Episode 2 of Fargo's fifth season kicks off with a bang, introducing the charismatic character of Jon Hamm's Sherriff Roy Tillman. At just 25, Roy was elected to his position, a testament to the law enforcement blood that courses through his veins. As the third-generation sheriff of their town, Roy's authority is unquestioned.
His opening monologue sets the tone for his outdated views on gender roles and moral standing. Roy firmly believes that a woman's place is beneath her husband's in the household, devoting herself to his happiness and the upkeep of the family as a homemaker. He pontificates on these beliefs to a young couple at a diner, casually dismissing what would be considered domestic abuse in the city. But in this remote corner of Texas, Roy's rules reign supreme, above even the law.
When a domestic dispute erupts, Roy orders one of his officers to choke the life out of the husband while he holds the wife's hands. He preaches that while a husband is allowed to strike his wife, it should be a rare occurrence. After the couple leaves, having received a timely lesson in Roy's justice, his son and Deputy Sherriff, Gator, brings him news of another matter: the kidnapping.
It was Roy who ordered the kidnapping of Dorothy, and now Ole Munch, the kidnapper who somehow survived the ordeal, has arrived at the ranch to collect his payment. Ole is outraged that Roy didn't tell him the whole truth about his prey. He was promised an ordinary woman, but in reality, Dorothy is a "tiger." Roy explains that she is his wife who ran away ten years ago and only recently came into the system when her prints were taken after a school brawl. He wants her back to fulfill her "vows of marriage."
Despite his protests, Roy instructs Gator to pay Ole. However, he uses a code word - "fixing place" - which is a euphemism for executing Ole. But before the deed can be done, Ole manages to wriggle out of the impossible situation and escapes, breaking Gator's hand in the process.
Meanwhile, Indira interrogates Dorothy at the house, with Wayne present. Dorothy repeats her claim that she ran away to "clear her head" after the school incident. Indira finds her story hard to believe, and Dorothy's lack of conviction doesn't help her case. Lorraine, however, is convinced that Dorothy is a con woman and wants to force her to pay a ransom. She also suggests that Wayne might be involved with the kidnappers, having backed out of their original plan at the last moment.
As Lorraine interrogates Dot, Danish is assigned to question Wayne. The tense atmosphere is interrupted by the arrival of Agents Meyer and Joaquin at Roy's house. Despite knowing they are federal agents, Roy remains unintimidated, relaxing in his bathtub with a calm demeanor that belies the chaos unfolding around him.
They were freshly assigned to the Fargo office and promptly pointed out that Roy seemed to be ignoring federal laws within the county borders. In fact, it appeared he was actively encouraging illegal activities. Roy, undeterred, launched into a passionate speech about his principles and his interpretation of right and wrong. He even correctly pointed out that only the Governor and the electorate had the power to remove him from office. Despite the federal agents' intimidation tactics, Roy remained steadfast, and they eventually left.
Lorraine arrived at Dot's house with the intention of intimidating her into leaving. However, her accusations and theories fell flat with Dot, who suddenly switched her accent and threatened Lorraine instead. It was a chilling exchange that made one thing abundantly clear: Dot was not someone to be trifled with.
Dot enlisted Scotty's help in a supposed "craft project," which was actually her preparing for a potential home invasion. She wanted every access point in the house to be armed and ready to repel any intruders. It reminded one of the Home Alone movies, but with a much more sinister edge.
Danish visited Wayne at his Kia dealership and dialed Lorraine in on the phone. She instructed him to slap her son and make him realize that Dot was not who she claimed to be. Wayne returned to discuss the matter with Dot, his desperation growing as he saw the traps she had set up around the house. He sensed that something strange was happening but wanted to give Dot the benefit of the doubt. Wayne's desperation was also fueled by his vision of a perfect life with Dot and Scotty.
Indira made a visit to Witt in the hospital, intent on showing him a photo of Dot and confirming her identity. However, her plans were thwarted by Gator's unexpected arrival. As Gator and another county cop drove back to Little Texas, they stopped at a gas station. While Gator went inside to pick up some supplies, the other cop was brutally murdered by Ole. A placard was stuck to his body, reading "You owe me," leaving a chilling message in its wake.
