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 9
"The Castle"
"It's just a flying saucer, Ed.
We gotta go."
- Peggy Blumquist (Kirsten Dunst)
Things are heating up as the police arrive to find Ed Blumquist (Jesse Plemons) and Peggy Blumquist (Kirsten Dunst) in the cabin. Hanzee Dent (Zahn McClarnon) is out trying to clean up his tracks, contemplating on breaking ties with the Gerhardts. As he finds where the police are disposing of Ed and Peggy for the night, he decides to run an attack on the motel. Meanwhile, Betsy Solverson (Cristin Milioti) mysteriously dies in her kitchen. As the Gerhardts arrive to help with the attack, things begin to ratchet up with a brutal massacre of police and Gerhardts. The results aren't pretty, leaving almost all of the family dead. Meanwhile, Ed and Peggy barely escape thanks to the random appearance of a flying saucer, of which distracts everyone long enough to let down their guard - often leading to their own death.
Most Blatant Homage
It may seem unfair to keep calling this a show borrowed heavily from No Country for Old Men, but the last few episodes have pretty much made a good case for renaming this show. In the case of Hanzee Dent = Anton Chigurgh, he continues to be the quiet, violent type who you don't see coming. However, the real homage comes in an all out battle between the cops and the Gerhardts as they try to retrieve the Blumquist couple. Even if the film never got as violent, it recalls the motel scenes in which each character tries to survive from the inevitable gunfire that awaits them on the other side. True, there's even the possibility of arguing that there's a Man Who Wasn't There homage in the UFO's, but the final set up feels too blatant to ignore entirely.
Death Count
1. Shop owner killed by Hanzee Dent
2. Betsy Solverson mysteriously dead, likely by drugs
3. 13 people killed in various ways at the motel
EPISODE COUNT: 15
TOTAL: 57
MVP:
The UFO
This may seem like a cop out, but it does feel hard to pick one person who made this episode great. Everyone seemed to contribute equally to the destruction of the police force, the Gerhardts, and the getaway of Ed and Peggy. However, I do think that there needs to be credit for how brilliant and insane the appearance of The UFO was during this episode. It allowed the cards to be shifted, if only slightly, from having a different outcome. Because of The UFO, the Solverson family lineage is allowed to continue on, if just by some happy accident. Also, it's an event worthy of everything it has been hyped as.
Best Scene
The massacre has to be among the series' best executed moments. From its start to finish, it features some of the most sporadic and disturbing moments throughout the show's run. It also helps that when things didn't get to seem wild enough, a UFO shows up and turns the tables. Most of all, it sets up a very strange bar for whatever is likely to come in the season finale next week. Whatever it is will likely not be as captivating as this, but it still may as well end an otherwise really good season of TV on a high note.
Overall Thoughts
It does impossible, but this show keeps managing to ratchet up tension and doing so in such creative ways. I personally am in awe of what this show does, even if I think that it's unpredictable in wherever it's going. Frankly, there's only one episode left and I cannot determine what the end game is. That's pretty great. While I am sure that The UFO may upset casual fans, it definitely worked so well in this episode that only added to the weirdness that is Fargo. It's an episode with great director and consequences that may not be the season best, but definitely reflects how to make great TV and then put a twist on it. What's coming next? I don't know. It's not likely going to be good, though.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
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