Undoubtedly the best episode of Season 3, the suspense kicked into high gear this week, and I'm thinking that the next four episodes will likely be explosive. Ray's surprise death was quite unexpected, and the way it functioned both as an emotional high point and as a plot progress-er was quite nice! Ewan McGregor deserves an award for this episode, for both performances are so genuine and fleshed out, though he shines most as Emit this week. The only negative I'd say is just that it was a shorter episode than usual, but the tight claustrophobia, the plot progression, the building tension, the unexpected twists and actual emotional empathy is bringing me back to the power and resonance of Season 1. Phenomenal.
13 Reviews
Karma
darbski24 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
**SPOILERS** I was going to say synchronicity, but, somehow, Karma fits a little better. *** if you have not seen this episode, read NO FURTHER *** Now, we all know that Ray really didn't mean any harm, it was just that he was too stupid to see how he was getting dragged into Nikki's crapstorm life. I mean Nikki's kinda hot and all, but for god's sake she's crookeder than a dog's hind leg!! We know this all. A stupid life, and a stupid death; when all Emitt wanted to do was make up and give him the stamp, Ray just HAD to fight about it.
Nikki just barely slides out of her appointment with death (for now), and Gloria is going to get Winnie to go with her to start digging in for real. Again, I really hope nothing bad happens to either one of them.
I know that people are gonna hate me for this, but other people have hated me, so, Some of the music just sucks; there, I said it and I don't care. I don't have to like everything just because it's part of a good show. You know what I mean; the Beatles were great, yeah, but not everything they did was good. Some of it was mediocre, or even stunk. So I find it with this series. McGregor's acting was very good when he realized that he'd killed Ray, but, he didn't help him when he could have at least tried.
Varga's main dirtbag is going to investigate Gloria. Now, since I hate that entire crew, I can only hope that either Gloria or Winnie kills him slowly.
Okay, I had to edit this because I left out something that got lost with all that was going on, and that is ... The Asian creep that is Varga's 2nd killer. When he sets up in front of the I.R.S. agent and it is an exact duplicate of the agent himself, I had to laugh. whoever thought that up gets a gold star for psy-ops, and humor. p.s., I gonna love him getting killed.
Nikki just barely slides out of her appointment with death (for now), and Gloria is going to get Winnie to go with her to start digging in for real. Again, I really hope nothing bad happens to either one of them.
I know that people are gonna hate me for this, but other people have hated me, so, Some of the music just sucks; there, I said it and I don't care. I don't have to like everything just because it's part of a good show. You know what I mean; the Beatles were great, yeah, but not everything they did was good. Some of it was mediocre, or even stunk. So I find it with this series. McGregor's acting was very good when he realized that he'd killed Ray, but, he didn't help him when he could have at least tried.
Varga's main dirtbag is going to investigate Gloria. Now, since I hate that entire crew, I can only hope that either Gloria or Winnie kills him slowly.
Okay, I had to edit this because I left out something that got lost with all that was going on, and that is ... The Asian creep that is Varga's 2nd killer. When he sets up in front of the I.R.S. agent and it is an exact duplicate of the agent himself, I had to laugh. whoever thought that up gets a gold star for psy-ops, and humor. p.s., I gonna love him getting killed.
That Is Some Stamp!
Hitchcoc25 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
What a great episode. The girls are moving in and it would seem that they are really the only thing that makes Vargas nervous. The IRS is eliminated and Nikki and Ray take it on the lam. Unfortunately, nothing escapes the eyes of the bad guys. Emit is defeated and decides to give the damned stamp to his nitwit brother. But Ray is so filled with pride, thinking he owned the stamp all along, he won't take it, but it costs him his life. A stupid end to a stupid man. How does that leave Nikki and her dreams of the bridge tournament? Vargas has arisen from invisibility. When the two female cops come to talk to Emit, he pushes his way into the fray. Normally, he would have sat back. This doesn't' sit well with Gloria, who is a bulldog. Nikki avoids death again because of Emit and Ray's encounter. We are set up for episode 7 and things are at a nice boil. I'm so sad I'll have to wait another year to see a new season. It's not fair.
