I actually really enjoyed the book framing device. It felt like I was watching
"The Grand Sioux Falls Motor Motel".

Well anyway, this was wrong :/
I was secretly hoping it would be wrong. I just love when this show shits of your predictions!

The real life officer Val Johnson, who allegedly had a close encounter with a UFO in Minnesota in 1979 (which I assume is being referenced), claims to not really think about it too often or be all too impressed with the whole situation. So that would be accurate to his case anyway.

That's a really good point. None of this would have happened if that UFO hadn't been dicking around outside the Waffle Hut at just the right moment. After Rye gets hit, I picture the aliens being like "OOooh shit… We influenced the subjects! Zagleboorf, you nerfherder! You forgot to turn on the cloaking device! Fuck,…

Yeah I think that would be highly unlikely.

That's a good observation. You may be right.

I think you're misremembering Hanzee's flashback. The classroom in the flashback is occupied by children who appear to be Native Americans and it looks a bit ramshackle like an old one room school house. I assume it was on a reservation. I don't think Peggy did cut even a single hair. It would have been a symbolic end…

Ah wow. How did I not get the "wounded knee" joke? So fitting. Yeah I think he would have eventually killed Dodd anyway at some point. But his rough day (to say the least) and my theoretical Connie pep talk would have been the straws that broke the camel's back.

And I should really clarify, I see Connie's motivation for this as an attempt to save Ed and Peggy so she can live with herself. I don't think she honestly cares about Hanzee.

Ok not everything. Just what I mentioned. And maybe not a whole speech, but at least planting the idea. Hanzee is tired of getting shit from people. I think it would be a fitting contrast to the journey of Peggy from seemingly normal person to the ruthless criminal she is now. I don't think he has always been fully…

I'll just repost something I said on Youtube.

Everything in the episode points to this though. I'm surprised nobody mentions it.

I'm calling it now. Hanzee is "self actualizing" as per Connie, in their conversation in the hotel, which will be shown in the next episode.