Now streaming on Netflix, Fargo continues to confuse audiences with its Mike Yanagita scene. Many have argued that the late-movie sequence is merely inconsequential misdirection, while others have found meaning in the inherent deception. What's important, it seems, is that Marge Gunderson's perspective changes after meeting with her old friend, Mike.
Marge doesn't make her first appearance in Fargo until the 34-minute mark, or the unofficial beginning of the film's second act. Portrayed by Frances McDormand, the Brainerd police officer has a loving relationship with husband Norm (John Carroll Lynch). While investigating a triple murder that links to Fargo's primary villain, Gaear Grimsrud (Peter Stormare), Marge receives a late-night phone call from a former classmate named Mike Yanagita (Steve Park). Later, after meeting with car dealer Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) about a missing tan Cutlass Ciera, Marge catches up with Mike at a local Raddison Hotel, and has an enlightening experience.
On the surface, Mike initially appears to be genuinely interested in Marge, and states that he was married to a woman named Linda Cooksey. In the same breath, Mike sits directly next to his former classmate, and makes her feel uncomfortable. After all, Marge is a married and visibly-pregnant woman. Mike's story becomes progressively more dramatic during the four-minute Fargo scene, which ends with the character nearly in tears while reflecting about his late wife who presumably died from leukemia. Meanwhile, Marge nervously sucks on a straw while anticipating the end of the conversation. According to a 2016 Vox article, Mike has "absolutely nothing to do with the story," but anyone from Fargo (such as myself) or the state of Minnesota (my home state) knows that the Mike Yanagita scene is a low-key master class in "Minnesota Nice." Not only does the scene capture the passive-aggressive nature of Upper Midwesterners, but also informs the audience about Marge's changing perspective that affects the film's climax.
With Fargo, much of the comedy emerges from the idea that the main characters are relatively simple-minded. Marge lives a quiet life and complains little about her job, and so the average viewer may not find much meaning in the Mike Yanagita scene, if only due to Marge's verbal reactions and facial expressions. What's really happening, though, is that Marge — using her skills as a police officer — tries to analyze Mike without offending him. She has a good reason to leave after having her personal space invaded, but the unofficial rules of "Minnesota Nice" call for a proper conversation. The genius of Fargo is that director Joel Coen (a Minnesota native) doesn't show the end of the conversation. During Marge's next appearance 16 minutes later, she learns from a friend that Mike was never actually married to Linda (who is still alive), and had in fact been "pestering" her. "Oh, geez," Marge says, "geez... well, geez. That's a surprise." From that point forward, Marge retains her Minnesota Nice ways, yet she becomes more focused during the investigation.
Upon realizing that Mike was blatantly deceitful, Marge naturally becomes more cautious during a second meeting with Jerry Gunderson. Once again, the police officer takes a passive-aggressive tone in conversation, an approach that is similarly taken by the nervous sales manager. Marge disarms Jerry with her big smile and practical way of communicating, and ultimately rattles him by sticking to her guns with a firm Minnesota Nice tone. Jerry eventually flees, and Marge locates the tan Cutlass Ciera during the infamous woodchipper conclusion.
As for the true relevance of the Mike Yanagita scene, the sequence exists as a brief fish-out-of-water storytelling trope. Marge doesn't stray too far from home, but goes far enough to be reminded about life beyond Brainerd. By acknowledging and processing Mike's lies, Marge becomes more mindful about the bigger picture. And so the final images perfectly capture the character of the main protagonist in Fargo. Marge has been changed by her experiences — and by all of the external "noise" that Mike Yanagita represents — but she doesn't let that affect her private life with her beloved Norm.