An unranked Dion Waiters Mount Rushmore includes Drexl, Walken in Pulp Fiction, Yanagita and Multiple Miggs; Jack Woltz is an addition and a bracket is suggested. — Bill Simmons
Scorsese’s admiration for Yanagita is recalled, along with Park reportedly thinking he was playing the scene dramatically and feeling hurt when the Coens laughed. — Kyle Brandt
Yanagita’s move to the same side of the booth prompts speculation about his intentions and whether he knew Marge was pregnant; these remain interpretations. — Kyle Brandt
Apex affirmatives include Swedish meatballs, GMAC financing and TruCoat sealant. — Bill Simmons
The Coens are assigned No Country instead; Macy’s later roles and Minnesota sports peaks compete. Windshield-scraper scenes receive an affirmative. — Chris Ryan
Buscemi’s performance is a favorite but his apex is disputed among later stardom, Con Air, Boardwalk Empire and The Sopranos. — Bill Simmons
McDormand’s apex is unresolved with Three Billboards suggested. Blue Ox, shovel murders and Fargo the town are discussed; the Coens reportedly preferred Fargo’s sound over Brainerd.
Stormare’s other apex candidates include Dino Velvet and Armageddon; Minnesota accents receive an affirmative, while dangling cigarettes prompt a Ghostbusters comparison.
An unranked facial-wound Mount Rushmore considers One Battle, Freeway, Fargo and The Dark Knight, with Gus Fring also mentioned.
Modern technology would ruin the plot: cameras, phone location and texting would expose the criminals quickly. The sparse police response is also questioned.
Nitpicks question the lack of a family dog or sports poster and Carl being uncircumcised.
Carl returning to Gaear and burying the money far away are questioned; avoiding discovery of the full ransom and fear of retaliation are possible explanations. — Kyle Brandt
Wade failing to connect Jerry’s funding request to the ransom is a nitpick. Jerry’s underlying money trouble remains intentionally unexplained, with gambling and sexual misconduct only guesses.
The long criminal road trip and overnight stay are challenged by the short regional distances, with blizzard conditions offered as a counterpoint.
The failed 1997 Fargo television pilot with Edie Falco and director Kathy Bates prompts discussion of how its failure left Falco available for The Sopranos, and which cast members were essential. — Bill Simmons
Prestige television is the obvious continuation because the series exists. Recollections of its connections are uncertain; Hobbit actor confusion is corrected to Martin Freeman. — Bill Simmons
