892 reviews
I absolutely loved Fargo. It's easily one of my favorite series of all-time. If you don't want to take my word for it just read through all the comments here and look at the rating to see how loved this show is by just about everyone. It has a great review/rating on just about every website there is (IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, etc.) for a reason and that's because this show is amazing. Even though every season is different and some are better than others, the one thing that all of them have in common is that they're all fantastic. Being an anthology series means they can continue to put out as many seasons as they want without the show ever going stale. As long as the quality stays close to these first 5 seasons then I hope they do a bunch more. The writing and acting are as good as anything you'll see on television. I really can't recommend this show enough...it's absolutely amazing!!
- Supermanfan-13
- Jan 28, 2025
- Permalink
It is not often that you come over films or series where you can actually believe in the characters and forget about the acting personnel, and usually this only and occasionally happens when there are completely new faces on the screen. In Fargo, or at least in the first season, such a belief in the characters is very present. Until you have to check out where ever you saw Martin Freeman, he simply is Lester Nygaard, and even Billy Bob Thornton manages to escape the too much used label in this series. Naturally it has to be credited to good acting, but there is definitely some good writing, direction and makeup efforts to salute. Though not all roles are that well acted, and there are some editing flaws that should have been avoided, regardless, for those who love black and intelligent humor - Fargo is top entertainment!
- crimeagainstcreation
- Jan 1, 2025
- Permalink
- parhamdevv
- Dec 15, 2024
- Permalink
Definitely much better overall than true detective. I think the first season is much much better than the movie. My favorite non hbo series ever made. Best Billy Bob in season 1, number 2 is the holiday classic the ice harvest you all should be watching on Christmas Eve as I do every year. I think this show with its acting cast from all over the world is often better than breaking bad. I loved watching all the seasons and need to go back and watch some of my favorites. I just enjoyed the first season of dark winds almost as much as an elite Fargo season. Going to watch a Fargo episode and a Batman the animated series tonight. Tough to beat that combo.
- vxncentw23
- Oct 11, 2024
- Permalink
- TheConChronicles
- Sep 18, 2024
- Permalink
I watched Fargo season 1, and it was amazing. I loved the characters, the storyline and Malvo himself was incredible. I heard that someone who is called V. M Varga is a good villain too, and he is from season 3. So i am gonna probably watch season 3, and that's it. Because I have no intentions for watching s2 or else cause i feel like the actors and the surroundings aint my style. S1 of Fargo that i watched couple of days/weeks ago was perfect and when i noticed Fargo i thought its gonna be the same things for 5 seasons but then i was sad when i read that every season its different. I also think that i watched ep9 and ep10 of s1 like 10y ago, but i dont remember it cause it was long ago, i got that vibe feeling of deja-vu when Malvo shot those people in elevator in ep9, i got deja-vu when he got trapped in the beartrap in ep10, and i got deja-vu when he was sitting in his wooden house also in ep10. Before i started watching s1 i thought its gonna be a whole different vibe and whole different actors but i got something else that i didnt even expect, but vibe of something that you wanted to be other vibe doesnt mean its bad, and this rating confirms it.
...Just finished Season 5 ...the one with Juno Temple,Jon Hamm and Jennifer Jason Leigh and I must say that most of the 10/10 score must go to this season, though all the others were, I think, solid 8's or 9's. I remember the original Film and to be honest, apart from the excellent acting by F Tomelty I was a little underwhelmed,(..ditto ,'3 Billboards...'...sacrilege,I know, but ,Hey Ho!..). In this, we meet Ms Temples scatty mum character who gets into a bit of trouble at an unruly School Meeting ,drawn into a plot where she slowly and tantalisingly reveals hidden depths where she will do anything to keep her little family safe. Although, I binged and enjoyed it immensely,looking back I realise it was quite a feminist wish list fantasy but nothing wrong with that in my book. All the seasons had fantastical elements, at one time or another and I enjoyed them all immensely, not to mention Top quality actors, new and old. More please,Mr or Mrs Showrunner!!!...
- Harshawrites
- Aug 28, 2024
- Permalink
I watch way too much american and british TV.
I catch the occasional european, korean or Aussie binge fest.
I love anthologies like these.
Each season is like a great book....each episode a chapter, each book with it's own unique plot with engaging characters.
One of the only TV shows that get's better with each passing season.
