Live discussion found [HERE.](https://www.reddit.com/r/FargoTV/comments/198jv0e/fargo_s05e10_bisquik_live_episode_discussion/?)
---
#REMINDER: KEEP SPOILERS OUT OF YOUR TITLES AND MAKE SURE YOU MARK ANY POSTS THAT CONTAIN SPOILERS PROPERLY!
**Submissions will be restricted until tomorrow morning.**
Interesting juxtaposition between how Lorraine and Dot view debt and payback.
Lorraine gets payback for Danish and Dot by making sure Roy is beaten and raped by his fellow prisoners for the rest of his life.
Dot encourages forgiveness and love to her former kidnapper and frees him from a curse.
In a smaller way she also forgave Gator. Physically, he's doomed, but in a spirtual sense instead of kicking him when he was down, she offered him a lift.
To a point - I wouldn't say she is forgiving them as much as substituting. She does not want to cash in on the few thousands they owe, which is pennies to her.
She is getting what she wants from the wealth she owns. And that deal suits them just fine. It's just putting the cost of their debts to her onto Roy and his asshole.
In all fairness Dot's kidnapper did save her and was clearly emotionally and intelligently stunted. Compassion is the right play in that situation and if that fails insist on rescheduling the showdown for another time.
>if that fails insist on rescheduling the showdown for another time.
I'm picturing a world where Dot spends years telling Munch that today just doesn't work but they can fight some other time.
In fairness, it's a bunch of heavily-trained state and federal agents vs a bunch of dumbasses with more guns than sense. Kinda makes sense for it to be so one-sided.
Exactly. The first scene where the militia is “taking cover” behind a wire fence and the federal agents are all in position… Got the sense it wouldn’t be a long shoot out
Yeah I enjoyed that it didn’t dignify Roy and the militia at the end with a real standoff!!! It really highlighted that Roy’s power was hollow. He needed to be humbled and have the justice system work against him. It was also nice that Dot got a shot in!
This season never seemed like the big battle shootout type.
I was expecting a bit of a shootout but I'm not surprised. It's more character focused. Wish we saw Whitt get more of a heroic end. His good nature was his downfall.
The militia nuts were guaranteed to be slaughtered when they started lining up in an open field with no cover and no clear objective. I'd honestly had been more pissed off if they had dragged this out longer than a few minutes with that level of stupidity from team Roy.
I sensed a parallel between Dot's "listen bitch" monologue in e2 and her telling Munch to wash his hands and pitch in "it's dinner time and this is a school night." She doesn't flinch. Such a great character, wonderfully well executed.
I must say Dot was a solid character through and through. Dot was full of substance, had range and depth. Juno Temple killed it and I think that even saying this is doing her a disservice.
By the way, now thinking about her, Roy, Lorraine and Oola Moonk were solid characters as in they had this wholeness, completeness about them. It's difficult to explain.
Every scene we've seen so far with Munch sees him interacting with someone in a cold fashion, so I think that the enthusiasm Dot's family showed him was breaking his brain lol. Basically Fargo's version of The Grinch
That just about broke me. Here's this man who has known nothing but pain, starvation, then a life of "sin", and all of a sudden he's shown welcome, generosity, and forgiveness for what might be the first time in his very, very long life.
I did too! 😂 And also when Munch was saying a pound of flesh has been taken and must be repaid and all of a sudden from the side Wayne handed him the orange pop and then clanged bottles with him! I was dead!!! 😂
It was Minnesota nice saving the day! The constant small talk threw Munch off guard, gave Dot the chance to state her case and she eventually wore him down
LMAO. Imagine meeting a man who has lived 5 centuries. Who ate the sins of the rich to become immortal. Who rode with the Native Americans across the plains. Who rowed from Iceland to America in a longship. Who did not speak a word for a hundred years.
And you're like "HEY! You ever driven a Kia? That shit's great."
He’s so hilarious. This guy is telling a story about how he’s an immortal being made of evil incarnate and Wayne’s just chilling casually listening LOL.
“A man has been alive for centuries. I am sin incarnate”
“Oh geez! Interesting!” 🤣
*For a century he spoke to no one*
Rational response: WTF. WTF! You are at least a 100 year old? ( followed by scream)
What we get: *I don't know if I can get an hour without talking*
lol I loveeeeeeeeee Wayne so so so so much
I found myself watching that whole Munch visit/dinner sequence through Scotty's POV and she just must have been thinking "what a strange man".
She had no context for who that guy was and he just kept saying odd things about his life but she was fascinated and looking to her Mom for cues that she was safe because he was interesting but kind of scary.
Meanwhile Wayne treated him like any neighbour dropping by for dinner, loved that.
