Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
11-09-15, 06:55 AM
#1
Moderator
Thread Starter
Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
Episode 5 / Production #205 - "The Gift of the Magi" (Airs November 9, 10:00 pm e/p) - Floyd takes action, and Charlie tries to prove himself. Peggy and Ed disagree about what to do next, while Lou finds himself sidelined during Ronald Reagan's campaign tour. Written by Matt Wolpert & Ben Nedivi; directed by Jeffrey Reiner.
11-09-15, 10:49 PM
#2
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
Excellent, once again. Can't get enough of this show!
11-10-15, 08:08 AM
#4
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
I love Bruce Campbell, but the Reagan impression was just that, an impression. Felt like a parody. Other than that, another good episode.
11-10-15, 07:57 PM
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
"If you get the chance, ask him if it's true that Joan Crawford had crabs"
Hopefully that's the ned of the Reagan stuff. Seemed like a parody rather than part of the show. Rest of the episode was solid gold.
Hopefully that's the ned of the Reagan stuff. Seemed like a parody rather than part of the show. Rest of the episode was solid gold.
11-11-15, 12:19 AM
#10
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
See, I thought they kept the Reagan thing pretty low key. I was expecting that to be more broad.
The shootout at the beginning was great. As good as the Kitchen brothers were, they were just no match for Mathias.
I'm glad Noreen made it out alive.
The shootout at the beginning was great. As good as the Kitchen brothers were, they were just no match for Mathias.
I'm glad Noreen made it out alive.
11-11-15, 07:23 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Gatineau, QC
Posts: 909
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
I'd say it's the weakest episode this season, but still quite good.
Dodd's lies (well Hanzee's lies) leading to war will eventually blow in their faces I'm sure. Good tension between Bear and Dodd.
Dodd's lies (well Hanzee's lies) leading to war will eventually blow in their faces I'm sure. Good tension between Bear and Dodd.
11-11-15, 08:44 AM
#13
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
Gold on so many levels. Just an amazing cast this year... sorry to See Robert's hair in a box...
11-11-15, 10:00 AM
#14
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
Sepinwall linked to an article this week talking about Fargo and Bokeem Woodbine specifically and the magic that happens sometimes when you cast against type.
11-11-15, 12:08 PM
#15
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
Noah Hawley talked about binge watching on the now defunct Grantland podcast, and that they do the unusual openings to try to reset each show to discourage binge watching.
Sepinwall linked to an article this week talking about Fargo and Bokeem Woodbine specifically and the magic that happens sometimes when you cast against type.
Sepinwall linked to an article this week talking about Fargo and Bokeem Woodbine specifically and the magic that happens sometimes when you cast against type.
11-11-15, 12:17 PM
#16
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
yeah, I'm confused about that, too.
Some commenters asked about it on this post: http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print...#disqus_thread and Feinberg answers some questions in that thread, but doesn't say anything about why the podcast is over.
So, I'm assuming that it wasn't their choice.
edit: one thing I loved about that podcast was how they would break down the exact times in the podcast when they'd talk about specific shows. So if they were talking about 4-5 shows and I only really cared about one, I wouldn't have to listen to the entire podcast, I could skip ahead to the exact second they'd be discussion the show I wanted to hear about.
Some commenters asked about it on this post: http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print...#disqus_thread and Feinberg answers some questions in that thread, but doesn't say anything about why the podcast is over.
So, I'm assuming that it wasn't their choice.
edit: one thing I loved about that podcast was how they would break down the exact times in the podcast when they'd talk about specific shows. So if they were talking about 4-5 shows and I only really cared about one, I wouldn't have to listen to the entire podcast, I could skip ahead to the exact second they'd be discussion the show I wanted to hear about.
11-11-15, 01:48 PM
#17
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
yeah, I'm confused about that, too.
Some commenters asked about it on this post: http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print...#disqus_thread and Feinberg answers some questions in that thread, but doesn't say anything about why the podcast is over.
