History Recap / FargoS02E09TheCastle

Meanwhile, Lou stops at the gas station to call home, unaware his wife has collapsed, then discovers that Hanzee killed the attendant. Lou rushes to warn the others, and arrives to find the Gerhardts on the offensive against Cheney and his team. All but Ben and a wounded Hank are dead. Hanzee stabs Floyd to death. Bear attacks and attempts to strangle Lou. A UFO appears in the midst of the chaos, distracting Bear and allowing Lou to fatally shoot him. The Blumquists flee the premises, pursued closely by Hanzee. Hank tells Lou to pursue the trio as police reinforcements arrive.

* JerkassHasAPoint: While Cheney wants to use the Blumquists as bait, his reasons for not having them taken in do make sense. The Kansas City Mob has friends in high places, and it's very likely that wherever they're taken won't be safe. A few episodes ago, the Gerhardts were willing to storm a police station and kill everyone, the much larger and better armed Kansas City boys could do a lot worse damage.

* NoodleIncident: Watching the Sioux Falls Massacre unfold outside, Ben gasps "Oh, Christ... It's Rapid City all over again", presumably refering to a similar notorious incident. Doubles as a CallBack to his line from Season One - "It's goddamn Sioux Falls all over again."

* TapOnTheHead: Peggy hits Schmidt with the butt of a gun, which may have also broken his nose. The impact may have only dazed him rather than knocked him out, though, as he's on his feet by next episode a few minutes later.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: [[DiscussedTrope Discussed]] by the narrator. Hanzee's lying to Floyd concerning the whereabouts of Dodd confirm his shifted loyalty, but the narrator flashes back to various scenes of Hanzee brooding over the course of the season and wonders aloud at which point he decided to turn. [[invoked]]

* AssholeVictim: Maybe Jeb Cheney was just trying to help, but he was a complete ass about it by undermining Lou and assuring the officers that he was the only one who should handle the situation. His death is feels more like LaserGuidedKarma than a tragedy.

* WhamEpisode: The Sioux Falls incident so frequently referenced in the [[Series/FargoSeasonOne first season]] unfolds in this episode, so yeah, it's probably the biggest WhamEpisode of the season (which is saying something). Numerous South Dakota police officers are murdered, the last if the Gerhardts are wiped out (including Bear and Floyd), the Blumquists escape ''again'', and Hank is shot (though not fatally).

* BigBad: Hanzee Dent hs certainly proved himself to be this by the end of this episode.

* IgnoredExpert: Despite his overwhelming familiarity with the Blumquists' case, [[JurisdictionFriction Lou is sidelined by South Dakota P.D]], who ultimately end up [[LaserGuidedKarma paying for their mistake.]]]

* LaserGuidedKarma: South Dakota Police, specifically Jeb Cheney, don't listen to Loud when he warns against their plan to use the Blumquists as bait. Cheney belittles Lou and makes sure he leaves the state, only to be one of the first men killed at the hands of the Gerhardts that same night.

* WhamEpisode: The Sioux Falls incident so frequently referenced in the [[Series/FargoSeasonOne first season]] unfolds in this episode, so yeah, it's probably the biggest WhamEpisode of the season (which is saying something). Numerous South Dakota police officers are murdered, the last if the Gerhardts are wiped out (including Bear and Floyd), the Blumquists escape ''again'', Hank is shot (though not fatally), and Hanzee is revealed to be the true BigBad of the season.

'''Season 2, Episode 09:'''
!!The Castle:
!!!Written by Noah Hawley and Steve Blackman

->'''Floyd:''' I miss them all.
->'''Bear:''' We'll be together again. On high.

At the Rushmore Grocery Store & Gas Station, the shop owner sees Hanzee Dent emerge from the woods with a shotgun. He desperately tries calling for help, but Hanzee shoots him through the window. The Indian grabs some hydrogen peroxide, treats his shoulder bullet wound in the bathroom, and drives off with the owner’s car.

Back at the cabin, Ed and Peggy are asked to explain themselves by Lou, Hank, Ben Schmidt, and South Dakota P.D. Ed informs them about the deal he made with Kansas City to collect Dodd in Sioux Falls tomorrow. Outside, the local officers inform Lou and Hank that they can’t vouch for the security of their own precinct due to some possible loyalties to the Kansas City Mob. Jeb Cheney of South Dakota proposes Ed go through with his scheduled meeting wearing a wire so that they can bust Kansas City’s whole operation. Lou objects, but the officers overrule him, so he warns Ed and Peggy not to take their deal before leaving.