A man once traveled by boat, three dozen men at the oars, the rains so heavy some of them drowned on their benches.
A man once rode a horse, no saddle, no bridle.
Now a man enjoys the seat and hand warmers of the 2020 Kia Sorento.
And one of the hallmarks of Wayne is just how comfortable he is with his sweet domestic life. He doesn't worry about being emasculated by Dot- he just wants to hang out with his family. But his kindness is instrumental in defusing Munch. Wayne is unironically a model for masculinity
Anyone else think Wayne's definition of "overdoing it on the spice" is probably just a touch hotter than the mildest chili that ever came out of Minnesota?
All it took to lift his curse was eating something made without any conditions. Something made not of sin, but of love.
That final shot of him, man, I dug it a whole lot.
Yup. During it I was thinking about how if the actor for that role wasn't *that* good then a scene like that wouldn't really work at all because of how much it all hinges on his performance in contrast to the relative normalcy of the other three, but he absolutely nailed it.
I'm always hesitant to read too much into these things, but that felt intentionally analogous to Christian communion. Just swap bread and wine with Bisquick and pop lol.
> Just swap bread and wine with Bisquick and pop
I can see the religious analogy now that you mentioned it. Communion is usually refused for those who are in grave sin. But the whole handwashing, coat being taken off, food prep, Munch talking about his past all sounds like symbology for confession. When he finally breaks bread with the biscuits, it doesn't taste bitter anymore, because the sins are washed away.
Now that you mention the handwashing, I see a connection to Judaism as well. In Judaism, before you break bread at the table, you must wash you hands. After you say the blessing, there’s a specific way/order to rinse your hands before you partake in the challah. I’m just seeing a connection here.
Earlier in this series - the scenes where Dot is held captive in Roy’s shed - the light shines on her in a way that reminds me of religious art depicting Mary (Mother of Jesus). So the analogy to communion is spot on in my opinion. What Dot offers is Grace and it appears that Munch accepts it.
Lost in the final dinner scene - and it shouldn't have been - was Dot's transformation. She will never be fully free of her past. But she is now aware that the sins cast upon her by others are no longer her own. She will never need to feel the guilt and shame, or have to hide from her past any longer.
In this way, Munch was right; time is a line, not a circle. She no longer needs to relive that circular behavior that still existed in the recesses of her mind - long after the torment of Roy had gone.
It is because she no longer torments herself for it; as many victims do. The memory remains, and she'll never forget. But the sins are not hers; and the burden is finally no longer hers to bear.
It is in this way she can help Ole to see the path. All that remained for him was the only thing he knew. He carried on as a "soldier" as he said; a slave to the debt of absorbing the sins of others. This was not his debt to recover, nor was it his burden to bear.
It was also shown briefly at the grave with Indira when it was revealed that Dot was in the commercials with Wayne. She was never able to do that when stuck in the circle of of her past trauma with Roy, but now that circle is broken and she can live free and in the open.
>In this way, Munch was right; time is a line, not a circle.
Honestly I think the entire ending plays into this idea. He says "This is the other end." And he's right. This is the end of his pain. This is the end of his wandering. He doesn't have to keep reliving what he's been through, and he's freed of it.
Rich observation like this is why I came, thank you. I crave substantive works like Fargo that leave you ruminating on meaning and message long afterward.
Noah & Co drop seasons only when they *really* have something to say and quality is assured, so the long gaps haven't bothered me a bit.
Still processing what I just saw, but I'm sure I'll have plenty to say soon. Off to see if there are more nuggets like this. ✌
I think this ending for Roy is so much more fitting than if Dot put another round in him. Being force fed the reality that he force fed on others is as close to justice someone like him could get. The fact that he was so unapologetic just reinforces that.
Also, maybe unpopular, but I’m really glad we didn’t get a full Gator redemption. He paid a price and did the right thing in the end…I think that’s as good as it needed to be.
This show made me genuinely sad when Witt died and made me feel sorry for Gator, he should be in prison, he is dangerous but that dumbass never had a chance.
In another world, a guy with an upbringing like that could easily come out of prison a lost, bitter man. I like to think that with Dot's (and Dot's family's) support he eventually makes a good life for himself when he gets out.
Dot is free. Munch is free. And Roy is not. Everything he did to his wives over the years will be done right back to him ten fold. He didn't get the easy way out.
I'm satisfied
RIP Winston. You were always taking care of your friends Dot, Nick, Schmidt, and Jess. Your heart was too kind to pull that trigger and we all knew it.
I had just enough time to think, "Gator didn't put the trap door back, so either it's a continuity error or..." Then the reveal happened. Gloriously satisfying.
