| "Welcome to the Alternate Economy" | |
|---|---|
| Fargo episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Noah Hawley |
| Written by | Noah Hawley |
| Featured music | Jeff Russo |
| Cinematography by | Dana Gonzales |
| Editing by | Regis Kimble |
| Production code | XFO04001 |
| Original air date | September 27, 2020 |
| Running time | 62 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Welcome to the Alternate Economy" is the season premiere of the fourth season of the American anthology black comedy–crime drama television series Fargo. It is the 31st overall episode of the series and was written and directed by series creator Noah Hawley. It originally aired on FX on September 27, 2020, airing back-to-back with the follow-up episode, "The Land of Taking and Killing".
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.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the episode was seen by an estimated 1.22 million household viewers and gained a 0.2 ratings share among adults aged 18–49. The episode received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the cinematography and production design, although some expressed criticism for the pacing, over-abundance of characters and lack of character development.