According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.98 million household viewers and gained a 0.3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Having lost his office and with Emmit not answering his calls, Sy meets with Ruby Goldfarb (Mary McDonnell), a wealthy widow interested in buying Stussy Lots.
Ray is questioned by Gloria (Carrie Coon) and Winnie (Olivia Sandoval), as they have found more coincidences in Ennis' murder relating to Maurice and his connection to Emmit.
Ray denies the claims and is released, as Chief Moe Dammik (Shea Whigham) forces Gloria to let him go due to a lack of evidence.
To complicate matters, Emmit is visited in his office by IRS agent Larue Dollard (Hamish Linklater), who was sent to audit him based on the $10,000 that Ray took from his account.
In April 2017, it was reported that the fifth episode of the season would be titled "The House of Special Purpose", and was to be directed by Dearbhla Walsh and written by co-executive producer Bob DeLaurentis.
[1] In its original American broadcast, "The House of Special Purpose" was seen by an estimated 0.98 million household viewers and gained a 0.3 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Club gave the episode a "B+" grade and wrote, "While it still suffers from some of the sluggishness that's been dragging down the season as a whole, 'The House Of Special Purposes' takes steps toward bringing the larger thematic concerns of the tale of the Stussys and Gloria Burgle into clearer focus.
"[6] Alan Sepinwall of Uproxx wrote, "'The House of Special Purpose' takes us to the midpoint of season three, and to points of no return for the Stussy brothers and their respective confidantes.
"[10] Nick Harley of Den of Geek gave the episode a 5 star rating out of 5 wrote, "With characters and conflicts crossing streams left and right, the uneasy peace on Fargo can't be kept up for much longer.
"[12] Caralynn Lippo of TV Fanatic gave the episode a 4.5 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "The various plots are beginning to condense and intertwine on 'The House of Special Purpose', the midway point of the season.
"[13] Kyle Fowle of Paste gave the episode a 7.5 rating out of 10 and wrote, "What Fargo seems to be poking at is the little compromises we all make with ourselves to justify our indiscretions.