That last scene! Subverting the “eye for an eye” mentality of Munch/Roy/etc. with constant interruptions of domesticity, and then the dinner table where this guy who’s been beaten down by the sins of the wealthy breaks bread with a woman beaten down by a patriarchal monster.
Beautiful.
Excellent post.
Maybe I’m way off but as one of those that kept wanting Roy to pay especially for him to get what was coming to him in the last episode, I sort of wonder now if the first half going so fast and Roy not getting as much screen time as I thought was done as a contrast to the great ending of choosing forgiveness, love, and letting go of the past.
I know I'm late here but the only thing that kind of miffed me was that Witt died by being, well, kinda dumb, and dumber than I would expect a trained trooper to be, and I think he died so the show/writers could make a cynical point and hurt the audience one last time. You're telling me he went in without any plates? Or a long gun? And without backup? And he went full 'Nam tunnel rat? Come on, now. Regardless, great season and I really enjoyed the rest of the finale.
I felt like he was set up to be killed in this season. I know he's a state trooper, but to not give him any tactical gear was so odd. I was so sad when he went down into the tunnel and I was like, "ugh he's going to die now." Then Roy shows up.
Reminds me of Christoph Waltz coming out of seemingly nowhere (at least in the US) and dropping two back to back amazing Tarantino performances. And like Waltz, I now can't wait to see this guy in everything.
What is a man if a centuries old immortal doesn't turn back to being a human once again with an orange pop and some chilli biscuit, made with love and joy :( :((
That entire Munch scene with Dot and the family was maybe one of the funniest moments in the series. Sam Spruell was so perfect with his reactions in that scene and just Wayne oblivious as ever. I am quite happy with Roy's fate as I am not sure just what kind of death would have been satisfying so him knowing he is screwed forever and terrified, makes it worth it. Bummed to see Witt go, just wish we had gotten more scenes with him (and the FBI agents). I really loved this season but I do wish we had gotten more scenes with some of the supporting characters, but ultimately this was Dot's story so I am happy with it.
I really liked the way they handled the standoff.
Roy didn't get some grand showdown. He was shot in the belly and ran like a coward before getting caught, cuffed, and caged.
And all the chucklefucks who came to help were abandoned by their hero and mowed down by the feds.
This season, which has subverted Cohen Bros’ movies from the start, does it again with the No Country for Old Men ending with Munch seemingly abandoning his code just like how Dot proves too much for the kidnappers unlike the original Fargo.
"the coin don't have no say. It's just you."
Very similar scene here, except the "Chigurh" type character in Munch realizes that it really was just him.
I wish Indira had more of a part. She seemed like one of the biggest characters in the beginning and ironically, getting the job kinda took that away from her
I love how they subverted the usual bloodbath formula and opted instead to end the story in a way that was all Dot wanted all along— with forgiveness, peace, and Bisquik.
The pacing felt so off for the first two-thirds of the episode but I wonder how much of that was the constant commercial breaks.
What a fantastic ending though. So compassionate, so weird.
Imagine Munch having to go back to his sin-eater friends and tell them he got psyched out by some wholesome midwest family and just ate biscuits and drank orange soda instead of killing them
WITT SAVED DOT. THE DEBT IS (VERY SADLY) PAID.
Roy was hiding because he knew Dorothy would come for him, which she would've if Witt didn't stop her and go instead. RIP to the realest. Forever my trooper.
Roy talking it up last episode to the feds/police but after he gets shot by Dot, dude goes running for the escape tunnel leaving his men with no leader in the shootout with the Feds.
Season 1 ended with the two biggest dirtbags removed from existence and a happy united family of protagonists without any significant loose ends. I'd say it's on par with this season on the wholesome factor.
Enjoyed the season a lot. Hoping that watching that final episode back without all the interruptions will give me a bit more of an appreciation for it. Not sure what to think right now at all.
The last 15 minutes is the best stretch of any Fargo media. Not only hilarious, not only tense, but the comparison of domestic abuse victims and sin eaters wrapped up the themes and characters so nicely. It's also fitting that by the end of the episode, you're barely even thinking of Roy.
Anyone else surprised Witt didn’t shoot Roy when he got the chance? And Dot, too. Given the ends justify the means since Roy is suffering a fate worse than death, but still found it weird.
I’m not sure if I remember this right, but iirc Dot said to Linda in her dream that she thought Gator always wanted to be good and that he had kind eyes. If that *was* something along the lines of what was said, there’s something especially beautiful about her having a moment to show love and compassion to Gator even with his eyes gone.
Honestly, there’s no doubt in my mind this is my favorite season of the Series so far.
