The Castle

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

Once again, this series outdoes itself. This is the convergence of the twain. Ed and Peggy Blumquist are being held by authorities in the cabin they rented as a hideout. Dodd is dead, but the idiot cops try to set up a big sting by proposing to wire the erstwhile butcher and his mate and expose the Kansas City mob. They hole up in a motel and await the arrival of the Kansas mafia. What they don't realize is that the Gerhardts have been informed by Hanzee that Dodd is being held (actually, he shot him in the head in the last episode after some racial slurs were sent his way). Lou is the voice of reason and warns the overzealous knuckleheads and they send him packing. The meeting with Mike is the next morning. Guess what. The Gerhardts arrive at night. You can well imagine. There are some scenes of incredible violence. Hanzee has suddenly tapped into his Native American heritage, realizing how wronged he has been by his adoptive family. He begins playing to the middle. How could this get any better?

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.

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.

There's something special about 'The Castle' right from its opening; with Martin Freeman returning to narrate the tale in storybook style, it just seems to elevate everything.

And the stakes couldn't be any higher. Everyone and everything converges on a roadside flophouse for an epic shootout. I mean, it is take-no-prisoners, instant resolution. IN the end, an ad-hoc task force of cops and an organized crime family are decimated; chess board wiped clean.

Almost.

(Still have to leave a few people standing for the finale)

Even as the bodies pile up, there are still unanswered questions; but the twists, turns and big surprises leave their mark well after the credits roll. Everything that makes this show what it is (humor, violence, drama, performances, quirk) are present and accounted for.

And at their very best.

10/10