Continues The Series In A Strong Way
AudioFileZ30 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This show rocks. Ewan McGregor takes up the mantle of this years great interpreter of what the writers dream up. If you thought Billy Bob, Martin Freeman, Patrick Wilson et.al. were awesome previously McGregor propels the series more by his brilliant two-part role in season three (plus we get the paranormal insertion with Gloria's lack of photo-sensitivity for automated doors). Again we have a series of unlikely events tying together for some big mayhem. The evil around us is deliciously played by David Thewlis as V.M. Varga. V.M. is insidious and his articulations are pure gold. He is a devil walking amongst us and he owns Emmitt and his business to which the milk toast Emmitt is finally realizing he's on board and doesn't have an out. Emmitt's braintrust Sy, who has been resisting, is scared on board now too it seems. The only trouble on the horizon seems to be our two law women. This is more gold. Taking the Columbo thing of being "out of it" to new heights officers Gloria and Winnie are fed up with being slde-lined. They're not about to give up on what only they seem to have put together. It's to the show's credit they saw fit to redefine the police even more in this season. It adds a great dimension to all the violence seemingly being brushed under the table. This episode was a bit slow but important in building the different sides of the mess that we know is all connected. It did have one blockbuster turn in Ray's unexpected death by his refusal of "the stamp" as a peace offering by brother Emmitt. For all the ways Ray was hanging his butt out I never saw this one coming. This episode seems like an excellent ramp to some big things in the home run. The series has already been great and this season is right on point!
Fago being Fargo again.
vinidurao27 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
**Spoiler alert** wow... This is Fargo, guys. Take a little long than the others seasons, but there it is. A very good episode that we're all waiting for. Did you guys noted the fish aquarium behind Ray? "What if you're right and they're wrong" Does it sounds familiar? The acting, soundtrack, storytelling, Aw jeez, here we go again!
The wolf and Peter have now come face-to-face...
rusoviet25 May 2017
...Varga and Chief Bugle. They both understand what the other represents - that which must be removed before they can go forward
domination for Varga......justice for Burgle.
Emit has now come full circle in his slow but steady loss of manhood/ courage. He has none and now he dangles from Mr. Varga's fingers because he chose to go to him (Varga) after (spoiler alert) he committed the accidental death of his twin brother rather than to the authorities.
There is very little wasted time in this episode. This has been the most intriguing episode and the strangest moment is when Varga tells Emit how Lenin reacted to a Beethoven piano concerto. Varga does this while Emmitt is trying to tell Varga what he (Emmit) has just done to his brother. A casual watcher wonders why or for most ignores it as meaningless.
Question to all - is V. M. Varga a caricature of George Soros? Consider Varga has an ex-SVR (replaced the GRU in the Soviet Union) thug he uses for violent acts. Varga lives in a tractor trailer rig decked out with all kinds of surveillance gadgets and on his desk is a photo of Stalin and now he's quoting a remembrance of a telling evil comment by Lenin on kindness - just wondering - is Varga a slimmed down younger version of Soros? George Soros' goal is to wreck everything he can in the west through controlling the media and govts. - Varga's is control of a company and by extension lives of others. The music stinks - there's some retro really lousy blues artist someone thought would be 'cool' to insert - it definitely is a distraction.
domination for Varga......justice for Burgle.
Emit has now come full circle in his slow but steady loss of manhood/ courage. He has none and now he dangles from Mr. Varga's fingers because he chose to go to him (Varga) after (spoiler alert) he committed the accidental death of his twin brother rather than to the authorities.
There is very little wasted time in this episode. This has been the most intriguing episode and the strangest moment is when Varga tells Emit how Lenin reacted to a Beethoven piano concerto. Varga does this while Emmitt is trying to tell Varga what he (Emmit) has just done to his brother. A casual watcher wonders why or for most ignores it as meaningless.
Question to all - is V. M. Varga a caricature of George Soros? Consider Varga has an ex-SVR (replaced the GRU in the Soviet Union) thug he uses for violent acts. Varga lives in a tractor trailer rig decked out with all kinds of surveillance gadgets and on his desk is a photo of Stalin and now he's quoting a remembrance of a telling evil comment by Lenin on kindness - just wondering - is Varga a slimmed down younger version of Soros? George Soros' goal is to wreck everything he can in the west through controlling the media and govts. - Varga's is control of a company and by extension lives of others. The music stinks - there's some retro really lousy blues artist someone thought would be 'cool' to insert - it definitely is a distraction.
