Fargo: Trials and Tribulations

November 23, 2023 6:26 AM - Season 5, Episode 2

Roy attempts to reset the "natural order of things" and Lorraine becomes increasingly suspicious.
posted by neilbert (23 comments total)

I think this is the first time I've seen Hamm as a villain and I am LOVING it.
posted by miss-lapin at 8:17 AM on November 23, 2023 [4 favorites]

[Huffs deeply, so deeply that lungs nearly explode from over-Coenation]
Hooooooooo, yeah that's the stuff. I love this series so much.
posted by ssmith at 10:33 AM on November 23, 2023 [6 favorites]

This is my first exposure to Juno Temple outside of Keeling Fucking Jones, and I'm thoroughly here for it. The glimpses of steel we get throughout this episode brought me great joy.

Ma-in-law can get in the fucking bin though
posted by coriolisdave at 6:52 PM on November 23, 2023 [4 favorites]

Last season was good but I am very pleased to be back in this show's heightened, cartoonish version of Minnesota.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 4:08 AM on November 24, 2023 [2 favorites]

What if: an ingenue with a secret past, a 40s femme fatale, and an Oath Keeper Sheriff?

And Dave Foley.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 10:30 AM on November 24, 2023 [6 favorites]

Is Jennifer Jason Leigh reprising her suis generis accent from "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle"??
posted by chrchr at 3:59 PM on November 24, 2023 [3 favorites]

Or channeling her Amy Archer midatlantic acccent from the Huddsucker Proxy.
posted by nathan_teske at 7:21 PM on November 24, 2023 [7 favorites]

Anyone else notice that Dot's daughter was making Steve's bat in the kitchen?
posted by jquinby at 8:21 PM on November 24, 2023 [4 favorites]

I mean I like Jennifer Jason Leigh as much as anyone but I'd love to see what Scott Thompson could do in that role.
posted by chrchr at 9:55 PM on November 24, 2023 [9 favorites]

I missed Steve’s bat but I did laugh at having the VIN numbers to fax right over.
posted by neilbert at 6:38 AM on November 25, 2023 [3 favorites]

Can I watch this without having seen the previous seasons?

I have seen the original 1990s film with Frances McDormand, which I thought was brilliant.
posted by seasparrow at 9:49 AM on November 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

Each season is part of a larger, shared universe but there’s very little crossover — hints, themes, and easter eggs mostly.

That said series 1-3 are fantastic. Season 4 was a bit weak but only because it was a fantastic from the proven formula. Judged on its own s4 is still worth a watch.
posted by nathan_teske at 10:18 AM on November 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

Agreed with nathan_teske - it's been so long since I've seen the original movie that any references to it in the TV show are 100% guaranteed to be lost on me.

From season to season, though, there are fun hints and throwbacks. S4 calls the most strongly to another one of the seasons for reasons that become obvious pretty quickly, but it too is a mostly self-contained story.
posted by jquinby at 2:12 PM on November 25, 2023 [2 favorites]

Oh man. chrchr and nathan_teske, I immediately thought, "One part weird 'Dorothy Parker' accent, one part Amy Archer. Two dashes of bitters and shake vigorously." I am loving this season so much already.
posted by queensissy at 8:53 PM on November 26, 2023 [5 favorites]

Joe Keery looks a lot like Jean-Ralphio in all the photos I've seen of him not in Fargo. What's a great season so far!
posted by Carillon at 9:08 PM on November 27, 2023

incredible kevin mcalister energy from this episode. so far this is easily the best fargo since the first season
posted by dis_integration at 4:47 PM on November 28, 2023 [2 favorites]

I was saying last night Hamm's character is like a much scarier version of his Reverend Richard Wayne Gary Wayne from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Let's see if he kidnaps anyone and keeps them in a bunker or becomes a wedding DJ.
posted by fiercekitten at 8:03 AM on November 29, 2023 [3 favorites]

so far this is easily the best fargo since the first season

I'm assuming you typed "second" and some overzealous auto-correct fixed it, because the second season was the best season of any show made in the '10s and it's not even close.

(This season is giving me big season 2 vibes, thanks to a steely matriarch and an exceedingly resourceful housewife. Here's hoping it keeps going.)
posted by thecaddy at 9:00 AM on November 29, 2023 [6 favorites]

(At the very least I hope we get one great set piece of the Bokeem Woodbine recites "The Jabberwocky" variety.)
posted by thecaddy at 9:03 AM on November 29, 2023

Let's see if he kidnaps anyone and keeps them in a bunker or becomes a wedding DJ.

My favorite Hamm is sinister Hamm.
posted by jquinby at 10:26 AM on November 29, 2023 [3 favorites]

> I'm assuming you typed "second" and some overzealous auto-correct fixed it, because the second season was the best season of any show made in the '10s and it's not even close.

I have to admit that having watched season 1 and 2 back to back 8 years ago I don't really remember the distinction between them but just that they were excellent. I think I am thinking of the Kirsten Dunst/Jesse Plemons one, yeah.
posted by dis_integration at 10:43 AM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

I'm noticing drum kits and drumming in the sound track
posted by night_train at 1:03 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

(Hey on re-reading that is a *lot* more aggressive than I intended it to sound, dis_integration. Apologies—I’m just a really big fan of season 2, it was supposed to be jokey)
posted by thecaddy at 4:23 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]