Fargo

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. Watching bad situations get worse as bad decisions lead to even worse ones and the lives of ordinary people spiral violently out of control is - I shamefully admit - a lot of fun to watch, and it's told here with such a wicked sense of humor that I've so far enjoyed every minute of it.

The cast so far has been outstanding (this is an anthology series, so each new season will have its own cast and a new storyline) and the production values - especially the cinematography - are fantastic. 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. Great, pitch black entertainment - 9 out of 10 from me.

Favorite Films: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054200841/

Favorite Low-Budget and B-movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054808375/

Lesser-known Masterpieces: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070242495/

Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075552387/

I watch way too much american and british TV.

I catch the occasional european, korean or Aussie binge fest.

I love anthologies like these.

Each season is like a great book....each episode a chapter, each book with it's own unique plot with engaging characters.

One of the only TV shows that get's better with each passing season.

Very clever character and story development. Great cinematography. It's just easy to watch.

Complicated enough to engage the mind, loveable enough to binge season after season.

The type of show you watch season 4 again before watching season 5, and season 5 again before season 6....etc.

You will love this. Crime Drama/Thriller at it's best.

The first season is at least feeling-wise the closest one that is to the movie. Billy Bob Thornton is amazing as Lorne Malvo, not just him actually the whole cast is amazing.

The second season is my personal favorite, Starting from here I think Noah Hawley doesn't just get some story elements and scenes from the movie Fargo but from like all of Cohen's filmography, those of you who have seen the show would know what I mean and it's a good thing. Acting is amazing as usual along with intriguing storyline that keeps you hooked up from beginning to end.

The third season is where things slow down, but Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ewan McGregor and especially David Thewlis as V. M. Varga are AMAZING. And I love the cinematography of this season, and I think this is the best looking season of Fargo.

The fourth season is the worst one. We went from subtle dark humor with great stories and interesting characters to fart jokes with cheap mafia story and uninteresting, annoying characters. Also with his squeaky voice I just can't take Chris Rock serious as a mob boss.

The fifth season is kind of mid for me, I remember liking it while watching weekly but when I tried to remember I realized nothing much stayed with me after finishing the whole season. I loved the character Ole Munch, he is the only one that's interesting with all of his background, and other than him the show is just filled with one dimensional weak male characters and girl bosses that have laugh-inducing plot armors.

I'm glad the show's ended. It had almost perfect run. Still win-win actually cause we have 3/5 amazing season here.

Well, I'm Brazilian and my English is not the best, so I apologize for any mistakes.

I start by saying that one thing I don't really understand is why people lower the rating given to a show just because the last season is weaker, even more being seasons with practically independent stories, where you can abandon the last season if you don't like it, because it will not interfere with the others. My rating here is 9/10 because Fargo brings so many sensational things in the first three seasons that it does not deserve a downgrade due to the fourth season. Especially because the fourth season, despite being full of problems, has some wonderful moments.

Fargo is simply the best TV series I have ever seen in my life. The first two seasons are brutal criminal stories permeated with black humor and coincidences typical of a comedy of errors, but full of philosophical, religious, cultural, political, social, economic and historical references. The third season still follows the same line, but with a little less black humor and comedy, and investing once and for all in the moral, philosophical, religious and even spiritual aspects. In these three seasons we can see the conflict between good and evil, the evil being represented by figures with clear references in mephistoles.

In my opinion, the fourth season lost a lot of the essence of the series, in addition to having a confusing and dragged script, but even so it presented moments of historical and cultural references of great quality, the highlight being episode 9, a masterpiece, all done on top of "The Wizard of Oz", "Alice in Wonderland" and other children's stories with the theme of a lost child somewhere far from home.

I highly recommend this series and I suggest you watch it trying to capture all the details, like the real natural phenomenon of fish rain, which is shown in the first season, or the Val Johnson incident with flying saucer and the beginning of Ronald Reagan's Alzheimer's in season two, as well as all biblical and religious references, already beginning with the evil speaking of the Garden of Eden in the first season. Oh, don't forget to also look in the independent stories of each season that you are watching for references to previous seasons. Ex: the second season showed you the origin of Mr. Tripoli, Mr. Wrench and Mr. Numbers from the first season, did you notice?

Finally, I would like to praise the excellent work of production, direction and setting of each season, as well as the acting: Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, Billy Bob Thornton, Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Daniel Thewlis are spectacular.

Season 1 - rate 9/10 - Highest point: episode 6.

Season 2 - rate 9.5/10 - Highest point: episode 9.

Season 3 - rate 8.5/10 - Highest point: episode 9.

Season 4 - rate 5.5/10 - Highest point: episode 9 (one of the best in the entire series).

* I wrote this review in 2021, after watching the 4th season, now I come back here almost 3 years later, as I just watched the 5th season: even though it didn't maintain the level of the first 3 seasons, there was already a clear improvement compared to the 4th, which was the most inconsistent of all. Superb performances from a wonderful cast, beautiful photography and soundtrack, engaging characters and a typical Fargo story. The closing episode simply brought tears to my eyes.

Season 5 - rate 8/10 - Highest point: the last episode (10).

...Just finished Season 5 ...the one with Juno Temple,Jon Hamm and Jennifer Jason Leigh and I must say that most of the 10/10 score must go to this season, though all the others were, I think, solid 8's or 9's. I remember the original Film and to be honest, apart from the excellent acting by F Tomelty I was a little underwhelmed,(..ditto ,'3 Billboards...'...sacrilege,I know, but ,Hey Ho!..). In this, we meet Ms Temples scatty mum character who gets into a bit of trouble at an unruly School Meeting ,drawn into a plot where she slowly and tantalisingly reveals hidden depths where she will do anything to keep her little family safe. Although, I binged and enjoyed it immensely,looking back I realise it was quite a feminist wish list fantasy but nothing wrong with that in my book. All the seasons had fantastical elements, at one time or another and I enjoyed them all immensely, not to mention Top quality actors, new and old. More please,Mr or Mrs Showrunner!!!...