Why THAT Ozark Finale Death Was Kept Off Screen Explained By Creator

Co-creator Bill Dubuque explains why that major Ozark series finale was kept off screen while again reaffirming the character’s demise.

While some continue to debate the character’s fate, co-creator Bill Dubuque has explained why one major Ozark series finale death was kept off screen. Jason Bateman and Laure Linney led the cast of the Netflix crime drama as former financial advisor Marty Byrde and his wife Wendy as they have to move to the eponymous region in order to set up a money-laundering operation for the Mexican drug cartel after Marty’s business partner crosses them. Running for four seasons, Ozark scored mostly positive reviews through its tenure, coming to a close on its own terms in a shocking fashion.

Nearly a year after the show came to an end, Netflix has hosted one final Ozark panel to reflect on the show’s legacy, per Variety. During the panel, co-creator Bill Dubuque was asked about the Ozark season 4 finale‘s cut to black while Jonah trained his gun on Mel Sattem, again confirming that the private investigator was dead, while also explaining the decision to leave it off screen. See what Dubuque shared below:

Definitively in my mind, and anyone’s free to think whatever they want, but in my mind, he absolutely shot Mel and Mel is dead. And that’s that. I just didn’t want to see it. It was over. If you shot him then you’re in the blood and the guts… but the show was over. He did it.

Related: Ozark’s Finale Avoided The Sopranos Mistake (But Just Barely)

Could An Ozark Revival Explore Jonah’s Consequences?

Much like The Sopranos before it, the decision for the Ozark series finale cut to black in the midst of a heated moment left many divided, with some even comparing it unfavorably to the beloved HBO show. Unlike the James Gandolfini-led series, however, the Netflix title’s finale ended on a fairly more conclusive note, with Skylar Gaertner’s Jonah situated with plenty of distance between he and Mel and seeming confident in his decision to pull the trigger. Series co-creator Chris Mundy previously explained the decision for Jonah to kill Mel as cementing every Byrde family member fully embracing their criminal natures.

While both Mundy and Dubuque have confirmed multiple times Jonah killed Mel, theories have continued to rage about what happened following the Ozark series finale’s cut to black ending. This has led to many holding out hope for a revival or spinoff at some point in the future for the show, which Mundy has expressed an opennenss to and confirmed talks have occurred for them at Netflix. Bateman, who was also an executive producer and frequent director on the show, has also confirmed a willingness to return for a potential Ozark season 5 or movie.

Given the majority of Ozark‘s run revolved around Marty and Wendy’s attempts to keep their family together and survive the cartel, it would be interesting to see a future story set in the universe center on someone else, namely Jonah. It would seem unlikely the Byrde parents would leave Jonah out to dry, but it would be interesting to see him have to grapple with the emotional consequences of killing his first person, even if it was to defend his family. While audiences await word of the show’s future, they can revisit Ozark streaming in its entirety on Netflix.

More: Ozark’s Series Finale Finally Answered The Show’s Biggest QuestionSource: Variety