by Conan Simmons – November 9, 2020 – 5:01 am
Marriage looms for Josto Fadda (Jason Schwartzman) on an upcoming election day as the kinky sex games he plays with Nurse Mayflower (Jessie Buckley) starts developing into a real relationship.
Mayflower has her own problems with a macaron and her boss. Just as she seriously considers skipping town she discovers the author of a complaint letter. Mayflower is undoubtedly plotting her revenge now injecting this season with a real sense of horror.
Ethelrida (E’myri Crutchfield) flirts with Cannon’s son, Lemuel (Matthew Elam) as her mother consoles Cannon’s wife over the apparent loss of her other son. Clearly this is setting up something bigger for Loy Cannon (Chris Rock) and Josto aside from their gangland war. Loy Cannon even cryptically says “Fargo.” when plotting what to do after finding out that Gaetano (Salvatore Esposito) reconciled with his brother Josto by admiring his ruthlessness.
Odis (Jack Huston) declares his intention to reform after considering the words of ‘Deafy’ Wickware (Timothy Olyphant). U.S. Marshal Wickware accepts Odis on his word and, after philosophizing about criminals to Loy Cannon, gears up to take down outlaws Zelmare and Swanee (Karen Aldridge and Kelsey Asbille).
The ominous reappearance of the ghost precludes the violent massacre at the Kansas City Union Station as Zelmare and Swanee wait for their train. Based very loosely on a real incident that occurred in 1933, the show here takes only the bare minimum of truth and, updating it to 1950 when the show is set, adds more to the body count. The production design of Kansas City’s Union Station is a very nice impression though not entirely accurate. Inaccuracies aside, it does give the feeling of being filmed in the real location.
‘The Nadir’ is an outstanding episode that lives up to its name. The humor of Josto’s and Mayflower’s banter in the beginning is a nice counterpoint to the seriousness of the violent end. The directing is very well done, knowing when and how to showcase the violence in order to move the story along without getting into the realm of exploitation. The writing is the true winner of this series as every character is fully developed.
With only three more episodes left this season and the gang war reaching its peak we will soon find out who survives out of those still around. Will Josto win control of the city with the upcoming election? How many will fall to Mayflower’s wrath? And is Loy on his way to Fargo?