Morton's Fork (Fargo)
Season finale concludes storylines of Lester and Malvo.
Morton's Fork is the season one finale of the FX anthology series Fargo, serving as the tenth and final episode. It originally aired in the United States on FX on June 17, 2014. Noah Hawley, the series' creator and showrunner, wrote the episode, with Matt Shakman directing. The title comes from a logical dilemma that FBI agents Pepper and Budge present during the episode.
Because each season of Fargo tells a self-contained story with different characters, this finale wraps up all the ongoing plotlines. In the episode, Lester Nygaard attempts to flee from Lorne Malvo, who is hunting him, while simultaneously trying to prevent Deputy Molly Solverson and the police from discovering his role in past and present murders.
The episode was praised by critics and drew 1.98 million viewers.
The story begins with the aftermath of a snowmobile crash, where footprints lead from the vehicle to a hole in a frozen lake. Later, outside Lester's workplace, Lester watches Malvo leave after killing Lester's second wife, Linda. Lester retrieves money from the office safe, then stages the crime scene to appear uninvolved. He creates an alibi by visiting a diner, where he anonymously calls the Bemidji police from a payphone to report gunfire near his office. After leaving the crime scene, Lester realizes he left airplane tickets to Acapulco in the jacket he gave Linda before she entered the office.
Molly is called to the crime scene, where she meets Lester. Lester fails to retrieve the tickets from the jacket. Police bring Lester to the station, where he refuses to answer questions. He is released the next morning but must be accompanied by FBI agents Pepper and Budge.
Malvo visits a used car lot, asking to test-drive an actual undercover police car. He follows Lester home, where the FBI agents remain outside. Malvo forces the salesman to drive the car up to Lester's house, distracting the agents, whom Malvo then kills. The salesman is not harmed.
Lester notices blood outside and hides upstairs. Malvo enters and follows Lester's voice to the bedroom. Malvo steps into a bear trap hidden under clothes. Both fire at each other but miss. Lester's gun jams, and as he retreats to the bathroom, Malvo escapes, badly injured.
Malvo retreats to his cabin to treat his wound, unaware that Deputy Gus Grimly has already found him.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Fargo
- Season
- 1
- Episode
- 10
- Director
- Matt Shakman
- Writer
- Noah Hawley
- Editor
- Skip Macdonald
- Production
- XFO01010
- Airdate
- 2014-06-17
- Length
- 62 minutes
- Guests
- Bob Odenkirk as Bill Oswalt / Keith Carradine as Lou Solverson / Keegan-Michael Key as FBI Agent Budge / Jordan Peele as FBI Agent Pepper / Joey King as Greta Grimly / Susan Park as Linda Park
- Prev
- A Fox, a Rabbit, and a Cabbage
- Next
- Waiting for Dutch
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The episode opens with the aftermath of a snowmobile crash, showing footprints leading to a hole in a frozen lake. Lester Nygaard watches as Lorne Malvo kills his second wife Linda. Lester retrieves money from the safe, covers up the crime scene, and attempts to create an alibi by calling the police from a payphone at a diner. After leaving the crime scene, he realizes he left airplane tickets to Acapulco in Linda's jacket. Molly Solverson is called to the crime scene, where she meets Lester, and he fails to retrieve the tickets. Lester is brought to the station but refuses to answer questions; he is released the next morning accompanied by FBI agents Pepper and Budge. Malvo, after test-driving an actual undercover police car, follows Lester home. He forces a salesman to drive the car up to the house, distracting the agents, whom Malvo murders. The salesman is not killed. Later, Molly and Gus find Malvo's audiotapes.
Reader's Guide
Morton's Fork serves as the conclusion of all storylines developed in the first season of Fargo. The episode was acclaimed by critics, holding a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was seen by 1.98 million viewers. The episode's score features the Norwegian folk song 'The Lost Sheep,' which was the main theme of the original film. The title refers to a dilemma posed by FBI agents Pepper and Budge, reflecting the impossible choices faced by characters. The episode resolves the arcs of Lester Nygaard and Lorne Malvo, with Malvo killed by Deputy Grimly and Lester dying after falling through ice. The episode's critical reception included a B+ rating from The A.V. Club and a 9.5/10 'amazing' rating from IGN.
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