So, I'm assuming that it wasn't their choice.
edit: one thing I loved about that podcast was how they would break down the exact times in the podcast when they'd talk about specific shows. So if they were talking about 4-5 shows and I only really cared about one, I wouldn't have to listen to the entire podcast, I could skip ahead to the exact second they'd be discussion the show I wanted to hear about.
Some commenters asked about it on this post: http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print...#disqus_thread and Feinberg answers some questions in that thread, but doesn't say anything about why the podcast is over.
So, I'm assuming that it wasn't their choice.
edit: one thing I loved about that podcast was how they would break down the exact times in the podcast when they'd talk about specific shows. So if they were talking about 4-5 shows and I only really cared about one, I wouldn't have to listen to the entire podcast, I could skip ahead to the exact second they'd be discussion the show I wanted to hear about.
And with the Grantland Podcast going under, I hope Andy Greenwald winds up on his feet and on a Podcast somewhere...
11-11-15, 04:23 PM
#18
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
They've all been great, but this episode might have been my favorite of Season 2. Just all kinds of awesome.
I have trouble remembering the character's names, so I just call the actors by their actual names.
I have trouble remembering the character's names, so I just call the actors by their actual names.
Spoiler:
11-11-15, 05:06 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
Obviously the title of the show refers to the O. Henry story where the poor married couple each sells something of value to pay for a gift for the other, but both gifts end up complementing the thing that was sold.
Ed wanted to stay in town and buy the butcher shop, Peggy wanted to flee.
Then Peggy sold the car to help Ed buy the butcher shop, but it burned down and he wanted to flee and they didn't have Peggy's car any more. But didn't Ed still have his truck?
Ed wanted to stay in town and buy the butcher shop, Peggy wanted to flee.
Then Peggy sold the car to help Ed buy the butcher shop, but it burned down and he wanted to flee and they didn't have Peggy's car any more. But didn't Ed still have his truck?
11-11-15, 05:07 PM
#21
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
The only bad part of that shootout is it was hard to tell who was there, and as such, who made it out alive. Short of Mathias, the Kitchen twins, and Garrett, it seemed like most of the major players stayed home.
11-11-15, 07:10 PM
#23
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
Probably the weakest, but still super strong, especially the way they brought the counter girl into the scenes at the butcher. Added so much depth and tension.
I did not expect Lou's wife to survive the episode
11-11-15, 09:38 PM
#24
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Under a dead Ohio sky
Posts: 5,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
The mother had already decided to go to war even before Dodd's fary tale. Once they made a move against poppa Gerhardt, she announced it was war. All Dodd's lie really did was embolden her in that decision. Dodd's open attacking of their men in the donut shop. Plus his attitude in the negotiation meetings probably had a lot to do with negotiations breaking down as well.
11-11-15, 10:19 PM
#25
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Fargo (S2E05) - "The Gift of the Magi" - 11/9/15
I think the praise on this show is a bit much. There's at least one moment in just about every episode where it comes off as Coen brothers fanfiction, though Coen brothers fanfiction does admittedly make for pretty decent television. I think the plotting is decent, they know their cliffhangers/hooks but they're nothing revolutionary if you've been watching cable drama for the last 15 years. They're nowhere near the Coens when it comes to the dialogue, though not for lack of trying.
When the show is firing on all cylinders it's maybe 2/3rds as good as the movie, which also leaves it in the dust behind the usual gold-standard shows like Sopranos/Breaking Bad/The Wire etc.
The "creator" also created a short-lived series called My Generation and the pilot was the most offensively-awful hour of television I've ever seen in my entire life though, so I may be a little biased.
When the show is firing on all cylinders it's maybe 2/3rds as good as the movie, which also leaves it in the dust behind the usual gold-standard shows like Sopranos/Breaking Bad/The Wire etc.
The "creator" also created a short-lived series called My Generation and the pilot was the most offensively-awful hour of television I've ever seen in my entire life though, so I may be a little biased.