I only saw the film last year, but I instantly fell in love with it. It was well acted, darkly comic, and very memorable. I saw the teasers for the Fargo television series, and thought it looked just the same. Now that the series has ended, I have to say that it is every bit as good as the film that share’s its title. It is among the best shows on television, and it left me wanting more. SPOILER ALERT!
Quite a Pickle
The overarching plot of the season is simple, but filled with complex characters. It is a whole season search for the drifter known as Lorne Malvo. He is by far the most interesting character on the show, but also one of the most interesting characters on television. His motivations are not explicitly stated, but it can be derived that he simple enjoys causing chaos. He spends his nights listening to his recordings of his victims, and he gets off on that. He likes the misery he causes people, and revels in the results. He was a fantastic character, and Billy Bob Thorton excelled in the role. Martin Freeman also played a huge role in the series. He had a shocking arc, and I really commend his acting as the timid Lester Nygaard. In the beginning of the series he was a meek person, but through his interactions with the malicious Lorne Malvo, he became a confidant jerk. The one character trait that remained constant was his cowardliness. There is no denying his change in behavior, but he was a coward in the beginning, and he died a cowards death at the end. Allison Tolman was outstanding as Molly. She was the main protagonist, and I am very glad to see her happy ending. She was truly a strong character, with strong morals. Molly raised some great questions, and did a top notch job investigating the murders in Bemidji. Other notable actors were Colin Hanks as Gus, Bob Odenkirk as Bill, Keith Carradine as Lou, and Joey King as Greta. A little bit of a side note, but I have noticed Joey King in many films, and I believe she has a promising career ahead. My only little problem with the series was that occasionally there were some plot conveniences. It was not a big problem, but I felt like I needed to say it.
Paints a Pretty Picture
This show had some fantastic cinematography. I can think of a view scenes that are absolutely cemented in my brain. Quite possibly the best camera work was when Malvo killed all the people in Fargo. I loved that use of a one take shot. Malvo moved through the building, killing people as he went, but the camera remained on the exterior. The camera followed him until he threw someone out of the window. The other scene that remains very memorable was the opening scene to episode 7. The camera slowly moves away from Gus, who is waiting in the hospital to see if Molly will recover from her wounds. The show remained visually stunning, with a great soundtrack as well.
Closing Remarks
I loved my time spent with Fargo. It is a series that really does justice to the original film by the Coen Brothers. It is smartly written, darkly comic, delightfully acted, and tells an impressive tale with interesting characters. Part of me wants another season, but another part wants them to leave it on a high point.