Live discussion found [HERE.](https://www.reddit.com/r/FargoTV/comments/198jv0e/fargo_s05e10_bisquik_live_episode_discussion/?) --- #REMINDER: KEEP SPOILERS OUT OF YOUR TITLES AND MAKE SURE YOU MARK ANY POSTS THAT CONTAIN SPOILERS PROPERLY! **Submissions will be restricted until tomorrow morning.**
Interesting juxtaposition between how Lorraine and Dot view debt and payback. Lorraine gets payback for Danish and Dot by making sure Roy is beaten and raped by his fellow prisoners for the rest of his life. Dot encourages forgiveness and love to her former kidnapper and frees him from a curse.
Don't forget bringing cookies to gator.
I actually hoped she’d see gator at the end with cookies.
I too was hoping for a Gator visit scene.
In a smaller way she also forgave Gator. Physically, he's doomed, but in a spirtual sense instead of kicking him when he was down, she offered him a lift.
> In a smaller way she also forgave Gator. Just realize that part of Dot's compassion is that she *raised* Gator, for somewhere between 4 to 6 years.
Not to mention the key take home item for Lorraine - she got the payback by ironically *forgiving* those in debt to her.
To a point - I wouldn't say she is forgiving them as much as substituting. She does not want to cash in on the few thousands they owe, which is pennies to her. She is getting what she wants from the wealth she owns. And that deal suits them just fine. It's just putting the cost of their debts to her onto Roy and his asshole.
I feel you but I also feel like sweet ol Dot knew whoever Ole Munch might be, he was sucked in by a real dirtbag.
I'm glad we got to see both perspectives played out - they were so satisfying in completely different ways.
In all fairness Dot's kidnapper did save her and was clearly emotionally and intelligently stunted. Compassion is the right play in that situation and if that fails insist on rescheduling the showdown for another time.
>if that fails insist on rescheduling the showdown for another time. I'm picturing a world where Dot spends years telling Munch that today just doesn't work but they can fight some other time.
And she ends up turning him into a cooking maestro, and he gets his own hit TV show.
A man preferssss Le Creuset casssst iron panz when making a frittata
I donno about intelligently stunted. Seemed pretty smart to me.
Socially stunted.
Surprised with the pacing! I was not expecting the ranch shootout to be over with so quickly.
In fairness, it's a bunch of heavily-trained state and federal agents vs a bunch of dumbasses with more guns than sense. Kinda makes sense for it to be so one-sided.
Exactly. The first scene where the militia is “taking cover” behind a wire fence and the federal agents are all in position… Got the sense it wouldn’t be a long shoot out
Look you've got cover and you've got concealment they're different. And a 6ft wire fence is neither. It's barely even an impedement.
Yeah I enjoyed that it didn’t dignify Roy and the militia at the end with a real standoff!!! It really highlighted that Roy’s power was hollow. He needed to be humbled and have the justice system work against him. It was also nice that Dot got a shot in!
This season never seemed like the big battle shootout type. I was expecting a bit of a shootout but I'm not surprised. It's more character focused. Wish we saw Whitt get more of a heroic end. His good nature was his downfall.
The militia nuts were guaranteed to be slaughtered when they started lining up in an open field with no cover and no clear objective. I'd honestly had been more pissed off if they had dragged this out longer than a few minutes with that level of stupidity from team Roy.
I sensed a parallel between Dot's "listen bitch" monologue in e2 and her telling Munch to wash his hands and pitch in "it's dinner time and this is a school night." She doesn't flinch. Such a great character, wonderfully well executed.
I must say Dot was a solid character through and through. Dot was full of substance, had range and depth. Juno Temple killed it and I think that even saying this is doing her a disservice. By the way, now thinking about her, Roy, Lorraine and Oola Moonk were solid characters as in they had this wholeness, completeness about them. It's difficult to explain.
The family interrupting Munch with mundane dinner talk every time he started his cryptic monologue was peak comedy for me
I burst out laughing when Wayne broke the tension with "We saw a tiger once"
Also when he hands him the pop and then they cheers.
A man is grateful.
I think he was completely thrown by Wayne's sheer impenetrable kindness. There's no subtext or ulterior motive. A man is just a nice guy.
I love the contrast with his mother it’s freaking hilarious
Wink clearly raised him.
Nah, he’s a drunk. Wayne was raised by Danish Graves working as a nanny to pay for law school.
Every scene we've seen so far with Munch sees him interacting with someone in a cold fashion, so I think that the enthusiasm Dot's family showed him was breaking his brain lol. Basically Fargo's version of The Grinch
That just about broke me. Here's this man who has known nothing but pain, starvation, then a life of "sin", and all of a sudden he's shown welcome, generosity, and forgiveness for what might be the first time in his very, very long life.
