Fargo 4.02

The Land of Taking and Killing

Dibrell's sister and a friend break out of prison. They steal some clothes, clean themselves up, and then make their way to the Smutney household. Dibrell tells her daughter to stay in her room but Ethelrida can't help herself. Dibrell is reluctant to let her sister and her friend stay but Thurman, her husband, insists that they can't turn them away.

The Fadda family has the funeral for their fallen leader, the next day. Ethelrida shows up at the funeral home and is caught sneaking a peak at the wake by Nurse Mayflower. Josto gets into an argument with Gaetano, his hot headed and heavy handed brother. Gaetano spent World War II in Italy, fighting first for and then against Mussolini.

Nurse Mayflower gets caught about to administer another deadly dose to a patient. The director of the hospital tries firing her but she threatens to spread the word about how bad things are in the hospital. She scares the director enough to give her a couple months severance. She sees Ethelrida again on her way home. She lives in an apartment across the street from the Smutney house. She chats with Ethelrida and promises to make her a pie.

Odis Weff, a police detective, pays a visit to the hospital that refused to help the Faddas. He is there to investigate the drive by attempt on the life of Dr. David Harvard, the hospital's director. The director survived the drive-by shooting but didn't get a good look at the gunmen. Detective Weff pays a visit to the Fadda house afterward to report his findings to Josto.

Loy Cannon takes Josto's son with him and goes to see his son at the Fadda family home. Gaetano tries intimidating Loy, but he doesn't show any fear. Loy gets a few minutes with his son before it is time to go. He also shares a few words with Rabbi Milligan who is the one taking care of his son. Loy gets some reassurance that his son isn't being abused even if they aren't feeding him properly.

Loy decides that it is time to make good on a deal he made with Donatello Fadda. Doctor Senator takes a bunch of men over to the stockyards. Donatello promised Loy that his gang could have them. Cannon's crew chases off the men running the stockyard and then waits to see what happens. Gaetano shows up with some men. Gaetano is ready for a fight but Doctor Senator isn't looking for one. He told Loy they were going to test the Italians. Doctor Senator is satisfied that they have accomplished that goal and after exchanging many words with Gaetano, Senator leaves with his men.

Nurse Mayflower spends the afternoon baking an apple pie. She takes it over to the Smutney house, rings the bell, and then leaves the pie on the doorstep. A gang of men, some of of them wearing police uniforms moves in after Thurman opens the door and brings the pie into the house.

Thoughts

This isn't the same flavor of Fargo that I have grown to enjoy. There are some similar notes but it feels very different. It might just be that this season is taking longer to lay the groundwork than previous ones have. I am used to someone getting caught in the middle of a gang war. I can see the story is moving towards that but usually the someone in the middle commits a transgression against one side or the other early on. Maybe that someone is Nurse Mayflower. She certainly transgressed by killing Donatello Fadda. What isn't entirely clear is what role the Smutney family is going to play in the story. They seem like they are caught in the middle but they have also been seen congregating with Loy Cannon in the previous episode.

I don't love this season but on the strength of the previous seasons I'm happy to continue watching. I am very intrigued by the fact that the heads of the two families are plated by actors who are mostly known for comedic roles.