# Fargo S2

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 28, 2015, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840 "2015-09-28T15:08:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 11

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/201 "2015-11-17T14:17:00Z")

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> [@emcee2k](#):
>
> Wow, the Gerhardts are really bad at being criminals.

Definitely in over their heads. They’ve got the local authorities intimidated or in their pockets, and just seem to assume that it would be the same for other authorities.

It was surprisingly foolish of them to leave the house so unprotected. KC was underprepared for being attacked in the woods, but the Gerhardts should have been expecting a retaliation.

I’m guessing Otto might be dead, since he can’t exactly dive for cover, and that will bring out the wrath of god from Floyd.

> [@madmonk28](#):
>
> Completely out of their depth, it’s like when a hot pitcher in the minor leagues gets to the bigs and gets lit up. KC is playing a completely different game.
> 
> This show just keeps ratcheting up the tension and you think it’s finally going to break, but it keeps building. I thought for sure that Ted Danson was a dead man.
> 
> “Your a little touched aren’t you?” Best line of the episode.

I was so worried about Ted Danson, and I’m glad he just got a concussion. It was strange that he apparently left Peggy at the house, I wonder if there was a missing scene.

Speaking of Peggy, I do like how she got the drop on Dodd. Dodd has continually been underestimating the women around him, it’ll probably be the death of him if it hasn’t already.

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**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/202 "2015-11-17T14:27:20Z")

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> [@Shoeless](#):
>
> …  
> Is the Indian guy’s name Hanzee or Ohanzee? …

[http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0395648/?ref\_=tt\_cl\_t10](http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0395648/?ref_=tt_cl_t10)

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/203 "2015-11-17T14:55:13Z")

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> [@Sam\_Lowry](#):
>
> I was so worried about Ted Danson, and I’m glad he just got a concussion. It was strange that he apparently left Peggy at the house, I wonder if there was a missing scene.

It’s possible that after he came to he spoke to Peggy and she said she took care of everything and they’re all cleared out. That or, he saw the dead body on the stairs and found a way to ‘secure’ the other two to make sure they’re not going anywhere and told Peggy to go somewhere safe. Of course, he should know she’s a flight risk. She all but told him she’ll leave and never look back should there be a problem that she can’t get out of.

Now, just a quick clarification, Hank (Ted Danson) and to a lesser extent Lou have been telling them that they may have started a turf war. Am I correct that that’s just a misunderstanding? The turf war was already, more or less, undergoing. The Gearhearts trying to kill Ed and/or Peggy is basically just a B story, right. If Peggy hadn’t hit Rye, we’d still have a show.

Even keeping that in mine, last night one of the screen shots was [this](http://i1.wp.com/bitcast-a-sm.bitgravity.com/slashfilm/wp/wp-content/images/Screen-Shot-2015-07-21-at-1.03.12-PM.png). It’s a really nice shot, but I think that should have had that light busted out.

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**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/204 "2015-11-17T15:04:23Z")

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> [@Shoeless](#):
>
> “Man of Constant Sorrow” playing over the credits was a nice touch.

Anyone know who sang this version. Was it _Ginger Baker’s Air Force_?

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**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/205 "2015-11-17T15:07:23Z")

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> [@Joey\_P](#):
>
> Even keeping that in mine, last night one of the screen shots was [this](http://i1.wp.com/bitcast-a-sm.bitgravity.com/slashfilm/wp/wp-content/images/Screen-Shot-2015-07-21-at-1.03.12-PM.png). It’s a really nice shot, but I think that should have had that light busted out.

This is after the car is repaired. There’s no giant hole in the windshield.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/206 "2015-11-17T15:12:03Z")

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> [@Omar\_Little](#):
>
> This is after the car is repaired. There’s no giant hole in the windshield.

I know, I just thought it would make for a good picture. Just a busted headlight would tell a story and you could use it for daytime promos where a giant hole in the windshield might be a bit too graphic.

