FX's Fargo - Episode 1.08 "The Heap"
Molly faces pressure to close the case, while Lester starts to feel like a new man.
What I have really love about Fargo has been its unwavering confidence to just do anything and yet have it all make sense in the grand scope of things. A one year time jump happens halfway through "The Heap" but it plays so brilliantly. The closed-ended nature of the season's story means the show can do absolutely anything it wants to because it knows it will be finished with the story at the end of Episode 10. Characters die in Episode 6 and a major time jump happens in Episode 8. Okay. That's fun and exciting. I have no clue what to expect in the final two episodes - literally anything could - but I'm really excited to watch them.And it's become abundantly clear how Lester has become such a new man in "The Heap." He used to curl up in a ball when faced with any kind of confrontation. Now, he's being forceful but he's also living a life. Now that he's exacted his master plan to frame his brother for the murders, he's home free and he knows it. He has the confidence to make the trivial changes in his life and put all of this behind him. His interaction with Kitty is the only time where he's still dealing with the effects of the past in this hour. The rest of the time is spent with him forging ahead - getting a new washing machine as well as a new wife. Even when Gina Hess comes barging into the office, he's able to assert his authority in a way that we have not seen from him before. He's happy ruining her life and there's nothing she as a bully can do. And then, one year later, we learn that it has been one amazing year for Lester. He's Insurance Salesman of the Year! And married to Linda his co-worker! He attributes her for his affluence but we all know that it's him who forged ahead and was so confident and successful. However, it looks like that success may be short-lived as he notices Malvo also in his Las Vegas bar. The show has made it distinctly important not to have those two characters together since the very first episode. That way when they are forced together at the end of the season, their relationship is much more combustible.
But "The Heap" is especially tragic for Molly. She's still desperately clinging onto the hope that she can convince Bill to keep the case open. She has one final emotional plea in her but he's had enough of it. This case is closed for him - they even had the drinks to celebrate it! Bill is stubborn and his reluctance to believe anything Molly has to say has frequently been an obstacle the show has had to deal with. But he's firmly putting his foot down here. Enough is enough. Chazz killed Vern and Pearl. End of story. Molly correctly sees it differently but she is powerless to do anything about it - and seems all the more crazier once she's obsessing over her own conspiracy board. She's still searching for answers but she's powerless to make any kind of difference by herself. It pains her to have to talk to Ida convinced that Vern's killer has been caught. They've had a really honest and open relationship and now Molly can't even express her true feelings. The only person there for her is Gus. Despite shooting her, he's still there heavily courting her. It is a bit overboard but it's also pretty charming for her.
Once that time jump kicks in, it's wonderful to see both of those characters get some kind of happiness together. They've both been chasing the evil people running around Bemidji and Duluth to no avail. And yet, they found each other. He even got to be in the career he always wanted to be in. He's a mailman now and she's still working in the Bemidji police station. She's still all about the work even though everyone else is on a coffee run. Her determination to solve the case will ultimately reward her by season's end. I'm pretty confident in saying that. But right now, her desperation and craziness are just profound character developments that are just wonderfully weighing down on her.
Some more thoughts:
- "The Heap" was written by Noah Hawley and directed by Scott Winant.
- Like I've said in the past, I have not seen Fargo the film. However, I do know that the female protagonist is a pregnant police detective. And now, Molly is a pregnant police detective! The show just wanted us to care about her as person before giving her a baby bump to close out the season.
- I'm so intrigued in seeing how Key & Peele are gonna play into the season's endgame.
- I love how the FBI agent excuse for not being hopeful of someone returning Molly's call is because they're busy dealing with the Patriot Act.
- A Malvo-Mr. Wrench pairing seems really odd. And yet, the show lives for really odd pairings. So it could totally work. And Malvo is also a blonde now. Enough said.
- I'm guessing the opening titles will have to reflect that the year is now 2007 in next week's episode.
- As Bill and his new African kid explain, the universe has a way of working things out. Boy, I hope that's true for Molly because she really needs a moment of triumph to end the season on.
