Fargo: The Koi Dragon
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
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As predicted, Fox copyright claimed the visual content in this video, and Sony copyright claimed the song "For Nikki". Fortunately, neither of them have chosen to run ads.
The first season of Fargo is by a large margin my favorite thing to be made for television, and a good candidate for my favorite thing to ever be put to video. While i'm usually not a fan of symbolism that requires foreknowledge that's external to the work, Fargo does it with so much confidence, style, and grace that it's impossible not to want to learn about it's symbols, and it does it all with fantastic characters and story to boot.
Maybe I'll do analyses of the other seasons later on. Believe me, it took me long enough to come up with any satisfying conclusions for just these ten episodes. While this is far from my longest video, it took me much longer to make than any others of it's length.
The music in this video is from the soundtracks to Fargo season 1 and 3 by Jeff Russo.
At 14:51 one of the names on the tapes is Carson Wells, that's Woody Harrelson in No county for old men.
Nice catch
The scene where malvo kills those 22 people is one of, if not my favourite scenes in television.
@John William I assumed it was either a very specific stylistic choice (like they tend to do in Fargo, sometimes it doesn't work) or budgetary/time issues when they were making the episode. I liked it but can see why someone wouldn't.
@@keithw453 Well if so, the way they went around that restriction is phenomenal!
He is the closest to a real chaotic evil character that Tv ever produced
I watched Fargo on your recommendation and season 1 is truly the most interesting to me. The terrifying thing about Malvo's character is that his ideology is hard to refute. With only the modern world in front of us, why not become an animal?
Because you are a God.
Would you guys prefer that I upload in 30 FPS when talking about a show? 99% of the video is in 24 fps regardless, so it would make streaming in 1080p easier.
24 is perfect
Is there even a visible difference?
12:50 Or, it's also possible that God punished him because he buried the money back, but only in fear of a false god.
Thou shalt not take false gods before me?
@@supreetsahu1964 Exactly.
Good video, but I disagree with your interpretation of Malvo. He's more animalistic in a "dog-eat-dog" sense, and seems to take a cruel pleasure in ruining people's lives. That's what I thought the tapes were; he listens to one in episode 9, where an unknown man laments Malvo convincing him to kill some people before killing himself. There's also the scene where he shows up to Lester's old house and tells the kids living there that the house is haunted by the murder victims. Lester was an anomaly-while he did become more animalistic in order to survive after killing his wife, Malvo probably assumed that Lester would be arrested and spend the rest of his life in prison, deeply regretful for murdering his wife. Instead, Lester was far cleverer by the end of the season, and is almost able to kill Malvo because of that, baiting him into stepping on the bear trap. If Lorne sees humans as animals, he sees himself as the wolf, and everyone else as prey. No reason for a predator to teach prey to fight back.
Maybe he wanted to create his own predators to challenge him. He did respect the Mr Wrench. I do agree that enjoyed ruining lives. Scaring the kids possibly could have been to make them face fears but it seemed mostly intended to be just hurtful out of spite.
Just discovered your channel from r/FargoTV. I am loving your content so far. Keep up the great work!
Thanks man! I've got lots more planned where that came from!
@@Leadhead Would you say this spirit animal theme applies to the other seasons? I say this because every season has plot elements connected to the others that would not allow the story to happen without the other seasons. For example Malvo letting Mr. Wrench go in S1 allows for him to show up in S3 and help Nikki survive her assassination attempt. Also Hanzee in S2 creates the very same Fargo syndicate that Malvo would destroy (the same syndicate Wrench was working for too).
Well that's an interesting question. While season 1 is almost entirely centered around this idea, with it being Malvo's whole view on human nature, the next seasons expand on it in an interesting way. In season 2, the animalistic humans are compared to something that's not man or animal. Remember in season 1 when Lou told Molly's daughter about the time he was waiting for an 'it' to show up? The way I see it, that's him comparing the crime families of S2 to the aliens he saw.
Next, in season 3, VM varga is based around the type of greed that only a human can exhibit. The way he throws up all of his meals is the perfect example. Although season 3 focuses on those animal comparisons more than 2, such as in the peter and the wolf scene that's narrated by Malvo.
Tldr, I think it's an integral part of the show as a whole, but in season 1 it's the entire focal point of it all, where its more just used to characterise in the other 2.
