Fargo Review: Black Comedy on the Snowy Plains
9/10 — Fargo (2014)
Pros
- Superb casting
- Confident tonal blend
- Strong first and second seasons
Cons
- Uneven across seasons
- Mannered dialogue
Each season of Fargo tells a self-contained crime story set in the Midwestern US, linked loosely by themes and details from the original film. The first season stars Billy Bob Thornton as the sinister Lorne Malvo.
What works
The casting is superb, with Thornton, Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons among the standouts across seasons, and the writing blends violence, humour and absurdity with confidence. The second season, set in 1979, is particularly strong.
Where it falters
The quality varies between seasons, and the stylised dialogue can be mannered.
Verdict
Inventive, funny and deadly, an anthology worth watching.