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**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/207 "2015-11-17T15:13:56Z")

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> [@Joey\_P](#):
>
> It’s possible that after he came to he spoke to Peggy and she said she took care of everything and they’re all cleared out. That or, he saw the dead body on the stairs and found a way to ‘secure’ the other two to make sure they’re not going anywhere and told Peggy to go somewhere safe. Of course, he should know she’s a flight risk. She all but told him she’ll leave and never look back should there be a problem that she can’t get out of.
> 
> Now, just a quick clarification, Hank (Ted Danson) and to a lesser extent Lou have been telling them that they may have started a turf war. Am I correct that that’s just a misunderstanding? The turf war was already, more or less, undergoing. The Gearhearts trying to kill Ed and/or Peggy is basically just a B story, right. If Peggy hadn’t hit Rye, we’d still have a show.
> 
> Even keeping that in mine, last night one of the screen shots was [this](http://i1.wp.com/bitcast-a-sm.bitgravity.com/slashfilm/wp/wp-content/images/Screen-Shot-2015-07-21-at-1.03.12-PM.png). It’s a really nice shot, but I think that should have had that light busted out.

Yeah, Hank has been shown to be a competent officer, I’m sure he didn’t just run off, but it was strange not to show what happened, other than I guess so Ed can run back and see what mess there is at the house.

It is somewhat a misunderstanding, because the thing that got KC moving was Otto having a stroke and being incapacitated, not Rye going missing. But Peggy and Ed’s actions both escalated the turf war, and brought it to Luverne. If Peggy didn’t hit Rye, we’d have a show, but it wouldn’t be Fargo, since the movie and each season so far have featured a normal guy getting mixed up with much bigger things, and the good cop trying to deal with all the mess.

All of the cinematography and score is really well done. There are a lot of beautiful shots, and a lot of perfectly chosen songs or just percussion.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/208 "2015-11-17T15:23:57Z")

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> [@Sam\_Lowry](#):
>
> It is somewhat a misunderstanding, because the thing that got KC moving was Otto having a stroke and being incapacitated, not Rye going missing. But Peggy and Ed’s actions both escalated the turf war, and brought it to Luverne. If Peggy didn’t hit Rye, we’d have a show, but it wouldn’t be Fargo, since the movie and each season so far have featured a normal guy getting mixed up with much bigger things, and the good cop trying to deal with all the mess.

ISTM, if Peggy didn’t hit Rye, the show would _only_ be in Fargo, where the Gearharts live. As is, Peggy dragged some of the action over to Luverne.

Which, like you said, is basically what’s happened in the movie and S1. While it’s technically based in Fargo, most of it happens somewhere else. (The movie was in Brainerd, S1 in Bimidji)

(Or is that what you meant to say?)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/209 "2015-11-17T15:30:25Z")

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> [@Joey\_P](#):
>
> ISTM, if Peggy didn’t hit Rye, the show would _only_ be in Fargo, where the Gearharts live. As is, Peggy dragged some of the action over to Luverne.
> 
> Which, like you said, is basically what’s happened in the movie and S1. While it’s technically based in Fargo, most of it happens somewhere else. (The movie was in Brainerd, S1 in Bimidji)
> 
> (Or is that what you meant to say?)

Well I mean if it wasn’t for Peggy, then it would just be about the two warring criminal organizations, which could be a good show, but would be very different than the movie and first season.

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/210 "2015-11-17T15:57:30Z")

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> [@cmyk](#):
>
> Nick Offerman was fucking awesome tonight.
> 
> Him scrambling with the bench in front of the doors was great.

I agree with this. When he first entered the sheriff’s office to represent Ed, he was being amusingly blustery, while everyone was greeting him warmly. But then he redeemed himself when he convinced Bear Gerhardt that retreating was the best option.

And in the last episode, I didn’t realize that the stacks of paper in the Blumquist basement were Peggy’s magazines. No wonder they have no money; she must be spending a fortune on those.

And is Hanzee the killing machine that Lou described to Greta Grimly in the first season, the one against whom he stood guard at his home while Molly slept inside?

