Wyatt Langmore began sleeping with Darlene Snell after a series of tumultuous events led him to move into her home, where their relationship unexpectedly evolved into a romantic and sexual partnership despite their significant age difference.
The Circumstances Leading to Their Relationship
The bond between Wyatt and Darlene developed out of a complex set of circumstances within the Ozark narrative:
- Wyatt's Disillusionment: Wyatt was in a vulnerable state after he discovered that Ruth Langmore, his cousin and close confidante, had killed his father. This profound betrayal led him to seek refuge and a new path away from his former life and family.
- Darlene's Need for Support: At the same time, Darlene Snell had just murdered her husband, Jacob, and was in urgent need of someone reliable to help manage and work on her burgeoning opium farm.
- A Shared Living Arrangement: Wyatt moved in with Darlene, finding a place to stay and a purpose, while Darlene gained a much-needed worker and companion. This proximity and shared need created an unusual foundation for their connection.
The Evolution into a Sexual Relationship
Despite the many decades separating them in age, the relationship between Wyatt and Darlene soon turned sexual. Their cohabitation and shared interests in the farm business, coupled with their individual states of isolation and emotional need, fostered an intimacy that transcended conventional boundaries. This progression led to Wyatt and Darlene officially becoming a couple, solidifying their unique and often controversial dynamic within the series.
