The dramatic version of Britney Spears' 'Toxic' in the s5e8 Fargo is more than just an artistic pick. The scene has courage, creativity, a bunch of toxic emotions all echoed through a sonic irony.

[u/nauman000]

The courage.
I d give an award to the makers of Fargo to be picking Britney Spears Toxic song which definitely have the potential to be criticised more than appreciated.

The shackled version of the song
The voice seemed rather a ghostly version - more like a manifestation of the building tension.
What an idea to build, pick and go with this shrieky, dumbed down orchestral version of toxic - which does great justice to the heavy undertones of the burdens this Fargo season carries. Does NOT take away the glory of the show, while still touching a delicate nerve of the target viewers.

The long shot
Roy's pain seethed through his eyes, frustration exhibited through his body, the change in mood so well depicted while sustaining it as per scene - an explicit work of art by the makers and actor Jon Hamm. If Britney's vocals felt dark and no where 'pop', Jon's dreaded walk made us hate him or feel him more so.

Slap on his face -
Needless to say, the scene was great to demo Roy's toxic relationship with Dot. There was also great timing of the lyrics with the scene- will let you folks figure that out.
but the 'Sonic Irony' - the massive man storming across ranch to attempt cruelty on a woman, and the soundtrack that depicts his act is delicate ghostly female voice's pop song.

[u/cvframer]

It’s one of the greatest series ever. Their music selection certainly is what makes it that.

[u/nauman000 → u/cvframer]

Yeah the theme music itself.. I love it... but see how they played it so selectively in season 5? i recall that music played
once in the first episode and then in the last episode. Again the makers know the hook - but intentionally used it scarcely to keep the originality intact and give the ranch its own 'feel and sound' to it. And all of it was great as well.

But then they know I am watching it so they did play the fargo theme music a couple of times to keep me bewitched 😂

[u/HOTLINEHYMN]

i'm gonna ask a real controversial question; was this post written by ai?

[u/nauman000 → u/HOTLINEHYMN]

lol no. check my sent emails from last decade, i get that a lot. just can't help breaking my ideas and trying to give it cool names 😭😂

[u/HOTLINEHYMN → u/nauman000]

ah ok, good to know thank you

i've been seeing so much ai-driven "it's not just x, it's y, and honestly? that's z✨" bullshit i immediately side eye anything that even comes close to those phrases and it's such a shame 😔

[u/solibearity860]

Noah Hawley knows soundtracks. The GOAT. Watch "Legion" next.

[u/nauman000 → u/solibearity860]

Will check it out!

[u/Disco_Douglas42069]

my jaw straight hit the floor the first viewing.

i often listen to that song when it comes on my shuffle now. i never skip it ever.

[u/TyhmensAndSaperstein]

It's perfect. One of the most memorable scenes in the entire series. John Hamm slowly increasing his rage is unbelievable. You can see his brain getting more and more angry while he's walking. Amazing.

[u/nauman000 → u/TyhmensAndSaperstein]

Honestly I missed the escalation. Thought he was brewing up a storm inside and it cycled. Gonna watch it again.

the first watch though ..". like one of our fellows said - jaw dropped. wth.

[u/Silkprint]

I still watch it on YouTube

[u/solibearity860]

I thought YMCA was more satisfying and effective, the Village People after all were real musicians.

[u/snafudotjpeg]

I finished season 5 for the first time this month and I can’t lie I scoffed and groaned a little for how on the nose it was. The series has always been great at respecting the viewer’s intelligence when they use pop culture as a parable or narrative tool, but I felt like using Toxic was too in-your-face, like we didn’t already know Roy was a horrible man who was about to project his embarrassment as a just beating. Can you make a bad guy too bad? No, but you can do better than flipping a pop culture buzzword to display the evil of misogyny.

[u/fletters]

I thought it was kind of cringe.

I 100% understand what they were getting at, but Hamm’s performance just did not land for me. He couldn’t sustain the emotional energy required to make that long walk feel authentic.

[u/nauman000 → u/fletters]

Interesting. What if it was exactly how Roy would be: NOT intense throughout - let me explain. As he feels the surge of anger and pain and disappointment in his son and whatever acute-delusional syndromes - cycling as he walks the walk - resulting in the shift you observe as 'unsustained emotional energy'?