Very clever character and story development. Great cinematography. It's just easy to watch.
Complicated enough to engage the mind, loveable enough to binge season after season.
The type of show you watch season 4 again before watching season 5, and season 5 again before season 6....etc.
You will love this. Crime Drama/Thriller at it's best.
I catch the occasional european, korean or Aussie binge fest.
I love anthologies like these.
Each season is like a great book....each episode a chapter, each book with it's own unique plot with engaging characters.
One of the only TV shows that get's better with each passing season.
Very clever character and story development. Great cinematography. It's just easy to watch.
Complicated enough to engage the mind, loveable enough to binge season after season.
The type of show you watch season 4 again before watching season 5, and season 5 again before season 6....etc.
You will love this. Crime Drama/Thriller at it's best.
- captainmanic
- Nov 4, 2024
- Permalink
Just finished episode 5 and I'm done. As everyone has said, this is not the Fargo we all used to love. The storyline is not particularly scintillating and I've yet to latch onto any of the characters, other than the nurse and the undertakers' daughter. Disappointed for sure.
- janisnewcomb-98860
- Oct 27, 2020
- Permalink
Like others here, I recommend you skip season 4.
Season 1 was excellent.
Season 2 was good.
Season 3 was okay.
Season 4 took a dump in its own bed and we had to watch it.
Season 1 was excellent.
Season 2 was good.
Season 3 was okay.
Season 4 took a dump in its own bed and we had to watch it.
- davismfg-75480
- Dec 3, 2020
- Permalink
Slow moving, bad casting (they were good, just not the right people in the roles), and bad story telling! There was about enough material for 2 maybe 3 episodes, but they drug it out over 11! Horrible. The other seasons were so good, this one is a real disappointment.
- chrsko-90124
- Nov 30, 2020
- Permalink
Well, I'm Brazilian and my English is not the best, so I apologize for any mistakes.
I start by saying that one thing I don't really understand is why people lower the rating given to a show just because the last season is weaker, even more being seasons with practically independent stories, where you can abandon the last season if you don't like it, because it will not interfere with the others. My rating here is 9/10 because Fargo brings so many sensational things in the first three seasons that it does not deserve a downgrade due to the fourth season. Especially because the fourth season, despite being full of problems, has some wonderful moments.
Fargo is simply the best TV series I have ever seen in my life. The first two seasons are brutal criminal stories permeated with black humor and coincidences typical of a comedy of errors, but full of philosophical, religious, cultural, political, social, economic and historical references. The third season still follows the same line, but with a little less black humor and comedy, and investing once and for all in the moral, philosophical, religious and even spiritual aspects. In these three seasons we can see the conflict between good and evil, the evil being represented by figures with clear references in mephistoles.
In my opinion, the fourth season lost a lot of the essence of the series, in addition to having a confusing and dragged script, but even so it presented moments of historical and cultural references of great quality, the highlight being episode 9, a masterpiece, all done on top of "The Wizard of Oz", "Alice in Wonderland" and other children's stories with the theme of a lost child somewhere far from home.
I highly recommend this series and I suggest you watch it trying to capture all the details, like the real natural phenomenon of fish rain, which is shown in the first season, or the Val Johnson incident with flying saucer and the beginning of Ronald Reagan's Alzheimer's in season two, as well as all biblical and religious references, already beginning with the evil speaking of the Garden of Eden in the first season. Oh, don't forget to also look in the independent stories of each season that you are watching for references to previous seasons. Ex: the second season showed you the origin of Mr. Tripoli, Mr. Wrench and Mr. Numbers from the first season, did you notice?
Finally, I would like to praise the excellent work of production, direction and setting of each season, as well as the acting: Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Daniel Thewlis are spectacular.
Season 1 - rate 9/10 - Highest point: episode 6.
Season 2 - rate 9.5/10 - Highest point: episode 9.
Season 3 - rate 8.5/10 - Highest point: episode 9.
Season 4 - rate 5.5/10 - Highest point: episode 9 (one of the best in the entire series).
* I wrote this review in 2021, after watching the 4th season, now I come back here almost 3 years later, as I just watched the 5th season: even though it didn't maintain the level of the first 3 seasons, there was already a clear improvement compared to the 4th, which was the most inconsistent of all. Superb performances from a wonderful cast, beautiful photography and soundtrack, engaging characters and a typical Fargo story. The closing episode simply brought tears to my eyes.
