The decision to make a TV series inspired by the film Fargo may seemed an unnecessary one given that the story had been resolved. Was a TV series based on it really necessary? Fargo the series makes the wise decision not to base its story on the characters of the film but to take the tone, themes, setting and feel and apply them to a new story. Again, it involves a weak man who really isn't made for a life of crime getting involved in crime. Martin Freeman is great as Lester, a beta male who, frustrated by being walked over by other people and spurred on by a mysterious man, kills his wife because of how she treats him. Somehow it feels like his story won't end well, but it's hilarious to watch.
Fargo's signature black humour is here as well, producing many hilariously memorable scenes such as a man being stabbed in the neck during sex, and Lester bashes his wife's head with a hammer after she laughs incredulously at the idea. What's so funny is after the first hit, he can see he's turned her into a vegetable and so now he has to finish the job, so after a brief pause he continues. Fargo draws humour from the most mundane things as well, with hilarious flat dialogue and a faulty washing machine being the thing that drives its key moment.
Lorne is the most fascinating character introduced. Everything he does because he can. Someone insults you? Kill him. Someone insults someone else? Kill him. Want to have a laugh? Tell a boy to pee in his mother's car then tell his mother someone is peeing in her car. Lorne spells trouble for Lester.
This first episode shows great potential. Admittedly, it reuses some of the same ideas seen in the film, like innocents getting killed for nothing. Still, I was amazed by how satisfying this episode was. It wrapped up its story so well, leaving potential for more but also serving as a great story on its own.
Fargo's signature black humour is here as well, producing many hilariously memorable scenes such as a man being stabbed in the neck during sex, and Lester bashes his wife's head with a hammer after she laughs incredulously at the idea. What's so funny is after the first hit, he can see he's turned her into a vegetable and so now he has to finish the job, so after a brief pause he continues. Fargo draws humour from the most mundane things as well, with hilarious flat dialogue and a faulty washing machine being the thing that drives its key moment.
Lorne is the most fascinating character introduced. Everything he does because he can. Someone insults you? Kill him. Someone insults someone else? Kill him. Want to have a laugh? Tell a boy to pee in his mother's car then tell his mother someone is peeing in her car. Lorne spells trouble for Lester.
This first episode shows great potential. Admittedly, it reuses some of the same ideas seen in the film, like innocents getting killed for nothing. Still, I was amazed by how satisfying this episode was. It wrapped up its story so well, leaving potential for more but also serving as a great story on its own.