Fargo: Season 1 Episode 5 Review: "The Six Ungraspables"

"If you puke in here, I'll kill you.  I mean I'll actually kill you."
-Grady Numbers


The fifth episode up Fargo picks up with Lester (Martin Freeman), Wrench (Russell Harvard), and Numbers (Adam Goldberg) all in jail.  The hitmen coerce Lester into giving up the name of Sam Hess' killer.  Wrench and Numbers are bailed out and are soon hot on the trail of Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton).

Deputy Molly Solverson (Allison Tolmam) finally convinces the useless Police Chief (Bob Odenkirk) that Lester and Malvo were working together in the death's of Hess, Pearl Nygaard, and Vern Thurman.  The Chief allows Molly to interrogate Lester, but discovers Lester has gone into sepsis and is unconscious.  They take him to the hospital and on the way, Lester inadvertently drops vague hints that lets Molly know she is on the right trail.

Back in Duluth, Officer Gus Grimly (Colin Hanks) has a late night talk with his neighbor (Byron Noble) that convinces Gus that he needs to continue trying to catch Malvo because it's the right thing to do.  Malvo, who has finally convinced Stavros Milos (Oliver Platt) to pay the blackmail, spots Gus on Milos' street and follows him back to his apartment.  Gus' neighbor stops Malvo from trying anything, but Malvo threatens the neighbor and implies he might be back.


What Works:

This is an episode that is really building to the next one.  Almost everything in this episode is a set-up.  That said, the set-up is all really good.  We've seen that Numbers, Wrench, and Malvo are all very formidable men.  What happens now that they are on a collision course?

We see that Lester knows Molly is on to him.  He can't avoid confrontation with her for much longer, especially now that we know she has the Chief back on her side.

How is Milos' meeting to pay off the blackmailer going to go?  What is Malvo going to do?  How is he going to deal with the enjoyably clueless Don (Glenn Howerton)?  We've got a lot of great setups in this episode and it makes me very excited for what is going to come next.


What Sucks:

Unfortunately, by virtue of this being a set-up episode, it's definitely a step-down from other episodes of Fargo.  There aren't any stand out moments.  I feel like they are all being saved for next time.  I get it.  Some episodes have to be set-up episodes.  That's how TV works.  All I'm saying is I don't think this will be anyone's favorite episode of Fargo.


Verdict:

"The Six Ungraspables" is fine for what it is.  You'll be hard pressed to find a better set-up episode anywhere.  It's definitely enjoyable.  It's just lacking the big moments to make this episode truly memorable.

 8/10: Really Good 


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