It'll be a while until I'm ready to put out a proper analysis of the other seasons. They're much more abstract than 1
@@Leadhead Interesting. I always thought Lou in S1 referring to the alien in the abstract way he did was just Noah Hawley trying to foreshadow S2 before he came up with the idea of the aliens but now that you say it I think he had the idea for the aliens was just keeping the theme of S1 in the dialogue. I agree that it is more used in S3 than S2. I believe S2 was very much designed to have its themes be abstract (for example we never really find out what Hanzee's motivation was). While S3 made its themes much more clear and relied on the viewers interpretation of the themes to determine the ending (Varga totally got arrested). S3's main theme was truth vs story and the animal background with Varga playing the vile human was a perfect backdrop.
Definitely. It's interesting you brought up the truth versus story angle. That was exactly what came to my mind in the opening scene of S3 when the Berlin police officer is accusing a man named Yuri of a murder he didn't commit. The way I see it, the season 2 finale is when the bulk of Fargo's viewers found out it wasn't actually based on a true story. I love that they worked that idea into the themes of S3
I think Molly's spirit animal is the Pheasant.
When she's in the diner, that's a Pheasant on the wall in the background. Not a duck.
The guy serving her coffee has a pair of ducks in his solo shot, so duck is probably a safe bet for his spirit animal.
MALVO IS A WOLF! His wolf, leads him to get killed? Not a dragon.
Of course.. There's a shot of a wolf right before molli's husband kills malvo.
I just watched season 1 after watching your recent spoiler free video in which you reccomneded the show. I gave a try with my dad, and we both loved it. Thank you so much to getting me into it! I loved every minute of it, and I can't wait to watch the rest of the seasons. You truly are a magnificent essayist and writer, and I've thoroughly enjoyed watching through your videos for the past few months. Keep on doing what you're doing!
Hi thumbs up for this analysis, i loved fargo and the symbolism in it and you did a good job with pointing out some things i hadnt noticed. If you could do more on Fargo Season 1 i would definitly watch it:)
I feel like the raining fish was this seasons “wild card”, like the UFOs in Season 2 or Jewish Purgatory in Season 3. I think these things exist to emphasize the surreal nature of the “true story” being told. Really reinforces the idea that the truth is always stranger than fiction.
Ah, I enjoy these videos you make, the topics, your essays are truly interesting.
Coming here during my 8th rewatch of season 2
I just knew your channel, and you seem to have made a video on a lot of my favourite things in life, thank you
Even though the rain of fishes is farfetched, we can assume that a strong tornado could easily break the ice under which they were. After all, such phenomena can destroy sturdy structures, so why not an ice crust?
Noah Hawley and Jeff Russo are a match made in heaven. As much as i love Fargo for what it is, Legion just blew my mind. Forget about the Marvel background, these two guys are wizards of their craft.
Malvo is just the biggest intstigator
That’s Lester alright, best guy around!
Damn well done chief. I fuck with the presentation heavily and I hope the guy who made Fargo has seen this.
In additon to your video findings and the strong ties to the spirit animals.. I would like to add that I think Malvo is also inspired by the legendary Dacian wolf, that delivered protection, judgment, and punishment towards cowards and traitors.
and its Romanian folklore.with a sense moral of "Don’t be a coward or a traitor. Mother Nature will help those who work with her,"
The legendary Dacian wolf has ties to snow, dragons ( its a wolf head with a serpent body), cowards, Romans and eastern Europe. So I think its quite relevant.
Malvo in entity is evil, a snake, thus his comment in the coffee shop and posing as the Pastor... And posing as the dentist,
Dogs. Dogma.
*blows a party horn*
Adding to the animals representing humans, Gus is definitely a Hound, capturing other dogs and noticing the Red BMW in the woods where later on Malvo, wounded and tired he got killed, like a sick or wounded wolf, as for Lester it would be easy to say he was the Red Koi fish, but then, for going the wrong way all along he end up being the red fish in the (frozen) lake
Lester was a fish, prey, turned into a wolf or tried to, malvo was the wolf, a dog is also prey to wolf, Stavros was prey, not as bad as a fish tho.
I disagree of Malvo being some sort of 'Savior' and/or 'Mentor' figure...He was an agent of pure evil
A monster looking to corrupt/destroy lives of others for no other reason.
In Eastern Philosophy Dragons are teachers/mentors but in Western Civilization Dragons are wicked/villainous...hence the hoarding of treasure and/or spreading terror/chaos...personification of hedonism.
Malvo did what he did purely for his own pleasures, building others up just so he could watch them fall.
The recordings he had were not something to be left behind but for his personal use. A creature looking back in past misdeeds and reveling in the chaos left in his wake.
