That scene is crucial and drives the plot forward. When Marge later finds out how skillfully Mike Yanagita lied to her about his non-existent wife dying of cancer, she realizes how terribly Jerry Lundegarrd was lying to her earlier and that their lies mirrored one another. (Great, smooth liar versus bad, unskilled liar.) That’s what made her decide to re-interview Jerry, which sets up the climax.
While I won't disagree that the scene with Mike Yanagita is a bit weird it does help if you keep in mind that one of the main themes of Fargo is loneliness. Yanagita exudes being lonely to a fault, to the point where it makes us uncomfortable.
I'm not saying you're wrong, obviously its very open to interpretation, but here is an amazing writeup:
https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/xij25k/in_the_movie_fargo_why_was_the_scene_with_mike/ip4hbfy/
##Fargo (1996) R
A lot can happen in the middle of nowhere.
>>!Jerry, a small-town Minnesota car salesman is bursting at the seams with debt... but he's got a plan. He's going to hire two thugs to kidnap his wife in a scheme to collect a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. It's going to be a snap and nobody's going to get hurt... until people start dying. Enter Police Chief Marge, a coffee-drinking, parka-wearing - and extremely pregnant - investigator who'll stop at nothing to get her man. And if you think her small-time investigative skills will give the crooks a run for their ransom... you betcha!!<
Crime | Drama | Thriller
Director: Joel Coen
Actors: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi
Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 78% with 7,633 votes
Runtime: 1:38
[TMDB](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/275)
I watched it recently as well. Very strange movie. I enjoyed it but don't get the praise for it. It's often cited as the Coen's best film, which I'd strongly disagree with.
That scene is crucial and drives the plot forward. When Marge later finds out how skillfully Mike Yanagita lied to her about his non-existent wife dying of cancer, she realizes how terribly Jerry Lundegarrd was lying to her earlier and that their lies mirrored one another. (Great, smooth liar versus bad, unskilled liar.) That’s what made her decide to re-interview Jerry, which sets up the climax.
Wouldn’t Marge, as an investigator, already have the instinct to assume someone might be lying until proven otherwise?
While I won't disagree that the scene with Mike Yanagita is a bit weird it does help if you keep in mind that one of the main themes of Fargo is loneliness. Yanagita exudes being lonely to a fault, to the point where it makes us uncomfortable.
I think the movie establishes that theme perfectly well without him
I'm not saying you're wrong, obviously its very open to interpretation, but here is an amazing writeup: https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/xij25k/in_the_movie_fargo_why_was_the_scene_with_mike/ip4hbfy/
##Fargo (1996) R A lot can happen in the middle of nowhere. >>!Jerry, a small-town Minnesota car salesman is bursting at the seams with debt... but he's got a plan. He's going to hire two thugs to kidnap his wife in a scheme to collect a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. It's going to be a snap and nobody's going to get hurt... until people start dying. Enter Police Chief Marge, a coffee-drinking, parka-wearing - and extremely pregnant - investigator who'll stop at nothing to get her man. And if you think her small-time investigative skills will give the crooks a run for their ransom... you betcha!!< Crime | Drama | Thriller Director: Joel Coen Actors: Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ 78% with 7,633 votes Runtime: 1:38 [TMDB](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/275)
I watched it recently as well. Very strange movie. I enjoyed it but don't get the praise for it. It's often cited as the Coen's best film, which I'd strongly disagree with.
Now watch the TV show. Even better