Episode no. Season 1
Episode 7 Written by Noah Hawley Production code XFO01007 | Directed by Scott Winant Featured music Jeff Russo | |
Original air date May 27, 2014 (2014-05-27) | ||
"Who Shaves the Barber?" is the seventh episode of the FX television series Fargo. It was written by show creator Noah Hawley and was directed by Scott Winant.
Contents
The episode was well received by critics, and was seen by 1.52 million viewers.
Plot
At the hospital, Grimly agonizes over accidentally shooting Molly and destroying her spleen, but the injury is not fatal. The unloaded gun Lester placed in Gordo's backpack is discovered at his school. The Nygaard home is searched by police and the incriminating evidence that Lester planted in Chazz's gun safe is found. Later, Lester tells Chief Oswalt a new story in which he claims Chazz killed Pearl during a heated lovers' quarrel. Lester also claims he was present when Chazz killed Chief Thurman, thus explaining his hand injury. He says he covered for his hot-headed brother because he feared retaliation. Lester is released from jail while Chazz is incarcerated. Molly talks to Mr. Wrench, who is hospitalized under guard, and informs him that his partner, Mr. Numbers, is dead. Wrench, who is deaf, declines to provide any information. Meanwhile, Malvo invades the Fargo, North Dakota offices of the gangster who sent Numbers and Wrench, and kills the gang boss. Lester seduces the money hungry Mrs. Hess with promises of "greasing the palms" of the insurance agents responsible for her late husband's policy. Lester fails to mention that Hess had stopped paying the premiums and the policy was cancelled. Molly is discharged from the hospital and returns to Bemidji. She is dismayed to hear that Chazz Nygaard has been arrested and that Lester has been "cleared."
Production
The episode title refers to the paradox in logic known as the barber paradox.
Ratings
The episode was first aired in the US on FX on May 27, 2014 and obtained 1.52 million viewers. The show was aired in the UK on Channel 4 on June 1, 2014 and was seen by 1.2 million viewers.
Critical reception
The critical response to the seventh episode of Fargo was positive. The A.V. Club writers Zack Handlen and Todd VanDerWerff gave the episode a B+ rating, noting the drop in excitement from the previous episode, but praising Freeman and Odenkirk's performances.
A more positive review came from IGN writer Roth Cornet, who gave the episode a 9.1/10 "amazing" rating and said "Overall, another great entry as FX's Fargo nears the climax of its 10-episode run. The series shines when it's truly standing on its own two feet and focusing on the characters that were created specifically for this world and this story. It stumbles a bit when it falls back on aping the Coen's classic film. However, those moments are relatively rare and there is far more to recommend in this nasty and comical study of human nature than not. As always, tonight's episode was fat with menace, humor, and evocative character evolutions."