by Conan Simmons – November 16, 2020 – 6:14 am
Latest episode of popular series ‘Fargo’ takes a highly stylized approach visually for a mostly low key storyline.
Filling in what happened to Rabbi Milligan (Ben Whishaw) and Satchel Cannon (Rodney Jones) after they fled the hit ordered by Josto Fadda (Jason Schwartzman), the two runaways have driven off to Liberal, Kansas. Rabbi seems to have a history in the town and goes in search of some loot he stashed away years ago. Satchel meanwhile befriends a dog he finds locked in a dresser in their hotel room.
The hotel is what gives this episode its title. It is a modestly big building owned by two elderly sisters who refuse let the other sister have everything. Therefore the entire hotel is divided between east/west. Guests must answer a series of questions to determine which side of the hotel is more amicable.
Rabbi and Satchel are the only major recurring characters in this episode. The show is bookended by a couple of notable hitmen in pursuit of Rabbi and Satchel, one from the Cannon gang with a member of the Fadda family in his trunk and Gaetano’s right hand man who runs into them at a gas station.
Almost the entire episode is filmed in black and white, a clear metaphor inspired by the 1939 film ‘The Wizard of Oz’. Essentially the story in this episode is told from Satchel’s point of view as even a small Kansas town is filled with odd, mostly racist adults. The fairy tale ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ is also thrown in as a metaphor that both Satchel and Rabbi connect with. Naturally, with the overbearing ‘Wizard of Oz’ motif there is a humorous scene involving a tornado in a gunfight.
This is a standout chapter in the series this season. It does come somewhat as a change of pace from the ongoing gang war that is ripping apart Kansas City, Missouri. The cinematography is pretty good throughout and the actors carry their roles fine.
The lessons learned this episode will no doubt inform the characters’ decisions going forward. There are only two shows left so everything should come into place next week before the season’s ultimate climax. Bloodbaths and a tornado are going to be hard to beat.