Fargo Season 4 Finale Ending Explained: The Return of Mike Milligan

As expected, all the drama in Fargo season 4 came together in the finale. All the loose ends in season 4 were clarified, and if you’ve followed the story since the beginning, you’d be happy with that major payoff.

The first 11 episodes of Fargo season 4 dealt with various themes, including murder, betrayal, and envy, which all resulted in an exciting and eventful finale.

For your convenience, I’ve explained the major questions you might have after watching the season 4 finale.

1. Ethelrida Peal Smutny’s Plan Explained

In the final episode, Ethelrida gives Loy Cannon a ring owned by the Fadda family leader. She discovered the relic while cleaning up nurse Oraetta Mayflower’s apartment.

Loy showed the lost family treasure to the men from New York as evidence that Josto was unfit to lead the Fadda family. Loy convinced them that Josto either murdered his own father or hired a nurse to do it for him.

However, Loy fulfilled his promise to Ethelrida, giving back the funeral home to her parents. In the ending scene, Ethelrida gave a speech while Loy’s print of “Summary Execution under the Moorish Kings of Granada” surrounds her. The ending hints that the girl is meant for remarkable things.

2. The Fate of Josto and the Fadda Family

Josto’s fate was sealed when Oraetta confirmed Loy’s suspicion. In episode 1, Josto requested the funny-talking nurse to care for his father. However, crazy, kill-happy Oraetta deciphered it as a command to finish the Fadda family’s leader.

Strike two dealt with Josto’s brother Gaetano. In the last episode, Gaetano and Josto strolled out to finish the cop who kept stabbing everyone in the back.

However, a very bizarre incident happened after the murder. Gaetano tripped and fell on his way back to the car after killing the cop. Amid the fall, he accidentally fired a bullet into his own head, and it killed him instantly.

The Fadda family interpreted the accident as two brothers fighting for power. Therefore, the entire blame inadvertently went to Josto.

Finally, Oraetta and Josto were shot and dumped by Fadda associates residing in New York. However, the crime family is not ruined, and one subtle easter egg is enough to convey this to the wide-eyed fans.

One of the men who kills Oraetta is none other than Joe Bulo, the viciously cold crime lord who was also Mike Milligan’s boss. Joe Bulo’s involvement confirms that New York’s takeover of the Fadda empire was a sure-shot success.

3. What happened to Oraetta Mayflower?

The Fadda family sentenced Oraetta Mayflower and her lover, Josto, to death after she confessed her crime of murdering Donatello Fadda.

When Oraetta was asked about her last request, she asked for her lover to be shot in front of her eyes. This also proves that the couple were not Lorne Malvo’s parents.

4. Who finally won: Faddas or the Cannons?

The Faddas defeated the Cannons in this conflict, but the end result was the corporatization of crime.

With the support of the Fadda family’s associates from New York, this Kansas City clash escalated from a feud between two clans into a nationwide gang war.

5. Is Satchel Cannon Mike Milligan?

Satchel reunited with his family at the end of season 4, but his happiness was short-lived. Following Zelmare’s murder of Loy, the series switched to Mike Milligan in the rear of a vehicle.

The show hinted that he thought about his father’s death and son’s swap during this journey. It’s unclear whether Mike Milligan is Satchel’s official name or a pseudonym for his illegal work.

Nevertheless, we know he was honoring the one misfit man who showed him kindness in the most difficult phase of his youth.

6. About Fargo

Fargo is a black comedy crime drama that airs in an anthologized format. Each season of the show is set in different eras of time. Every season a new story and a host of new characters are introduced. Fargo has starred Martin Freeman, Billy Bob Thornton, Kirsten Dunst, Ted Danson, Ewan McGregor and Chris Rock.

Fargo is based on the 1996 film of the same name, directed by the Coen brothers. The series is created by Noah Hawley.