Lars Olmstead is a character in Fargo Season 5.[1] He is the husband of Indira Olmstead who constantly wastes finances to pursue artistic ambitions, which ultimately go nowhere.
History[]
Early Life[]
Lars Olmstead was born in Scandia, Minnesota. When he came of adult age, he attended radiology school before dropping out in favor of artistic pursuits. At some point, he met, dated and eventually married Indira, a then wannabee policewoman who eventually gained a position in the Scandia Police Force. Lars would often convince Indira to fund his frivolous artistic ambitions, like buying a jumbo-sized golf-simulator for their basement, which he eventually bombs due to inadequacy and this results in them being in critical financial debt, much to Indira's frustration, but Lars is anything but concerned about the possibility of being homeless, being more focused on using the golf simulator to practice, hoping to have a career in golfing as he frequents a country club where he came in 2nd place at a Hilton Head golf competition. At one point, he took up a job at the Red Apple to help bring in money, but he most likely resigned due to being more focused on his would-be golf career. ("The Tragedy of the Commons") At some point, Lars has been going through physical therapy in order to improve his golf prowess, but it does nothing for him. ("The Tender Trap")
2019[]
Lars is first seen practicing on the golf simulator late at night when Indira comes home. They have a short tiff on account of how purchasing the simulator alongside other things Indira bought for Lars to focus on playing golf, like how Lars paid a large sum to pay entry for a regional championship, and how it's putting them in debt with companies like Sears, but Lars defensively states that he's getting better, which his wife doesn't buy, comparing it to how she managed to achieve her dream of being a cop.
A few days later, Indira brings fugitive Dot Lyon to her and Lars' home to talk while Indira agrees to shelter Dot's daughter Scotty Pullover for a while to hide her from Dot's ruthless ex-husband, Sheriff Roy Tillman while Dot goes on the run. Lars comes into the kitchen to get a bottle of soda from the fridge, griping about how some golf clubs a friend of his sold him aren't adequate and plans to trade them for better ones. He soon stumbles upon Dot, prompting Indira to make up a cover identity for Dot, but informs him about Scotty's stay over at their house. ("The Tiger")
The next day, Lars as has fallen asleep in the garage and Indira wakes him up by opening the garage door and humiliating him in front of a bus of school children for sleeping in his shorts. Embarrassed, he comes into the kitchen and after Indira informs him that he must watch Scotty for the day while she works, he pulls her aside and makes a rather immature plea about wanting a wife who serves him with no complaint and support his ambitions, essentially telling her to quit his job and be his servant for the rest of her life and likins her assertion about being in debt as "bringing him down with negativity". Frustrated, she leaves for work, and she orders Lars to take Scotty to the park to entertain her. When Lars complains about having to go to physical therapy, Indira blows him off. However, later that day, while playing on the simulator, Scotty comes into the garage feeling bored, but Lars just blows her off and decides to leave her home alone to see his physical therapist and just lazily tells her to not burn the house down before he leaves. ("The Tender Trap")
One day, Indira comes home to notice Lars lying in bed during the middle of the day. She opens the closet to change her top, but finds another woman, his physical therapist, in the closet, nearly naked. The reality of the situation, Lars committing infidelity, dawns on her and she calmly but angrily orders both of them to leave the house when she returns from her double-shift and angrily throws Lars' "I want a wife" speech back on him as a way to sound off on him being a lazy, useless husband. All Lars can do is vainly say he contributes. ("Blanket")
Episode appearances[]
Season 5[]
- 501-The Tragedy of the Commons
- 505-The Tiger
- 506-The Tender Trap
- 508-Blanket
Trivia[]
- Lars is basically a humbler version of Roy, they’re both selfish people who see women as laborers and feel as though they have no business asserting any independence. The main difference between them is that Roy has connections to ensure his sexist beliefs go unchallenged while Lars is just an Average Joe who can only whine whenever he is inconvenienced.
References[]
| Season 5 characters | |
|---|---|
| Main | Roy Tillman • Dot Lyon • Lorraine Lyon • Gator Tillman • Witt Farr • Indira Olmstead |
| Recurring | |
| All characters | |