate
The Byrdes are always stronger together, and Charlotte was putting the whole family in danger with her threat of emancipating. Divulging family secrets to the new lawyer would have created another person that knew about the illegal family venture.
Wendy and Marty had also tried the best they could under the circumstances to be good parents. Charlotte's disrespect seemed to drain Wendy to the core. It's one of the most frustrating parts of Charlotte's confusing story arc, which is thankfully dropped soon enough going into the final season of the series.
When Ben Davis Relapsed
Ben seemed to bring out a side of Wendy that the audience had not seen before – a fun-loving Wendy that enjoyed drinking and making jokes. Her love for Ben was also obvious, as she tried to shield him from her family troubles and even warned Ruth about his condition.
When Ben stopped taking his medicine and his condition worsened, he became a threat to everyone and Wendy was obviously devastated. Being forced to lock up her own brother in a mental health facility to save his life was a really tough choice for Wendy. The saddest part was that everyone else around her didn't seem to understand the gravity of his condition.
When Everyone Blamed Her For Ben Davis' Death
There are some rumors that Ben may not be dead after all, but until that is confirmed, his death has caused a big split between many characters in the show. Everyone seems to blame Wendy for Ben's death, including Jonah, who is taking his death hard. Ruth was also so mad at Wendy that she quit her job at the casino.
Navarro also refused to offer any gratitude for the big sacrifice that Wendy made for him. Everyone seems to forget that Wendy was protecting all of them when she let the cartel kill her brother. Her breakdown after his death was disheartening, but the cold treatment she received afterward was more painful.
When Buddy Dieker Died In Her Car
Everyone loved Buddy, and he's still arguably one of the most likable characters in Ozark, second only to Ruth. Wendy was the first person to meet the friendly old man, and the two created a strong connection. He saved Wendy and the kids when a cartel assassin stormed into their house and also helped them burn down the stubborn Snells' poppy field.
While everyone was hurt when he died, Wendy experienced a different kind of pain. The two had just enjoyed a great time burning down the fields and then having a chat as Wendy told him about her dreams to go to Australia. He drifted into his death by Wendy's side in the car, making the ordeal more painful for her.
When Jonah Byrde Turned His Back On Her
Jonah's relationship with Wendy quickly deteriorated after Ben's death, as the now-teenager can't accept his mother's role in the situation. In his eyes, there was no reason to kill Ben if Helen would eventually die anyway. However, it wasn't that simple at that moment, and Wendy had to make a hard choice to sacrifice her own brother for the safety of her family.
These are the kinds of nuances even incredibly mature teenagers like Jonah fail to grasp. Now, instead of grieving her brother's loss together, Wendy is starting to lose her son, too. It's a sad situation all around, and certainly a hurtful one for Wendy.
When Helen Pierce Was Killed In Front Of Her
Just when it seemed as if the rivalry between Helen and Wendy was about to take a turn for the worse, one of the biggest plot twists on the show happens when Nelson kills the lawyer in a dramatic fashion. Although Wendy has seen brutal deaths before this moment (like with Gary Silverberg), there hasn't been anything as traumatic as what happened right in front of her.
Audiences likely felt bad for Wendy in the scene that followed, as she panicked when she realized there were bits and pieces of Helen's body stuck on her hair. It's a traumatic event that no one should have to go through, not even someone as evil as Wendy.
Times We Hated Wendy
When She Cheated On Marty
The side of Wendy the show introduced to the audience wasn't a good one, and fans still talk about Wendy's cheating incident on Ozark. She's depicted as a frustrated housewife, struggling with the choice of living with her family and her affair with Gary Silverberg. Marty, on the other hand, was a genius trapped between the choice of saving his family and remaining loyal to the cartel.
While Marty is busy fighting for their lives, Wendy would at least have given him a supporting hand. Wendy Byrde's affair with Gary turned her into Marty's biggest enemy in the first season. When fans also consider the level of effort Marty was putting in as a dad, Wendy definitely turned into the worst mother ever for Charlotte and Jonah.
When She Convinced Marty Byrde To Continue Working For The Cartel
The casino project was obviously the way out for Marty and all the Byrdes. Everyone expected to see Marty leave the cartel and hopefully have some peace in their dream vacation spot in Mullumbimby, Australia, as they had been planning all along. However, Wendy just didn't seem to get enough of the trouble they were having from being associated with the cartel.
She had always been the one blaming Marty for putting the family in danger. However, after getting deep into money and power at the Ozarks, she seemed to be more comfortable with putting the whole family in danger. Her decision made it clear that she had enjoyed working for the cartel all along.
When She Developed A Close Relationship With Omar Navarro
Wendy is the last person viewers would have expected to create a bond with Navarro, let alone talk to him. When she went over Marty and started talking to Navarro directly, it was an insult to Marty. Her bond with Navarro became so close that it almost seemed to become romantic.
It was like she was cheating on Marty all over again. She also seemed to have developed a soft spot for the drug dealer, which is why she decided to expand his dirty empire into legal entities using hotels. Her ambition and sudden love for Navarro also almost cost Marty his life when he was caught listening in on their conversations.
When She Let Helen Pierce Kill Ben Davis
Ben wasn't exactly the best character on Ozark, but he was family, and if the show has taught fans anything, it is to never give up on family. Wendy's attempts to protect Ben from the cartel were good, and they bought her some love, but not when she abandoned him. Ben's relapse was largely her and Marty's fault, and even if Ruth got him out of the mental health facility, it didn't mean he deserved to die.
Besides, how can a sister who has taken care of someone all their life just leave him to be killed by the cartel? Even with the justification of saving Marty and her children, Wendy had many options to explore, rather than call the cartel to kill her brother – it seemed like the easy way out.
When She Convinced Anita Knarlson To Sell Big Muddy
Wendy's expansion ambitions went against everything Marty was trying to do. Her commitment to the cause was so strong, however, that it saw her side with Helen against her own husband. She harassed Anita and Carl, causing the poor old couple to start fighting, which resulted in Carl accidentally killing Anita.
She also made life harder for Marty because the FBI now started camping at Marty's casino after they bought Big Muddy. Her plans to help Navarro may have saved their lives at the end of the third season, but not before they proved her to be Marty's greatest enemy.
When She Hesitated To Save Darlene Snell's Life
Wendy has transformed over the past four seasons, and while there are several moments from the recent episodes that highlight this change, one scene, in particular, stands out. Fans won't soon forget the spine-chilling moment when Wendy hesitates to save Darlene's life after she starts having a heart attack in her driveway.
Sure, they were having a huge argument about Jonah and Ruth, but any decent person would set business aside during a health-related emergency. While she does eventually call for help, that's overshadowed by her hesitation and almost creepy smile as she watched Darlene suffer.
When She Used Ben Davis' Disappearance For Her Drug Campaign
As if it wasn't bad enough that she gave up Ben's location and got him killed, Wendy seems to be in deep denial about the events surrounding her brother's death. She fabricates a story about his past to boost her campaign with Clare Shaw, which understandably infuriates Marty and Ruth.
When Marty asks him what she's doing, she simply says it's good PR. That's a twisted explanation that underscores how cold and callous she has become, especially considering how recent Ben's passing was at that point.