Fargo (TV Series) Before the Law (2015) User Reviews

Successfully sustains a larger scale without imploding.

[TouchTheGarlicProduction · 8/10 · 19 October 2015]

The story continues to grow more intertwined and sprawling, and yet it stays cohesive because it all ties in to one story in the centre; Todd from Breaking Bad's story. Indeed, everything feels like it's gradually sloping in towards him and his wife all building to some sort of tragic convergence. This adds to the Shakespearean vibe that Fargo has always had.

Among other things, the episode introduces a new villain. He is trying to either buy or destroy the Gerhardt family. He's the classic Fargo style villain, with some great dialogue in this episode (although he's no Lorne Malvo). His most intimidating scene is reminiscent of the Lorne Malvo pull over from Season 1. The quiet intensity of this scene was underlined by the wood-chipper noises in the background, a tribute to the original movie and a bit of foreshadowing for later in the episode.

One of the brilliant things about this season so far is that it's been set up in a way where I can see where it's going, but I have no clue exactly what the road there will be like nor what will happen when we get there. It makes the show feel like it makes a lot of sense while remaining unpredictable. Hopefully the quality endures.

Meaty Episode

[ThomasDrufke · 7/10 · 20 October 2015]

Part of the brilliance of Fargo is the coincidences that lead to major story lines. In both the show and film, the writers explore the "wrong place, wrong time" plot. It creates an every-man feel to the show that most other shows simply don't have. It's one of the reasons I think Fargo is so fascinating. Though tonight stretched it maybe a bit too far.

We began the episode with the Gerhardt family. After the leader of the crew had a stroke last week, it seems as though we will focus on who takes over as the so called 'boss'. We don't know a ton about the Gerhardt's and they seem to be who the cops will go after in the coming weeks some way or another, but their story just seems a little distant at the moment. Then we also have the other group of crime bosses who are going after the Gerhardts and also running into the police. That was the part that lost me. How did Ten Danson's character just know to pull them over, did he have suspicion because of history there? Nonetheless that was one of the many scenes that brought a tremendous amount of tension. I also love the offbeat score/music this show uses to complement these tension filled scenes.

Fargo is almost Hitchcockian in that we see who is at fault for all of the crimes and the mystery is taken away. But it's the suspense that truly gets us. It's a smart way to build tension like we had in this episode. Jesse Plemons and Patrick Wilson's characters seem to have history as their ending scene felt natural, it felt normal. Other than Plemon's character chopping up the Gerhardt kid in the back and shredding his body like it was an animal. It just seems like Ed (Plemons) has some crazy in him. He has to if he can cut up a body like that. It's a whole lot different than an animal I would assume. So other than one too many coincidences for my liking, Fargo keeps on humming along.

+Tension throughout

+Score

-Few too many coincidences

7.7/10

The Gang's All Here!

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 20 October 2015]

With the stroke, the Geahardts are looking for someone to lead them. Mom is the one who decides to be it, but the eldest son thinks otherwise. They have been visited by the Kansas City mob who have made an offer, an offer which means taking the money or becoming targets. Of course, one of the boys is in a freezer after committing multiple murders in Luverne where the the butcher's assistant and his wife are trying to cover things up. Representing Kansas City is a cold young black man and his two partners who look like a couple Amish guys (they are practically twins). There is one of those scenes where the sheriff (Ted Danson) stops these guys and as he tries to do his job. The talk leads to an incredible tension among them where every movement is filled with potential violence. That is matched by Ed's late night trip to the butcher shop and the arrival of Lou, who sees the lights on and Ed's pickup. He buys some bacon to take home in another one of those scenes where discovery is a possibility. Watch for the search for the quarter. Masterful directing, to say the least.

Another solid build-up

[TheDonaldofDoom · 24 February 2018]

It's true that there are a lot of coincidences in this episode, but Fargo has always been far-fetched and that's one of entertaining things about it. That said, it seems this season is taking a darker tone that I'm not sure about yet. Aside from a couple comical scenes, this episode misses the black comedy that made the first season so good, making it feel a bit more like a run-of-the-mill crime story. That's a bit unfair maybe. It's still a cut above the rest.

The writers really know how to amp up the tension. The brilliantly executed meat grinder scene leads to a close call so close that it's partly due to luck and partly due to Ed's quick thinking that he manages to avoid the disaster of Lou seeing Rye's body. The scene is also pretty repulsive in a way that somehow manages to be humourous at the same time. I think part of it is that this guy who last episode wasn't nearly as comfortable about all of this as his wife is now mincing human meat. You gotta do what you gotta do, I guess. Hopefully he won't make a habit of it.