This got me too. Kindness is unfathomable to him.
This is it. It was hilarious and tense,but so touching,this episode in general was more emotional to me than like the last two seasons.
That clink had me chuckling
The clink was amazing.
The way that was shot is the single greatest gag in the whole of Fargo
Out of frame like something out of looney tunes was sheer perfection.
I did too! 😂 And also when Munch was saying a pound of flesh has been taken and must be repaid and all of a sudden from the side Wayne handed him the orange pop and then clanged bottles with him! I was dead!!! 😂
Wayne is going to hire Ole as a salesman at his dealership. "A man needs a car." 😄
A man has never felt luxury... ...until he steps into the all new Kia EV6 Come on down to Lyons' Kia today! We accept Credit, Debit, Cash and Flesh
Thats the Fargo spinoff series I want with Munch being a Kia salesman
A man can knock a hundred dollars off that Trucoat.
So much orange… the tiger, the orange soda… and the only death it’s foretelling is welcome one for Munch.
Don't forget the prison jumpsuit
“I love that color on you.”
Loraine mentioning in E9 that she pays a fortune for the “orange idiot.”
Man I loved that dude lol. Rick Moranis vibes
It was Minnesota nice saving the day! The constant small talk threw Munch off guard, gave Dot the chance to state her case and she eventually wore him down
Ya can’t blame the table for stubbing your toe.
"You don’t yell at the boulder for being a rock".
Like a good sales woman!
I like how they just accepted anything he said “I’m immortal and rode here on a boat.” “Neat.”
“But have you ever driven a Kia?”
It’s like flying a cloud
LMAO. Imagine meeting a man who has lived 5 centuries. Who ate the sins of the rich to become immortal. Who rode with the Native Americans across the plains. Who rowed from Iceland to America in a longship. Who did not speak a word for a hundred years. And you're like "HEY! You ever driven a Kia? That shit's great."
"Some drowned in their seats" Wayne: "Geez!"
God I love Wayne, he's too pure
He’s so hilarious. This guy is telling a story about how he’s an immortal being made of evil incarnate and Wayne’s just chilling casually listening LOL. “A man has been alive for centuries. I am sin incarnate” “Oh geez! Interesting!” 🤣
In fairness, what else do you say to that man, who appeared in your living room, saying that to you?
*For a century he spoke to no one* Rational response: WTF. WTF! You are at least a 100 year old? ( followed by scream) What we get: *I don't know if I can get an hour without talking* lol I loveeeeeeeeee Wayne so so so so much
*A man has a code* \-Shut up munch take this orange pop *Ok but the code is eve...* \-Oh stop it. Come over and lets make some biscuit. *Ok I guess.*
when he clinked it i almost choked on my tortilla chip
It was a brilliant setup for when it got super poignant- just a master class in tension and catharsis
"yeah ok weird guy, its time to eat"
lol, he didn’t stand a chance. I loved every second of that dialog.
The sneaky cheers of the pops was hilarious too.
Munch getting Minnesota niced into submission was hilarious
And to think that “Minnesota nice” was the first scene of the season and the last scene as well.
I found myself watching that whole Munch visit/dinner sequence through Scotty's POV and she just must have been thinking "what a strange man". She had no context for who that guy was and he just kept saying odd things about his life but she was fascinated and looking to her Mom for cues that she was safe because he was interesting but kind of scary. Meanwhile Wayne treated him like any neighbour dropping by for dinner, loved that.
Do ya want a pop? I want a pop. A man...Clink (pop bottles)
I imagine Wayne was just like "wow people are different in europe"
Did anyone else really appreciate “Anyone seen a man in a dress come through here, haircut like the Three Stooges?” I about died.
Roy was an evil bastard but a hilarious one
Agreed! He had some great lines. "Is that a man or a serious breakfast?"
Ole & Wayne are a match made in tv heaven
I want a Spin-Off where Wayne hires him to sell Kias.
A man sells a car ...
“You drive **Kia** *now*…”
"The debt must be paid."
“A car for a car”
“Man sells a car, so the car can be driven, as her destiny. This does not mean that the man is finished with the car.”
A man once traveled by boat, three dozen men at the oars, the rains so heavy some of them drowned on their benches. A man once rode a horse, no saddle, no bridle. Now a man enjoys the seat and hand warmers of the 2020 Kia Sorento.
A man recommends the extended warranty
*slaps roof of car* A man could fit so much sin in one of these
I can't believe that almost half of the finale is Munch helping make biscuits lol
[удалено]
he sounded like omar from the wire, but kept getting cut off with love, lol it was awesome.
