Netflix already seems to have the perfectOzarkreplacement, which premiered one year before the hit crime series. Often touted as a worthyBreaking Badrival,Ozarkimmersed audiences in the dark world of drug cartels and money laundering before ending its run on a divisive note with its fourth and final season.
AlthoughOzarknever reached the same level of acclaim as Breaking Bad and several other renowned crime dramas, it etched its own unique identity in the genre by blending intense family drama with high-stakes crime. Owing to this,whenOzark ended its run in 2022, it left viewers with a void that only a few shows can fill.
Given howOzarkwas unique in more ways than one, it would be unfair to call any show its exact replacement.However, one show on Netflix, which came out a year beforeOzark, seems to dabble with similar themes and narrative elements. One aspect of the series arguably even makes it better thanOzark.
Queen Of The South Is Still The Best Ozark Replacement (& It’s Also On Netflix)
Queen Of The South Has Five Seasons
Developed by M.A. Fortin and Joshua John Miller,Queen of the Southstars Alice Braga as its lead.The show is an adaptation of the Spanish-language telenovelaLa Reina del Sur, which is based on Spanish author Arturo Pérez-Reverte’s novel of the same name.
The series comes off as aworthy replacement forOzarkbecause, similar to the original Netflix crime drama,it walks through the harrowing journey of an individual who takes the morally skewed path of crime to gain power, security, and control. Much likeOzark’s Marty Byrd, Alice Braga’s Teresa Mendoza starts out as an ordinary woman inQueen of the South.
She only dips her feet into the criminal world to be able to rise from her financial situation. However, before she realizes it, she finds herself deep in the quicksand of the drug trade, where every decision seems to come with a massive price. Her story seems to mirror the Byrd family’s fromOzark, highlighting how desperation to survive can gradually lead one to moral corruption.
Queen Of The South Does One Thing Even Better Than Netflix’s Later Series
The Show Is Better-Paced & More Action-Packed
Ozarktakes its time to find its feet. In its earlier story beats, the show seems rather slow as it gradually highlights how Marty and his family descend into a life of crime.Even some of the best characters from the series, like Julia Garner’s Ruth, only get more screen time much later in the show.
Owing to this,Ozarkcan initially be a little hard to get into.Queen of the South, in contrast, is action-packed and quick-paced from the very beginning. In terms of overall critical ratings,Ozarkstill seems to rank aboveQueen of the South. However, viewers fascinated with shows likeOzarkandBreaking Badshould certainly giveQueen of the Southa shot.
The Queen of the South
The Queen of the South is an crime drama series based on the Spanish novel La Reina del Sur. The American adaptation follows the journey of Teresa Mendoza (Alice Braga), a woman who becomes a drug cartel leader after her boyfriend is murdered by a rival cartel.
Ozark
Cast
Ozark is a crime drama series released in 2017, focusing on a financial adviser who relocates his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks. He must launder $500 million within five years to satisfy a drug boss, navigating the challenges and dangers of his new environment.
