Welcome to the new series that will dissect every episode of season two 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 Tuesday to find out more.
Season 2, Episode 2
"Before the Law"
“After WW2, we went six years without a murder
here. These days, well—sometimes wonder if you
boys didn’t bring that war home with you.”
- Hank Larsson (Ted Danson)
As the mysterious disappearance of Rye Gerhardt lingers in the public's consciousness, his brothers begin looking for him. Meanwhile, Mike Milligan (Bookem Woodbine) comes strolling through town, trying to figure out what's going on. With all of this in mind, the police are investigating the crime scene, which leads to some interesting clues such as a "Get Well Soon" balloon. Peggy Blomquist (Kristen Dunst) is suspected of being a bad girl, thus giving her implication to leave town and attend an event Meanwhile, Ed Blomquist (Jesse Plemons) disposes of the evidence, including grinding Rye's body through a meat grinder. As Hank Larsson goes about investigating, he is mysteriously abducted.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Most Blatant Homage
While it may not seem immediately clear, there's a deliberate imagery to one of Fargo's (the movie) most famous scene. As Ed tries to figure out how to dispose of Rye's body, he visits the meat shop to do some business. He cuts off the toes and sends the rest through the meat grinder in a creepy visual moment. However, there's clear imagery present as Ed has trouble putting the foot through the grinder. For those who don't remember, this seems to be a direct callback to another famous death by grinding. In the film, Steve Buscemi is famously seen being shoved through a wood chipper as his foot dangles out of it. This may be more slight than direct, but it still paints a similar picture.
Death Count
1. Nobody
EPISODE COUNT: 0
TOTAL: 4
MVP:
Mike Milligan (Bookem Woodbine)
Again, it's hard to really call someone an MVP on a show with so many great characters. However, there's something exhilarating about Mike in this episode as the calm-in-nature gangster who knows how to work his way through situations. Not only does he get great use out of a typewriter to torture his partners, but he also knows how to handle the police. While there's a chance that he may hearken back to Lorne Malvo a little bit, I simple think that he's just a tad more charismatic and fun to be around. While he appeared last week, he comes full force this week, suggesting that something big is going to happen soon.
Best Scene
As the murder mystery continues on, Lou Solverson (Patrick Wilson) confides in his police boss, Hank. As they sit on a porch and wonder about the uncertainty of the world, they begin to discuss their vulnerabilities and what makes them patriotic. With clues starting to pile up, including a shoe that Hank found in a tree, it is nice to have a break from all of the mystery and to just get a sympathetic moment from its characters. However, the final sentiments are arguably the best part of the scene in which Hank makes a comment about Lou's involvement in the Vietnam War and how maybe they brought some of the regret back with them. It's a comment on the growing fear of crime in a small town that summarizes just what makes Fargo a compelling property.
Overall Thoughts
I am unsure how it happens exactly, but Fargo season two has been nothing if not perfect. It is arguably some of the most consistent mixture of drama and dark comedy since Breaking Bad's glory days. Add in an impeccable soundtrack and even more weird elements added, and this is already looking to be one of, if not the, best TV show of 2015. The show is way beyond its callbacks to the movie or any taboo that would force quality comparisons. Now we're in a weird world where nothing is quite as it seems, and it's just great to be around these characters. While the show's leaning a little too much into 70's cinematic tropes, notably the split-screen, I am willing to overlook it for now, as it adds a kitschy vibe to a show that is about finding the dark layer underneath that. Even if it has Plemons once again playing evil, it's unfair how great he is at pulling it off. Next week's episode cannot come soon enough.
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