Odd Man Out
ThomasDrufke1 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I think it's taken me a little longer than usual to watch this season because there hasn't been that 'Wow' episode yet. The premiere was great and I've enjoyed all of the performances thus far, but the story isn't something that has peaked my interest. With that said, 'Lord of No Mercy' provided a new spark for the season, culminating in a death that's been a long time coming. Ray Stussy has felt like the odd man out for most of this season. While his brother is trying to do real work and fix up his business, he's off stealing and sleeping with one of his former parolees. In many ways, he has been a ticking time bomb, and it's probably only a matter of time before Nikki Swango gets what's coming to her as well. Heck, she barely survived the brutal beating from Varga's henchman in the last episode. Ray's death seemed to mirror season 1's shocking death of Pearl, by way of Lester's hammer. Same goes for the stamp frame here. Meanwhile, Gloria continues to try and fight her way through the system. Carrie Coon is my favorite part of the show, so I'm looking forward to the point in which she's no longer pushed aside and becomes visible to everyone, not just her boss. I have to believe that the last 4 episodes will pick up the pace.
8.5/10.
8.5/10.
This is a...story.
antonellarzp25 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
A surprisingly ending for a slow episode.
I really like this episode, but I think that not too much things happened besides Ray's death.
I like Varga, and I'm enjoying him more every episode. Thewlis did a really good job.
Other thing that I really like was the way the things are very similar to season 1, but not like a copy but like a parallel.
+ Varga and Thewlis.
+ Ray dies in a very Fargo style.
+ I like Meemo being multitasking.
+ Nikki.
9.0/10
I really like this episode, but I think that not too much things happened besides Ray's death.
I like Varga, and I'm enjoying him more every episode. Thewlis did a really good job.
Other thing that I really like was the way the things are very similar to season 1, but not like a copy but like a parallel.
+ Varga and Thewlis.
+ Ray dies in a very Fargo style.
+ I like Meemo being multitasking.
+ Nikki.
- Quite slow.
- I need to more things happen.
9.0/10
Fargo: S3E6 "The Lord of No Mercy" Review - King Cadmium
kingcadmium31 March 2022
Gloria and Winnie get closer to the truth, Emmit tries to make things right, Nikki and Ray prepare for payback, and Varga cleans up a mess.
What I Liked:
The cinematography is solid, and each scene perfectly implements its well-crafted and memorable music score. On top of that, each actor gives a strong performance.
V. M. Varga is a terrific character, played wonderfully by David Thewlis, stealing every scene he appears. I can't wait to see how his plans unfold.
What I Disliked:
Ray's death was pretty contrived and implausible. While shocking, there must have been a more organic way of having him die.
Overall:
Fargo delivers yet another high-quality episode in a so-far solid season. One can only surmise this season will continue to improve.
8/10
King Cadmium.
What I Liked:
The cinematography is solid, and each scene perfectly implements its well-crafted and memorable music score. On top of that, each actor gives a strong performance.
V. M. Varga is a terrific character, played wonderfully by David Thewlis, stealing every scene he appears. I can't wait to see how his plans unfold.
What I Disliked:
Ray's death was pretty contrived and implausible. While shocking, there must have been a more organic way of having him die.
Overall:
Fargo delivers yet another high-quality episode in a so-far solid season. One can only surmise this season will continue to improve.
8/10
King Cadmium.
The time we lost our way
lyb3-891-9858834 June 2017
After the previous episode, unsettling, dark and filled with complex psychological conflict, the script bursts out in clichés and seems rather tired and worn out. The episode doesn't really add much to the deeper, philosophical aspects of this STORY, but instead serves the most shallow.
Noah Hawley once again hinders his own creation with mediocre writing. This statement, I believe, is backed up by the fact, that all the best episodes of all 3 seasons were neither written, nor directed by him.
The climactic scene is so ridiculous and unbelievable, I am struggling to accept it. The episode is a small, but significant disappointment in comparison with this, up until this point, solid and well crafted season.
Noah Hawley once again hinders his own creation with mediocre writing. This statement, I believe, is backed up by the fact, that all the best episodes of all 3 seasons were neither written, nor directed by him.
The climactic scene is so ridiculous and unbelievable, I am struggling to accept it. The episode is a small, but significant disappointment in comparison with this, up until this point, solid and well crafted season.
Ugly characters
yahaira-729-69470112 November 2023
This season is not as satirical as the previous ones. It's very dark and sinister especially the bulimic Vargas character. I had to fast forward each time he appears he is just very gross man played by Tewils. I can't watch anything else that actor is in. So if the point is that he is gross and sick, ok then. The revenge of the brothers and the loan scam are only so entertaining. However Ewan McGregor really shines in this and shows his talent. The make up is supportive of the two brothers he plays. The time is not clear to be 2010 since Ray looks like a hypie. Carrie coon creates a believable Minisota accent and simple but smart cop. Cheers!
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
