| "The Pretend War" | |
|---|---|
| Fargo episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 4 |
| Directed by | Dearbhla Walsh |
| Written by | |
| Featured music | Jeff Russo |
| Cinematography by | Paula Huidobro |
| Editing by |
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| Production code | XFO04004 |
| Original air date | October 11, 2020 |
| Running time | 56 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
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"The Pretend War" is the fourth episode of the fourth season of the American anthology black comedy–crime drama television series Fargo. It's the 34th overall episode of the series and was written by series creator Noah Hawley and supervising producer Stefani Robinson and directed by Dearbhla Walsh. It originally aired on FX on Oct. 11, 2020.
The season is set in Kansas City, Missouri from November 1950 to early 1951, and follows two crime syndicates as they vie for control of the underground. One of these is Loy Cannon, the head of a crime syndicate made up of black migrants fleeing the Jim Crow South who have a contentious relationship with the Italian Kansas City mafia. In the episode, tensions between the Cannon Limited and the Fadda Family increase after the robbery at the slaughterhouse.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 0.76 million household viewers and gained a 0.1 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received mostly positive reviews from critics, who viewed the episode as an improvement over the previous episodes, highlighting the directing, tension and cinematography as strong points.