TV Recap: Fargo - "The Heap"

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 8

"The Heap"

"But that's the problem, actually. You're still... wrong."

-Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman)

Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) buys a new washer before throwing out everything in the house of his old life. Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman) is still trying to convince Bill Oswalt (Bob Odenkirk) that he is wrong about the case and that Chaz Nygaard didn't do the murders. This goes nowhere. Pepper (Keegan Michael-Key) and Budge (Jordan Peele) get reassigned to the filing room after failing to stop the murders despite being in the vicinity. Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) kills a police officer before telling Mr. Wrench (Russell Harvard) that he is alone and helpless now. Lester refuses to help Gina Hess (Kate Walsh) with her money woes despite having sex with her. Lester ends up marrying a coworker named Linda Park  (Susan Park). Jump into the future by a year, Molly is married to Gus Grimly (Colin Hanks), who is also now a mailman. They are going to a memorial for Verne. Lester has won Salesman of the Year and is hanging out in Las Vegas, where he sees Lorne talking with people. Budge and Pepper find a photo in the file room from the murder scene and decide to investigate it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Allison Tolman

Most Blatant Homage

For those wondering if Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman) would ever go full Marge Gunderson, your prayers have been answered. For some reason, the series decided to jump a year into the future and revealed that Molly has married Gus (Collin Hanks) and is now pregnant. Yes, she is a pregnant police officer with a heart of gold. She is now officially Gunderson down to the smallest details. At first, they seemed to be coincidences. However, now it seems inexplicable to not compare the two. While the first appearance on the show of the line "Oh, you betcha" would've made this list had it not been for this moment, it does seem like the series is going to have to be careful moving forward. It now officially feels like it wasted some good will and is starting to look like a clone of the movie Fargo. 

Death Count

With exception to the death of one police officer, we get an update on the actual count of the murder spree that was at the end of the previous episode. According to a news article, there was 22 deaths, which is significantly more than the 4 that I had initially presumed. In order to make things "accurate," I have decided to add the additional 18 to this week's total.

18 additional victims from the murder spree

1 innocent police officer standing guard in a hospital

EPISODE COUNT (HUMAN): 19

EPISODE COUNT (ANIMAL): 0

TOTAL (HUMAN): 32

TOTAL (ANIMAL): 103

Martin Freeman

MVP:

Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman)

As I will mention momentarily, I am now a skeptic on Fargo the series noticeably because of that time jump. Also, there hasn't really been a stand out performance in this episode. At best, Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) has proven to be a smarmy jerk who is not going to take anybody's guff anymore. He is rude and will screw you over after screwing you. He has become a compelling character, but jumping into the future served very little purpose in this episode beyond potential exposition for the next two episodes. Maybe it was my affection to the slow burn nature of the first seven episodes, but there isn't much desire to have jumped forward. We just now know that Lester is officially a meanie and there isn't much else really done in this episode other than to say that nothing has happened worth remembering in a year's time.

Left to right: Keegan Michael-Key and Jordan Peele

Best Scene

Maybe it is from the lack of ceremonious moments in this episode, but I really enjoyed Budge (Jordan Peele) and Pepper's (Keegan Michael Key) conversation in the filing room. It is apparent that their careers didn't take them where they wanted. Now they pass time annoying each other and throwing a tennis ball against the wall. In particular, Pepper's whole rant about the jurisdictions of a file room were amusing and philosophical in mundane ways. With Budge's response at the end of "condos," it kind of made for a comical moment that makes me wonder what else this series will do with them. They have always been funny on Key & Peele, but I don't understand their significance here yet, even if they are very funny.

Left to right: Kate Walsh and Martin Freeman

Overall Thoughts

Debate has raged online on if Fargo is better than True Detective. For awhile, it looked like one could outshine the other. In this particular episode, things get interesting, but mostly come across as exposition. We know that Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) is a jerk and that Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) is a keen killer. Everything is familiar in this episode. However, the time jump really bugs me because with exception to the shock that Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman) married Gus Grimly (Collin Hanks), what was really solved? The mystery of why Lorne is in Las Vegas shall be interesting, but I enjoyed this series' slow growth to its end game. Maybe we'll see it, but I enjoyed the subtle progression of Lester into something more diabolical. Also, the progression clearly took the thrill out of the show feeling authentic. Molly is now Marge Gunderson and Mr. Wrench (Russell Harvard) is likely going to turn into the strangest bad guy in the series. There is a chance that this skepticism is unearned, but for the time being, it does really tarnish the feelings that I have had for the series. Not much happened here that makes it feel like a compelling story.

Predictions

Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) gets too cocky and decides to take down Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) with some mind games before returning to Minnesota. As the two head back to their initial playground, Mr. Wrench (Russell Harvard) comes back into play and Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman) has a strong chance of catching Lorne when a new crime opens up thanks to her teaming up with the FBI agents. Basically, Lorne and Lester are going to fall by each other's own foolishness.