‘Fargo’ Recap, Season 5, Episode 2: Trials and Tribulations – Vulture

Fargo

Trials and Tribulations

Season 5 Episode 2

Editors Rating 4 stars ****

Photo: FX

After teasing Jon Hamms role inFargos fifth season via a brief flashback in the season premiere, Trials and Tribulations wastes no time getting to the Jon Hamm fireworks factory. We meet Roy Tillman astride a horse as he surveys the landscape of North Dakotas Stark County, for which hes served as sheriff since the age of 25. And assuming the election we know is coming up (thanks to a billboard he passes) goes the way its long gone, thats unlikely to change soon. Meet Roy Tillman, A Hard Man for Hard Times, as his campaign slogan would like you to know. Whats more, hes the latest in a line of Tillman sheriffs that goes back to his grandfather.

Hes also a man with a clear philosophy. Theres a natural order to things, he says in voice-over. We know it in our bones. Whats not immediately clear is that hes attempting to apply this philosophy to a specific situation, intervening in a case of domestic abuse. Thatsoundslike a virtuous act, but Tillman first wraps his admonition in a lot of talk about a wifes natural place (even allowing forsomehitting under the right circumstances), then drives the point home by having one of his deputies put the abusive husband in a chokehold, then scalding the perps face himself with hot coffee. Hes undeniably a hard man. But could it be possible hes played a role in creating his countys hard times?

On a personal level, theyre about to get harder. Roys sondeputy sheriff Gator (Joe Keery, looking quite unlikeStranger Things Steve with his haircut) informs his dad, They missed her. Her, of course, is Dot, and only one-half of they has returned: Ole Munch. Never did you mention that she is, for real, a tiger, he tells them by way of explanation. But he offers no apologies. By Munchs reckoning, this was a job he never could have pulled off with such a meager team. And why did Roy want this Tiger? Shes my wife, he tells Munch. Though Dots been in hiding for nine or ten years, Roy hasnt forgotten. And when her fingerprints showed up in the system after the last episodes tasing incident, he decided to take action.

Roy gets points for promptness, but by all evidence, he didnt have a great plan. Munchs partner, Danny, is on the slab, and his attempt to take Munch out of the equation by putting a bullet in his head goes sideways immediately. So now Roys up against a tiger and whatever animal Munch most resembles. And so far he looks like a wolf.

Across the state line, Dot and Wayne are also having a difficult, if less fatal, talk with law enforcement. Indira wants to know why they found two different types of blood on her floor, neither of them hers, and about the hair DNA on the ski mask. Dot has answers for both, but theyre not particularly convincing. And though Wayne may be a different sort of Lyons than his mother, he knows how to shut down unwanted inquiries, sending Indira to Danish Greaves.

Shell have to get in line as Danish is deep in conversation with Lorraine, who receives the news of Dots return with a suspicious eye. Which, to be fair, makes sense, but her theory that Dots acting as a Lady Macbeth (also kind of a Coens reference) to Wayne and pushing him for a more ambitious life than that of the owner of a Kia dealership is way off base. To figure it out, Lorraine proposes a You brace him, I brace her plan to Danish, which is an odd way to frame a talk with family members, but were obviously not dealing with a conventional family.

Of course, the same could be said for the Tillmans. If Roy is the king of his county, his hilltop hot tub is his crown. Its there he first confers with Gator about the whole Dot situation, then meets with FBI agents Joaquin (played by Nick Gomez and not pronounced ja-queen) and Agent Meyer (Jessica Pohly, not Mrs. Ja-queen), who want to find out why Roys not enforcing the laws that the government expects him to enforce. Roy argues that he is the law of the land, to which Gator simply adds the word freedom. And thats all they offer in the way of explanation before Roy rises nude from the tub and restates his position that hes the best judge of how to enforce what is right and prosecute what is wrong. With that, he sends them on their way, but its unlikely he, or we, has seen the last of them.

