Fargo
Tags: violence, dark, murder

Plot synopsis:
In the winter of 1987, Jerry Lundegaard, the sales manager at a Minneapolis Oldsmobile dealership, is desperate for money. He floated a $320,000 GMAC loan and collateralized it with nonexistent dealership vehicles; GMAC is asking questions. Dealership mechanic and paroled ex-convict Shep Proudfoot refers Jerry to Gaear Grimsrud. Jerry travels to Fargo, North Dakota, towing a new car from his dealership, and hires Gaear and Carl Showalter to kidnap his wife, Jean, and extort a ransom from his wealthy father-in-law and boss, Wade Gustafson, in return for the dealership car and half of the $80,000 ransom.
Jerry pitches Gustafson a lucrative real estate deal, and he agrees to front $750,000. Jerry considers calling off the kidnapping, then learns that Gustafson plans to make the deal himself, giving Jerry a finder's fee. At Jerry's home, Carl and Gaear carry out the kidnapping. As they transport Jean to their remote cabin on Moose Lake, a state trooper pulls them over outside Brainerd for driving without temporary tags. When the trooper hears a sound from the back seat, Gaear kills him, then chases down two eyewitnesses and kills them.
The following morning, Brainerd police chief Marge Gunderson discovers that the dead trooper was ticketing a car with dealership plates. Later, two men driving a dealership vehicle checked into the nearby Blue Ox Motel with two call girls, then placed a call to Proudfoot. After questioning the prostitutes, she drives to Gustafson's dealership, where Proudfoot feigns ignorance and Jerry insists no cars are missing from his inventory. While in Minneapolis, Marge reconnects with Mike Yanagita, an old classmate who tells her that his wife, another classmate, has died, and makes an awkward pass at her.
Jerry informs Gustafson that the kidnappers have demanded $1 million, and will deal only through him. Meanwhile, Carl, in light of the complication of three murders, demands that Jerry hand over the entire $80,000. GMAC gives Jerry 24 hours to prove the existence of the vehicles or return the loan.
Carl is attacked and beaten by a furious Proudfoot for involving him in the murder investigation. Carl orders Jerry to deliver the ransom immediately. Gustafson insists on making the money drop himself. At the prearranged drop point in a Minneapolis parking garage, he tells Carl he will not hand over the money without seeing Jean. An enraged Carl shoots and kills Gustafson. After fleeing the scene, Carl is astounded to discover that the briefcase contains $1 million. He removes $80,000 to split with Gaear, then buries the rest alongside the highway. At the cabin, Gaear has killed Jean; Carl says they must split up and leave the state immediately; but after a heated argument over who will keep the dealership car, Gaear kills Carl.
Marge learns that Yanagita's dead wife is not dead, nor his wife. Reflecting on Yanagita's convincing lies, Marge returns to Gustafson's dealership. Jerry continues to insist that he is not missing any cars. Marge asks him to inventory the lot, then spots him driving away from the dealership, and calls the State Police. The next morning, she drives to Moose Lake on a tip from a local bar owner who reported a "funny-looking guy" bragging about killing someone. Outside a cabin, she finds the dealership car; nearby, Gaear is feeding Carl's dismembered body into a wood chipper. Marge shoots him in the leg as he tries to flee and arrests him. North Dakota police arrest Jerry at a motel outside Bismarck.
Marge's husband Norm, whose mallard painting has been selected for a 3-cent postage stamp, complains that his friend's painting will be on the first class stamp. Marge reassures Norm that lots of people use 3-cent stamps; the two happily anticipate the birth of their child in two months.

Review: You don't have to have seen the original Coen film to enjoy this series, nor does it spoil anything for you if you have seen it: the new TV-show 'Fargo' is entirely its own beast.
So far, the only thing the series and the film do have in common is the title and the (fake) premise that both are - allegedly - based on true events that happened somewhere in Minnesota.The writers (and the actors!) do a great job in creating new characters that are as strange and somewhat over the top as most of the iconic Coen creations we've come to love over the years - and Billy Bob Thornton's 'Lorne Malvo' (from season 01) has the potential to reach cult status.
Now whether 'Fargo' will appeal to a larger audience despite its quirky characters and non-mainstream look the way a show like 'Breaking Bad' did remains to be seen, but I would strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys black comedies in general as well as pretty much anything the Coens ever did.
