‘Ozark’ is not just an action-packed drama like ‘Breaking Bad’, its brilliance lies in the symbols inside the big O.Let’s decode the show’s symbols.
The symbols inside the big “O” denoted in the very beginning that ‘Ozark’ is going to be about the relatively tame world of money laundering. The must-watch saga is created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams and is executively produced, and directed by Jason Bateman, who also stars in the show. Everything changed for Marty Byrde (Bateman) when his business partner made a deal with the Navarro drug cartel. One moment he was just an everyday accountant in Chicago living happily with his family, with a nice home and a stable job.
What story does the Ozark symbols reveal in season 3?
Highlights —
- ‘Ozark’ flashes what’s coming next in the symbols inside “O”
- The ultimate guide to symbols in ‘Ozark’ Season 3 Episode 1
And in another moment, everything changed for him. To save himself and his family, Marty takes the help of his wife Wendy to clean up the cartel’s money. To clean the mess, they became involved in way too many murders and shady deals. The most exciting thing about ‘Ozark’ is its uncertainty. A seemingly strong and tough character dies in the flick of a moment. But, if you look closely, the mysterious symbols of ‘Ozark’ can give you the clue as to what’s going to happen next in each of the episodes.
‘Ozark’ is not just an action-packed drama like ‘Breaking Bad‘, its brilliance lies in the symbols inside the big O. Let’s find out what the symbols mean in ‘Ozark’ Season 3 Episode 1.
Let’s find out what the symbols mean in ‘Ozark’ Season 3 Episode 1.
The four symbols in the “O” of each episode signify big moments in the episode. We are bringing to you the description of all four symbols in each episode. Here’s a brief refresher of the first episode from season 3 of ‘Ozark’ before we unravel the mystery of the symbols.

Episode 1: “Wartime”
The premiere of season 3 took us to Byrdes where things were already bad. Marty is being compelled to move more money than he’s ready to push. On the other hand, Ruth is still on rocky grounds with her cousin Wyatt. This is because Wyatt had come to know that Ruth was the one who killed his dad. Ruth butts head with someone very important in the casino, to add further to the drama. There is a lot of drama which the audience love.
- Playing Cards
- Symbol: Playing cards
What does it mean?
Cards denote that the drama will unfold in the casino. Ruth organizes a high stakes game of Texas Hold ‘Em to make the casino look more legitimate. The plan fails when Frank Cosgrove Jr., the son of the head of the Kansas City mafia, gets involved. Things get nasty and they get in a deep mess.
- Slot Machine
- Symbol: Slot machine
What does it mean?
The Slot Machine symbol is less of a reference to the casino’s actual slot machines and more about what’s going on underneath. Marty has made a plan. He wanted to gradually launder the cartel’s money through his casino. But Navarro Cartel had other demands. They wanted their money laundered as soon as possible.
Marty lines the empty boxes of all of the casino’s safes with dirty money to kickstart the process. The plan was awesome. While people played throughout the day, their clean money was mixed in with the dirty cash. Marty knew that the plan was risky but he was too desperate.
- Milk Carton
- Symbol: Milk carton
What does it mean?
The episode saw Wendy doing the crazy things again. On her visit to Chicago, Wendy gets inside her family’s old home. She is back in her form and starts messing things up. She is shown making unmade beds and turning family photos upside down. Strangely, she’s shown tainting milk with different colours. Milk carton symbolizes that Wendy is back to doing childish activities again.
- Guitar
- Symbol: Guitar
What does it mean?
In the first episode of season 3, Wendy tried hard to convince the head of the dental conference to conduct their event at the Missouri Belle. He agreed on only one condition — Marty and Wendy would have to book REO Speedwagon which is a famous rock band in their area. Wendy had to arrange the concert to crack a deal with the dentist organisation.
Nothing happens on ‘Ozark’ without a reason and the symbols inside “O” prophesize all the significant events that’ll happen. Fans of ‘Ozark’ can take notice of these symbols seriously to prepare themselves for what’s coming next in the episode. Share your thoughts on the symbols of ‘Ozark’ Season 3 Episode 1 in the comments box below.
