ChipBach

The wolf led Gus to the hideout earlier in the show, or did you mean earlier in the series? I'd like to think it was the soul of the dog Malvo killed gettin' even...

My read on it was that Shae didn't flee KL as Tyrion had put into plan, testified (lied) on behalf of Tywin, and was later found in his bed referring to him with the same pet name she used for Tyrion. My reaction was that Shea played him and he was furious that she was complicit with his dad. He did apologize to her after... ;-)

It would have been easy enough for Gus to have thrown Malvo's pistol on his lap before he called the cops. I don't remember seeing it next to the briefcase when Molly listened to the tapes, maybe that's how he found out the tapes existed in the first place. Either way, if they thought a retired cop found Malvo, checked out his hideout, and when confronted by a dangerous killer, shot him, yeah, he'd get a citation anywhere... Gus also said "the green thing" (or something like that - it was a bit imperceptible on the rewatch). Malvo asked Gus when the cops thought he was a preacher and let him loose, "why can humans see so many shades of green". Molly answered it later at the diner. Remember Gus DID redeem himself, followed up and arrested Malvo. His Lieutenant and Chief Bill cut Malvo loose even AFTER seeing the picture of him from the security camera. I don't think we can blame Gus for all the following violence between the stop and his subsequent arrest. (I don't think anyone actually was killed in between the traffic stop and the subsequent arrest except the dog) I can't hang any of the rest on Gus - he tried to arrest the guy and was denied based on lack of evidence. Malvo was casing out Gus' apartment and told the neighborhood watch guy he knew what floor Gus lived on and that he had no security system. Basically, I know where to go, how to get in, and do whatever evil thing I wanted to do. The threat to Greta was implied in the conversation...

I absolutely disagree that Gus is a bad guy based on his actions... The answer to the riddle was that Gus can recognize a dangerous predator, a guy with skills and resources to slide by two FBI agents and personally kill 22 mobsters in Fargo, have a deep and complicated (reverend Lorne) backstory at the ready, and control all those with whom he interacts. Gus, who knows, if this guys worms himself free (escape, legal maneuvering, whatever) will kill his entire family. He recognizes that Lorne has better than average chances to be successful for all the above. His decision to kill Malvo transcended his reliance on protection from the legal system or the gang of idiot cops/FBI agents he would have to entrust. I think I would have done the same thing. Even Malvo's attitude with Gus was dismissive, as if escaping his current predicament was a foregone conclusion. His dying response to Gus was of surprise that Gus had the cajones to pull the trigger. I am not sure if it was also rage because he underestimated Gus or happiness that he forced Gus to commit a cold blooded "murder". As for Gus not getting charged - I am sure that Malvo was dangerous enough that the police would have assumed that he acted in self defense, and actually, he did... I also love that Malvo was done in by a trap of his own invention. Bold Lester was Malvo's creation - a confident and bolder Lester conceived and play acted the phone call to the police to set the "trap" (which was a bear trap). Pretty good.

I thought we learned his name when he signed the hotel register?

My impression was just that... Lou has been worried about Molly ever since episode one (I think they call it a Hostess). I don't think Lou wants Molly anywhere near Malvo. I think Lou might have thought Malvo was the killer in Sioux City and basically let him know it, also making it clear that he wasn't concerned with sharing that with anyone except Malvo. When Malvo made the "garden of eden" remark, he was basically telling Lou, that Lou "got it"... I watched this with my teenage son. He yelled "What a dick!" when Lester sent his wife in to the store as trial balloon. (He caught himself, never said anything like that in front of me before, he was so emotionally charged from the scene, it was a pure reaction utterance. I gave him the hairy eye ball, then laughed my ass off) It occurred to me that Lester made a point to print out the tickets, in front of the window, with his orange coat on. Not only was he buying a single ticket, he was working to place himself in view wearing the coat while keeping an eye out that no one was close enough to shoot him... Man... What a dick....