What happens to Ruth in Ozark season 4 part 1?

Two-time Emmy Award-winner Julia Garner is back in Ozark season 4 part 1 as the enigmatic and often endearing Ruth Langmore.

Once again, Garner delivers the strongest performance of the season, and it’s no surprise that her performance comes in tandem with one of the most intense series of events for Ruth.

Following the Ozark season 3 finale, which featured a shocking twist for someone close to Ruth, the leader of the Langmore pack goes through a jarring alliance shift in the first half of the final season that leads to another uncertain future.

Ozark season 4 part 1 was just the beginning. There are still seven more episodes left to bring each story to its conclusion. While we wait to see what’s next for Ruth in the final episodes, here’s what happened for her so far in the season.

Warning: Major spoilers from Ozark season 4 part 1 ahead!

Ruth Ozark season 4 part 1

By far, Ruth went through the wringer the most in Ozark season 4 part 1. She begins the final season dealing with the aftermath of Ben’s murder and grappling with the fallout from her former alliance with the Byrde family.

After the dissolution of their working relationship, Ruth begins to work with Darlene and Wyatt with their heroin operation, but friction with Darlene on who she could sell the product to ultimately soured that working relationship.

Ruth, again, started working with Marty after teaming with Jonah, who had been washing money for her and Darlene. Of course, it’s a completely tangled mess that increases in pressure from the Navarro cartel and leads to the murders of Darlene and Wyatt.

When Ruth finds one of her last family members dead, she bursts into the Byrde home wielding a shotgun and demanding to know who killed Wyatt (and, less pressingly to Ruth, Darlene). In spite of Marty and Wendy’s protests, Jonah tells Ruth it was Javi.

The first half of Ozark season 4 ends with Ruth on an understandable rampage as she pursues revenge on Javi. All of Ruth’s alliances seem to have fallen away, and now that Wyatt is dead, she’s basically all alone in the Ozarks with many people she doesn’t and cannot trust.

Currently, Ruth could find herself in a damned if she does, damned if she doesn’t situation. According to Marty’s caution, killing Javi could make everything worse. But on the other hand, what does she have to lose now that Wyatt, the person she cared for most, is gone?

We can’t wait to see what’s next for Ruth in Ozark season 4 part 2.