The Castle

I have read what the maker's explanation (not real explanation, more like a dumb excuse) is for including the UFO stuff. In my opinion, it is all about trying to be arty and trying to be extra surprising. But all it achieves is that it ruins the whole episode, which otherwise would be outstanding. The appearance of the UFO makes the whole episode plain stupid. It ruins the whole feel of the story.

This for me was the best episode of the show. I read reviews here complaining about the appearance of the UFO, however, in my view this scene fits perfectly into the concept of the show. In real life, in the same year of 1979, the police officer Val Johnson incident in Minnesota happened with an alleged UFO, and like the fish rain of the first season, a brilliant reference to this unusual event was inserted in this second season.

Jusr remember... every episode starts with the warning "This is a true story. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota...", In other words, this episode makes a brilliant reference to a real event.

I didn't know Adam Arkin directed, and I am guessing by this episode he's pretty darn good yeah? He gets the season closer as well. Pretty much knocked it out of the park on this one. Yes, the UFO was "out there" but only in Fargo was it accepted contextually. Not sure why exactly, just the Coen Brother's brilliance I'm guessing that set the tone and feel from the movie. You know you are brilliant when you make a movie almost 20 years ago and nothing else feels like it until a TV show mimicking it's style. Oh, you betchya! If you haven't Youtube'd this show, do so and catch the interviews. Zahn McClarnon as Hanzee is as upbeat and full of smiles as anyone could be. That is acting!

The opening was awesome documentation for the whole thing. Hanzy unknown mission fascinating excuted but the UFO appearance is unexplained yet in this true events. But the slavery on the both sides of the gangs black man mercenary and the revenge of an Indian native guy is likable.

Just when I thought this season couldn't get any better, they have Martin Freeman guest star to narrate the best episode of the season. Yep, our very own Lester Nygaard from last season. I've said it before but I'll say it again, this is quite simply one of the best shows on television now and possibly ever. The writing, performances, cinematography, music, just basically everything, is so great.

We began this week with Freeman telling us the story through the book of crime in the mid-west. Season 3 is already confirmed, but I hope the show takes full advantage and uses any time period they want for future seasons, because this book showed just how insane the mid-west can be. Just keep the same tone and I'm sure it will be good. Freeman comedically catches us up on all the crazy sh*t that's happened this season (and man there's a ton, way more than season 1), and I'm glad he did. There's so much chaos in the show that I tend to forget about a few things and I think this episode did a great job at recapping everything, while also wasting no time giving us the bloodiest episode yet.

I'll get to the Sioux Falls craziness later, but it's worth mentioning just how well the scene with Lou finding the gas station clerks body was directed. From him attempting to call his family all the way to the other cop showing up, there's no dialogue and Hanzee had long left, but the intensity was still there. It's almost like this murder was the last straw for Lou, you can tell every emotion going through his body with each and every shot of his face, just a quiet masterpiece of a scene. Of course, all of that was complemented by the terrific slow drum beat score. Brilliant T.V.

Last week was Hanzee's coming out party, but this week was his character in full stride and in full bada**. Unfortunately the narration leads us to believe we will never truly know when and why he decided he would turn on the Gerhardt's, but it's nonetheless a fun plot point that elevated this season. I think some people are going to have a problem with the fact that this episode seemed to be told as more of a legend or urban myth, but I had fun with it.

Speaking of something mythical or even more so sci-fi, we finally got a glimpse of the UFO that has been teased in this show and I believe even briefly in the Fargo film. It's such a strange element to the show that I think it works perfectly along with all the other nonsense that happens. I'm also glad that it ties up the loose end from a few weeks back when Betsy found all those drawings and pictures in Hank's house.

In all, how can you not love this episode? We got the bloody shootout we have been promised, all 4 sides of these Fargo crimes (Blumquists, Gerhardt's, police, and Milligan's gang), and a flipping UFO. Just another week of Fargo. Now off to catch Bonnie and Clyde, oh no pardon me, I mean Peggy and Ed.

+Shootout

+Freeman narrates

+Down go the Gerhardt's

+Music use

+UFO

10/10