The wolf did two things. It stopped Gus so he had the opportunity to look around and see Malvo's car. It appeared to Malvo just before Gus crept out of hiding and killed him. It had positive and negative (depending on who you are) significance. I looked up the Native American symbolic meaning of 'wolf' and found this as the short answer: "Positive meanings emphasize a deep connection with your intuition and instincts (Gus). On the negative side, the wolf could represent a perceived threat or a lack of trust in someone or your own feelings or actions (Malvo). This spirit animal also reflects sharp intelligence in dealing with important matters (realization by both)." Makes sense to me on both sides of the coin.
I've had a problem with Malvo's behavior in the last episode. It just didn't ring true. While he was confident, he never seemed reckless or unstudied. I often thought, throughout the course of the show, that he was a master of human behavior. Seemed to me he had a good handle on predictable human reaction. After he told 'the deaf guy' that they got closer than any ever had, I believe he would have upped his game; possibly realizing he might be slipping. Obviously that didn't happen and he never struck me as fatally arrogant. I can't for the life of me figure out why in the hell he would wade into a bear trap instead of just taking Lester out. I also have a hard time with him returning to that cabin. Seems like a rookie mistake. He could have moved his stuff anywhere before going after Lester. I think Malvo was tired and just over it. Completely falling OFF his game and that he didn't care anymore. The wolf appearing in the window for him to see and his response to Gus about the riddle makes that plausible for me. I don't see it as being in character for Malvo to sit there unarmed, no matter how hurt he was either.