Elsewhere, its time for a twin bracing. Dot tries to play nice, sticking to her story that she just kind of wandered off for a bit, even when Lorraine turns insulting, referring to her daughter-in-law as a sassy thing with a tight caboose. But Lorraines not buying it and lays down the hammer before offering to buy Dot off if she promises to leave. And thats a bridge too far, earning Lorraine a whispered listen, bitch followed by a statement of defiance and an unambiguous threat to Lorraines well-being.

Across town, Wayne gets a visit from Danish and, via speakerphone, Lorraine, who expresses concern about this whole kidnapping that aint a kidnapping thing. Wayne stands by his wife despite Danishs overwhelming evidence, which earns him a slap from his mother administered by proxy by Danish, a moment that makes them both feel undignified. But its not like either of them have much say in the matter.

Up in North Dakota, Witts hospital room hosts an impromptu meeting of law-enforcement officers. Indira has some questions about the night he was shot, but before she gets very far shes joined by Gator, who, to say the least, isnt all that helpful. Indira has a picture of Dot on her phone, but before Witt can confirm her identity, he accidentally deletes the photo. From Indira, Gator learns that Dot has returned to Scandia. This does not bode well for her.

But the discovery probably doesnt bode well for Gator or any other potential intruders, either. Where Dot displayed aHome Alonelike ability with improvised booby traps in the previous episode, in this one she goes fullStraw Dogs, rigging the place with electricity, sledgehammers, broken glass, and other defenses, much to Waynes dismay. It seems a bit, well, crazy. But does it? The Tillmans are pretty determined to bring her home. Either way, Dot keeps her cheerful demeanor with Wayne, though she lets it slip a bit when Wayne tells her Lorraines litigatin against her. And when he wants to know whats up with all the new security measures, she deflects the concern by talking about societys breakdown and how they have to be prepared for ruffians at the door. This brings Wayne around. When he suggests they buy a gun she tells him theyre now speakin the same language. This doesnt seem like a home destined to stay peaceful.

Unless, of course, Gator, Roy, and the others never make it to Dot and Waynes house. Ole, it turns out, isnt the type of hired killer who can let an attempt on his life go unanswered. At the same gas station where the gunfight went down, he kills Gators traveling companion and leaves a message: You owe me. Thats a debt he seems eager to collect.

It feels like all the pieces are in place now, doesnt it? Roy wants his wife back. Lorraine wants Waynes wife gone. Neither knows that theyre troubled by the same person, and thats just the beginning of the misunderstandings, all of which will play out against a Midwest thats already experiencing, to paraphrase Dot, a neighbor-against-neighbor situation. Meanwhile, Oles acting as a wild card. Yet even if the setup looks clear, where all this is heading remains a mystery. But its probably not heading toward a peaceful solution.

Lets talk about Ole. It was easy to write him off as a discount-bin Anton Chigurh after the previous episode, but he seems like an altogether more complicated character. His profession of nihilism nods toThe Big Lebowski, but hes a far more aggressive nihilist than those faced by the Dude. And when hes told that hedoesbelieve in money, he doesnt have much of a defense. Hes a pitiless killer with layers and an unusual fashion sense, in other words.

While were at it, lets talk about Danish, if only to note how amazing Dave Foley looks with a white mustache and eyepatch to match his hair. Will he get his story in full at any point? How long has he been Lorraines Smithers? And why?

You know, I heard a man went into a hospital in St. Paul for a kidney transplant. He ended up with someone elses brain. Remember,Fargois all based on a true story.

Roy justifies his approach to the job in terms familiar favored by the constitutional sheriffs ideology. His claim of sovereignty over all he surveys sounds ridiculous, but its probably the most grounded-in-reality element of the season.

Speaking of which, season five isnt being shy about tapping into some very of-the-moment cultural fissures, is it? Its set four years ago, but that sadly doesnt make it any less timely. Waynes desire to return to simpler times is understandable. He just wants to play floor hockey in my socks with Scotty again and watchReal Housewives. Metaphorically speaking, dont we all?

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'Fargo' Recap, Season 5, Episode 2: Trials and Tribulations - Vulture