Tom Pelphrey's Ozark Character Was Always Doomed, But Fans Praised His Performance
He's most recently made headlines for dating Kaley Cuoco (and having a baby with her), but Tom Pelphrey had a Hollywood presence pre-Kaley, too. The pair actually met at the Ozark premiere, interestingly enough, and it's Ozark that has earned Pelphrey his most recent kudos.
His character really touched fans, even though his run on the series has since come to an end; Pelphrey portrayed Ben Davis for two years. The actor has since moved on to other projects, but fans are still talking about his performance on Ozark, and the conversations it has sparked since.
Tom Pelphrey's Ozark Character Couldn't Last
Like other actors, Tom Pelphrey joined a popular series when it was already a few seasons in. Ozark's third season featured Ben Davis' debut, and an impressive performance by Tom Pelphrey.
The character of Ben works as a substitute teacher but is fired after troubles at work. Tom's character is mentally ill, dealing with bipolar disorder and the fallout of the medication he has to take.
Of course, Ben Davis throws a wrench in things by letting details slip about the notorious Navarro cartel. His slip-up results in the silencing of Davis; Pelphrey's final episode shows him postmortem.
Though Ben didn't survive past the fourth season of the show, viewers were impacted by Tom's acting abilities, taking to every comment section to praise him for his efforts.
Fans Thought Pelphrey Deserved An Emmy Nomination For Ozark
While praise for Tom Pelphrey can be found just about everywhere, one Reddit thread dives into the specifics. Fans wrote that Tom's acting was phenomenal and that he "deserves a lot of credit."
Because his portrayal of the character involved acting out both manic and depressive episodes, viewers were quick to admire Tom's ability to act realistically.
One wrote, "I thought his portrayal of someone with bipolar disorder in a manic state was amazing." Others agreed, complimenting both the fact that Ozark got it right when it comes to bipolar disorder and the fact that Pelphrey executed the performance so flawlessly.
The writers were part of the equation, as fans noted, "[bipolar disorder] a lot less predictable than writers like to show and Ozark did a great job." Another fan commented, "His character was so well written and he absolutely acted the hell out of the role."
At the time, commenters were bummed that Pelphrey hadn't yet earned an Emmy award.
After that conversation, though, he was later nominated for a handful of awards, including a Primetime Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild Award, among others.
Fans seem to think he deserved even more, though. At least, most of them did.
Not Everyone Was Thrilled With Pelphrey's Performance
Responses to Ozark's handling of bipolar disorder were largely positive, but there were pockets of dissent despite Pelphrey's much-praised performance.
Though Pelphrey explained the depth of his research on bipolar disorder in preparation for the role, not everyone thought he nailed it.
Some online commenters who questioned whether his interpretation of bipolar disorder was realistic received a variety of responses.
One commenter on Quora pointed out that shows like Homeland and Ozark tend to "show the person with bipolar disorder in its most heightened state to contribute to the interest level, shock value, and appeal to [audiences]."
That commenter also alluded to the fact that people consume content featuring people with pronounced, severe mental health issues almost as a form of voyeurism.
In the same vein, they wrote, "The TV screen is bipolar’s magnifying glass," suggesting that there are tamer sides to bipolar disorder that Ozark didn't care enough to show.
Of course, the fact that the show sparked such conversations is likely a positive overall, though viewers are somewhat divided on the appropriateness of the delivery.
What Is Tom Pelphrey Working On Now?
Since wrapping Ozark, Tom Pelphrey has been busy. He did start dating Kaley Cuoco around May 2022, but his professional life has been full, too.
The actor appeared on Outer Range as Perry Abbot, is slated to appear in the miniseries Love and Death, and worked on another miniseries that doesn't yet have a release date.
In addition to TV shows, Pelphrey's been working on two films in 2022; American Murderer and She Said, both of which are said to be released in 2022.
There's no word on what he'll be doing next, since none of his current projects are long-term ones, but Tom Pelphrey has already cemented his reputation as an actor, so he'll have no shortage of work in the coming years (whether or not he and Kaley Cuoco stick together).
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