The 5 Best (& 5 Worst) Episodes Of Fargo (According To IMDB)
Fargo is an incredible show that's captured the attention of critics and fans alike and is most definitely one of the most well-received pieces of media that FX has put out in a long time. While it's not identical in tone or story to the Coen Brothers film, it does its best to stay within the footprint the film created.
With its artful blend of thriller elements, crime drama, and dark comedy, Fargo can do no wrong. That really doesn't mean however that some episodes aren't quite up to par with the high points of the series. You have to take the good with the almost as good.
10 Best: The Castle (9.6)
This episode has a 9.6 on IMDb, and for good reason. The direction is simply incredible in that even the scenes that shouldn't be tense are. This episode also involves the long-awaited "Massacre At Sioux Falls" that Lou Solverson, Molly from season 1's grandfather, had been alluding to for forever. He gets asked in the first season if he's ever seen anything like that near Bemidji before, and he says he remembers waiting for something, knowing it was coming but not knowing when.
This show deftly weaves that little breadcrumb into this season that at first seems only tangentially related to what we see in season 1. It's easy to assume that the show is only connected due to setting, but good old Martin Freeman who played Lester Nygaard in season 1 pops up to narrate for us!
9 Worst: The Law Of Non-Contradiction (8.1)
The Law Of Contradiction ends up being one of the lowest-rated in the series, despite not being bad. This series actually doesn't dip below an 8.0/10, but this episode gets an 8.1. Season 3 is noted by fans to lack some of the earlier absurd elements that makes the show so beloved, but it still maintains plenty of the other elements that make the show so great. In this episode, we see flashbacks to different locations and memories, which are still handled very well. The interesting thing about this one, in particular, is that it deals with an otherwise minor character.
8 Best: Loplop (9.5)
LopLop is an absolutely wild episode from start to finish, garnering itself a 9.5/10 rating and a nomination. It has so many moving parts it could almost descend into chaos easily if not for being so expertly crafted. The Blumquists are holding Dodd hostage, acting more and more desperate as they disregard any chance they have to cool down on the crime and become decent law-abiding citizens again. The writing and the soundtrack to the episode are just overall flawless, in addition to keeping with the breakneck pace that the second season has flowed with so far.
7 Worst: The Principle of Restricted Choice (8.2)
The Principle Of Restricted Choice has an 8.2/10, which is still better than many shows have garnered. This episode is an odd one because many fans seem to think that season 3 is a lot more laid back and slower than seasons 1 and 2. Perhaps it is. But along with this slower pace, we also see an increase in manipulation rather than outright quick violence. There's still plenty of violence though so don't get too worried.
6 Best: Rhinoceros (9.4)
Rhinoceros earns every bit of its 9.4/10 rating, along with many other episodes that share this same score. What it does so well is keeping up the suspense involved when Ed and Charlie are taken into the police station for their string of violent crimes and general suspicious behavior.
While they aren't really very familiar with each other at this point, there's plenty of tension, especially considering that Ed's wife killed Rye Gerhardt at the beginning of the season. The viewer knows this, but watching Lou and Hank walk the tightrope when the Gerhardts show up is what makes this episode.
5 Worst: The Narrow Escape Problem (8.4)
The Narrow Escape Problem earns for itself an 8.4/10. While that's one of the lower scores on this list, this episode may be the subject of some unnecessary gripes. It does indeed feel cliched at some points, what with it's borrowing of the whimsical device of assigning some of this episode's characters a different animal, but that's one of the fun absurd quirks one would come to expect from Fargo. It's a show all it's own, but with a familiar tone from season to season and episode to episode. Somehow it manages to do this without getting to feel samey and redundant.
4 Best: The Crocodile's Dilemma (9.4)
The Crocodile's Dilemma, an explosive series premiere, has a 9.4/10 rating on IMDb. Why? Because of Martin Freeman's portrayal of a completely ineffectual insurance salesman who's constantly being belittled by his wife, sitting in the shadow of his older, more successful brother, and is still bullied by a guy from high school. We also see the polar opposite of Lester in a man played by Billy Bob Thorton named Lorne Malvo. Lorne Malvo is an absolutely ruthless killer, who not only takes Lester's fate into his own hands, but also encourages Lester to do the same resulting in the murder of his wife.
3 Worst: The House Of Special Purpose (8.4)
The House Of Special Purpose has an 8.4/10, and the series doesn't generally dip much lower than that. The main complaint about this episode that isn't really seen in any other one is that it's fairly humorless.
This episode doesn't have that perfect dark comedy tone that one would expect from Fargo, whether that name refers to the movie or seasons 1 and 2 of the show.
2 Best: A Fox, A Rabbit, And A Cabbage (9.4)
A Fox, A Rabbit, And A Cabbage is one of the highest-rated episodes in season 1, and for good reason. it also managed to get itself a 9.4/10. The reason it does so well is that we see that a year later, Molly and Gus are married, Lester is doing much better for himself after winning salesman of the year and avoiding arrest for the murder of his wife Pearl. We also see that Malvo has managed to work the same target for 6 months before Lester comes in and with his newfound confidence, ruins it for him. Malvo then gives him a choice: "Lester, is this what you want?".
1 Worst: The Rooster Prince (8.5)
The Rooster Prince has an 8.5/10 which is actually nearly the lowest in season 1. That isn't due mostly to the fact that it's a bad episode, or poorly executed or anything like that. It's not that seeing Glenn Howerton of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia fame as Lorne Malvo's air-headed lackey isn't absolutely delightful, it's that we have more pressing matters to attend to. What's going on with Lester? Is Molly handling things at the precinct okay? These seem less important than the frankly less interesting supermarket king subplot when it should be the other way around. The only thing wrong with this episode is that it disrupts the flow of the season in question.