User Reviews

Following Javi's dramatic removal from the board, the resulting vacuum creates a swirl of activity and changing allegiances and threats. Ruth grieves for Wyatt, Wendy and Marty scheme and take risks to find a way out of their new predicament with the FBI. The other key players each make significant decisions that could have dire consequences for the Byrdes and set up the final run-in beautifully.

The episode provides plans for a near future, how to survive this increasingly difficult situation. Nothing big happens, but contracts are made, lots of variables, interesting, really interesting. This is a skill of how to create expectations. How to create excitement and tension. How to Create anticipation. High expectations for the next episode. Incredible TV entertainmet.

Episode 9 opens with Wendy and Marty returning to their hotel room, processing what they've just witnessed (Ruth killing Javi). Wendy asks Marty why he chooses everyone else over family and tells him he's desperate to be the "good guy." Marty disagrees, and they argue over the violent event and how it came to be. Marty admits that Ruth's entire family has been destroyed due to their actions. He's sick of having blood on his hands. Wendy raises how he knew better than her about this life. But that admission by Marty was telling - he's becoming self-aware of his actions. He's starting to see how they got here. Mel tells Helen's husband Gene that his wife worked for the drug cartel, which is why she has gone missing (i.e., she's dead in cartel terms). Erin interrupts their conversation and warns them not to get more information as it will be dangerous dealing with the cartel. However, Mel does not believe what happened to Helen occurred in Mexico; he wants to find evidence. Erin begs her father to let it go, and Gene agrees. Good idea Erin; stay away as far as possible. The FBI visit Wendy and Marty; they cannot find Javi, so the Byrde family does not have a deal. They tell them that Javi's death leaves them in a sticky situation, and the FBI can offer them witness protection if they testify against Omar Navarro. Wendy suggests they extradite Omar Navarro and reinstate him as the head of the cartel so they can remain valuable assets. The FBI needs proof of power and money from Omar Navarro in order to pull strings. Episode 9 sees Wendy having a humongous task on her hands. After this ordeal, Marty tells Agent Maya that Javi is dead, and he reminds her of their deal - family protection and doing 18 months in jail. Maya is stunned and tells Marty to get out of her office. Clare Shaw heads out to the Ozarks to meet Ruth. She tells her they have security footage of Ruth killing Javi, so they want her to carry out a deal with them. But Ruth doesn't care about the footage and grabs a shotgun. Clare is shaken and asks her henchman to lower his gun. She tells Ruth she wants a lucrative deal with her. Afterward, Clare rings Wendy and tells her their agreement is over. It looks like there is a little life left in Ruth after all. But what are Ruth's intentions?

Wow, the opening scene is terribly written. Zero subtext makes for deplorable drama. What's the saying, 'If the scene is about what the scene is about, you're in trouble.' Very amateurish scene work forced upon two excellent actors.

I've said it before but they really don't have a good concept of Laura Linney's character.