Fargo, Season 5. Bout darn time

[Jayson1]

I think Dot will survive. Not sure I see the dramatic value of her death. I am also seeing some possible Gator redemption as well because when you get down to you end up being reminded he was a victim as well. His mother killed and stuck being raised by Roy who doesn't even value him and even looked down at him as a baby.

As for the idea of Dot killing Roy another I am thinking is I don't think she wants to kill Roy because in the end she is not a killer. That's one of the reasons she first went into hiding. She is resourceful enough she likely could have murdered him many times over in the past. Just putting some poison in his drink when they were married or slitting his throat as he sleeped when she was married to him. Plus we saw her in her dream looking for Linda to help put him in jail. I think she wants justice and not revenge.

I got say I did find it funny how Graves screwed over Roy with the 3 guys dressed liked Roy and mimicing his words making him loose control of his anger. Pretty clever and interesting to watch.

 

[Kraig]

I like how ND books on money owed for debts has the persons physical description. Graves picked one guy that was 5'10" and the other two were 6'0".

Reminded me of old episodes of To Tell The Truth, "Will the real Roy Tillman please stand up."

 

[Nerys Myk]

Damnit, Danish! How could you be so stupid?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Damn it's a hard watch though, and is it wrong to feel a degree of empathy for wife #3? Clearly passed from an abusive father to an abusive husband.

I definitely feel empathy for her but I also fear she's a lost cause. Not sure there's anything can be done to knock off the blinders permanently glued to her mind.

It still feels like there's a Vader redemption moment coming for Gator, though I think it needs earning, he clearly knows his mother is dead though, and if that didn't turn him away from Roy I'm not sure the "Why aren't you a Roy" is going to do it. always assuming Ole doesn't kill him next week!!

I want to hope Gator will redeem himself...or maybe the show wants us to think that because he's played by Joe Keery. He can't always play the redemptive asshole!

Dot is gonna survive this, isn't she? Tell me she's going to survive!

If the show knows what's good for it, she will survive. Especially with all of the real-life messages about reaching out for help if you're in an abusive relationship.

 

[Kraig]

This episode doesn't disappoint.
Music includes the Village People's "Y.M.C.A."

Spoiler: Indira Olmstead

Took the job.

Spoiler: Lorraine Lyon

"I'm done fu@king around. Tell Jerome to call the orange idiot. It's time I got something for my money."

Spoiler: Ole Munch

"Now the tiger is free."

Music ends with the Allman Brothers Band "Tied to the Whipping Post."

 

[Commander Troi]

Well!

Spoiler: Spoilers

We now know for sure there are several bodies in that pit. I assume Roy's first wife is down there.

WTF with the mound/barrow/whatever? Even Roy seemed a little scared in there.

Munch is fascinating. He obviously lives by his own code. I was quite surprised when Munch saved Dot.

I felt a tiny bit sorry for Gator - kid really never had a chance to be anything other than what he is.

The Feds brought tanks!

Roy's 3rd wife has really drank the Kool Aid, ain't she?

 

[the G-man]

I got say I did find it funny how Graves screwed over Roy with the 3 guys dressed liked Roy and mimicing his words making him loose control of his anger. Pretty clever and interesting to watch.

I know this is not a show for realism, and others mileage will vary, but that whole scene bugged me as too implausible even for "Fargo." It's a small, rural, county. Every one knows who the Sheriff is. Just because someone (or three someones) show up for a debate with the same name as a candidate, even dressed like that candidate, doesn't mean they're getting up on the debate stage.

 

[Commander Troi]

I know this is not a show for realism, and others mileage will vary, but that whole scene bugged me as too implausible even for "Fargo." It's a small, rural, county. Every one knows who the Sheriff is. Just because someone (or three someones) show up for a debate with the same name as a candidate, even dressed like that candidate, doesn't mean they're getting up on the debate stage.

I assumed Graves pulled strings (or payed someone off) to get them on stage.

 

[Kraig]

I assumed Graves pulled strings (or payed someone off) to get them on stage.

They all had multiple mortgages and medical debt. They all were the same height and weight, to match Roy. Lorraine had Graves pay off their debt in return for them getting a name change and one time going on stage. When they are finished, they are free to change their names back, sell their houses and move outside Stark county.

Well!

Spoiler: Spoilers

We now know for sure there are several bodies in that pit. I assume Roy's first wife is down there.

WTF with the mound/barrow/whatever? Even Roy seemed a little scared in there.

Munch is fascinating. He obviously lives by his own code. I was quite surprised when Munch saved Dot.

I felt a tiny bit sorry for Gator - kid really never had a chance to be anything other than what he is.

The Feds brought tanks!

Roy's 3rd wife has really drank the Kool Aid, ain't she?

Spoiler

Roy is going to find out about Federal and State Preemption Doctrine. The FBI brought in an MRAP and an LAV more than enough to stop a militia if used properly. If not the National Guard can be mobilized and actual tanks can be brought in.

