TV Recap: Fargo - "Eating the Blame"

Billy Bob Thornton

Welcome to the new series that will dissect every episode of season one of FX's Fargo. From its faithfulness as an adaptation of the Coen Brothers classic to its growing plot, this will be a look at all things involving the show, its mythology, and occasional predictions of things to happen. There will be highlights of special moments in the series and deeper dissection of what may make this anthology series so endearing. What will happen in this freshman series about a homespun murder mystery? You'll have to read the recaps every Thursday to find out more.

Season 1, Episode 4

"Eating the Blame"

"Better get right with the lord."

- Don Chumph (Glenn Howerton)

Upon discovering that Milos Stavros' (Oliver Platt) shower was filled with blood, he hires Don Chumph (Glenn Howerton) to take a look only for him to spout bible verses about blood raining from the heavens, which gets Stavros all paranoid. Meanwhile, Gus Grimly (Colin Hanks) finds Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) walking around under his false identity. He arrests him as a humble priest unaware of any wrongdoing. After a threatening phone call, Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman), he becomes paranoid. It is actually from Mr. Wrench (Russell Harvard) and Mr. Numbers (Adam Goldberg), who want to kidnap him in the case over Mr. Hess. Meanwhile, Gus calls Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman) to help out with the case, only she becomes sidetracked by Bill Oswalt (Bob Odenkirk) when he reveals that she isn't on the case. Down at the station, Lorne calls Don and tells him to get ready to pick him up. Lorne pulls off the act of convincing everyone that he is a lowly priest and is let go. During his exit, he talks to Gus, who is on three weeks probation, with a riddle that buys him time. Meanwhile, Mr. Numbers and Mr. Wrench kidnap Lester and attempt to drown him in a hole. It doesn't work, as Lester finds a taser, escapes, and ends up punching a police officer just to get arrested. However, his enemies do the same thing and wind up in the same cell as him.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Most Blatant Homage

In flashback, Milos Stavros (Carlos Diaz) ends up stranded by the side of the road after his car fails. As he walks out into the snow, he finds a red scraper that is the indicator for where a whole ton of cash is stored. This is when he finds faith in god. However, it is also the moment where the show perfectly intersects with the movie, as this buried money was hidden by Steve Buscemi. It provides motivation for the king of supermarkets to start a business and live a fulfilled life. Where the references to the movie could have gone horribly, this tie-in is actually a high point for the series, as it proves just how much influence the film will have, which looks to be not much outside of established clues. It builds the universe nicely.

Death Count

Zero, unless you count the idea of Milos Stavros' (Oliver Platt) business being dead thanks to Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton), who continually seems to be taking on a biblical presence in the series.

EPISODE COUNT (HUMAN): 0

EPISODE COUNT (ANIMAL): 0

TOTAL (HUMAN): 5

TOTAL (ANIMAL): 2

Thornton

MVP:

Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton)

If one must understand the genius of this episode, it is hard to overlook the roaming villain of this piece. Besides the fact that Billy Bob Thornton brings an impressive charisma to the series, he pushes the boundaries of where things are going. Speaking as it is only the fourth episode, it feels strange to note that his whole arc was around an arrest. It is a moment that I was predicting to not come for some time. Even then, the way that he weasels out of the interrogation room is impressive, especially when it looked like the powers were against him. Along with having some fun with the Minnesotan accent, he continues to prove why he is a force to be reckoned with. He has the power to end people's careers, as proven with the crickets in the supermarket.

Left to right: Gordon S. Miller and Oliver Platt

Best Scene

Is this series just going to turn into a modern take on the biblical plagues? Looks like it. At least until Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) gets his way. The way that the story slowly integrated religion into this is impressive, especially as it was introduced by the dumbest character so far: Don Chumph (Glenn Howerton). In the closing, the blood shower gets usurped by something even more devastating: Stavros Milos' (Oliver Platt) supermarket being ran with crickets. It is likely to ruin his career once and for all. It also ties in the looming threat that Lorne is while keeping continuity with the growing biblical themes. It is an unnerving scene that chooses to explore just how "God is real" and if this is all temptation or blackmail.

Martin Freeman

Overall Thoughts

For those doubting the series' quest to be taken seriously, this episode may as well be the convincing point. Having established all the clues necessary to make the show work, this episode takes everything and sets it in motion. Stakes are raised and people are put into consistent peril. We get the series' most blatant homage to Fargo yet and it feels more like a torch passing. Everything meshes well together and the humor lies with the drama perfectly. Maybe nobody will ever be able to top Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) and his mischevious ways, but to watch him get out of jam after jam is some of the greatest writing on a series save for True Detective. Most of all, it poses the question that now that we know how Lorne would get out of these situations, how are the only people who know he is the criminal going to stop him? Doesn't seem like their higher powers are going to let them do it legally.

Left to right: Russell Harvard and Adam Goldberg

Predictions

More plagues! Gus Grimly (Collin Hanks) and Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman) go rogue. Mr. Wrench (Russell Harvard) and Mr. Numbers (Adam Goldberg) are finally going to get Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) once and for all.