Breaking Bad's Perfect Replacement With An 82% RT Score Is Different From Walter White's Show In 1 Big Way

Breaking Bad‘s perfect replacement TV series with an 82% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics is different from Walter White’s show in one big way. Breaking Bad is considered one of the best crime TV shows of all time. The series does a memorable job showcasing Walter White’s descent into criminality as he builds a meth empire following his cancer diagnosis.

A multitude of shows like Breaking Bad have come out since the series ended in 2013, some focused on what seem like average people becoming involved in criminal enterprises. While Breaking Bad‘s characters are unique, these other series have interesting protagonists too. One show in particular is memorable because of the differences its main character has in contrast to Walt.

Marty Byrde’s Reason To Become A Criminal In Ozark Was Totally Different From Walter White’s

Ozark Is Like Breaking Bad With A Much Darker Storyline

Walter White became a criminal in Breaking Bad to provide money for his family after he died, and later for the thrill of his crimes. However, a similar show, Ozark, has a main character with different motivations. In the Netflix crime thriller, Marty Byrde initially starts laundering money for the Navarro cartel because it seems like a safe opportunity.

X-Harsh-Realities-Of-Rewatching-Ozark,-3-Years-After-It-Ended

10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Ozark, 3 Years After It Ended

Ozark is one of the best original crime dramas on Netflix and it’s mostly captivating, but there are a few glaring issues that stand out on a rewatch.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t stay this way when his partner, Bruce, skims $8 million from the cartel. Navarro’s lieutenant, Del, orders Marty to take his family to the Ozarks to launder $8 million in three months to make up for his partner’s mistake. Unlike Walter, Marty and his family in Ozark are forced into their position to save their lives.

How Else Ozark Was Different From Breaking Bad

Notable Changes Make The Series A Unique Experience

Aside from this big difference between Walter and Marty’s influences, Ozark has plenty of other story differences contrasted with Breaking Bad. For one, unlike Walt keeping his drug empire a secret from his family, Marty’s family knows the truth by the end of episode 2. His wife, Wendy, even had a hand in pushing him to initially start laundering money.

Unlike Breaking Bad, the series feels more like an ensemble between all parties, slowly peeling back various layers as Marty’s life grows ever more complicated.

The story of Ozark is also much more sprawling, with rival drug dealers, unfortunate bystanders, and law enforcement being heavily involved in the show from the start. Unlike Breaking Bad, the series feels more like an ensemble between all parties, slowly peeling back various layers as Marty’s life grows ever more complicated.

You Shouldn’t Go Into Ozark Expecting Another Breaking Bad

The Show Is Unique Enough That They’re Not Fully Comparable

Jason-Bateman's-Long-Awaited-Ozark-Reunion-Is-Finally-Happening-In-His-Upcoming-Netflix-Thriller-Show-–-But-There's-A-Twist-v1 — Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

Because of how different both shows are, it’s not wise to go into Ozark expecting an experience exactly like Breaking Bad. Marty’s story is much darker and has more moving parts at the same time than Walt’s, with the added stress of him being just one small part of the larger cartel he’s working for.

While Ozark shares some similarities to it, especially in the general concept, Breaking Bad isn’t the same, especially because of the motivations of the series’ respective protagonists. It means that, while the newer crime series can feel like its predecessor, it has plenty of unique ideas that keep it from feeling like a retread.

All episodes of Ozark are now streaming on Netflix.