Fargo season 3, episode 4 preview: ‘The Narrow Escape Problem’ (Video)

Fargo takes the action back to Minnesota for season 3, episode 4, entitled “The Narrow Escape Problem.”

After a trippy detour to Los Angeles this week, Fargo will return to small town Minnesota to reunite viewers with the Stussy brothers in the next new episode, airing on Wednesday, May 10th.

Fresh off her trip to California to investigate her late stepdad’s Hollywood past as a sci-fi author-turned-scriptwriter, Thaddeus “Tad” Mobley, Gloria learns more about the prime suspect in Ennis’ murder, Maurice LeFay.

The Eden Valley (sorta) police chief learned at the end of “The Law of Non-Contradiction” that prints pulled from Ennis’ home point to the now-deceased stoner parolee who later died by way of an air conditioner to the head in the middle of winter. This immediately sets off alarm bells in Gloria’s head, who’s determined to find out what’s what after a quick trip to Arby’s.

It’s only a matter of time before she traces things back to Ray Stussy and his girlfriend Nikki Swango, who offed Maurice after he blackmailed the couple following his failed attempt to steal a valuable stamp from the home of Ray’s older, more successful and better-looking brother, Emmit, which resulted in Ennis’ death.

Meanwhile, Emmit and his business partner Sy have their hands full with the mysterious V.M. Varga, who’s already moved into their office building and at least one of their parking lots after what they thought to be a loan turned out to be an investment as part of a money laundering scheme.

Image Credit: FX

All three main storylines will advance in episode 4, according to an episode synopsis of “The Narrow Escape Problem”:

"“Emmit and Sy try to figure out what they’ve gotten themselves into; Nikki and Ray track down some collateral; and Gloria learns more about Maurice.”"

A preview for the new episode provides more details on what we can expect to see next Wednesday night. The clip opens with Ray trimming and shaving his mustache so he can impersonate his brother while wearing a curly wig.

Nikki is heard instructing him on locating the safe deposit box whose number she discovered while searching for the stamp in Emmit’s home office, leaving behind a bloody mess when she realized it was no longer there.

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Emmit also has to contend with Varga moving into his territory, even inviting himself over for dinner at his home. “I feel like maybe we started out poorly,” he tells the stunned “Parking Lot King of Minnesota.”

Next, we see Gloria coming face-to-face with parole officer Ray in his office to interview him about his dead parolee, Maurice. She quickly realizes that he shares a last name with her stepfather, or at least the one he adopted after he beat a sleazy Hollywood producer in the 70’s, lifting the full name from the toilet manufacturer while vomiting in a California motel.

Ray claims he “already told the other girl everything” as we get a glimpse of a smiling young officer standing in front of a mirror in a public bathroom. Presumably, she works for the St. Cloud police department where Maurice’s murder took place.

We also learn that Ray could be in danger at the hands of Varga as the shady businessman asks Emmit if his “brother is going to be a problem.” Watch the entire promo below:

Next: Fargo Season 3, Episode 2: 5 biggest WTF moments

Fargo season 3, episode 4 “The Narrow Escape Problem” airs Wednesday, May 10 at 10 p.m. ET on FX.