From the very start, from the opening shot of the cold dark icy road and the background music starting to play, I knew this would be something different, something awesome.Coming from someone who hasn't watched the 1996 film by the Coen brothers, I really didn't know what to expect.
Great cast , great story, scenario , pacing, and that feeling about wanting more and more !I watched the entire 1st season, now the 1st episode from the 2nd season , and i can say ,this is something especial .I hope you can watch, and after you do that, please review this amazing show ,and be pleases to leave a 10 as i did.
Even though it was quite extraordinary I wouldn't rate it higher than Breaking Bad as this one has little flaws and I didn't really like the ending of the second season(Although some people loved it) but if you're just looking for some real piece of art then Fargo is a must watch..
Some of you may feel that I am going overboard with this, but I think this show may surpass even the movie on which it is based, and that is saying something.The whole cast is doing an amazing job, specially Billy Bob, i mean it seems as if the guy was born to play the role of Lorne Malvo.
Then I tried another one, Fargo and I was so tied with the story and great acting that I watched all 8 episodes during one night, recommending to everyone!The only thing that bothered me - are these events really based on true story?
maybe it's even better ;)I really don't know much other TV shows (OK OK maybe i do, like Stargate, Breaking Bad, etc.) that make me addicted but Fargo - definitely can be added to my list of MUST_WATCH, solid 10/10 !.
The first couple look great with some good acting and strong story lines but the third series falls apart.All the actors do a great job, especially Ewan McGregor as 2 parts, but the series 3 story is too slow, too simplistic and the bad guy is given too much time to waffle on with tales that don't enhance the story - they just bog it down more.The setting in the snow are superb, you can really feel the chill, and there are some great set pieces but ultimately the series seems to have been given different writers by the third series.To summarise, watch the first 2 series - they actually come to an ending, but only watch the third series if you're intrigued by how the show develops.
We are drawn to a similar snow filled landscape that is covered in a perpetual array of white desolation in the first scene, which draws inspiration from the environment created by the cinematography of the original Fargo.What really was a show stopper for me was the acting and the witty dialogue that encompassed both a dark yet humorous tone.
The acting is very nice but the script is shallow, over the top and pointless when you look at it from beginning to the end as a whole.The so-called "true story" gimmick rescues it by keeping it attached to a possible reality.Actually in some way that is synonymous to cheating.Massive plot holes and side stories leading nowhere shows it was made for just TV for a predesignated duration.After all unreasonable escalation of the tension and curiosity, plot concludes with a disappointing ending.Another overrated series at least.....
I have to acknowledge the fabulous cast in Fargo Season 3, however the story line this time around was a bust!
It is still unclear to me what the final outcome was.Quite frankly I was bored after the second episode and only continued because of the "I've started so I'll finish" mentality that I have when it comes to books and TV series!It is a shame because the cast was good, the scenery was good; it's a pity that the script didn't allow the cast to do it justice.Quite frankly I do not understand how this series received so many high scores from reviewers.
The script, the writing, the flow, the characters, actors were stellar, not too mention the excellent capture of the Fargo (movie) experience.
it is definitely one of the best first-episode TV series that i have seen and i'v seen a lot.so if it gets better episode by episode,i'm absolutely sure that it will be one of the top ten series of all time and in crime-drama genre maybe just maybe as good as True Detective.now about the first episode,the plot is dark,cold and a little funny(in a dark way i mean) but it's not that mysterious like true detective was.the acting is solid,all the cast do a great job to make scenes believable,the reason i mention believable is that,after watching the first episode you might find it difficult to find sense and good reason behind some scenes but i believe that crazy people do crazy stuff and ordinary people do unexpected things under pressure and stress and if the actors and actresses achieve those characteristics which i think they did then the scene is believable.anyway the writing is compelling and solid that keep you interested and it is also complicated enough to make good crime characters which i think is very important in a crime-fiction.overall if you like crime genres,then i highly recommend it..
Great pilot.Very true to the spirit and tone of the movie - love those accents and adorably eccentric characters up there in Fargo.Billy Bob is one of those creepy villains whose silences and simple turn of phrases speak volumes.
Colin Hanks and Bob Odenkirk of Breaking Bad are also well-casted, played their role very convincingly, with just the right note and intensity.Bad news, Billy Bob's portrait of Malvo, though convincing as the chief villain, is OVERLY painted as a character by the writer and director - too petty and anal in a juvenile text-book sociopath way, like the creative team is trying to jam every psychology textbook bad behaviors onto one Look He Is SO BAD person.
