Fargo

About Fargo

Fargo, the Television series that was released in 2014, is a dark comedy-crime drama that features a unique anthology format, with each season set in a different era and location in the Midwestern region of the United States, with a different story and mostly new characters and cast. The series is inspired by the eponymous 1996 film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, who are executive producers on the series alongside showrunner Noah Hawley.

Making / Production

Produced by FX Productions and MGM Television, Fargo is primarily shot in Calgary, Alberta. The series creates its own visual universe largely inspired by the Coen brothers' films. Its production quality and cinematic style have been widely recognized and praised.

Actors

• Martin Freeman as Lester Nygaard - A put-upon insurance salesman whose life is overturned by a chance meeting with a hitman, Freeman perfectly embodied Lester's transformation from timid to sinister.
• Billy Bob Thornton as Lorne Malvo - As a manipulative hitman, Thornton's character served as a catalyst for chaos, with Thornton delivering an intensely gripping performance.
• Allison Tolman as Molly Solverson - Playing a bright and dogged police deputy, Tolman provided a strong moral center in the series.
• Colin Hanks as Officer Gus Grimly - portraying a police officer who struggles between duty and personal safety, Hanks brought sincerity to his conflicted character.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show is inspired by a different Coen Brothers movie in each season but always features a “true story” disclaimer at the beginning of each episode, even though the plot is fictional.
• Billy Bob Thornton only signed onto the series upon learning that it would be an anthology, meaning his character would only last one season.
• The concept of "Minnesota nice," or cultural manners seen as characteristic of the U.S. Upper Midwest, is a recurring theme throughout the show.

Awards

Fargo has received vast critical acclaim and won numerous awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries and the Golden Globe Awards for Best Miniseries or Television Film for its first season.

Quotes

• "You know, symbols of repression..." - Lester Nygaard
• "Aw Jeez." - Various Characters
• “Did you know the human eye can see more shades of green than any other color?” - Lorne Malvo

Music, Soundtrack

• One of the iconic parts of Fargo is its music, composed by Jeff Russo, who created a distinct sound for the series using influences from Nordic music, reflecting the Scandinavian heritage of Minnesota.
• The Season 2 soundtrack includes popular songs from the 1970s, such as "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath and "Too Many Puppies" by Primus, fitting the era the season is set in.
• Music is used not only to establish time period but also to help establish the characters and the geography.