The Tiger (Fargo): Difference between revisions
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===Critical reviews=== |
===Critical reviews=== |
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"The Tiger" received |
"The Tiger" received extremely positive reviews from critics. Tom Philip of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' gave the episode a "C" grade and wrote, "'Show, don't tell' is one of the first rules that anyone who fancies themselves a writer must absorb. As with most writing advice, it should really be presented as more of a guideline. Sometimes simply telling is good. A character acknowledging their reality is powerful, or funny, or terrifying when it's done right. It annoys me, is the takeaway here, but even with a show as brash and unsubtle as ''Fargo'', I found myself frustrated by this week's episode, 'The Tiger,' and its fragmented, obvious storytelling."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/fargo-review-season-5-episode-5-the-tiger-1851090388|title=''Fargo'' recap: The season's weakest episode so far|last=Philip|first=Tom|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 13, 2023|work=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref> |
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Keith Phipps of ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Dot seemingly just wants to hide. Ole called her 'for real, a tiger,' and that seemed to be the best label, even before 'The Tiger,' an episode that makes the connection explicit via a voice-over that highlights a point-by-point comparison. It's a little precious, if precious is the right word for the violence and mayhem the voice-over accompanies. But it also feels dead-on. Fierce, wily, and protective, Dot most resembles a tiger for real."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/fargo-recap-season-5-episode-5-the-tiger.html|title=''Fargo'' Recap: The Great Escapes|last=Phipps|first=Keith|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 13, 2023|work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]}}</ref> Scott Tobias of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "Lingering over all these developments is a big question that ''Fargo'' seems content in putting off for as long as possible: Who is Dot, anyway? Or, more to the point, who is Lorraine? How did this reedy housewife from suburban Minnesota acquire a certain set of skills like Liam Neeson in the ''[[Taken (franchise)|Taken]]'' movies? For now, it's helpful for Dot to have powerful women like Lorraine and Olmstead in her corner. But tigers are inscrutable, too."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/arts/television/fargo-recap-episode-5.html|title=‘Fargo’ Season 5, Episode 5 Recap: Tiger Moms|last=Tobias|first=Scott|date=December 12, 2022|access-date=December 13, 2023|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> |
Keith Phipps of ''[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]'' gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Dot seemingly just wants to hide. Ole called her 'for real, a tiger,' and that seemed to be the best label, even before 'The Tiger,' an episode that makes the connection explicit via a voice-over that highlights a point-by-point comparison. It's a little precious, if precious is the right word for the violence and mayhem the voice-over accompanies. But it also feels dead-on. Fierce, wily, and protective, Dot most resembles a tiger for real."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/fargo-recap-season-5-episode-5-the-tiger.html|title=''Fargo'' Recap: The Great Escapes|last=Phipps|first=Keith|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 13, 2023|work=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]}}</ref> Scott Tobias of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "Lingering over all these developments is a big question that ''Fargo'' seems content in putting off for as long as possible: Who is Dot, anyway? Or, more to the point, who is Lorraine? How did this reedy housewife from suburban Minnesota acquire a certain set of skills like Liam Neeson in the ''[[Taken (franchise)|Taken]]'' movies? For now, it's helpful for Dot to have powerful women like Lorraine and Olmstead in her corner. But tigers are inscrutable, too."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/arts/television/fargo-recap-episode-5.html|title=‘Fargo’ Season 5, Episode 5 Recap: Tiger Moms|last=Tobias|first=Scott|date=December 12, 2022|access-date=December 13, 2023|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 04:42, 14 December 2023
| "The Tiger" | |
|---|---|
| Fargo episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 5 |
| Directed by | Dana Gonzales |
| Written by | Noah Hawley |
| Cinematography by | Pete Konczal |
| Editing by | Skip Macdonald |
| Production code | XFO05005 |
| Original air date | December 12, 2023 |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Tiger" is the fifth episode of the fifth season of the American anthology black comedy–crime drama television series Fargo. It is the 46th overall episode of the series and was written by series creator Noah Hawley and directed by producer Dana Gonzales. It originally aired on FX on December 12, 2023.
The season is set in Minnesota and North Dakota in the fall of 2019, and follows Dorothy "Dot" Lyon, a seemingly typical Midwestern housewife living in Scandia, Minnesota, whose mysterious past comes back to haunt her after she lands in hot water with the authorities. One of those authorities is North Dakota Sheriff Roy Tillman, who has been searching for Dot for a long time. In the episode, Lorraine has Dot committed to an asylum, while she also meets with Roy.
The episode received extremely positive reviews from critics; while Juno Temple's performance was praised, some felt that the episode's narration found the series treading similar ground.
Plot
Even though she grants Dot (Juno Temple) hospitality at her mansion, Lorraine (Jennifer Jason Leigh) raises her suspicions with Dinesh (Dave Foley). Dinesh leads a group of paramedics to Dot's room, forcing her in getting institutionalized. However, Dot improvises a plan when she arrives at the clinic and escapes her room by prentending to be a nurse.
