Fargo Season 3 premieres April 19th

[The Nth Doctor]

The first half of the episode is some of the best stuff of the whole show. Riveting chase, bloody conclusion, and bizarre denouement. For a moment there, I thought the bowling alley was a bardo and Nikki and Mr. Wrench were dead with Paul Marrane was some kind of intermediary. Instead, it seems like it was something different. I have a feeling fans will be dissecting that sequence for years to come. At least, it looks like Yuri got some well-deserved comeuppance for his past sins.

The rest of the episode of the atypical nature of season 3 with a mixture of Varga's vulgarity and quirkiness in the forefront. I was relieved to see Emmit wasn't stupid enough to swallow those mystery red pills, especially after what happened to Sy.

Poor Sy. He's not the nicest guy, especially after the way he treated Ray, but he didn't deserved getting poisoned like that (although I have to admit, I initially expected it to be Varga's piss). Nice way to do a time jump to get things further moved along.

I honestly don't know what to make of the stamps and mustache. At first, I just figured Varga was responsible just so he can mess with Emmit's head, but now I'm not sure. Perhaps it's Nikki? Doesn't seem like her style and why risk it while she's on the lam?

Kitten Ray is the most adorable little kitty ever.

With Emmit coming in from the cold to confess, will Chief Dammik finally believe Gloria? Yeah, I doubt it, too.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

If Dammik saw a video of it he probably still wouldn't believe. He's such a close minded asshat. I really could've not seen Sy vomit like that. What is it with all these gross out bodily function scenes this season? Of course it wasn't nearly as gross as seeing DJ Qualls getting his head cut off with a chain.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Normally, I don't like excessive blood and gore, but Qualls' death didn't bother me all that much, whereas Sy' vomiting and close-ups of Varga bugged the hell out of me.

Pity Qualls got very little to do in two episodes. Ah, well. Perhaps too busy doing the next season of The Man in the High Castle?

 

[Borgminister]

Got a Twin Peaks vibe from that bowling alley scene... Ray Wise is a national treasure.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Also nobody in the bowling alley seems to care everybody is drenched in blood.

Not sure what Ray Wise character is about. The same guy Gloria chats with on the plane runs into Nikki at the bowling alley, has similar philosophical conversation and decides to just give them a car, then he happens to know about Yury's war crimes.

 

[auntiehill]

Found this article, HERE, about the Ray Wise character; it makes some interesting connections. Here's a snippet:

Now, before we go any further, we need to talk about Paul's name. Paul Marrane is not original to Fargo but is in fact the name given to the legendary figure of the Wandering Jew in the book The Turkish Spy. Throughout history, the Wandering Jew (or the Eternal Jew) has gone by many titles and is often used as a scapegoat. Legend has it, he taunted Christ on the cross and because of his actions was cursed to wander the earth eternally.

Clearly, this sad being has wandered into Fargo and even has some divine clout. He knows exactly who Nikki and Mr. Wrench are, and he's in the position to help judge their souls' innermost characters, saying, "We all end up here eventually, to be weighed and judged, as it is now for you and your friend." He's basically the rabbinical version of The Stranger (Sam Elliott) in the Coen brothers' The Big Lebowski, but with a touch of cabalistic mysticism. The bowling alley is a sort of waiting room, and Mr. Marrane is part of the committee that decides whether or not those who arrive go on to punishment or if they get another chance.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

This may be the last season of Fargo

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I wouldn't be surprised. This season has been rather off-kilter more so than the previous two seasons. I wouldn't be surprised if the average viewer has been put off by Varga and excessive grossness of this season. On the other hand, having read the article, I see the possible of no more seasons comes from Hawley himself, which is probably a good thing. If he doesn't think he has any more stories to tell (at this point), then he shouldn't do more. Focus on Legion instead.

 

[Push The Button]

Also nobody in the bowling alley seems to care everybody is drenched in blood.

Not sure what Ray Wise character is about. The same guy Gloria chats with on the plane runs into Nikki at the bowling alley, has similar philosophical conversation and decides to just give them a car, then he happens to know about Yury's war crimes.

I was expecting Sam Elliott as "The Stranger" to be sitting next to Nikki at the bar when the camera pans right. Talk about Deja-Vu all over again. The bowling alley even seems to have some of the same neon stars outside that The Dude's did.

I also thought the bowling alley was some kind of purgatory, or waiting room, like the church in the last episodes of Lost, and that Nikki and Wrench were actually dead.

 

[DimesDan]

and excessive grossness of this season.

Where as the excessive violence seems to be fully acceptable.

 

[mimic]

Not that it matters, but guessing Sy was poisoned with cyanide. They had Nikki watching a nature documentary in the hotel room that mentioned cyanide in the previous episode. He said it tasted bitter (cyanide reportedly tastes of bitter almonds). The symptoms could match. So, Sy-icide by cyanide.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

"This episode brought to you by Snickers".

This is unintentionally hilarious. It works with almost any character, "If they had just had a Snickers..." If Varga just had a Snickers. If Ray just had a Snickres.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

I can't wait until the truth hits Chief Dammick right between his eyes. Is there a bigger condescending moron on tv than this guy? He's such an ass.

 

[auntiehill]

Holy Shit, what an episode. Emmitt is truly Varga's prisoner. I love Nikki getting the best of Varga at the hotel. Funny--I hated her at the beginning but I now I hope she kicks their asses.

So, I'm guessing the Mary McDonnell character is also on Varga's payroll, in some capacity.

It feels like this series has gone by very fast--perhaps because a lot of this story has been set-up and we haven't seen much action until recently. But I've really enjoyed it.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Nikki's confrontation with Varga, both the hijacking of the 18-wheeler and the sit down, was superb. Only one episode left and I hope she is able to finish that piece of shit off, especially with poor Emmit being completely under his thumb having been "vindicated" by the law. Or rather, by Chief Dammick's blind and foolish ego. Like Enterprise is Great, I really hope we get to see the truth smack him hard in the face. Gloria knows it's all a farce but she can't prove it. At least she has Winnie in her corner, cheering her on.

I liked how the show tied the "I can help!" robot with Gloria's weird situation with automatic sensors. She wants to help but feels completely helpless (and not just because Dammick is an idiot). I figured the faucet was going to work after her tearful hug with Winnie, so here's hoping things are going to completely turn around just in time to incidentally and unintentionally aid Nikki in taking down Varga.

Where as the excessive violence seems to be fully acceptable.

Well, that's not what I was trying to say, although it's unfortunately true that the general public has been desensitized by violence in entertainment.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I have no problem with fictional violence. Fictional violence causes moral discomfort, grossness causes physical discomfort.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I have no problem with fictional violence. Fictional violence causes moral discomfort, grossness causes physical discomfort.

That's a good way of looking at and that's pretty much I feel about it.

 

[DimesDan]

I have no problem with fictional violence. Fictional violence causes moral discomfort, grossness causes physical discomfort.

Where as I find both unsettling.

The episode was great, esp the bit with the "chief" in the toilet and the two of them at the bar.

 

[Push The Button]

"Briefcase full of dirty underwear", another Lebowski callback.

Varga lost his mobile hackerspace and his nuclear football, now his eating disorder is cranked up to 11 to compensate.

So who dropped the cooked books off at the IRS office? Emmit can't make a move without Varga's goons knowing about it.

Nikki and Wrench are my new heroes.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I assume Nikki dropped off the books since she mentioned to Varga that she stole them with the hard drives.