A Muddy Road

"A Muddy Road"
Fargo episode
Tricked by Lorne Malvo, Stavros Milos (Oliver Platt) discovers his dog's dead body, along with a new blackmail letter.
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 3
Directed by	Randall Einhorn
Written by	Noah Hawley
Featured music	Jeff Russo
Production code	XFO01003
Original air date	April 29, 2014 (2014-04-29)
Running time	48 minutes
Guest appearance(s)
Bob Odenkirk as Bill Oswalt Keith Carradine as Lou Solverson Kate Walsh as Gina Hess Atticus Mitchell as Mickey Hess Liam Green as Moe Hess Kelly Holden Bashar as Pearl Nygaard Shawn Doyle as Vern Thurman Oliver Platt as Stavros Milos Adam Goldberg as Mr. Numbers Russell Harvard as Mr. Wrench Glenn Howerton as Don Chumph Joey King as Greta Grimly Joshua Close as Chazz Nygaard Dave Trimble as Phil McCormick Catherine Forbes as Barbara Peter Breitmayer as Ben Schmidt Barry Flatman as Wally Graham Littlefield as Deputy Auerbach Barbara Gates Wilson as Lindey Snuth Brian Markinson as Bruce Gold Susan Park as Linda Park Tom Musgrave as Bo Munk
Episode chronology
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Fargo (season 1) List of Fargo episodes

"A Muddy Road" is the third episode of the FX anthology series Fargo. It was written by series creator and showrunner Noah Hawley and directed by Randall Einhorn. The title refers to the Zen Buddhist kōan known as The Muddy Road.

In the episode, Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) starts realizing that his involvement in the murders might soon be uncovered, as both Deputy Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman) and hitmen Mr. Wrench (Russell Harvard) and Mr. Numbers (Adam Goldberg) have set their sights on him. Meanwhile, Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) gives his employer Stavros Milos (Oliver Platt)'s blackmailing affair an unexpected twist.

The episode was acclaimed by critics, and was seen by 1.87 million viewers.

After being removed from the Hess case, Molly investigates the original car crash and the frozen man in the woods, and learns he was dragged from his workplace in Saint Paul by Malvo, allegedly because the man had a massive gambling debt. She obtains a still from the building's security cameras showing the abduction, but Malvo's face is partially obscured. Lester returns to work and calls on Gina Hess, Sam's widow, about his life insurance policy. She unexpectedly starts flirting with him in an attempt to get more money, unaware that Mr. Wrench and Mr. Numbers are watching from outside. Convinced he killed Hess, they later visit Lester's office and threaten him, but leave when Molly unexpectedly arrives. Molly claims that she is interested in a life insurance policy and "accidentally" shows Lester the abduction photo containing Malvo's face. Lester's reaction convinces her that he recognizes Malvo.