Written By: Noah Hawley
Directed By: Randall Einhorn
Cast: Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks, Bob Odenkirk, Adam Goldberg, Oliver Platt, Glen Howerton
Synopsis: Officer Grimly comes face to face with Lorne Malvo as Deputy Solverson comes closer to identifying him. Lester Nygaard has a run in with Mr Numbers and Mr Wrench.
What a fantastic episode this was! It opens with a young Stavros and his family driving down an isolated snow covered road. His wife is arguing with him about how they have no money and it really seems that this is their last chance at life. Suddenly the car runs out of fuel and a deflated Stavros breaks down and pleads for God to give him a sign.
At this point the episode really blew me away, fans of the film will understand what I mean. Stavros notices a red ice scraper sticking out of the snow and as he digs deeper he discovers a suitcase full of money. This instills his belief in God and helps him become ‘The Supermarket King’.
Lorne Malvo is still trolling Stavros with his blackmail plot. Aware of his deeply religious beliefs, last week we saw him give Stavros a shower he will never forget. This episode we see him arranging something else but he is interrupted by Officer Gus Grimly.
During a fantastic scene, Grimly arrests him and takes him back to the station for questioning. After Deputy Molly Solverson is told to stay off the case Chief Oswalt goes in her place.
Billy Bob Thornton really shines as he takes on a persona of a good guy minister. Of course Grimly has no hard evidence and Chief Oswalt lets him go. Grimly learns of Malvo’s real name and calls it out to him as he leaves.
After giving Grimly a creepy riddle about predators Malvo is picked up by one of his partners and they head over to Stavros’ supermarket. We then see quiet descend into chaos as hundreds of locusts swarm the supermarket.
Meanwhile Lester Nygaard’s buckshot wound is giving him serious grief. Is it too early to guess that he will die from infection? He is kidnapped by hitmen Mr Numbers and Mr Wrench and taken to the now infamous frozen lake. Nygaard manages to get away and runs to a nearby police officer. He purposely gets himself arrested so the officer will get him out of there.
The episode ends with a sullen looking Lester alone in his cell. He gets the fright of his life as Mr Numbers and Mr Wrench, arrested for fake brawling, come join him in the cell. How is he going to get out of this?
This was such a nail-biting episode, I can’t wait to see what happens with Lester next week. The scenes between Grimly and Malvo were as creepy as ever and it will be interesting to see how that develops now that Malvo is aware Grimly is on to him.
The tie in to the original film was genius, I swear I heard a collected gasp from fans as it aired. Will that be the only thing to link it to the film? I think not; we have had little glimpses here and there already. I think the writing on this is that good that this show will continue to surprise viewers.
[usr=5] Fargo is currently airing on Channel 4. Follow our full series blog here!
