Ep 3. Once a Langmore...

In Ozark season 2 episode 3, titled "Once a Langmore...", the Byrde family continues to navigate their new life in the Ozarks, but face new challenges as they try to launder more money for the cartel. Specifically, this episode centers around the Langmore family, a group of local criminals who were involved in season one and continue to be a thorn in Marty Byrde's side. Ruth, the teenage daughter of the Langmore clan, is trying to make a better name for herself and distance herself from her family's shady dealings. She takes on a new job cleaning up at the Blue Cat Lodge, which is owned by Marty and Wendy Byrde.

The episode also explores the dynamics within the Langmore family. Cade, Ruth's father, is fresh out of prison and is looking to get back in the game. He wants Ruth and his other kids to help him with a new scheme, but Ruth is hesitant to get involved. Meanwhile, Wyatt, Ruth's cousin, is trying to reconcile with his father, who is also a Langmore and recently got out of prison. Wyatt seeks out Darlene, a member of another local family, who can provide him with some motherly advice on how to handle the situation.

Back with the Byrde family, Wendy continues to struggle with her own demons. She's still wrestling with the fallout from season one, where she cheated on Marty with another man. Her lover, who was also a business associate of the Byrdes, was killed by the cartel as a result. Wendy is now trying to put that behind her and rebuild her relationship with Marty, but it's not easy. Her brother, Ben, is also in town visiting. Ben is a bit of a wild card, and his presence threatens to disrupt the tenuous peace that the Byrdes have established in the Ozarks.

As the episode progresses, tensions rise between the Langmore and Byrde families. Cade comes to the Blue Cat Lodge looking for trouble and causes a scene. He makes it clear that he's not going to leave Ruth alone until she agrees to help him with his criminal enterprise. Things escalate from there, and by the end of the episode, all of the major players are at a crossroads. Ruth is faced with a difficult decision about her loyalty to her family, Wendy is questioning whether she can trust Marty again, and the Byrde's overall plan for laundering money seems to be at risk of falling apart.

Overall, "Once a Langmore..." is a tense and suspenseful episode that explores the complicated relationships between various characters in the Ozarks. It's a great showcase for some of the show's best actors, particularly Julia Garner as Ruth and Laura Linney as Wendy. As always, the setting is also a highlight - the Ozarks provide a beautiful and eerie backdrop for the drama that unfolds.