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

This is the best I ever saw on TV. I can not understand how come it is perfect in every piece. Writing, production design, music, acting, directing. Many 'big' movies include the current mega hit Star Wars spent so much money to produce but you can still feel something not fit with story with scenes. But this, all parts click. I do not why, even UFO I can accept. I can imagine after this the cast will appear in many new movies. Hoping 'Gerhardts' may appear in kind of Godfther with Jean Smart as patriarch

The problem after this is ... the new standard is there.. against what great show will be judged

thank you for all of you that spread that great show

Just so you know this first paragraph is gonna be personal, if you wish to skip begin on second paragraph. What I'm gonna do is give perspective on my enjoyment of this show because oddly enough I can't think of words to describe it. To be honest I've been in tough times lately, not only personally but even the world as a whole, every week I don't think I can put that stuff out of my mind, and you know what, every week Fargo proves me wrong. Each week I tune in, each week my expectations are blown out of the water and my mind gets immersed into this show, that is how good this show is for me. I can put all of those depressing thoughts out of my head and enjoy this show. That was before this week, and I was loving this show from the very first episode, if I loved it then then what is this incredible episode to me now that is leaving me darn near completely speechless.

Honestly, I don't think I am capable of writing a synopsis while coming of the aftershocks of this episode so don't expect one. By the end of last weeks episode I could see the general idea of what was coming but it didn't matter, my awareness of what was to come gave me this great sense of impending doom and the strongest tension I have experienced this entire season, and by the end the greatest pay off of the season thus far. Let's not forget the bright lights that hovered above the motel, as absurd and nonsensical as it was it worked very well (at least for me). To be very straight forward I still cannot comprehend the absolute craziness that I witnessed and I loved every freaking second of it (aside from the abundance of ads provided by FX).

To sum it up, I have not been captivated by a TV show like this since the final season of Breaking Bad (sorry game of thrones), and the craziest thing of all is that there is one episode left and I am clueless as of what to expect but couldn't be more excited. As far as my concern goes for this episode 10.0/10.0 no doubts what so ever. I hope your on for the ride because it isn't slowing down, as I've said before tune in and I hope you aren't disappointed and that you experience this show to the extent I did. Thanks for reading and I hope this provides some use.

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!

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.