Because of the nature of Fargo‘s snowy setting, I knew I would have a few options for the holiday episode selection from this show, but Season 3’s ‘The Law of Inevitability’, while not my favourite of the season, is certainly the one with Christmas most at the forefront. The unhinged opening where David Thewlis’s V.M. Varga (above) unwraps Emmit Stussy’s (Ewan McGregor) Christmas presents set to The First Noel is just Christmas TV gold. It’s a show renowned for its high stakes crime and compelling antagonists, Varga being among its very best, but I always enjoy when the show takes things slower. Since this is a really strong season of TV that I think has gone slightly underrated, I won’t delve too far into overarching season spoilers here, but the events of this episode are certainly shaped by a rather earth shattering moment in the previous episode.

Admittedly, this is very much an episode contained in the season arc and not one for standalone viewing on the first time around, but revisiting it for this project was a treat. It’s impressive how it remains so memorable from moment to moment, and even coming into it without having rewatched the rest of the season I was able to keep up with each storyline’s trajectory and connectivity to each other. It’s also very interesting to see how the episode frames Christmas almost as a pressure point for law enforcement and not as something they look forward to. Carrie Coon’s Gloria Burgle even talks about how much busier things get on Christmas Day. Perhaps the best scene in the episode is Yuri’s cryptic threatening of the cop in Eden Valley. Noah Hawley is a master of writing scenes where an antagonistic character manages to be incredibly scary without really saying or doing much. The other best moment has to be “follow the money”, which really sets up the final three episodes so well with one short line. For that to follow with the wholesome moment where Gloria and Nikki arrange to meet for coconut cream pie after Christmas is just perfect and a great demonstration of Hawley’s ability to balance tones.

There’s also a real poignancy to these events happening on Christmas Eve, as every character seems to be grappling with despair (that’ll come up again in a show later on the list). For that reason, the episode feels considerably bleaker than a lot of what has preceded it. But again, without wanting to reveal too much, the final reveal at the end of who Nikki is sitting on the bus with as a very familiar theme from a previous season kicks in… now that’s a hell of a moment.

Of all the episodes on the list, I have probably the least to say about this one, but that doesn’t take away from the episode at all, and if anything I consider it a new staple of my Christmas viewing just for giving me a captivating 45 minutes in the world of Fargo. Consider this a PSA to stop what you’re doing and watch this season of TV, you won’t regret it!