Season 5 - rate 8/10 - Highest point: the last episode (10).
I start by saying that one thing I don't really understand is why people lower the rating given to a show just because the last season is weaker, even more being seasons with practically independent stories, where you can abandon the last season if you don't like it, because it will not interfere with the others. My rating here is 9/10 because Fargo brings so many sensational things in the first three seasons that it does not deserve a downgrade due to the fourth season. Especially because the fourth season, despite being full of problems, has some wonderful moments.
Fargo is simply the best TV series I have ever seen in my life. The first two seasons are brutal criminal stories permeated with black humor and coincidences typical of a comedy of errors, but full of philosophical, religious, cultural, political, social, economic and historical references. The third season still follows the same line, but with a little less black humor and comedy, and investing once and for all in the moral, philosophical, religious and even spiritual aspects. In these three seasons we can see the conflict between good and evil, the evil being represented by figures with clear references in mephistoles.
In my opinion, the fourth season lost a lot of the essence of the series, in addition to having a confusing and dragged script, but even so it presented moments of historical and cultural references of great quality, the highlight being episode 9, a masterpiece, all done on top of "The Wizard of Oz", "Alice in Wonderland" and other children's stories with the theme of a lost child somewhere far from home.
I highly recommend this series and I suggest you watch it trying to capture all the details, like the real natural phenomenon of fish rain, which is shown in the first season, or the Val Johnson incident with flying saucer and the beginning of Ronald Reagan's Alzheimer's in season two, as well as all biblical and religious references, already beginning with the evil speaking of the Garden of Eden in the first season. Oh, don't forget to also look in the independent stories of each season that you are watching for references to previous seasons. Ex: the second season showed you the origin of Mr. Tripoli, Mr. Wrench and Mr. Numbers from the first season, did you notice?
Finally, I would like to praise the excellent work of production, direction and setting of each season, as well as the acting: Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, Kirsten Dunst, Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Daniel Thewlis are spectacular.
Season 1 - rate 9/10 - Highest point: episode 6.
Season 2 - rate 9.5/10 - Highest point: episode 9.
Season 3 - rate 8.5/10 - Highest point: episode 9.
Season 4 - rate 5.5/10 - Highest point: episode 9 (one of the best in the entire series).
* I wrote this review in 2021, after watching the 4th season, now I come back here almost 3 years later, as I just watched the 5th season: even though it didn't maintain the level of the first 3 seasons, there was already a clear improvement compared to the 4th, which was the most inconsistent of all. Superb performances from a wonderful cast, beautiful photography and soundtrack, engaging characters and a typical Fargo story. The closing episode simply brought tears to my eyes.
Season 5 - rate 8/10 - Highest point: the last episode (10).
- chrisdmeads
- Jun 6, 2020
- Permalink
What can I say about Fargo that hasn't already been said? It's just an incredible series. Everyone has their own favorite season for some reason because they're all amazing. The weak link is easily season four but even that one is still pretty good, as long as you don't compare it to the first three seasons. This is an anthology series that was inspired by the 1996 film where each season follows a new murder story in some Midwest town with a different cast every season. It has the same feel, style, dark humor, unpredictability, etc as the film did. It has the feel of the Coen brothers but creator Noah Hawley definitely puts his own stamp on it. They're making Season 5 now so I'm definitely looking forward to watching that one too.
You don't have to have seen the original Coen film to enjoy this series, nor does it spoil anything for you if you have seen it: the new TV-show 'Fargo' is entirely its own beast. So far, the only thing the series and the film do have in common is the title and the (fake) premise that both are - allegedly - based on true events that happened somewhere in Minnesota.
The writers (and the actors!) do a great job in creating new characters that are as strange and somewhat over the top as most of the iconic Coen creations we've come to love over the years - and Billy Bob Thornton's 'Lorne Malvo' (from season 01) has the potential to reach cult status. Watching bad situations get worse as bad decisions lead to even worse ones and the lives of ordinary people spiral violently out of control is - I shamefully admit - a lot of fun to watch, and it's told here with such a wicked sense of humor that I've so far enjoyed every minute of it.
