This story contains spoilers for Season Four, Part Two of Ozark.
I should know better by now. In the final moments of the Ozark series finale, we see Mel Sattem show up to the Byrde household, bragging about all the incriminating evidence pooling around the goat cookie jar. Then, the one and only Jonah Byrde pulls out a rifle, naturally. The sound of a gunshot. Credits roll.
I assumed that Jonah fully became a Byrde in that moment, killing an innocent man to protect his family. But I should know better. This weekend, I took a scroll through the comments section of my writeup of the finale, and noticed that the legion of Ozark fans had a few other theories. (Thank you, all of you, for your service.) That said, I figured that the best way for all of us to pretend like Ozark hasn’t left our lives for good, is to take a trip down Fan Theory Lane, no? Here are the three outcomes fans seem to be focusing on. Let’s discuss the plausibility of each one.
Jonah Shot Mel Sattem
Even though Jonah killing the re-minted Chicago PD detective was likely all of our first instincts, it’s the most likely conclusion to Ozark. As fans have pointed out, over the course of the final episodes, both Jonah and Charlotte Byrde seem to reach a certain level of peace about their roles in the family. If picking their mother up at the psych ward wasn’t enough indication of that, then look at how relieved they were to see Marty and Wendy alive and well after the car crash. If Jonah really did kill Mel, then we can assume that our favorite kiddo fully turned evil, and he’ll happily aid and abet in any and all future Byrde family crime-doing. Uplifting, isn’t it?
Jonah Shot Wendy
Of the three ending possibilities, Jonah shooting his own mother is the one I’m buying the least amount of stock in. Think about it. We know that Jonah makes more than a few questionable decisions during Ozark‘s four seasons, but do you really think that the kid has that level of villainy in him? I can believe that he has enough malice to kill Mel, but not Wendy. I wouldn’t believe it. You could argue that Jonah shooting Wendy would somehow rid the family of the root of its evil, so to speak. But that would just cause further complications with Sattem, because, again, the man has a police badge now. Maybe he’d just arrest Jonah, before taking down the rest of the family, as he planned. I know some of Ozark‘s fandom is all-in on this theory, but I can’t get myself there.
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Jonah Shot the Cookie Jar
When I first saw this one in the comments section (thank you, JLG65), I brushed it off for a bit. But I kept thinking about it. Kinda makes a little bit of sense, doesn’t it? We know that Jonah is clever as all hell. He thinks quickly. Was always a great shot. Couldn’t you see—as Mel ranted about his treasured evidence—the gears turning in Jonah’s head, realizing that if he shot the jar, he effectively foils Mel? But even though I believe Jonah murdered Mel, the kid opting out of violence, and exploding the creepy goat cookie jar, would be the truest to his character. Hell, I might even go full cookie jar theory by the end of the week, but please, keep the discussion going. Maybe there’s something we’re missing yet.
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