The movie version of him was a lot more consistent, focused, complicated yet logical, hence convincing, and truly menacing.Martin Freeman did his accent OK, but overacts like the recent crop of English actors appearing on Newsroom - their animated-ness too English slapstick, and jarring.
But minus 3 points for the excessive grotesque for its own sake images that Coen brothers have taken to enjoy shoving at their audience, the whole writing/directing team's autistic preoccupation with banal and boring baddies, and the minimization of the true driving force of Fargo, the far more interesting lead female character.update 19/06The annoying Billy Bob's Malvo villain character got more annoying as the story progressed - more Malvo's petty and passive-aggressive bullying of your average goodie two shoes family sort.
It has the same vibe as the movie, takes place in or around Minnesota has similar characters but is it's own thing apart from the movie.I just finished watching Season 3 and wow it was a doozy.
Regarding the first season, it should be noted that I am not a fan of Billy Bob Thornton, but he was so good at being bad that he won me over.
Characters are wonderfully developed; they are people you could meet on the street at any time and the acting is of such sterling quality that even movie stars like Ewan McGregor manage to convince instead of just being variations of their real personas.
After some episodes, it quickly becomes evident, that this series is completely empty at its core: From the beginning the plot doesn't make all that much sense and the longer it continues the more arbitrary and implausible it get's, it's like you can palpably feel the screenwriters making up arbitrary sh*t as they go along.
I talked about the story being essentially a sequence of random events and briefly want to get back to that: Namely that he major catalyst of everything that is happening in Fargo is basically the utter stupidity of various characters in the series.
Macy and Frances McDormand, who carried the entire film even in it's weak moments; Fargo season 1, was carried by Billy Bob Thornton (creepily great), Martin Freeman (in one of his finer performances), Colin Hanks (a little underrated) and Alison Tolman (very convincing); all good performances, all entertaining.
I had such high expectations of a venture co- sponsored by the Coen brothers, Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman and supposedly based on a great movie.
The 10-episode anthology series is putting together a terrific cast , as part of the growth of the show includes an expanded casting , this has an ace acting by Billy Bob Thornton as cold killer , Martin Freeman as botcher insurance sealer and Allison Tolman as obstinate police much more astute than her staff .
This malicious dark comedy was compellingly written by writer Noah Hawley and efficiently directed by Randall Einhorn , Adam Bernstein , Colin Bucksey , Matt Shakman and Scott Winant ; all of them confirmed that both the series and movie from the Cohen Brothers take place within the same universe .
This is a nod to the way that the 1996 source movie Fargo started , also by claiming that its events were based on a true story .
The writer ¨showrunner¨ Noah Hawley mentioned that season two would be "a lot bigger" than the first season , he says that the new season will not only draw inspiration from Fargo, but also from other Coen Brothers movies such as Miller's Crossing and The Man Who Wasn't There ..
The amazing thing is that eventually a lot of people might consider this as the ultimate entertainment.I'm not sure whether i've seen too many movies and TV shows or i'm simply too old to be the target audience, yet i wasn't able to connect with Fargo.
I am yet to see a few other promising TV series that were broadcast this year, but I have no doubt that as good as they may be (and some are according to echoes so far), this 3rd season of 'Fargo' will still be among the best.
The ten episodes continue to explore the universe of the mid-North United States which was first created in the Coen Brothers 1996 film although for the first time in the history of the film and series the story does not happen in Fargo, North Dakota but in Minnesota.
The guidance of Ethan and Joel Coen who sign as producers of the seasons is felt in the coherence of world which is being brought to screen despite the different locations, characters and casting.The good woman cop in the small town is now called Gloria Burgle (acted by Carrie Coon in a manner consistent with the previous similar characters in the series), she has now a teen-age son and is divorcing her husband who left her for a man.
It is very seldom that such a level of acting happens in TV series.A lot can be written (some was already written) about the action, how it is constructed, how much role the coincidences play, whether there are big holes in the story, continuity problems or gaffes, or whether some of the shorter (the East Berlin opening, the Holocaust survivor intrusion) or longer (the full episode about the comics SF writer grandpa) side stories add value or distract the attention.