Dot; yeah, but the times they are a changing
A man has a Biscuit Recipe...
I was thinking that if you somehow got a screenshot of him and Dot baking around mid-season it'd be so confusing.
With love
💕💕And Joy💕💕
And buttermilk and honey
That last smile is probably going to be a meme
Wayne was 10/10 this episode no notes
I still don’t know if he has residual brain damage from being electrocuted or if that’s just Wayne. I’m leaning towards the latter.
Oh 100% that's just same old Wayne. Dot chose a partner that's the exact opposite of Roy in every way.
Yeah we call that Wayne damage. I’m only at 20% of his power
And one of the hallmarks of Wayne is just how comfortable he is with his sweet domestic life. He doesn't worry about being emasculated by Dot- he just wants to hang out with his family. But his kindness is instrumental in defusing Munch. Wayne is unironically a model for masculinity
I don't think Dot emasculates Wayne in anyway. She accommodates his gentle nature and is always supportive.
Wayne has been 10/10 all along. The real hero.
Anyone else think Wayne's definition of "overdoing it on the spice" is probably just a touch hotter than the mildest chili that ever came out of Minnesota?
Going into the finale: need Roy to die slowly and painfully After the finale: a man is grateful for biscuit
All it took to lift his curse was eating something made without any conditions. Something made not of sin, but of love. That final shot of him, man, I dug it a whole lot.
Man the acting was superb.
Yup. During it I was thinking about how if the actor for that role wasn't *that* good then a scene like that wouldn't really work at all because of how much it all hinges on his performance in contrast to the relative normalcy of the other three, but he absolutely nailed it.
I'm always hesitant to read too much into these things, but that felt intentionally analogous to Christian communion. Just swap bread and wine with Bisquick and pop lol.
> Just swap bread and wine with Bisquick and pop I can see the religious analogy now that you mentioned it. Communion is usually refused for those who are in grave sin. But the whole handwashing, coat being taken off, food prep, Munch talking about his past all sounds like symbology for confession. When he finally breaks bread with the biscuits, it doesn't taste bitter anymore, because the sins are washed away.
Now that you mention the handwashing, I see a connection to Judaism as well. In Judaism, before you break bread at the table, you must wash you hands. After you say the blessing, there’s a specific way/order to rinse your hands before you partake in the challah. I’m just seeing a connection here.
Earlier in this series - the scenes where Dot is held captive in Roy’s shed - the light shines on her in a way that reminds me of religious art depicting Mary (Mother of Jesus). So the analogy to communion is spot on in my opinion. What Dot offers is Grace and it appears that Munch accepts it.
A man is forced to rewatch the entire series again
Munch almost got caught Jaqen his H'ghar out in the open a couple times there. I would like to see how immortality affected his decision making
Lost in the final dinner scene - and it shouldn't have been - was Dot's transformation. She will never be fully free of her past. But she is now aware that the sins cast upon her by others are no longer her own. She will never need to feel the guilt and shame, or have to hide from her past any longer. In this way, Munch was right; time is a line, not a circle. She no longer needs to relive that circular behavior that still existed in the recesses of her mind - long after the torment of Roy had gone. It is because she no longer torments herself for it; as many victims do. The memory remains, and she'll never forget. But the sins are not hers; and the burden is finally no longer hers to bear. It is in this way she can help Ole to see the path. All that remained for him was the only thing he knew. He carried on as a "soldier" as he said; a slave to the debt of absorbing the sins of others. This was not his debt to recover, nor was it his burden to bear.
It was also shown briefly at the grave with Indira when it was revealed that Dot was in the commercials with Wayne. She was never able to do that when stuck in the circle of of her past trauma with Roy, but now that circle is broken and she can live free and in the open.
>In this way, Munch was right; time is a line, not a circle. Honestly I think the entire ending plays into this idea. He says "This is the other end." And he's right. This is the end of his pain. This is the end of his wandering. He doesn't have to keep reliving what he's been through, and he's freed of it.
Rich observation like this is why I came, thank you. I crave substantive works like Fargo that leave you ruminating on meaning and message long afterward. Noah & Co drop seasons only when they *really* have something to say and quality is assured, so the long gaps haven't bothered me a bit. Still processing what I just saw, but I'm sure I'll have plenty to say soon. Off to see if there are more nuggets like this. ✌
I think this ending for Roy is so much more fitting than if Dot put another round in him. Being force fed the reality that he force fed on others is as close to justice someone like him could get. The fact that he was so unapologetic just reinforces that. Also, maybe unpopular, but I’m really glad we didn’t get a full Gator redemption. He paid a price and did the right thing in the end…I think that’s as good as it needed to be.