While the Blumquists accept Cheney’s proposal to try and lessen their charges, Lou stops at the Rushmore Grocery Store to call Betsy over the payphone. Unfortunately, nobody answers, as Molly has discovered her mother passed out on the kitchen floor. Lou hangs up when he spies a bullet hole in the store window and realizes that the shop owner has been killed. He tries telling the police officer who shows up about the situation, but he informs Lou that he’s just there to escort him over the state line.

Lou tries informing Hank and his company about Hanzee and his stolen vehicle, but he’s brushed off by South Dakota P.D. They head to set up residence at the Motor Motel overnight to keep a low profile, but Hanzee watches them unload in the parking lot. He calls the Gerhardts and tells them that Kansas City took Dodd and is currently holding him in the Motor Motel out of state. Floyd opts to take care of things herself this time around and lead the attack on the motel.

Schmidt sits with Peggy and Ed in their hotel room. Peggy proposes that they make a break while Schmidt sleeps that night, but Ed doesn’t take to it. Lou, meanwhile, makes it to state lines and gets a call about Constance Heck being found dead in her hotel room. He turns around, heads back into South Dakota, and surveys the scene where she was murdered.

That night, Lou witnesses the Gerhardt cavalry driving towards the motel and tries to reach the officers to warn them, but Cheney has issued radio silence. Hanzee meets with them outside and gives them fake details about where the Kansas City men are stationed in the building. The Gerhardt enforcers take out the man standing guard outside first before they move into position and begin taking out the officers on the first floor.

The rest of the officers hear the shotgun blasts and begin struggling against the Gerhardts. Two men break down Hank’s door and shoot, but he’s already taken refuge and fires back. Schmidt also takes action and shoots the two men who come in his room. He looks out the window to check for any more men, but Peggy knocks him out with the butt of a shotgun. The Gerhardt men begin realizing that they’re shooting at cops, and as soon as Floyd realizes as well, Hanzee stabs her. Bear sees and runs to help, but Lou shoots him in the side of the head. Bear runs towards him and, despite taking multiple bullets, throws him to the ground and begins throttling him. Hanzee finishes off the rest of the men, shoots Hank in the chest, and seeks to take out Peggy and Ed for previously witnessing him in a moment of vulnerability.

As Bear strangles Lou, a light appears over the whole scene, and they look up to see a UFO hovering just above them. Lou uses this distraction to grab his gun and shoot Bear through the head. Hanzee too stares aghast at the craft before Peggy and Ed run out the door, throwing boiling water in his face.

-->'''Ed:''' Are-are you seeing this?
-->'''Peggy:''' It’s just a flying saucer, Ed. We gotta go.

Hanzee gets up and shoots at the Blumquists, and the UFO flies away. He begins shooting at Lou while he runs, but a cry for help from inside the motel prompts Lou to stay at the scene instead of chasing the Indian. It’s then that Mike Milligan arrives, witnesses the bodies outside, and decides to leave. Hank tells Lou that he’ll be able to handle his wound alright and urges him to go after Hanzee. Lou obliges, and walks out of the parking lot as the police begin arriving.
----

Lou tries informing Hank and his company about Hanzee and his stolen vehicle, but he’s brushed off by South Dakota P.D. They head to set up residence at the Motor Motel overnight to keep a low profile, but Hanzee watches them unload in the parking lot. He calls the Gerhardts and tells them that Kansas City took Dodd and is currently holding up in the Motor Motel out of state. Floyd opts to take care of things herself this time around and lead the attack on the motel.

-->'''Ed:''' Are--are you seeing this?

Hanzee gets up and shoots at the Blumquists, and the UFO flies away. He begins shooting at Lou while he runs, but a cry for help from inside the motel prompts Lou to stay at the scene instead of chasing the Indian. It’s then that Mike Milligan arrives on the scene, witnesses the bodies outside, and decides to leave. Hank tells Lou that he’ll be able to handle his wound alright and urges him to go after Hanzee. Lou obliges, and walks off the scene as the police begin arriving.