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Fargo – “Who Shaves the Barber?” Recap. No Funny Stuff.

Season 1, Episode 7

Air Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2014, 10PM E/P on FX Networks.

Rating: ★★★★★

 

Lester (martin Freeman) and Chaz (Joshua Close)

After last week’s intense, jaw dropping “Buridan’s Ass,” I needed a change of pace as I continue processing everything that’s happened. Thankfully, “Who Shaves the Barber” is a perfect follow-up shifting from the bloodshed to something more dramatic.

Right off the bat, ”Who Shaves the Barber” gives us an explanation about the fish. In my review of “Buridan’s Ass,” I made a guess about a tornado sucking up the fish from a lake and dumping them on the road but, the idea seemed so far-fetched, especially in the winter. The ice gets so thick, you need an auger to get through it. So, for a show that has been so well written to use a winter tornado as a reason for the fish had me baffled, rolling my eyes. I understand how it fits the biblical theme but I was hoping for a more creative reasoning behind fish-gate.

Poor Gordo Nygaard (Spencer Drever). It’s bad enough being the weird kid at school but when some classmates are horsing around the gun Lester (Martin Freeman) put in his backpack falls out, it sets off a chain of events Lester set up hoping it would clear his name.

One of the things show creator and writer Noah Hawley does exceptionally well is one on one conversations. The interrogation scene between Lester and Chief Oswalt (Bob Odenkirk) is no exception. It’s absolutely scintillating to watch. Oswalt, riveted and fighting back tears, listens to Lester as he tells his version of how the murders went down. Lester claims Chaz (Joshua Close) committed the murders and because of fear, Lester couldn’t do anything to stop him. “Bill, if you think that makes me guilty of something then I want you to throw the book at me.”

“Um, you got shot.” Leave it to a kid to be direct as Greta Grimly (Joey King) as she informs Molly (Allison Tolman) what happened when she awakens in the hospital. Despite all the darkness in the series, I have really come to enjoy the moments shared between Molly and Gus (Colin Hanks).

Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton)

In Reno, NV, Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) meets up with his mysterious boss Mr. Rundle (Brian Jensen) to figure out why he sent Mr. Numbers (Adam Goldberg) and Mr. Wrench (Russell Harvard) to kill him. I laughed as Malvo leaves the office then suddenly you hear screams coming from inside. I can only imagine what Malvo did to Mr. Rundle before he left.

Speaking of Mr. Numbers, I was hoping he’d survived. When Gus checked his body in “Buridan’s Ass,” he says, “I think he’s dead,” not, ‘he is dead.’ I hoped we would see Mr. Numbers return at some point with a bad ass scar.

Still in the hospital herself, Molly pays a vist to Mr. Wrench, who’s also in the hospital, recovering from being shot by Molly. I am surprised how touching the scene is as Molly tries to communicate with him since he’s hearing impaired.. Maybe it’s the hospital drugs calming him down but I found myself feeling sorry for Mr. Wrench.

Molly and Gus go through her theory about everything that’s happened surrounding Lester and Malvo. I can’t help feeling for Gus who, with even a small boost of confidence, would make for a good detective. Molly seems to sense the same thing telling Gus as she leaves the hospital, “You keep your chin up Gus Grimley, we’re winning this thing.”

Jordan Peele as Agent Pepper, Keegan and Michael Key as Agent Budge

In the town of Fargo, ND, we meet Agent Pepper (Jordan Peele) and Agent Budge (Keegan-Michael Key), two FBI agents. Considering their bickering, I quickly get the impression these two were the law enforcement equivalent of Mr. Numbers and Mr. Wrench. It will be interesting to see how they fit into the grand scheme of things.

I could immediately tell viewers would be divided over the shootout scene as Malvo takes out his revenge on Tripoli (Mark Acheson) and his men. You either love it or hate it. I loved it. It fits visually with some of the unique cinematography used on the show. It has a Saturday morning cartoon look to it as sound and camera movement tell us everything the audience needs to know without all of the violence.

Out of the hospital, and for now, cleared of the murders, Lester is a changed man. You can sense confidence oozing out of him, especially when he pays Gina Hess (Kate Walsh) another visit deciding to let off a little adult aggression, if you know what I mean. I’m surprised over this turn of events because I thought Lester would be more remorseful. What do you think of the new Lester?

Molly returns to the police station only to learn everyone is out celebrating closing the case on the murders. Molly is dumbfounded to learn about Chaz’s role because it goes against everything she thought she figured out. Maybe it’s the case taking its toll or the reality of being shot finally settling in, but Molly goes into a panic attack right as the camera fades to black.

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “Who Shaves The Barber?”

 

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.

Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.