It's not the first time we've seen this story, a new guy comes to town and it all turns to shit. It's somebody's fault because before him, everything was just dandy. Or was it? Sure Ozark had its problems with the Langmores but nothing they couldn't handle. The heroin church could have gone on forever probably. Suddenly the bodies starts dropping and Marty is in the midst of it. So in all honesty, he brought the devil to Ozark, but he's not the devil himself because as the righteous man he actually is, he will always try to do good.

--MINOR SPOILERS--

@diadara said:

before him, everything was just dandy. Or was it?

Nope it wasn't.

Sure Ozark had its problems with the Langmores but nothing they couldn't handle. The heroin church could have gone on forever probably.

Ozark's problem wasn't the Langmores, it's the Snells.

Suddenly the bodies starts dropping and Marty is in the midst of it.

The very first body to drop, as a result or Marty, was Del's goon. But, again, he made the bad choices that threatened Del's operation. And paid the price.

Marty's partner and fiancee, we've discussed them. Skimming from a drug lord is always a bad idea.

Then, it was Wendy's lover. But he was screwing "another man's wife" - not grounds for the death penalty in modern society, but he wasn't just some innocent bystander either.

The strip club owner was a bad guy. Langmore brothers are more tragic but, nonetheless, a lot of bad elements in them from Ruth's dad on down. And they were en route to doing bad things that would, in all likelihood, have gone worse by their own bungling.

The pastor was told, clearly, not to push it with the construction site. He chose to push. Snells kept their word. Egad. But Marty was trying to save them.

Then there's Dell's lieutenant, Del himself, and his guard. Again, Marty had a deal in place to benefit both sides, but Del shot off his own mouth. And he, to this point, was the baddest cat in the show. Little sympathy to spare for him.

he's not the devil himself because as the righteous man he actually is, he will always try to do good.

Marty is like a lightning rod of truth. Marty brings the truth out into the light. Dell's goon; Wendy's affair; the truth behind the strip club; behind the church and the Snell farm...the truth that Ruth has good in her...

Marty is more like an angel than the devil. In a twisted, complex way.

I've got so many questions and so many expectations for season two I don't even know where to begin. Even though the pastor thinks ill of Marty now I think he'll come around. They will build that church, he will keep his promise. Ruth has a father again, or rather a guardian as she will be to Wyatt and Three. I think that's endearing. The casino will be built, the family will be partners in crime maybe? One small way or the other. Yes I'm excited. When is next season?

@diadara said:

I've got so many questions and so many expectations for season two I don't even know where to begin. Even though the pastor thinks ill of Marty now I think he'll come around. They will build that church, he will keep his promise. Ruth has a father again, or rather a guardian as she will be to Wyatt and Three. I think that's endearing. The casino will be built, the family will be partners in crime maybe? One small way or the other. Yes I'm excited. When is next season?

If other Netflix original series are any indication, there won't be a season two until next year. However, there has been no announcement yet as to if there will be a season two. You would think there would be, though, with all the unanswered questions left in season one and the good press the show is getting. It's interesting Marty doesn't even know what's her name found that $50 million in the cabin and took off with some of it.

@diadara said:

They will build that church, he will keep his promise.

I hadn't thought of that. Now that Snells have bigger distribution in Chicago and elsewhere, the way is indeed clear for a church on land. The question, though, is, whether that preacher will want his church built on dirty money? Or, if he'll want to preach again at all - I have the sneaking suspicion that his wife's body is going to turn up at some point.

Ruth has a father again, or rather a guardian as she will be to Wyatt and Three. I think that's endearing.

One of the nice story lines is the way in which Ruth and the Byrdes have connected. Almost like Luke with Darth Vader, Marty has touched Ruth, there is good in her, and they might be able to function as extended family to each other...conveniently, though, I'll bet Ruth's father just happens to be getting out sooner than later and, boy oh boy, will that stir the pot. He's all kinds of sick, and I'll be plenty amazed if they manage any kind of backstory that makes him sympathetic in any way. He's bad news up and down, and if Ruth is caught between her father and her kinda-adoptive father Marty, I'm betting she does what she did with her uncles, which is to say, sides with Marty to keep her family - what's left of it, she and her cousins - together, and just send off the previous generation of the three brothers (her dad and two uncles). They intent on being nonredeemable, while Ruth sees there's hope yet for Wyatt and Three.

Yes, there's no doubt Papa Langmore is going to be popping up as a dangerous villain for season two. I still can't believe they killed Russ.