If the story of ordinary people getting involved in awful crimes is the biggest draw of Fargo, the feud between criminal gangs is currently the weak point. There's nothing particularly original about it yet, but I'm sure there's a reason for it being there. I'm guessing this story will collide with Ed, Peggy and the Silversons at some point and when it does this slow scene-setting will have been worth it. There's enough to make it entertaining anyway, most of all Mike Milligan, who is now the standout character for me. He's one of those people who can make you quake in your boots without so much as raising his voice.

The cinematography is excellent. I mean, this is Fargo, it's always excellent, but it's particularly impressive here, setting a foreboding tone.

Fargo: S2E2 "Before the Law" Review - King Cadmium

[kingcadmium · 8/10 · 9 March 2022]

The Gerhardts get a surprising offer, and two unlikely murderers do their best to clean up their mess.

What I Liked:

The cinematography is solid, and each scene perfectly implements its well-crafted and memorable music score. On top of that, each actor gives a strong performance.

Mike Milligan and the Kitchen brothers appear to be intriguing characters, elevating each scene. One must wonder how they will fare in this sophomore season.

What I Disliked:

I am not a fan of several editing choices, particularly the usage of split screens and flashbacks, which appear superfluous at best.

The final scene of this one was noticeably contrived and somewhat hamfisted. Ed leaving the lights turned on while dismembering the man he killed felt unrealistically careless, akin to Peggy's behaviour in the premiere.

Overall:

Fargo delivers another high-quality episode in its sophomore season, managing to maintain the same quality as the premiere, albeit less action-packed. So far, this season looks very promising to be a highly enthralling viewing experience.

8/10

King Cadmium.

Remember this is based on real events.

[phd-inmetal · 10/10 · 6 October 2020]

The show is great and doing just fine. Can't complain about a lack of realism and too many weird coincidences if it's told exactly as it happened. So recognize the genius of this "life transcription" and enjoy it for what it is; entertainment. Lose the elitist attitude, not everything will be Breaking Bad.

An air of foreboding

[Mr-Fusion · 7/10 · 14 March 2017]

'Before the Law' adds tension to the mix, but only at a simmering heat; just enough to lend a real sense of dread. It's as if the show's taking a breath after the fantastic opener to stop piling on new characters and deepen the larger story. No surprise here, that's how this show operates.

What's surprising (a little) - ends up walking away with this one; in one scene using a typewriter to interrogate a guy and in another, he's very politely threatening Ted Danson's sheriff. I hope his character lasts because I like him.

7/10

Waiting for better episode

[mgidb · 7/10 · 2 September 2019]

Danger is on the way when the gangs conflicts, this is the best part for now the rest is nonsense because of much coincidences leading to nonsense

Way too many coincidences

[dierregi · 4/10 · 21 January 2018]

This second season started up well, with a strong '70s vibe, not overdone. Desaturated photography, ugly clothes and music all felt right. Enter the usual bunch of creeps and liers and the usual few positive characters.

Then we have the stupidest premise of somebody running over a guy and actually deciding to drive home with the body stuck in the windshield....

Far fetched just starts to describe how believable the whole accident is. Why not just report it as what it was? Call the cops and explain the guy was running and you could not brake, due to the ice.... a genuine accident. Or just dump the body and drive away...

Both options make more sense than driving home with a body stuck into your car and just leave it in the garage and start preparing dinner. Then the friend who see the car, the cop who who catches the hubby at a strange time in the shop, etc....

A whole plot based on unlikely coincidences seems a bit too much.

this drove me nuts...

[sYneStra713 · 7/10 · 6 January 2021]

So... doesnt anyone in showbiz know how to clean??!! i love this show but was yelling the whole time because this character ought to know how to clean this and... did not do it right at all... i mean, seriously?! argh! no, i could not get over it. just... all you uppity ups in hollywood are gonna die of sepsis if you have to survive on your own. just letting you know. next time check with a lay person...

i just had to give this a 1 star

[maxliv2003 · 1/10 · 12 November 2016]

i just had to give this a 1 star

SPOILERS

Man that friend of peggy having to pee... really... u kill a man and u just let this woman in snooping around, and boom of course she has to see the car; and of course the cop have to take some bacon in the middle of the night exactly when the body is being chopped. And of course the telephone had to ring with the stupid wife, while the change drops down... where the finger is.....

And why not make a snowman and find a gun while u're at it. All this episode seemed so forced.

AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Slow

[anthonyturno · 5/10 · 9 December 2018]

Slow as molasses. Stick to a shorter run time.... Heinz Ketchup it isn't

Worst Episode in TV History

[MReddy_Nolan · 1/10 · 6 October 2021]

Nothing happens.. entire episode can be summed up in 5minutes. What the heck is this? Showrunners are idiots.

Ed and Peggy are partners in crime

[gedikreverdi · 19 November 2021]

Ed chopped up the dead body and ground it at the butcher's. The office almost saw the severed finger on the floor. It was such a tense scene. The Native American that's working for Otto's family and the ones from Kansas City are looking for Rye.