Season 4, Episode 5: ‘The Birthplace of Civilization’

“This country loves a man who takes what he wants. Unless that man looks like you.”

Of all the monologuing that’s been done this season on what America means — on this show, targets have to endure an earful of philosophizing before taking a bellyful of lead — Josto Fadda’s words to a cell packed with Cannon’s men underlines the most important theme. “Fargo” has presented the power struggle between Kansas City crime syndicates as the story of America, how different tribes gain a foothold in the “alternate economy” before they gain legitimacy and acceptance in mainstream society. But African-Americans are a special case, and this week’s episode finally makes that resoundingly clear.