I think Dot and Munch are going to take care of business and when the FBI goes in, and the fog clears, they will find Roy "Tied to the whipping post." as the last man standing in the compound. Using the Allman Brothers Band song to tell us Roy's fate next week.

Gator killed a woman, tried to kill Munch (and thinks he actually did) then stole the money Roy paid Munch. I don't feel that bad for Gator.

 

[the G-man]

They all had multiple mortgages and medical debt. They all were the same height and weight, to match Roy. Lorraine had Graves pay off their debt in return for them getting a name change and one time going on stage. When they are finished, they are free to change their names back, sell their houses and move outside Stark county.

Spoiler

Roy is going to find out about Federal and State Preemption Doctrine. The FBI brought in an MRAP and an LAV more than enough to stop a militia if used properly. If not the National Guard can be mobilized and actual tanks can be brought in.

I think Dot and Munch are going to take care of business and when the FBI goes in, and the fog clears, they will find Roy "Tied to the whipping post." as the last man standing in the compound. Using the Allman Brothers Band song to tell us Roy's fate next week.

Gator killed a woman, tried to kill Munch (and thinks he actually did) then stole the money Roy paid Munch. I don't feel that bad for Gator.

If Graves had to pay off the debate organizers why did he need to do the names changes as well?

 

[The Nth Doctor]

We all knew Roy is a terrible, cold father but, wow, he really left Gator behind (still tied up!) and said his usefulness has come to an end because his fucking eyes were gouged out! Gator is an idiot and has done some terrible things, but even he didn't deserve that.

I cannot wait for Roy's comeuppance to finally arrive, in whatever form it may take.

 

[Kraig]

If Graves had to pay off the debate organizers why did he need to do the names changes as well?

So they all could be Roy Tillman, but with a different middle initial. It pissed off Roy and he even hit the debate moderator who asked him about it. To Roy Tillman his name is everything. His sense of ego is destroyed by the extra Roys. They were all dressed the same and even aped Roy's mannerisms. The more his third wife tried to console him, the madder Roy got.
The extra confusion to the voters caused by 4 candidates with almost the same name. You go to vote and the ballot has four Roy Tillman's listed. If you don't know which middle initial is the correct one, it may cost him the election to one of the other candidates Roy.

 

[Starkers]

I loved it when Lorraine said

Spoiler

No daughter of mine

Roy seems to have an escape route so I'm not ruling out him getting away, whatever happens next week, setting up some kind of final confrontation with Dot at Lorraine's house.

For a minute I was worried that Munch

Spoiler

had set Dot free so he could fight her fairly, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

@Commander Troi wife #3 never really had a chance, it seems clear long before Roy got his hooks into her, her pappy likely indoctrinated her.

Re the mound for one terrible moment I wondered if wife #1 might still be alive

Anyway a great episode and damn this show has me cheering from the sofa every time Dot made a move!

Loved the YMCA bit as well

 

[Starkers]

Oh yeah and I forgot about Gator. An interesting character because I hate him but also do feel sorry for him and I'm not sure what was colder,

Spoiler

what Munch did to him or his own father leaving him in the dirt.

 

[auntiehill]

Oh yeah and I forgot about Gator. An interesting character because I hate him but also do feel sorry for him and I'm not sure what was colder,

Spoiler

what Munch did to him or his own father leaving him in the dirt.

Indeed. I found both acts equally disturbing.

Sam Spruell kind reminds me of Paul Bettany.

 

[the G-man]

So they all could be Roy Tillman, but with a different middle initial. It pissed off Roy and he even hit the debate moderator who asked him about it. To Roy Tillman his name is everything. His sense of ego is destroyed by the extra Roys. They were all dressed the same and even aped Roy's mannerisms. The more his third wife tried to console him, the madder Roy got.
The extra confusion to the voters caused by 4 candidates with almost the same name. You go to vote and the ballot has four Roy Tillman's listed. If you don't know which middle initial is the correct one, it may cost him the election to one of the other candidates Roy.

There was absolutely nothing about any of them being on the ballot and, in fact, given the episode took place in early November, it would have been too late for any of them to be on the ballot.

Again, I know it's "Fargo," but for some reason it just struck me as the writers trying too hard to be quirky for quirky's sake and it took me out of the series for a moment.

 

[Kraig]

Loved the YMCA bit as well

When they could have picked Macho Man.

 

[the G-man]

Sam Spruell kind reminds me of Paul Bettany.

I get "David Warner meets Don Imus," but now that you mention it...

 

[auntiehill]

Maybe it's more "Paul Bettany merged with David Warner."

 

[Jayson1]

This last upside was just okay. Feels like it would have played better to show right before the season final because it was less character stuff and mostly setup. Putting people in places for the final showdown.