Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) is one ofFargo’s most enduring villains.
It’s clever writing like this that makesFargoone of the best series of 2014.
9"Highly irregular is the time I found a human foot in a toaster over.
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This is just odd."
This is just odd."
Throughout Season 1, he makes offhanded remarks that suggest he’s lived anincredibly interesting and violent life.
Under what circumstances would this man have found a foot in a toaster oven?
The world may never know.
8"Lester, have you been a bad boy?"
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Lester struggles to explain what he did, stammering in typical Lester fashion.
This detail informs viewers of the kind of sadistic lunatic that Malvo is.
7"There are no saints in the animal kingdom.
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Only breakfast and dinner."
These characteristics are naturally passed down from the wolves to the Romans, as Malvo suggests.
Only breakfast and dinner."
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This memorable quoteunderscores Malvo’s Darwinian worldview: he’s a person who hasno conception or respect for humanity.
Malvo nonchalantly equating St. Lawrence with Jesus is also an interesting detail that adds anextra blasphemous layer to it.
Brilliant writing and scenes like thesedemonstrate whyFargois one of the greatest anthology series.
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Undisturbed, Malvo continues his church-going act and makes for the door until Gus calls him by his name.
The implication is that Malvo’s a predator, and hisonslaught of lies serves as perfect camouflage.
Malvo’s ability to lie and pretend so seamlessly makes himnearly invisible to all but Gus.
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5"That’s okay.
I’d be insulted if you didn’t try."
Of course, Malvo would never hand Don a loaded gun.
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After he pulls the trigger, Malvo merely smiles and says, “That’s okay.
I’d be insulted if you didn’t try.”
Malvo is the kind of guy thatreallygets a kick out of killing and violence.
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There’san almost competitive and playful aspect to itthat he seems to get a kick out of.
Malvo’s attempt at appearing like a regular human is hysterical.
Malvo’s “Aces” also comes complete with afriendly set of finger bangs.
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3"Because some roads you shouldn’t go down.
Because maps used to say, ‘There be dragons here.’
Now they don’t.
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But that don’t mean the dragons aren’t there."
Malvo tells Gus that there are “some roads you shouldn’t go down.
Because maps used to say, ‘There be dragons here.’
Image via FX
Now they don’t.
But that don’t mean the dragons aren’t there.”
Intimidated by this ominous statement and Malvo’s cold, dark eyes, Gus decides to let him go.
Malvo’s statement implies that he himself is a dragon, in the figurative sense.
But this particular metaphor also impliesa depth and archaic quality to Malvo’s evil.
2"I haven’t had a pie like that since the Garden of Eden."
Malvo leaves just before Molly arrives in one of the most tense scenes of the series.
Malvo’s cold smile when saying this quote creates one of the most uncomfortable scenes inFargoSeason 1.
Malvo’s cold smile when saying it creates one of the most uncomfortable scenes in the entire season.
1"Your problem is you spent your whole life thinking there are rules.
There aren’t."
After killing Sam Hess (Kevin O’Grady), an anxiety-ridden Lester reaches out to Malvo.
The two men get together at a diner, where Lester expresses his concerns and frustrations with the crime.
There aren’t."
This moment perfectly captures the bang out of person Malvo is andencapsulates his philosophy and worldview.
Malvo delivers this line with such steadfast confidence that it mesmerizes Lester.
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