According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.517 million household viewers and gained a 0.10 ratings share among adults aged 18–49.
Meanwhile, Roy (Jon Hamm) tells Bowman (Conrad Coates) to kill and bury Dot (Juno Temple), as he prepares to rally his supporters by making a video asking for their help.
Lorraine (Jennifer Jason Leigh) continues calling Danish, only to be told by Indira (Richa Moorjani), now her head of security, that his phone line died the previous night on Roy's ranch.
Indira contacts Witt (Lamorne Morris) to inform him about the incoming FBI and state troops, telling him that he has to protect Dot.
Dot sneaks her way to the house, using a phone in Roy's bedroom to contact Wayne (David Rysdahl) and Scotty (Sienna King).
Roy's militia supporters arrive and arm themselves as Dot obtains Karen's phone and calls Lorraine to inform her about Danish's death.
Federal agents, including Meyer (Jessica Pohly) and Joaquin (Nick Gomez) arrive, while Witt is given command of a rescue team to help him retrieve Dot after triangulating the cell phone signal.
While searching the area, Roy finds a dead goat and is confronted by Munch, who is holding a blindfolded Gator hostage with a noose.
In December 2023, it was reported that the ninth episode of the season would be titled "The Useless Hand", and was to be written by series creator Noah Hawley, and directed by co-executive producer Thomas Bezucha.
"[4] In its original American broadcast, "The Useless Hand" was seen by an estimated 0.517 million household viewers and gained a 0.10 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research.
"[7] Keith Phipps of Vulture gave the episode a 4 star rating out of 5 and wrote, "I briefly feared Fargo peaked with all that mid-season excitement, but clearly not.
Yes, he tosses off one fascist bon mot after another, from “We'll show these godless huns how a patriot dies a-singin'!” to 'Go and live... or stay and die.” Meanwhile he's too scared of his own feelings to comfort his maimed child or murder his abused ex-wife himself.