The cast so far has been outstanding (this is an anthology series, so each new season will have its own cast and a new storyline) and the production values - especially the cinematography - are fantastic. Now whether 'Fargo' will appeal to a larger audience despite its quirky characters and non-mainstream look the way a show like 'Breaking Bad' did remains to be seen, but I would strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys black comedies in general as well as pretty much anything the Coens ever did. Great, pitch black entertainment - 9 out of 10 from me.
Favorite Films: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054200841/
Favorite Low-Budget and B-movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054808375/
Lesser-known Masterpieces: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070242495/
Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075552387/
The writers (and the actors!) do a great job in creating new characters that are as strange and somewhat over the top as most of the iconic Coen creations we've come to love over the years - and Billy Bob Thornton's 'Lorne Malvo' (from season 01) has the potential to reach cult status. Watching bad situations get worse as bad decisions lead to even worse ones and the lives of ordinary people spiral violently out of control is - I shamefully admit - a lot of fun to watch, and it's told here with such a wicked sense of humor that I've so far enjoyed every minute of it.
The cast so far has been outstanding (this is an anthology series, so each new season will have its own cast and a new storyline) and the production values - especially the cinematography - are fantastic. Now whether 'Fargo' will appeal to a larger audience despite its quirky characters and non-mainstream look the way a show like 'Breaking Bad' did remains to be seen, but I would strongly recommend this to anyone who enjoys black comedies in general as well as pretty much anything the Coens ever did. Great, pitch black entertainment - 9 out of 10 from me.
Favorite Films: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054200841/
Favorite Low-Budget and B-movies: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls054808375/
Lesser-known Masterpieces: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls070242495/
Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls075552387/
- gogoschka-1
- May 3, 2014
- Permalink
Fargo is an absolute masterpiece and one of my favorite shows all time. This show doesn't have a general rating of 8.9 for nothing.
First the EXTRAORDINARY atmosphere of the Cohen brothers' film, this sensation like no other, which takes hold of us when we enter with the characters into this universe as dark as it is crazy. Fargo immerse you in this special world that is the snowy Minnesota of the Cohen brothers. And more than represented, it is developed here, with talent.
Secondly a stroke of pure and simple scriptwriting genius. To be able to fascinate to this extent, from the first episode, was very strong. And yet. Paced in an almost dreamlike manner, each episode of the series will take its time to reestablish the atmosphere that has disappeared since the previous week, before taking you by the guts with talent, bringing you down with it into the barbaric violence hidden by this snow white and immaculate. Ultra violent, bloodshed is rare, the series preferring to torture its characters psychologically. Lester's evolution (which I feared was a copy and paste of that of Walter White), is more than intelligent. Like i said, the writing is so brillant. An investigation with multiple twists and turns, in a remote town populated by formidable losers, notorious incompetents, methodical and relentless killers, and devious manipulators.
Thirdly the actors. They are all amazing (except those of season 4) but all the credits goes to Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thorton who delivered 2 performances that are among the best in television and i'm not even exaggerating. Martin Freeman plays a perfect loser to who we become attached quite quickly, he plays on his qualities already known for often seeming to be completely out of sync with the situations and characters he will face. Billy Bob Thomton is absolutely phenomenal as a cold, methodical and intelligent killer. Lorne Malvo is easily one of the best villains of television and i'm still not exaggerating.
Fourth the music. The music is magnificently beautiful and the series is filled with little melodies that accompany the scenes (mainly in season 1).
Fifth this is the best anthology serie ever. Fargo beat true detective because Fargo offers 2 amazing season and 2 ok seasons while true detective only offers 1 amazing season and 1 ok season (season 3).
No episode is too much, everything is orchestrated to perfection, the work absolutely does not lack rhythm and we remain glued to these 10 episodes of very high quality.
First the EXTRAORDINARY atmosphere of the Cohen brothers' film, this sensation like no other, which takes hold of us when we enter with the characters into this universe as dark as it is crazy. Fargo immerse you in this special world that is the snowy Minnesota of the Cohen brothers. And more than represented, it is developed here, with talent.
Secondly a stroke of pure and simple scriptwriting genius. To be able to fascinate to this extent, from the first episode, was very strong. And yet. Paced in an almost dreamlike manner, each episode of the series will take its time to reestablish the atmosphere that has disappeared since the previous week, before taking you by the guts with talent, bringing you down with it into the barbaric violence hidden by this snow white and immaculate. Ultra violent, bloodshed is rare, the series preferring to torture its characters psychologically. Lester's evolution (which I feared was a copy and paste of that of Walter White), is more than intelligent. Like i said, the writing is so brillant. An investigation with multiple twists and turns, in a remote town populated by formidable losers, notorious incompetents, methodical and relentless killers, and devious manipulators.
