James Garcia reviews the fifth episode of Fargo season 2…
Last week, Fargo creator Noah Hawley lit the fuse on several major storylines, resulting in several big explosions this week, both figurative and otherwise. “The Gift of the Magi” didn’t just deliver on spectacle, however, as Fargo once again displayed its clever knack for perfectly balancing surprising action and slow, tender character moments.
Last week we were given the promise of war between the Gerhardts and Kansas City crime syndicate, and the first battle of that power struggle is what opens the episode, juxtaposed against a moving speech by presidential hopeful Ronald Reagan (played here by the always-awesome Bruce Campbell). The irony between the bloodbath and gunfire that open up in the forest, and Reagan’s hope for a wholesome, idealistic America play out wonderfully, and carry on throughout the entire episode.
The question of the American Dream, and whether or not it’s realistic or at all attainable come up a lot in this episode, namely in the continuing struggle that the Blomquist family are faced with. Their secure little bubble, in which they thought they would be able to move on from the murder of Rye Gerhardt, burst last week when they were found out by not only Hanzee, but Lou Solverson. Still, they held on to both of their hopes for the future (Ed’s being in the local butcher shop, and Peggy’s being in a new life in California), and had them both taken away from them as their chickens came home to roost.
Dodd and Hanzee create a myth around ‘The Butcher of Luverne’ to hasten the brutality between the two warring crime factions, which I found quite hilarious and very Coen-esque. That created quite few problems for just about everyone on Fargo. Dodd’s true, bloodthirsty colors are starting to show, resulting in concern from his brother Bear and what may very well be the death of his nephew, who’s all too eager to enter the family business despite his physical disability and good nature. The Gerhardt attack on the Kansas City crew may have taken out a few men (including Joe Bulo and one of the Kitchen brothers), but, as Dodd said, they’re not going to hesitate to retaliate in a big way.
Simone was put in danger because of Dodd’s actions, as her relationship with Mike Milligan (who’s clearly been sleeping with her just to get a leg up on the Gerhardts) puts her in both his and her father’s crosshairs. I wonder what will prevail – her hatred for her father, or her fear of Milligan?
The Solverson front this week was far more understated, but still just as important – Betsy is still battling cancer and pondering over whether or not her cancer medicine is real or just a placebo, and Lou has been tasked with acting as Reagan’s security detail, resulting in one of the series’ best scenes to date. Lou and Reagan have a brief talk in a bathroom, in which Lou calls to question the very nature of evil and the state of the world, while Reagan compares his time as an actor to Lou’s service in Vietnam (with complete sincerity).
This scene perfectly sums up the motivations of several of Fargo‘s characters this season, and the notion that wanting something hard enough, and believing that you’ll get it, will fix all of life’s problems. Reagan says that, “There’s no problem an American can’t solve,” but shrugs when Lou asks him, “How?”
Ed and Peggy are the greatest example of this, as their respective dreams both go up in flames this week. Peggy gives up on hers by choice, selling the car instead of running away and opting to use the money to buy the butcher shop for Ed. Ed’s literally goes up in flames, as a brutally violent encounter at the butcher shop results in yet another dead man at his hands and the actual destruction of his dream.
If Fargo has taught us anything, its that holding on too hard to your dreams, without actively doing the right things to accomplish them, will turn them into nightmares.
James Garcia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng&v=W04aXcyQ0NQ
Originally published November 11, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.
