Fargo (TV Series) Who Shaves the Barber? (2014) User Reviews

An emotional wallop, not an anti-climax

[gizmomogwai · 9/10 · 22 October 2017]

I'm late to the party with the Fargo TV show, it just hit Canadian Netflix. The previous episode, Buridan's Ass, as many previous reviewers pointed out, hit many of the notes of a season finale- in that spectacular, snowy white-out mist the Coen brothers mastered in their great film, several characters died, the money from the film got returned to where it went 20 years before and Lester seemed to be sinking. Molly's fate seemed left up in the air, which would have made for a cliché cliff hanger if it really were the season finale. The next episode, Who Shaves the Barber?, obviously couldn't boast the same killfest as the previous one, or the season premiere, or the series would be over very quickly.

Instead, the episode hits a high point in emotional drama. Lester's framing of Chaz appears to have gone smoother than his competency level would seem to allow, though I've got to expect the dusting of fingerprints on those photos and hammer won't point to Chaz. The police chief is able to revert to his comforting place of assuming old, swell Lester is a friend and innocent. And Molly is left behind again- she's hot on this case but can't do anything about what she knows is true, what should have been obvious from the get-go, though the series has believably stretched out the investigation over several episodes thus far. Chaz screaming in agony and anger makes for the perfect segue into the FARGO title, though it's over 10 minutes from the "true story" subtitles. Hard to blame Lester, given the attitude he's gotten from Chaz, though. Blame him for his stupidity/incompetence, not his hard feelings for his brother. And Molly interviewing the Fargo hit-man hits some of the same notes as Marge's musings to Gaear Grimsrud at the end of the movie. Not the anti-climax it could have been

Just When It Seems Like It Can't Get Better ...

[stacymattthomas · 9/10 · 3 July 2016]

Fargo ups the ante with Key & Peele as bumbling FBI agents. When they start bickering - seriously, it's Key & Peele perfection! This was a solid episode. Lester's plan unfolds with some help from Bill. Gus is tortured over his accidental shooting. Malvo takes care of his Fargo business, in his own special way.

The writing is superb on this show but the acting is equal to the performances in the movie version. The entire cast is fantastic. In this episode, Allison Tolman, Martin Freeman, Colin Hanks, Bob Odenkirk, Kate Walsh. But honestly, Billy Bob Thorton is truly the star of any scene he's in. He could read a menu as Lorne Malvo and it would be entertaining.

Fargo is definitely a show best binged in large doses.

Go Lester!

[miloshdrago · 10/10 · 21 September 2021]

The scene of Lester finally taking revenge on his bully made me smile all along. As someone who also got bullied in school, it is wonderful to see such a revenge occuring, even if it is just fiction.

Lester carries on winning

[TheDonaldofDoom · 17 February 2018]

You don't do mass murder scenes better than Fargo did it in this episode. The camera tracks Lorne around the building from the outside, meaning you don't actually see anything. Instead, you rely on sound and the camera's movement to imagine what is happening. The sound is enough to explain everything you need to know and the details are sometimes humorous. The genius of this scene is that we've got to know the way Lorne does things so well that we don't have to see the shooting; it's easy to picture. Truly masterful scene.

This episode also cements Lester as morally bankrupt, in case what he did in the previous episode wasn't enough. Seriously, he uses the promise of insurance payments to get sex from Sam Hess's wife, you can't stoop much lower than that! The feeling of triumph when he gazes at Sam Hess's picture while shagging his wife is something. Oh, and I love how the smirk on Lester's face as he walks out of the prison leaving his brother there reflects Lorne's smile at Gus Grimly. The same smile, with the same meaning. Lester is becoming more and more like Lorne.

Of course, with Molly having recovered, Lester isn't in the clear yet. Speaking of Molly, I love how her speech to the deaf hitman echoes Marge's speech in the movie almost word for word. It's a brilliant nod to the movie.

Good by old Lester

[mgidb · 10/10 · 31 August 2019]

Since the first episode Lester was nothing to bad guy, even when he accidentally murdered his wife, until this episode when he exploit the wife of his old high-school friend, also setting up his younger brother was a great twist for his coming new personality.