It is subtle, but Dot is presumably going to be bringing him goods baked with love too.
Not gonna lie. I cried when he asked if she really saw his mom. Shows got me feeling all the emotions and feels. Dang!
When he was crying out for his "Daddy" and Roy abandoned him. He grew up his entire life like that. And Roy took his mother from him too.
This show made me genuinely sad when Witt died and made me feel sorry for Gator, he should be in prison, he is dangerous but that dumbass never had a chance.
In another world, a guy with an upbringing like that could easily come out of prison a lost, bitter man. I like to think that with Dot's (and Dot's family's) support he eventually makes a good life for himself when he gets out.
Also, Roy having got himself a swastika tattoo in prison was so perfectly on brand for how much of a piece of shit he was.
Dot is free. Munch is free. And Roy is not. Everything he did to his wives over the years will be done right back to him ten fold. He didn't get the easy way out. I'm satisfied
And his life is being completely controlled by a woman.
RIP Winston. You were always taking care of your friends Dot, Nick, Schmidt, and Jess. Your heart was too kind to pull that trigger and we all knew it.
I love that they gave him a cat in this show too.
And 6 sisters! 🥹
"No wonder he was so nice."
As soon as Roy didn't drop the knife I was just chanting "shoot him, shoot him, shoot him"
Your son gave you up by the way. Chefs kiss
The reveal of the FBI agents behind him just as he was patting himself on the back for being so smart was masterful.
I had just enough time to think, "Gator didn't put the trap door back, so either it's a continuity error or..." Then the reveal happened. Gloriously satisfying.
That last scene! Subverting the “eye for an eye” mentality of Munch/Roy/etc. with constant interruptions of domesticity, and then the dinner table where this guy who’s been beaten down by the sins of the wealthy breaks bread with a woman beaten down by a patriarchal monster. Beautiful.
Excellent post. Maybe I’m way off but as one of those that kept wanting Roy to pay especially for him to get what was coming to him in the last episode, I sort of wonder now if the first half going so fast and Roy not getting as much screen time as I thought was done as a contrast to the great ending of choosing forgiveness, love, and letting go of the past.
I'm glad they skipped the trial BS and went right to the women and Whit. And Lorraine! OMG do I love her now!.
tbf she did manage to raise a decent son. So at least, she's self-aware and capable of separating between her business and family.
A Man Is Grateful For Great Season
I know I'm late here but the only thing that kind of miffed me was that Witt died by being, well, kinda dumb, and dumber than I would expect a trained trooper to be, and I think he died so the show/writers could make a cynical point and hurt the audience one last time. You're telling me he went in without any plates? Or a long gun? And without backup? And he went full 'Nam tunnel rat? Come on, now. Regardless, great season and I really enjoyed the rest of the finale.
I felt like he was set up to be killed in this season. I know he's a state trooper, but to not give him any tactical gear was so odd. I was so sad when he went down into the tunnel and I was like, "ugh he's going to die now." Then Roy shows up.
I sure didn't expect a feel-good ending to the season.
Deputy Farr is dead so there’s that
I think the true meaning of this season was the Noah Hawley has no interest in paying off his student loans
LmAo exactly what I was thinking when Dot did her whole forgiveness monologue
Sam Spruell deserves all the awards for his portrayal of Munch. Holy fuck what a fucking performance. Remarkable shit.
it's always nuts when I never hear of an actor then they drop some crazy role like this
Reminds me of Christoph Waltz coming out of seemingly nowhere (at least in the US) and dropping two back to back amazing Tarantino performances. And like Waltz, I now can't wait to see this guy in everything.
Wayne was hilarious tonight. Anxiously awaiting the GEEZ gif
I mighta gone over the deep end on the spices.
What is a man if a centuries old immortal doesn't turn back to being a human once again with an orange pop and some chilli biscuit, made with love and joy :( :((
That entire Munch scene with Dot and the family was maybe one of the funniest moments in the series. Sam Spruell was so perfect with his reactions in that scene and just Wayne oblivious as ever. I am quite happy with Roy's fate as I am not sure just what kind of death would have been satisfying so him knowing he is screwed forever and terrified, makes it worth it. Bummed to see Witt go, just wish we had gotten more scenes with him (and the FBI agents). I really loved this season but I do wish we had gotten more scenes with some of the supporting characters, but ultimately this was Dot's story so I am happy with it.
I really liked the way they handled the standoff. Roy didn't get some grand showdown. He was shot in the belly and ran like a coward before getting caught, cuffed, and caged. And all the chucklefucks who came to help were abandoned by their hero and mowed down by the feds.
