In which Margaux and I review the excellent finale of a near-perfect show.
Trevor: I am really unprepared to say goodbye to Fargo. Jesus, what a show.
Margaux: I haven’t been so emotionally ill-equipped to say goodbye to a couple (Gus and Molly) since Buffy and Spike. But also, what a hell of a fucking finale. I don’t like to use the word “perfect” too much but Fargo was a pretty perfect show. Which is no simple task when the source material is a beloved Cohen Brothers movie.
Trevor: Not an easy act to follow. Fargo is arguably one of the best films of the 90s – maybe the best – and Noah Hawley did an amazing job of taking that world and really making it his own. I wonder when we’ll see another character as great as Lorne Malvo.
Margaux: Or Molly Solverson, Lou Solverson, even Lester, Gus Grimly (who thankfully DID NOT live up to his last name last night). The entire cast, top to bottom, was motherfuckin’ ACES.
It really says a lot about Noah Hawley and his, for a lack of a better word, vision. Finally! A dude who doesn’t go around talking about how much he wants to create Strong Female Characters, he just DOES IT. Every single character on Fargo was so well drawn, each trajectory was fleshed out and satisfying. Everyone can just go home for the year and study this show.
Trevor: Yep, Molly was a great example of how to write female characters. It’s not enough to have them kick ass in one scene and be fetishized in another (*cough*Tarantino*cough*). And Alison Tolman, of course, was goddamn perfect. My favorite line of hers from “Morton’s Fork” was when she was told of Linda Nygaard’s murder: “The other one now?” I love all the reactions of the Bemidji PD, especially Bill telling Lester “If you throw up then I’m gonna.”
Margaux: I wrote in my notes the exact same thing about Molly’s reaction to Mrs. Nygaard #2 being murdered. To Lester’s credit, he’s definitely learned a thing or two since the passing of his first wife. Love him going into Lou’s Coffee Shop, attempting to construct a shitty alibi instead of knocking himself unconscious.
Trevor: I loved that he just kept repeating his cover story word-for-word to Lou. Lou was a state cop, dumbass, he’s gonna know you’re lying. Lester might have gotten really good at being a sociopath, but he’s still a shitty liar.
Margaux: But he is the only one who solves the Fox, Rabbit and Cabbage riddle. Which, speaking of, there were a lot of answers to the riddles that had been scattered across season one. Except, I’m still trying to figure out Molly’s mitten one that she told Lester in their last tete-a-tete.
Trevor: I took that as her telling Lester to “drop the other glove” and come clean. I liked her disappointed, resigned “Goodbye, Mr. Nygaard.”
Oh, and Agent Pepper already solved the fox/rabbit/cabbage riddle: “I told you, just eat all three of them.” Key and Peele were brilliant, inspired chocies.
Margaux: Unfortunately, they were also among the first to get shot. Why is it always the black guys? I’m kidding. I hardly believe that Malvo gives two shits about race. To him there are only two kinds of people in this world: In the Way and Not in the Way…Yet.
At least K&P’s death scene was hilariously memorable. But I couldn’t help but scream, HE’S BEHIND YOU! throughout the scene.
Trevor: Malvo is always framed like the bad guy in a slasher movie. Fargo has gotten a lot of mileage out of Billy Bob Thornton’s menacing silhouette.
I love how clever he was, not just in “Morton’s Fork,” but in general. It’d be one thing if he was a nigh-unkillable force of evil – which he absolutely was – but you couldn’t help but admire the son of a bitch. Cancelling the FBI backup, then having the car salesman drive up as a decoy, was pretty inspired villainy.
Margaux: In my notes I wrote, in regards to the car salesman, “shotgun? Famous last words buddy!” As much as Fargo, I felt, was Molly’s story, Malvo was the driving force most of the season and it was endlessly entertaining watching him shed the skins of different people, exact his form of justice, “this is Malvo’s design.” Billy Bob honestly gave the performance of his career, watch your ass, Rust.
Trevor: Can we talk about how terrifying he was even after he got shot? That look he gave Gus, blood coming from his mouth, his eyes wide with hate – Jesus. Nightmare fuel.
Margaux: RIGHT?! I swear, I will never get that image out of my head. Nightmare fuel for life. But, a couple things about that scene.
First off, I really loved the choice of having Gus being the one to end Malvo. He finally gets to redeem himself because as he says to Molly in an earlier scene, “you’re brilliant at everything” (or something to that effect). He gets to protect his family, Gus found the house! I got so choked up when Gus came out of his hiding spot, pointing the gun at Malvo, he’s such a sweet dope – even if Lorne’s leg was disgustingly jacked up, he could probably still kill Gus. But mainly I’m happy that Molly wasn’t put in the same positing that Gus ended up being in was, no one wants to see the World’s Most Adorable Pregnant Lady go up against A Known Psychopath. I thought it was nice, even if Molly doesn’t exactly get what she wants in the end (putting Lester in jail) but, that’s life.
Lastly, always aim for the head first. DOESN’T ANYONE WATCH HORROR MOVIES?! THEY ALWAYS COME BACK AT LEAST ONCE.
Trevor: Honestly, if season two of Fargo had Malvo in it, alive and well, I wouldn’t even question it. Malvo was a catalyzing force for a lot of characters: he got Lester to “man up” (become a sociopath); he got Gus to “man up” (protect his family); he even got Pepper and Budge to start acting like FBI agents again. And he gave Molly a thoroughly upsetting lesson in the nature of evil.
Margaux: Molly ends up getting a similar lesson to her father, who often mentioned the “Sioux Falls” events grimly. And a promotion, turns out Malvo even got Bill to man up (he’s not suited for the gig that should’ve been Molly’s all along). So, watch your butts Bemidji, Solverson is running these streets now!
Trevor: Bob Odenkirk did a great job with Bill’s monologue. With Bill overall, actually. He could have been a doofus through and through (like Glenn Howerton’s Don Chumph), but Odenkirk imbued him with a sweet sense of humanity and kept him from being a caricature.
To switch gears a little, what’d you think of Lester’s death? I’m a big Martin Freeman fan and I had no idea I’d find his demise so satisfying.
Margaux: He got what Mr. Wrench and Mr. Numbers wanted for him from the beginning. I didn’t think Lester getting tied up in the courts system and having a Lifetime Movie made after him would not of been as satisfying as watching him crack through the ice and die.
I do wonder though, is Chaz exonerated now? I feel like he’s not the type to last long in jail.
Trevor: I have to imagine Chaz will get out and continue being faithful to Ms. Broward County (you don’t cheat on Ms. Broward County).
So as you know, for season finales, I like to give season grades. Do I even have to ask what you’re thinking in terms of star count?
Margaux: I’ll say it: five stars. Pretty much the easiest decision I’ll make all year. It was the definition of a complete show and I can’t wait until season two. Until then, I’ll be working on my Gus and Molly fanfiction.
Trevor: And I will be waiting to read it. Five stars, now and forever. This fucking show.
Season Grade: 5 Stars
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