Morton's Fork (Fargo)
| "Morton's Fork" | |
|---|---|
| Fargo episode | |
| Episode no. |
Season 1 Episode 10 |
| Directed by | Matt Shakman |
| Written by | Noah Hawley |
| Featured music | Jeff Russo |
| Production code | XFO01010 |
| Original air date | June 17, 2014 |
| Running time | 62 minutes |
| Guest actors | |
| |
"Morton's Fork" is the tenth episode of the FX television series Fargo. It was written by show creator Noah Hawley and was directed by Matt Shakman.
The episode was well received by critics, and was seen by 1.98 million viewers.
Plot
The episode opens up showing the aftermath of a snowmobile crash. From the snowmobile, a trail of footprints are seen in the snow leading to a hole in the frozen lake.
Back in the parking lot outside Lester's workplace, Lester watches as Lorne exits the building after having killed his second wife Linda. Once Lorne leaves the area, Lester goes into the insurance shop in order to get the money from the safe. Before leaving, he covers up the crime scene in order to make it look like he was never there.
Lester enter's Lou's Coffee Shop, where he orders 2 grilled cheese sandwiches, telling Lou that Linda went to his office to get something and will be here soon. Lester indicates he's going to the bathroom but he leaves the Coffee Shop through the back door.
Outside, Lester enters a phone booth and makes an anonymous call to Bemidji's Police Station. He reports shots being fired at an intersection which is near Lester's office. He continues his report despite being told by a voice on the phone that he should've dialed 911. Lester hangs up ignoring the voice on the other end of the phone, then sneaks back through the back door into the cafe.
Lou brings him ordered drinks and Lester, in a nervous manner, makes excuses about Linda going to the office for something. To that Lou responds he already said that and asks if Lester wants the meals kept warm until Linda shows up. Lester replies she should be there any second now. Lou recalls his conversation with "a fella" (Lorne Malvo) who was looking for Lester. Lou says he offered to give Lester the man's number, but Lorne declined. He also didn't like Lorne's demeanor. Lou leaves Lester to his thoughts then.
Lester then realizes that he had left the airplane tickets to Acapulco in the winter jacket he gave to Linda before she went into the office. Immediately thereafter, police cars with sirens rush along the Coffee Shop, presumably driving to Lester's office.
At home, Molly Solverson receives word that another of Lester's wives has been murdered. Molly goes to the crime scene where she meets Lester. Lester tries but fails to retrieve the tickets from the jacket that Linda is wearing. The police bring Lester back to the station where he refuses to answer any questions. The next morning, Lester is allowed to return home, but must be accompanied by FBI agents Pepper and Budge.
Meanwhile, Malvo goes to a used car lot and chats up one of the salesmen about one car that looks like an undercover police car, convincing him to allow the two to go for a test drive. The Salesman, the same young husband that Lester failed to sell life insurance to a year earlier, obliviously consents.
Malvo later sees Lester being taken home by the FBI agents, and follows in his own car. During his trip home, Lester is asked about and solves the riddle of the Fox, the Rabbit and the Cabbage. Once they've returned Lester home, the two FBI agents remain outside. Apparently forced by Malvo, the Salesman drives his car up to Lester's house. The FBI agents, suspicious, order the driver out. With both agents focused on the car, Malvo emerges from the surrounding woods and murders both of them and presumably the Salesman as well.
Malvo enters Lester's house, and each stalks but fails to kill the other. Malvo strikes Lester in the face with Lester's award, bloodying his face and mirroring the injury inflicted on Lester by Sam Hess a year earlier. Though Lester's gun jams, Malvo's foot is caught in a bear trap left by Lester, and escapes severely injured.
Malvo retreats to his nearby cabin to treat his injury, not knowing that Grimly has already found it. Grimly kills Malvo. When the police arrive, they find Malvo's trove of audio tapes, including the one containing Lester's confession for the murder of his first wife.
Two weeks later, Lester is shown on a snowmobile in Glacier National Park in Montana. Being sought now that his role in his wife's death has been established, Lester is recognized by law enforcement officers also on snowmobiles. Lester tries to escape only to crash his snowmobile. Desperate, he escapes on foot, only to crash through thin ice, presumably meeting his end, and revealing that the scene shown at the beginning of the episode depicted Lester's fate.
At home, Molly receives the news of Lester. Gus tells her that he's receiving a citation for bravery, but he feels that she deserves it. Molly reassures her husband that this is his moment.
Production
The episode title refers to a dilemma of the same name, posed by Agents Budge and Pepper.[1]
The episode's score features the Norwegian folk song "The Lost Sheep" ("Den Bortkomne Sauen" in Norwegian), which was the main theme of the original film.
Reception
Ratings
The episode was first aired in the US on FX on June 17, 2014 and obtained 1.98 million viewers.[2]
Critical reception
The episode was very well received among critics. The A.V. Club writers Zack Handlen and Todd VanDerWerff gave the episode an B+ rating.[3]
Another positive review came from IGN writer Roth Cornet, who gave the episode a 9.5/10 "amazing" rating.[4]
References
- ↑ Phillips, Kate (June 17, 2014). "'Fargo' Finale Recap: Morton’s Fork: They’ve Come Undone". The New York Times. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (June 18, 2014). "Tuesday Cable Ratings: World Cup Soccer Leads Night + 'Deadliest Catch', 'Rizzoli & Isles', 'The Haves & the Have Nots', 'Pretty Little Liars' & More". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved June 18, 2014.
- ↑ Handlen, Zack; VanDerWerff, Todd (June 17, 2014). "Fargo: “Morton’s Fork”". The A.V. Club. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
- ↑ Cornet, Roth (June 17, 2014). "Fargo: "Morton's Fork" Review". IGN. Retrieved March 31, 2015.