Fargo episode 7, titled “Who Shaves the Barber?” just finished airing. Our recap breaks down the episode.
This recap will contain spoilers.
At the end of episode 6, we were left with some questions, whether or not Molly had died being the biggest of them (we refuse to look ahead to further synopses and discuss more than what’s on the screen). This week we got some clarity.
Gus was visibly freaked when he shot Molly, but this week we learned he only took out her spleen and that she’ll be okay. This is a less gutsy move for the show as a whole, but it’s a good one for those who want to have characters to root for. Other than Gus and Molly, there’s really not many left. However, before Gus took Molly down, but not out, Molly was able to take down Mr. Wrench, but not out. Doing this sacrificed taking down Lorne Malvo, who then got out. Gus feels bad about taking Molly down and is ready to hang it up as a cop, but Molly continues to see far more in him than he sees in himself. “You keep your chin up, Gus Grimly,” she says, and we continue to hope they’ll both make it through this thing in one piece.
In a bizarre scene, Molly talks to Mr. Wrench. He’s visibly hurt when he finds out that his partner and translator has been killed. She’s always trying to crack down the case against Lester and Lorne, even to a criminal who she shot and and is in the hospital. It’s bizarre to see a cop confide in a criminal and say, “What’s the point?” but Fargo is bizarre. When Molly comes back to Bemidji she knows she has enough ammunition to go back to Lester, but she finds out that they’ve released Lester and arrested Chaz. This leaves her disturbingly distraught.
After Lester had planted a gun in his nephew’s backpack, it was only a matter of time before Gordo accidentally let the gun spill at school and the cops came searching the house. They came with a warrant and not only did they find Chaz’s assault rifle, but they found the items Lester planted: the hammer, his wife’s panties, and some photos of her.
Chaz gets thrown in the slammer. Naturally, Bill now believes that Chaz killed Lester’s wife as he’s always believed Lester was innocent. Lester continues to prove he’s more than the bumbling guy we met in the premiere and told a convincing sob story pinning Chaz, and Bill lets him free. Lester then goes back to work and takes over the case of Sam Hess’ wife. He’s supposed to tell her that her claim has been denied, but instead he tells her that he’ll try to work his magic, has her give him a drink, and then they have sex.
Lorne tracks down his boss and wants to know about the guys in Fargo and how to get to them. He tells his boss that however he responds will indicate whether he’ll merely hurt or kill him on the spot. We don’t get to hear the answer or see what happens to the boss. The only indication we get is a woman’s scream. Brilliant.
Later, Lorne comes to Fargo and goes on a killing spree, killing them all in their headquarters right in front of two FBI agents monitoring them played by comedians Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. We never get to see this killing spree, as the shot just follows Lorne through the building but from the outside. Brilliant. Lorne escapes when the agents are talking to the police. The first impressions of them don’t show them as the most adept of FBI agents, and it’ll be interesting to see where the show goes if they ever take charge of the case.