Fargo

It’s been a long time since I saw the Fargo in theaters (back in 96 to be exact) and just my luck I don’t recall much but a wood chipper, a pregnant Frances McDormand, and Steve Buscemi (of course). Needless to say, you don’t really need to know a whole lot about the film for this TV spin-off to work (the second TV spin-off to be exact, the having a pilot film in 97 but going nowhere). All you really need to do with this series is sit back and allow the plot to unfold. It’s quite great. 

 

In the second episode of the series, The Rooster Prince, we find Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman; The Hobbit) panicked about his actions in the first episode and how a snooping policewoman (the wonderful Allison Tolman; Sordid Lives- The Series) could reveal his role in not one but two murders. After taking drastic measures to remove himself from the equation Lester is now living with his brother and pretty much cleared by the new Chief of Police (Bill Odenkerk: Mr. Show With Bob and Dave). 

 

Meanwhile Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thorton: Bad Santa) has moved on to a new assignment. Trying to handle an extortion case for Stavros Milos (Oliver Platt: The Cure), The Minnesota King of Supermarkets. His right hand man and bodyguard doesn’t want anything to do with Malvo which seems destined to lead to blood. 

 

While Malvo is busy with the Milos case two men have come to town to find out who killed Sam Hess, who seems to have had ties with a crime syndicate after all. The men plan on doing what ever they can to bring Hess’ killer to the same fate. 

 

When I found that I’d be covering this show, one that I kind of new existed, but hadn’t been keeping tabs on, I quickly located the first episode and watched it before heading into episode 2. Amazing. 

 

What I love about this show is that there is such fluidity with the story and the characters. When Malvo comes across a young cop and simply tells him he’s going to drive away and that the cop is going to let him due to circumstances with his future I practically jumped out of my chair and gave that scene a standing ovation. It’s future implications later is what makes the show so great. It doesn’t just sum things up in the end but builds layer upon layer upon layer, allowing the characters to grow depth and the story to become more complex. I’m both saddened that the series is only going to run for ten episode, but also glad to see that no minute is wasted as the story unfolds. Just amazing. I highly suggest tuning in.