The House of Special Purpose (Fargo)

"The House of Special Purpose" is the fifth episode of the third season of the American anthology black comedy–crime drama television series Fargo. It is the 25th overall episode of the series and was written by co-executive producer Bob DeLaurentis and directed by Dearbhla Walsh. It originally aired on FX on May 17, 2017.

The season is set primarily in 2010, in three Minnesota towns: St. Cloud, Eden Valley, and Eden Prairie. It follows the lives of a couple, Ray Stussy and Nikki Swango, who, after unsuccessfully trying to rob Ray's wealthy older brother Emmit, become involved in a double murder case. One of the victims is an old man with a mysterious past whose stepdaughter, Gloria Burgle, is a policewoman. Meanwhile, Emmit tries to cut his ties with a shady organization he borrowed money from a year before, but the company, represented by V. M. Varga, has other plans. In the episode, Emmit's life crumbles after Ray and Nikki film a sex tape with Ray pretending to be Emmit. Meanwhile, Sy is punished by Varga and he looks for a way out, all while trying to end the feud between Emmit and Ray.

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. The episode received critical acclaim, with critics praising the writing, humor, character development, performances and building momentum.