Roy (Jon Hamm) visits Lorraine, revealing his marriage with Dot. While she dislikes Dot, Lorraine is not willing to give her to Roy as it may negatively impact her family. Instead, Lorraine decides to donate for Roy's re-election campaign just so he can leave, telling him that Wayne (David Rysdahl) is Dot's husband. While Indira (Richa Moorjani) reports Dot's escape to Dinesh, Roy calls Gator (Joe Keery) that they will have to kidnap Wayne. At the hospital, Dot notices Roy's henchmen arriving at the reception, discovering that they plan to kidnap Wayne. She continues her facade until she locks herself in Wayne's room, and then locks Wayne in his bathroom.
Dot leaves the room just as the henchmen arrive, but they enter another room after she changes the door's tags. As she wals away, she is intercepted by Agents Meyer (Jessica Pohly) and Joaquin (Nick Gomez), who recognize her as Nadine. As they want to talk to her, Gator passes by and recognizes her, after having realized that the FBI is following them. He meets with the henchmen just as they take a different patient and leave the hospital, with Gator silently telling Dot not to say anything. Dot asks for a moment alone, during which the agents are informed that she is an escapee. They enter the bathroom, discovering that she has escaped again.
Indira questions Lorraine about committing Dot to a hospital, but she deviates from her interrogation by highlighting Indira's debts. As Scotty (Sienna King) plays outside, Dot meets with her and runs away with her, alerting Dinesh and the guards. When Indira arrives at her house, she finds Dot and Scotty inside. Dot asks Indira to take care of Scotty for a few days, but she wants to know about his past. Dot reveals that she married Roy at 17 after being taken by his henchmen for two years, remarking the horrible experience of her marriage. Lars (Lukas Gage) arrives, and Indira presents her as a different friend. Indira allows Scotty to stay, while Dot leaves.
Production
Development
In November 2023, it was reported that the fifth episode of the season would be titled "The Tiger", and was to be written by series creator Noah Hawley, and directed by producer Dana Gonzales.[1] This was Hawley's 38th writing credit, and Murphy's second directing credit.[2]
Writing
Reception
Viewers
Critical reviews
"The Tiger" received extremely positive reviews from critics. Tom Philip of The A.V. Club gave the episode a "C" grade and wrote, "'Show, don't tell' is one of the first rules that anyone who fancies themselves a writer must absorb. As with most writing advice, it should really be presented as more of a guideline. Sometimes simply telling is good. A character acknowledging their reality is powerful, or funny, or terrifying when it's done right. It annoys me, is the takeaway here, but even with a show as brash and unsubtle as Fargo, I found myself frustrated by this week's episode, 'The Tiger,' and its fragmented, obvious storytelling."[3]
Keith Phipps of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "Dot seemingly just wants to hide. Ole called her 'for real, a tiger,' and that seemed to be the best label, even before 'The Tiger,' an episode that makes the connection explicit via a voice-over that highlights a point-by-point comparison. It's a little precious, if precious is the right word for the violence and mayhem the voice-over accompanies. But it also feels dead-on. Fierce, wily, and protective, Dot most resembles a tiger for real."[4] Scott Tobias of The New York Times wrote, "Lingering over all these developments is a big question that Fargo seems content in putting off for as long as possible: Who is Dot, anyway? Or, more to the point, who is Lorraine? How did this reedy housewife from suburban Minnesota acquire a certain set of skills like Liam Neeson in the Taken movies? For now, it's helpful for Dot to have powerful women like Lorraine and Olmstead in her corner. But tigers are inscrutable, too."[5]
Sean T. Collins of Decider wrote, "While its Kill Bill-style title card and corny nature-show narration might lead you to suspect otherwise when the episode begins, this is not an especially over-the-top episode of Fargo in the end. No, in the end it drills down into the “six kinds of hell” Dorothy Lyon has crawled through to get to her husband and daughter."[6] Felicia Nickens of TV Obsessive wrote, "Maybe I am biased because I am a woman, but I love watching powerful females, onscreen and off. It was made clear through the last few episodes that Dorothy is stronger and wittier than she appears, and while Lorraine wielded the power of her money around briefly, she finally gets dedicated screen time revealing just how clever and powerful she can be."[7]
References
- ^ "(#505) "The Tiger"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ "Fargo Season 5". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Philip, Tom (December 12, 2023). "Fargo recap: The season's weakest episode so far". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Phipps, Keith (December 12, 2023). "Fargo Recap: The Great Escapes". Vulture. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Tobias, Scott (December 12, 2022). "'Fargo' Season 5, Episode 5 Recap: Tiger Moms". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Collins, Sean (December 13, 2023). "'Fargo' Season 5 Episode 5 Recap: Talking Heads". Decider. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Nickens, Felicia (December 12, 2023). "Fargo S5E5 Recap: "The Tiger" Illustrates the Power of the Badass Lyon Women". TV Obsessive. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
External links
- "The Tiger" at IMDb
