Fargo: how, when and why to watch

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

On April 19, the third season of the Fargo series kicks off. The life hacker has compiled a short guide on it so that you can figure out what's what and decide whether you should watch it.

What is this TV show?

Fargo is an American black tragicomedy television series that premiered in April 2014. It is based on the film of the same name by the famous Coen brothers, who are also the executive producers of the series. Fargo's showrunner is Noah Hawley, best known for writing Legion and Bones.

Fargo is not a sequel, a prequel, or a remake of the Coens' Oscar-winning film. This is an absolutely original story with an original plot. Working on the script, Hawley was inspired by the atmosphere of the Cohen film and colorful characters, not pursuing the goal of filming exactly the same thing, but only in the format of the series.

Fargo has been officially voted Best Miniseries twice and has won several prestigious Film Awards. He has two Golden Globes and one Emmy Awards.

How many seasons are already out?

It has been out for two seasons, ten episodes each. The third is on its way. But do not be alarmed that you may not have time to review all the episodes that have been released before it starts. "Fargo" is filmed in the format of an anthology television series, that is, each season is a separate story with new characters.

A small spoiler: there is one hero who migrated from the first season to the second. But even if you don’t know who he is, you don’t have much to lose.

All three seasons are related, but this is a non-linear relationship. For example, in the first season, there are tiny references indicating where the next one will take place. Fargo can be safely viewed out of order. Fragments of the mosaic in your head will still fit together.

What are they about?

At the beginning of each episode of each season, it is said that all the events that take place in the series are based on reality. You should not believe this statement - nothing like this has ever happened in reality. This is just Hawley's cunning plot, adding a bit of intrigue to the story.

1 season

In the first season of Fargo, the title of each episode contains a reference to some famous paradox or parable, so pay attention to the details.

Starring:Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Allison Tolman.

Plot. The visit of a professional hitman, who once dropped into Minnesota on the way, really excites the residents of the state. After talking with him, a modest insurance agent, who used to be afraid of even his own shadow, decides to drastically change his life and show everyone who he really is. It was then that the real bloody showdown began.

Season 2

In this part of the series, the action takes place in 1979, long before the events of the first season.

Starring:Kirsten Dunst, Patrick Wilson, Jesse Plemons, Gene Smart.

Plot. A married couple is diligently trying to cover up the traces of a murder, allegedly committed through negligence. Unfortunately, the son of the head of an influential criminal family, who is responsible for many crimes, turns out to be killed. This simply cannot go unnoticed, so police officer Lou Solverson and Sheriff Hank Larsson take on the investigation of this complicated case.

Why do you need to watch all this?

If you are still in doubt about whether to watch it or not, here are some reasons why you need to add this series to the "Must Watch" list:

• Coen brothers. Although they did not take part in writing the script, they fully approved it after reading it.
• Bright cast. Incredibly colorful actors who literally get used to their roles. It's a pleasure to watch them.
• An abundance of black humor. At first you will just laugh. Then a bloody massacre will begin, but the jokes will still remain funny.
• Nice visuals. Perfectly recreated atmosphere of the era, eye-pleasing colors and great attention to detail.
• Great soundtracks. You just need to listen to them.

What to expect from the third season?

Nothing is clear yet. The creators of the series only intrigue fans, stirring up interest with ambiguous hints.

What will be the style, what will be the structure? We again do something similar, but at the same time different, so that there is no self-repetition.

Noah hawley showrunner

The following is known from various sources:

• The third season will take place in 2010, several years after the events of the first season.
• Some of the characters of the first season will still return to the series, but it is not yet clear who exactly.
• Ewan McGregor will play two roles at the same time.

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Carrie Kuhn, Michael Stulbarg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Plot. Brothers Emmit and Ray do not get along at all. Emmit is rich, handsome and successful - the living embodiment of the American dream. Ray, accustomed to blaming his brother for all his failures, is his absolute opposite. It is not yet known what exactly will happen between the brothers, but we can say for sure that their rivalry will be extremely exciting.

Will there be a link to the original film?

Where without links and a trailer. After all, we must see how it all began.

• Thriller, drama, comedy, crime.
• Starring: Francis McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare.
• USA, UK, 1995.
• Duration: 98 minutes
• IMDb: 8, 1.

Jerry Lundegaard is a tight-lipped and unremarkable loser manager who works as a salesman in his father-in-law's salon. One day, Jerry has a cunning plan in his head: in order to earn some money, he decides to kidnap his own wife and demand a decent ransom for her. The first part of the plan is carried out without any problems, but then the matter takes a serious and not particularly pleasant turn.