Fargo Review: Lay Away (Season 4 Episode 7)
Fargo Season 4 Episode 7, “Lay Away,” obliterates any scraps of sympathy that might have been lingering for the Faddas, leaving the Cannons as the clear side to root for in this conflict between the two families.
In my review of Fargo Season 4 Episode 6, “Camp Elegance,” I discuss losing interest in most of the character on both sides of the Fadda-Cannon battle, but for different reasons. Reasons that made the potential of course correction much more likely for the Cannon’s than the Faddas — and that’s exactly what we see happen on this latest episode.
At the beginning of “Lay Away,” the major issue with the Cannons is that, with the exception of Loy, the remaining Cannon family feel like part of the background rather than distinct characters, and despite spending a significant amount of time with Loy throughout the season he still feels rather one dimensional.
“Lay Away” not only does a lot to remedy that by the end of the episode, but it also firmly establishes the Cannons as the family we want to see win in the end.
The episode gives viewers one of the most meaningful looks at some of the Cannon family and crew since the beginning of the season.
It’s not enough to make any of them feel like stand-out characters yet but it’s enough to spark some interest in them again as individuals, and not just as henchmen. Even Loy’s wife gets a solid scene without Loy for the first time this season.
The biggest improvement on “Lay Away” is still Loy himself.
This is the episode where we finally get to know Loy as a man and not just a generic crime boss. His reaction when he believes his son is dead, to Josto’s attempts to manipulate him, and most impactfully his conversation with Otis paint a much more compelling character and make for a much better journey moving forward.
Even Loy’s decision to let Zelmare and Swanee go is an unexpected act of generosity that complicates what we know of him, especially in contrast to Josto who can’t even muster any empathy for his dead brother-in-law. It easily makes Loy the better man and character.
In addition to the good writing for Loy on “Lay Away,” Chris Rock does a fantastic job of expressing Loy’s grief, frustration, and inner conflict both in the delivery of his lines and in the space between them. It’s his best episode of the season by far.
On the other side of the conflict, Josto continues to be awful and the Faddas as a whole are even more unsympathetic.
With Rabbi on the run, the only sympathetic character left on the Fadda’s side is Ebal, Josto’s oldest adviser, and an increasingly ineffective reasonable influence. That probably means that barring Rabbi’s return first, Ebal is the most endangered character now that Doctor Senator is dead.
Every week Josto finds new ways to be not only a terrible person but a terrible leader.
He is spoiled and undisciplined with an unearned ego that is just as dangerous to his family as Gaetano’s violent volatility (maybe New York should put Josto’s sister in charge?).
As a viewer, all of that would be fine if he were at least interesting because a good villain is still a good character but his petulance and bellowing wear thinner each week.
At least this week his decision to try and kill Satchel makes some kind of sense after we learn he plans to manipulate Loy into killing Gaetano. It’s not a smart plan and it a pretty despicable one at that, but at least it isn’t just the random flailing that it felt like last week.
Despite the Faddas finding ways to be even less interesting than they were during “Camp Elegance,” this episode is a bit of a return to form for all the other characters and a jump forward for Loy.
It still lacks much of the visual flair and tension of earlier episodes, particularly Fargo Season 4 Episode 3, “Raddoppiarlo,” and Fargo Season 4 Episode 4, “The Pretend War,” which are both directed by Dearbhla Walsh.
However, a better focus on character and an excellent performance by Chris Rock make it a more than solid episode.
Stray Thoughts
- Oraetta didn’t get much screen time but the scene she did have is a big one, not only killing the hospital administrator that turned Donatello Fadda away but getting one step closer to Ethelrida when she gets a look at the note she sent.
- For once Gaetano isn’t the least interesting character. I’m actually curious to see how he responds to learning his brother tried to get Loy to kill him and Loy letting him go.
- I loved the use of Ola Belle Reed’s music while Otis is packing. It’s nice to see her highlighted like that.
- Seven episodes in and Timothy Olyphant is still being criminally underused.
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Fargo airs Sundays at 10/9c on FX.
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Sarah Fields
Sarah is an obsessive geek who likes to get into the weeds and over think things. She is passionate about Sci-Fi and comics and is a giant classic film nerd. Sarah cares deeply about media representation and the power of telling diverse stories. When she's not writing or watching her favorite shows she spends her days working in the non-profit world trying to make life a little better for those that need some extra help.