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**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a8b319/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_wuzzy)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/211 "2015-11-17T16:01:32Z")

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> [@Sam\_Lowry](#):
>
> \*\*Definitely in over their heads. They’ve got the local authorities intimidated or in their pockets, and just seem to assume that it would be the same for other authorities.  
> \*\*  
> It was surprisingly foolish of them to leave the house so unprotected. KC was underprepared for being attacked in the woods, but the Gerhardts should have been expecting a retaliation.
> 
> I’m guessing Otto might be dead, since he can’t exactly dive for cover, and that will bring out the wrath of god from Floyd.
> 
> I was so worried about Ted Danson, and I’m glad he just got a concussion. It was strange that he apparently left Peggy at the house, I wonder if there was a missing scene.
> 
> Speaking of Peggy, I do like how she got the drop on Dodd. Dodd has continually been underestimating the women around him, it’ll probably be the death of him if it hasn’t already.

I don’t think they are _so_ bad at being criminals. Sure, as the mother pointed out in the 1st episode the family have not been at war for quite some time, plus the patriach is now incapacitated. I think their main problem however is the daughter acting against them.

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**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/212 "2015-11-17T16:03:41Z")

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I loved the clips of boozy small talk at the VFW that played over the credits.

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/213 "2015-11-17T16:53:35Z")

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> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> …What happened to the young Gerhardt boy’s gun in the back of the butcher shop? Did it jam, or was there only a single bullet in the magazine?
> 
> Why not take Otto hostage after you’ve killed his guards and nurse? That would give you some pretty serious leverage over the rest of his family…

Any thoughts on these?

> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#):
>
> …Given this season is halfway done, I wonder if it might be appropriate now for some people in this thread to make some predictions. I’m willing to go out on a limb and predict that of all the major cast members, by the end of the season only 2 or 3 will remain alive. We know that Lou will make it…

I suspect his daughter will, too.

> [@cmyk](#):
>
> Nick Offerman was fucking awesome tonight.
> 
> Him scrambling with the bench in front of the doors was great.

> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> I agree with this. When he first entered the sheriff’s office to represent Ed, he was being amusingly blustery, while everyone was greeting him warmly. But then he redeemed himself when he convinced Bear Gerhardt that retreating was the best option.

Yes, although I was thinking, _Tell Solverson and the other cops that there’s a bunch of armed men out there! Don’t just futz around with the bench!_ His orotund ode to liberty and the majesty of the law was great. Did we know before this show that he’s a lawyer?

> [@Shoeless](#):
>
> Great episode! I’m positive that Ted Danson’s character is not going to make it to the end of the series, and thought he was a goner for sure in this one.
> 
> …“Man of Constant Sorrow” playing over the credits was a nice touch.

Agreed on both counts. The Danson character’s luck has just about run out, though, I suspect.

> [@Sam\_Lowry](#):
>
> …I’m guessing Otto might be dead, since he can’t exactly dive for cover…

Judging by the preview for next week, yes, I think Otto has snuffed it.

> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> …And is Hanzee the killing machine that Lou described to Greta Grimly in the first season, the one against whom he stood guard at his home while Molly slept inside?

That’s my guess. Hmm. Odd that the enigmatic killing machine for each gang is a minority - a black guy and an Indian.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/214 "2015-11-17T17:13:20Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> I agree with this. When he first entered the sheriff’s office to represent Ed, he was being amusingly blustery, while everyone was greeting him warmly. But then he redeemed himself when he convinced Bear Gerhardt that retreating was the best option.

My favorite parts were one of the cops saying something friendly to him and him passing by yelling “outta my way, tool of the state!” And when he’s leaving and someone asking how he’s getting home and saying he’s too drunk to drive and yelling about how they can’t dictate his behavior outside of the station, and then calmly saying that his friend is valeting him.

> [@Fuzzy\_wuzzy](#):
>
> I don’t think they are _so_ bad at being criminals. Sure, as the mother pointed out in the 1st episode the family have not been at war for quite some time, plus the patriach is now incapacitated. I think their main problem however is the daughter acting against them.

Right, they’re not bad, they’re just in over their heads. Their operations seemed like they were working fine on their territory, but with the upheaval and KC horning in, they’re not prepared for that.

And it doesn’t help that the daughter is working against them, but they still should have had better defense than they had. They were so focused on getting Charlie back and killing The Butcher, they didn’t think about how KC probably wouldn’t be sitting quietly.

> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#):
>
> Any thoughts on these?
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > …What happened to the young Gerhardt boy’s gun in the back of the butcher shop? Did it jam, or was there only a single bullet in the magazine?
> > 
> > Why not take Otto hostage after you’ve killed his guards and nurse? That would give you some pretty serious leverage over the rest of his family…

I don’t know anything about guns, but that was his first assignment and he was extremely nervous, I had guessed he’d messed up something.

With Otto, I had wondered if he had some dealings with one of the KC bosses before and it hadn’t gone well. Otto used to be a dangerous guy, so to not hurt him now seems like an insult, like he’s not important enough to kill or capture.

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**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/215 "2015-11-17T17:46:24Z")

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Otto probably did know those guys well and, with that knowledge, may have been wise enough to take the deal.

I love the counter point of the two wives. You have Mrs. Solverson saying that if the wives were involved on both sides, the men would have been dragged away and not taken to fighting in 'Nam. Mrs. Gerhart, on the other hand, wants to fight just like the men and is massively over matched.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/216 "2015-11-17T17:54:59Z")

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> [@Sam\_Lowry](#):
>
> I don’t know anything about guns, but that was his first assignment and he was extremely nervous, I had guessed he’d messed up something.

Not so much nervous (but clearly that had a play in it) - the scene calls back to the previous episode where he was showing Dod he could handle a gun - and he did it ‘fine’ in pracitce (albeit very slowly) - this was showing him/us just how unready he was. (and incapable due to his impediment)

> [@Sam\_Lowry](#):
>
> With Otto, I had wondered if he had some dealings with one of the KC bosses before and it hadn’t gone well. Otto used to be a dangerous guy, so to not hurt him now seems like an insult, like he’s not important enough to kill or capture.

This was a message to Mrs. Gearheart - plain and simple.

> [@hajario](#):
>
> Otto probably did know those guys well and, with that knowledge, may have been wise enough to take the deal.

First episode - meetingroom of the KC people - “now that Otto is out of the way…” they knew Otto would never go for the deal - they hoped that his stroke and being lead by a “woman” was making for an easy takeover.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/217 "2015-11-17T17:58:26Z")

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> [@MaxTheVool](#):
>
> I feel like they deliberately played that NOT as an impersonation. Reagan is so easy to impersonate that if they had wanted us to see Reagan, they could have. I was actually surprised that that turned out to be Reagan, I kept expecting whoever it was to say “and thus it’s my great honor to present the next president of the united states, Ronald Reagan!” or something like that.
> 
> But in retrospect, I like it. Reagan is such an icon (for better or worse) that it would be hard to see him as an actual person if he looked and acted like full-on Reagan.

The only way I realized it was Reagan was because I happened to have closed captioning on; and you could hear Bruce Campbell’s voice before seeing him. My closed captioning attributed his voice to RR.

> [@Zeldar](#):
>
> [http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0395648/?ref\_=tt\_cl\_t10](http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0395648/?ref_=tt_cl_t10)

Thanks for the click post. It would have saved you and everyone reading this more time if you had actually just typed out: “Hanzee Dent.”

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/218 "2015-11-17T18:15:43Z")

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> [@Enright3](#):
>
> Thanks for the click post. It would have saved you and everyone reading this more time if you had actually just typed out: “Hanzee Dent.”

I didn’t want you to have to take my word for it. 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/219 "2015-11-17T18:30:19Z")

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> [@Joey\_P](#):
>
> …last night one of the screen shots was [this](http://i1.wp.com/bitcast-a-sm.bitgravity.com/slashfilm/wp/wp-content/images/Screen-Shot-2015-07-21-at-1.03.12-PM.png). It’s a really nice shot, but I think that should have had that light busted out.

I don’t think that is Peggy’s car. That does not look to me like the front of a Corvair.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s2/732840/220 "2015-11-17T18:35:40Z")

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> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> \<snip\> And in the last episode, I didn’t realize that the stacks of paper in the Blumquist basement were Peggy’s magazines. No wonder they have no money; she must be spending a fortune on those. \<snip\>

Did anyone else get the feeling that all the old magazines are a real fire hazard? I half expected Dodd to torch the place, forcing Peggy (and whoever else) out of hiding. Maybe a fire will happen in a future episode.

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