The Law of Vacant Places
[1] As each season of Fargo follows its own self-contained narrative, "The Law of Vacant Places", set in December 2010 over several towns in Minnesota, introduces a new storyline and cast; in the episode, probation officer Ray Stussy (Ewan McGregor), in need of money for himself and his new fiancée Nikki Swango (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), blackmails one of his parolees, the drug addict Maurice LeFay (Scoot McNairy), into stealing a valuable stamp from Ray's brother Emmit (also played by McGregor).
Meanwhile, Emmit contacts a mysterious company he borrowed money from two years prior, wishing to pay them back, to surprising results.
They discuss their past and it is revealed that their father, upon his death, bequeathed to Emmit a Corvette Stingray and to Ray a collection of rare stamps.
Upon searching the house for the killer, Gloria finds, hidden under the wooden floor, science fiction novels she had no idea her stepfather had.
Meanwhile, Emmit and his business partner, Sy Feltz, contact a shady organization, which they had borrowed money from two years ago, to pay them back fully with interest.
The episode features several notable pre-existing songs: "Crazy on You" by Heart, "Moanin'" by Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, "Prisencolinensinainciusol" by Adriano Celentano, "Oskus Urug" by Radik Tyulush, and, over the end credits, "S.O.B."
It currently holds a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes: the critical consensus is "While Fargo's third season borders on the familiar, 'The Law of Vacant Places' includes commanding performances, fascinating characters, and a hilariously silly final death sequence, adding up to an entertaining premiere.
He praised the perspectives and motivations of both Stussy brothers, stating that both had "a belief in something they believe to be true at such a deep, fundamental level, they’re both willing to steal–and, eventually, kill–in order to bring that truth to life.
He also highly praised the scene where Gloria explores her stepfather's house after the murder, the relation between Ray and Nikki, and the performances of David Thewlis and Michael Stuhlbarg.
[5] Kyle Mullin of Under the Radar gave the episode a 9 out of 10, highly praising the writing, humor, and performances, especially McGregor's, McNairy's, Coon's, and Winstead's.
[8] In a positive review, Zane Moses of The Baltimore Sun stated "This first episode is everything a Fargo fan could have hoped for: a couple of murders, morally ambiguous characters, and an ominous criminal enterprise undercutting all of the events.
[9] Scott Tobias of The New York Times stated that although "it's too early to tell after this premiere, which is so packed with quotation marks that there’s barely room for it to make an original statement", the cast "may be the strongest yet, with Mary Elizabeth Winstead a particular standout".
Club, who, despite giving the episode a positive review and a B+ rating, stated that while "'The Law of Vacant Places' is not a bad premiere, it’s also not a particularly inspired one.
Apart from stunt-casting Ewan McGregor as feuding twin brothers Ray and Emmit Stussy, pretty much everything that happens in this first hour and change is something that the show has already done, right down to the shocking violence that will serve as an inciting incident for the rest of the season.
Which makes it all the more appropriate that when Fargo: Year 3 arrives now, 2017, a period plagued with “alternative facts” and “fake news,” it does so not with the grace of a UFO but with all the subtly [sic] of an air conditioner falling on your head."
He also highly praised Maurice LeFay's death scene for playing with the audience's expectation, adding "It cleverly justified the idea of Nikki’s competitive bridge infatuation; any person who understands the mind-dulling rules of a game like Bridge, understands well enough for gosh-darn third runner up spot in the Wildcat Invitational, is a character I believe can calculate Maurice’s flight down her apartment steps.
