Buridan's Ass (Fargo)

"Buridan's Ass" is the sixth episode of the first season of the FX anthology series Fargo. The episode aired on May 20, 2014 in the United States on FX. It was written by series creator and showrunner Noah Hawley and directed by Colin Bucksey. The title refers to the paradox in logic known as Buridan's ass.[1]

"Buridan's Ass"
Fargo episode
Trapped by Lorne Malvo, Don Chumph (Glenn Howerton) can only watch in horror as his fate is sealed.
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 6
Directed byColin Bucksey
Written byNoah Hawley
Featured musicJeff Russo
Production codeXFO01006
Original air dateMay 20, 2014 (2014-05-20)
Running time53 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

In the episode, Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton), police officers Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman) and Gus Grimly (Colin Hanks), and hitmen Mr. Wrench (Russell Harvard) and Mr. Numbers (Adam Goldberg) all end up involved in a chaotic and deadly shootout in the middle of a snow storm. Meanwhile, Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) tries to implicate someone else for the murders of his wife and Chief Thurman, while Stavros Milos' (Oliver Platt) torments come to an unforeseen conclusion.

"Buridan's Ass" was very well received by critics and was seen by 1.80 million viewers. It was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, winning Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special for Bucksey.

Plot

Lorne Malvo has Don Chumph place the call to Stavros, who has the money ready for the drop. Malvo knocks Chumph unconscious and duct tapes him to an exercise bench in the entry way of his house. He also duct tapes an unloaded shotgun to his hands and proceeds to fire randomly into the neighborhood with another gun. Malvo quickly exits via the back door before police arrive. They are duped into firing upon and then storming the house, killing Chumph who is struggling wildly to get free of his bonds.

Molly Solverson is visiting Gus Grimly in Duluth to discuss the recent murders when gunshots are reported. At the scene they find a car wreck that Numbers and Wrench staged to trap Malvo. Numbers and Wrench then attack with automatic weapons; Malvo escapes the ambush and captures and tortures Numbers to tell him who sent them. Numbers replies, "Fargo" before Malvo fatally slits his throat. Molly and Grimly get separated and Gus accidentally shoots her.

Meanwhile, Stavros goes back to the roadside where he originally found the briefcase of cash, and buries the blackmail money there, believing God has been punishing him. Feeling God's forgiveness, Stavros calls his bodyguard to bring his son, Dmitri, home from the remote hideout he was staying at. The stormy weather clears, but not before fish fall out of the sky in a freak occurrence caused by the storm, causing the bodyguard to flip the car, killing himself and Dmitri, a scene that Stavros happens upon on his drive home.

Back in Bemidji, Lester Nygaard manages to sneak out of the hospital, stealing a car. He takes the murder weapon, some photos of his wife, and a pair of her panties from his house, hides everything in his brother Chazz's hidden gun cabinet, and places one of his brother's unloaded guns in his nephew Gordo's backpack, to ensure the police will search Chazz's house. As he leaves the house, Gordo sees him, but does not react. Lester then returns undetected to his hospital room, where a satisfied smile slowly creeps across his face.

Reception

Ratings

The episode was first aired in the US on FX on May 20, 2014 and obtained 1.80 million viewers.[2] The show was aired in the UK on Channel 4 on May 25, 2014 and was seen by 0.95 million viewers.[3]

Critical reception

The episode was very well received by critics. It currently holds a "Fresh" 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it, however, the lowest-ranking episode of the season, tied with the following episode "Who Shaves the Barber?".[4]

The A.V. Club writers Zack Handlen and Emily VanDerWerff gave the episode an A rating, complimenting Allison Tolman's performance and comparing Lester to Walter White from Breaking Bad.[1]

Another positive review came from IGN writer Roth Cornet, who gave the episode a 9.3/10 "amazing" rating and said "Lester Nygaard continued his descent into a moral wasteland, Gus Grimly's ineptitude may have yielded tragic and deadly consequences, and Lorne Malvo escaped death in what was one of the most emotionally dark and visually pretty episodes of Fargo to date."[5]

Accolades

At the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, Colin Bucksey won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special for this episode.[6]

References
  1. Handlen, Zack; VanDerWerff, Emily (May 20, 2014). "Fargo: "The Six Ungraspables"". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  2. Kondolojy, Amanda (May 21, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: NBA Conference Finals Lead Night + 'Deadliest Catch', '19 Kids and Counting', 'Ink Master' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  3. "British Soap Awards 2014 bring in 5.2m for ITV". Digital Spy. May 26, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  4. ""Buridan's Ass" critical consensus". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  5. Cornet, Roth (May 20, 2014). "Fargo: "Buridan's Ass" Review". IGN. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  6. Lowry, Brian (July 10, 2014). "2014 Emmy Awards: 'Game of Thrones,' 'Fargo' Lead Nominations". Variety. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
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