As for Gus, I always took it as Malvo seeing a being of pure goodness smiting him for all the evil he'd done
wonderful work
You should definitely do seasons 2 and 3!
Dude, this was a really considerate and thoughtful rendering of certain philosophies espoused in season 1 of Fargo. I enjoyed it thoroughly and you really opened my eyes regarding certain intentions of the writers and filmmakers here. Again dude, really excellent work! Thanks for posting!
Ouuu baby this was a good one👌🏻
Yeah that scene of calling on the pissing boy has always bothered me because it doesn't really fit that he would pull a prank call indeed. I chalcked it up on him being a agent of chaos and that's why he eggs Lester on and does that call just as a nightime snack but it didn't still feel right because he left Lester alive in the elevator for example. Malvo wanting people to show their animalistic side and not take shit is much more fitting, like he is proud of what he's done with Lester so ofc he ain't shooting him in the elevator even if he's pissed that Lester fucked his undercover, in the end Lester was doing what Malvo wanted all along him to be doing. When Lester comes to talk to him in the hotel confident and dominant even tho he knows Malvo is a killer. Malvo propably just losts respect for Lester when he runs away (if I remember correctly) when it's time to move the bodies.
Edit: btw 3min in the video when above was written
You are going places my friend. Your break down of theme is on par with Mauler. You’ve earns a subscription from me. Please do not give up on this work you do. You’re good at it.
I NEED ONE OF THOSE POLICE CHARTS IN MY LIVING ROOM.
Amazing essay.
Season 1 and 3 are just too good
Season 5 is muh new fav. Intense. So good because I gave up after 4. Couldn't get past 1st episode. Is it at least worth watching? Seems like a misstep, but at least they are back on track.
Amazing series, and great videos to watch after!
okay but how tf did he put the pigs blood into the guys plumbing system it seems impossible
Comparing a serial killer to God? Accurate.
Especially liked your analysis of Lorne Malvo, there was method to his madness and wasnt everybody he killed or had a hand in killing except Lesters second wife(who he probably thought was lester offcourse), and not counting the cops, was bad guys or had it coming? Assuming the people in the elevator was bad in a way since Malvo was at work. And the end with the tapes..what a ending. Its interesting that Satan or Shaiitan was a tempter who originally worked for God when thinking about Malvo. Brilliantly played by Thornton by the way. I have seen some other Fargo analysis but yours have a deeper and better take on it, and there is not as much of it on youtube as i hoped so i hope you do some more:) From lesters view, he shouldnt had said yes in the elevator when meeting Malvo again, thats where his downfall began...and offcourse it didnt help hitting Malvo afterwards. He was home safe but took it too far, from standing up for himself to going over the edge.
Lester's wife sinned when she lied to the cops about Lester's plans to flee the country. Until then she was only guilty of loving a man who wasn't worth it.
I knew in BC on the coast some off shoots of coastal natives that are serious about animal spirit and animal spirit worship/enchanges/life forces. I wonder what they would think? The God thing in the last few minutes looks like it could be a stand alone part; it's not about animal spirits at all.
This made me wanna watch the show
Did you watch it? It's great
Can you cover s2 please
Great video!
Nice interpretation!
Season 3 is full of animal symbols. I cant really think of anything like that in season 2. But it would be awesome if you did!
We don't talk about season 4
Good video, though I think Malvo's just a psychopath who gets a sick joy out of destroying people's lives.
I suppose that's a bit more boring of an explanation though.
Underrated video.
Very good analysis, great script.
While Fargo S1 is my least favorite, I still think it's great in its own way, especially because of Malvo
Your least favorite?
It’s by far the best, followed by the second!(even if I absolutely love the time in which the second season takes place).
The third is just weak and I was extremely disappointed.
The only good thing about season 3 is the Corvette C3.
Do more Fargo related content, please!
Great analysis. As for the acts of God, if it was punishment it wasn’t for taking the money, it was for not dedicating his life to serving God. Burying the money again doesn’t right the wrong of not living his life for God, so it wouldn’t end the punishment.
We need malvo a new tv show
Like a talk show format. Malvo interviewing people encouraging people to wake up their inner animal. Called Malvo Live
I know I'm late to the game but is malvo not based on Loki ?
With all the Western religious themes, were Dragons are viewed as Evil, wtf wouldn't you think it was a reference to The Serpent aka the Devil? "I Haven't had pie like that since the garden of Eden."
Good job swimming up that theory koi Boy ☺️😂🤣
This show is mediocre at best. Shallow writing in between copy pasted coen brothers references.