Awesome performance by Martin Freeman.

Fargo: S1E7 "Who Shaves the Barber?" Review - King Cadmium

[kingcadmium · 8/10 · 2 March 2022]

Malvo seeks answers, while Lester finagles a few of his own. Molly and Gus try to get past a setback in the investigation.

What I Liked:

The cinematography is solid, and each scene perfectly implements its beautiful and mesmerizing music score. On top of that, each actor gives a strong performance, with Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman being the clear standouts.

Malvo is one of the most intriguing individuals you will see on television, with Thornton's portrayal being nothing short of superb, along with Freeman's portrayal of Lester.

Lester's transformation sees him become arguably the most interesting character on this show, even more so than Malvo. It will be fascinating to see how morally bankrupt he will become by season's end.

What I Disliked:

Molly surviving after the last episode's cliffhanger felt a little cheap. While this character has improved during the season, it would have been interesting to see how her death would have played out, as opposed to a fakeout in which she sustained non-fatal injuries.

Malvo felt supernatural in this episode to the point of disbelief. While still one of the most intriguing individuals you will see on television, his ability to murder an entire crime syndicate was perhaps the most implausible event in the show so far.

Overall:

Fargo comes through with another high-quality episode, but perhaps the most flawed one so far. However, this episode has more than enough elements to make for a highly enthralling viewing experience.

8/10

King Cadmium.

Lester Comes Into His Own

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 6 October 2015]

Lorne has become almost a supernatural character. Perhaps this whole series is an allegory. He has now taken it upon himself to find out who set the dogs on him. He is such a killing machine. Meanwhile, Molly recovers with Gus at her side. The gunshot went through her leg. She begins to put two and two together concerning Lester, but it appears that she is the only one. When Lester left the hospital, he put evidence in his brother's hidden gun cabinet that sets him up as the killer. Everything starts when the gun he placed in the boy's backpack falls on the floor of his classroom. During an interview, Lester betrays his brother, leaving him to swing in the wind for the murder he committed. When Molly finds out, she is stunned. There are some really remarkable scenes, among them an outside shot of a building as Lorne takes his assault rifle to unleash carnage. We never see any of the murders, just glass being demolished and he shouts of the victims. Very good.

There's a puzzler here

[silverton-37959 · 7/10 · 9 October 2022]

Molly goes to talk to the deaf killer she shot. He writes on a whiteboard that he's deaf, and she say's "but you read lips?" and he nods. She then says the name Lorne Malvo and he doesn't understand. She writes it out for him on the whiteboard. Is it just me, or does he have trouble reading her lips because she doesn't move her lips with what she's saying?

I noticed this earlier, that the actor, Allison Tolman, keeps her lips still as though she's practicing ventriloquism. In the scene where she's talking to Gus in her hospital room, this is most obvious. At times it looks as though her lines are being dubbed because she keeps her lips still while she's talking.

Lester and Molly's season

[gedikreverdi · 5 November 2021]

Lester's story is the best thing in this season. Everyone that encounters Malvo turn out super dumb including FBI agents and he's a supernatural villain I'm almost sure now. Lester got out of jail and managed to frame his brother. Molly is the best character. She happened to shoot the deaf guy like Gus shot her. That Lester having sex with his bully's wife looking at their photograph is hilarious. And Molly is the only one who don't buy Lester's story.

Another Good Episode With Unnecessary Parts

[nomis94 · 10 January 2016]

I'm binge-watching "Fargo" and it's great so far. This episode is another solid one, but did they really need to put this stupid scene with Lester and Gina in this overall enjoyable TV show?

Man, that was dreadful and killed this episode in a negative way. It doesn't have any purpose and it surely doesn't have any value.

I'm sure that you'll find my statement very overstated and stupid, but I get really upset when directors and writers think that sex-sells are needed to put more badass-value and humanity into the characters. You're wrong.

It does the opposite, in my opinion.