Season 2 review:Coming off of no doubt a flawless season 1 filled with amazing characters created by Noah Hawley and one of the best villain played by Billy bob Thornton, how can you possibly top season ones season??
You soon find out why so many people call Noah Hawley a genius (and this too feels like an understatement).The first as well as the second season are masterpieces and definitely worth watching.
I watched this show (I bought it on DVD) because I absolutely love the original Fargo movie.
If you love the movie Fargo, I wouldn't recommend this series to you at all..
i loved season 1 and 2, great memorable characters, well paced and lots of dramaseason 3 however is a huge letdown, there are entire scenes where nothing important happens, just mind numbing conversation it is so slow paced, the characters nicki swango and carrie coon are both annoying and not very attractivethe worst character is VM varga,every time he is on screen he rambles on about nonsense,he has to give a 5 minute history lecture, i wished someone would blow his head off the first time i saw him, compared to lorne malvo and the villains in season 2 varga is patheticmcgregor is excellent as always, another viewer complained about the music, i completely agreeto sum it up,the director obviously wanted this season to be quirky and thats exactly what it is, so you have quirkiness in favour of entertainment and drama.
Derogatory characterization of Midwestern whites, pointlessly violent, moronic dialog...a horrible take off on the original film...the Coen brothers showed the culture with humor and good natured parody...this show was crude, insulting, and exaggerated to the point of being idiotic...the scenes were unrealistic in terms of behavior to the point where I swore they were actually making a parody of the movie...then I realized they were merely trying to be imitative...the fact it averaged 9 stars is truly sad but not surprising ...I have to say I only watched one episode but I could not stand another one...I'm sure if blacks or Jews had been parodied and made to look this idiotic and depraved, the ADL and NAACP would have been all over the producers in a NY minute....
and if not why not make a series about the "Billy Bob Thornton" character I was doubtful about the casting of my fellow countryman Martin Freeman in the role but he has made it his own...
Fargo season 1 is simply the best TV mini series i have ever seen.
i cannot remember me having good time watching a TV series as this, of course after breaking bad.
after knowing that martin is going to be in this series i just couldn't understand why they involve a man with different accent from the region.actually, after 15 minutes from the first episode i got really shocked from his way of acting.
Fargo deserves a high score in it's first outing for originality and character development, Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman are class acts here.
I liked the movie Fargo, but this series is so much better.
Each Fargo season is an original story, well written and superbly acted.
At the close of episode 6, Mr. Friedman has the truly brilliant understated acting moment of the series, so watch for it.
The first season with Martin Freeman of The Hobbit and Sherlock giving us a brilliantly befuddled schnook who gets caught up in a strange web of crime and Billy Bob Thornton as one of the weirdest and most wonderful assassins you are ever likely to see, shares the film's repressed and impotent humour and its cold dark fire.
But if you loved the film, or many of the other Coen bother films, then you need to watch all three seasons of Fargo, the television series.
I decided to give this a watch as I enjoyed the movie so much and love Billy Bob Thornton.
Rule no 1 of fight club XXXXXXXX sorry IMDb reviews:.If it's a 9 rated movie then it's been hyped.With a current overall of 9.0 and an S02E01 rating of 9.2 then this is a prime example.Setting a series in the past does not mean that the standard of acting should be set back into the cheesy quality of a 50s B movie (that said I love B movies) and re-hashing successful old plots should not be done for the sake of it.Not clever or ironic, this is a lame and contrived performance of tired subject.I thought Ted Danson did an excellent job of re-inventing himself in the CSI expansion but he has undone much of that credit in this performance.Frances McDormand killed the character of Sheriff Marge Gunderson in the 1996 original and no follow-up is necessary other then to line the pockets of greedy producers.
Anyone wanting and ongoing taste of excellence should just re-run the original movie once every week or two and you will have a far better feeling then watching these re-hashed series.Current rating of the Oscar winning 1996 original is 8.2 which is about right.
FARGO is a very trippy multi-season miniseries involving mayhem and murder -- like the movie, which is also quite good.
Fargo TV Series (2017 Season 3) Every episode of this acclaimed show, presented on FX, starts with the disclaimer, "This is a true story.
Season 1 blew me away with it's great story, superb acting by Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks and the rest of the cast.
Fargo is a new Fx series which plays as somewhat of and add on to the 1996 movie of the same name.
Season 3 of the series "Fargo", episode #3 "The Law of Non- Contradiction" absolutely blew me away.