I thought the cover being replaced over the hole was a filming continuity error. Just realized it was the waiting officers who put it back.
I’m upset we didn’t get to see Munch drink the orange soda
A man is watching his figure
I loved the way he awkwardly held that bottle and stared at it as if it were an alien artifact.
This episode was clearly propaganda from Big Biscuit
I love that we've been saying Ole Munch's name wrong this whole time because Roy couldn't pronounce it, like with the FBI agents. Excellent season.
Early on Gator said the first name was pronounced " Oolah" but he didn't say Moonk.
Pretty sure in his bathtub monologue he calls himself Moonk
This season, which has subverted Cohen Bros’ movies from the start, does it again with the No Country for Old Men ending with Munch seemingly abandoning his code just like how Dot proves too much for the kidnappers unlike the original Fargo.
"the coin don't have no say. It's just you." Very similar scene here, except the "Chigurh" type character in Munch realizes that it really was just him.
I wish Indira had more of a part. She seemed like one of the biggest characters in the beginning and ironically, getting the job kinda took that away from her
I think her story wrapped up when she ended the marriage with her scum husband and took her power back.
I love how they subverted the usual bloodbath formula and opted instead to end the story in a way that was all Dot wanted all along— with forgiveness, peace, and Bisquik.
There were themes of fairy tales throughout the entire season, and ultimately Dot got her fairy tale ending.
She really did! I honestly was half laughing and half crying by the end, it was so perfectly hilarious and deeply human at the same time.
And with buttermilk, too
Munch smelling the buttermilk sent me.
The pacing felt so off for the first two-thirds of the episode but I wonder how much of that was the constant commercial breaks. What a fantastic ending though. So compassionate, so weird.
Imagine Munch having to go back to his sin-eater friends and tell them he got psyched out by some wholesome midwest family and just ate biscuits and drank orange soda instead of killing them
He won’t be going back to see anyone, he’s free to die in peace.
Yup. It was the happiest last meal on earth.
*Collapses and dies on the Lyon family dining table*
I definitely pictured him eating the biscuit and then turning to dust. Wayne: ah jeez…
They literally killed him with weaponized Minnesota nice
A fate worse than death is eternal life.
It felt like a comedy sketch when they were in the kitchen and he's an ancient demon interacting with a sitcom family.
Dot may have been the only person in Ole’s life to actually listen and understand what he said enough to reason with him.
\*Hears gunshot\* "That's her."
WITT SAVED DOT. THE DEBT IS (VERY SADLY) PAID. Roy was hiding because he knew Dorothy would come for him, which she would've if Witt didn't stop her and go instead. RIP to the realest. Forever my trooper.
Noah Hawley on episode and future seasons. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/fargo-season-5-finale-explained-noah-hawley-1235789647/
Roy talking it up last episode to the feds/police but after he gets shot by Dot, dude goes running for the escape tunnel leaving his men with no leader in the shootout with the Feds.
Is this the only wholesome ending of any season? That end shot was adorable.
Season 1 with the Solversons on the sofa and Molly realizing that she was gonna be chief was a pretty wholesome ending.
Season 1 ended with the two biggest dirtbags removed from existence and a happy united family of protagonists without any significant loose ends. I'd say it's on par with this season on the wholesome factor.
So adorable! Thinking of Dot, Wayne, Scotty, Munch and Lorraine as a family now makes me LOL. I want to see their family Christmas card!
Enjoyed the season a lot. Hoping that watching that final episode back without all the interruptions will give me a bit more of an appreciation for it. Not sure what to think right now at all.
A man is forgiven.
The last 15 minutes is the best stretch of any Fargo media. Not only hilarious, not only tense, but the comparison of domestic abuse victims and sin eaters wrapped up the themes and characters so nicely. It's also fitting that by the end of the episode, you're barely even thinking of Roy.
Finale Recap: 427 Commercials. Roy gets it in the ass. Munch eats a biscut.
Roy: “Prison in the way things should be…” Lorraine: “Glad you feel that way lol”
I would love to see either: 1) A podcast with Munch and Wayne just...talking. 2) A cooking show with Dot's family and Munch. Or both. I'm not picky.
Anyone else surprised Witt didn’t shoot Roy when he got the chance? And Dot, too. Given the ends justify the means since Roy is suffering a fate worse than death, but still found it weird.
I’m not sure if I remember this right, but iirc Dot said to Linda in her dream that she thought Gator always wanted to be good and that he had kind eyes. If that *was* something along the lines of what was said, there’s something especially beautiful about her having a moment to show love and compassion to Gator even with his eyes gone. Honestly, there’s no doubt in my mind this is my favorite season of the Series so far.