Thirdly the actors. They are all amazing (except those of season 4) but all the credits goes to Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thorton who delivered 2 performances that are among the best in television and i'm not even exaggerating. Martin Freeman plays a perfect loser to who we become attached quite quickly, he plays on his qualities already known for often seeming to be completely out of sync with the situations and characters he will face. Billy Bob Thomton is absolutely phenomenal as a cold, methodical and intelligent killer. Lorne Malvo is easily one of the best villains of television and i'm still not exaggerating.
Fourth the music. The music is magnificently beautiful and the series is filled with little melodies that accompany the scenes (mainly in season 1).
Fifth this is the best anthology serie ever. Fargo beat true detective because Fargo offers 2 amazing season and 2 ok seasons while true detective only offers 1 amazing season and 1 ok season (season 3).
No episode is too much, everything is orchestrated to perfection, the work absolutely does not lack rhythm and we remain glued to these 10 episodes of very high quality.
This is truly exceptional filmmaking. It doesn't matter whether you understand what is going on in an episode, because you soon come to so trust those who are behind this. The script seems secondary, because the scenes, the actors, the camera work, sounds, music (the song list is exceptional, and original score!), all of it which results in some of the most entertaining ways to tell a story (the script!) in film. Brilliant and bravo/brava to all! Kudos to the casting directors and the choice to cast brilliant actors for such a short time in some of the episodes.(I have to fill up required characters here, but I've really said it all!)
The funniest, weirdest, tragic, genius, and what not, series I've ever watched.
The plot is extremely ingenious and even the most childish I've ever seen. People die as much as corn falls, but everyone's conscience is clear and everyone has fun.
Here's a series where you can't really predict what's going to happen next. Except someone's about to get shot.
I don't understand why the series is considered a drama. I think it's even closer to horror, but there's black comedy in every episode.
The series can be recommended for adults because of its violence. This is not a small production, but money has been spent on, among other things, a strong cast. I haven't watched many films with the same name that were filmed before, but there must be similarities in both.
The plot is extremely ingenious and even the most childish I've ever seen. People die as much as corn falls, but everyone's conscience is clear and everyone has fun.
Here's a series where you can't really predict what's going to happen next. Except someone's about to get shot.
I don't understand why the series is considered a drama. I think it's even closer to horror, but there's black comedy in every episode.
The series can be recommended for adults because of its violence. This is not a small production, but money has been spent on, among other things, a strong cast. I haven't watched many films with the same name that were filmed before, but there must be similarities in both.
- MaxKalba69
- May 5, 2024
- Permalink
Previously rated 10, revised to 2. An outstanding tv series ruined. Season 4 is just awful. Putting aside the overly PC-ness, the acting is just plain bad, the storyline has huge holes in it and the whole plot is shoddy. Don't waste your time watching the 4th season.
Season 2 and 3 had some low points as well but season 4 is just constant low points. At this point it would be better to just cancel the series.
Season 2 and 3 had some low points as well but season 4 is just constant low points. At this point it would be better to just cancel the series.
- dont-like-you
- Oct 26, 2020
- Permalink
Fargo was one of my favorite tv shows of all time. I've rewatched the first 3 seasons multiple times.
In the first 30 seconds of season 4, it is painfully clear, this isn't really a Fargo TV series anymore. Where there was once dark comedy, witty dialogue, and weird violence, now there's more of the political/social lecturing which has infected and destroyed so many great tv shows over the last 2 or 3 years.
If you want to laugh and be entertained, I got some bad news for you.
If you're looking to be outraged and angry about race stuff, then this your show.
- DiesIraeComing
- Oct 6, 2020
- Permalink
Six months ago I finished watching Breaking Bad and I really think that's the best thing I've ever watched and I always felt it is nonpareil in terms of excitement. From then on I couldn't forget it, I missed it. I started watching several shows later, but nothing came close to BB. I went on a search for such exciting crime dramas and then I saw few people on reddit talk about Narcos and Fargo (most of them) to experience something similar. At first, I googled them and decided to watch Narcos as Google knowledge graph mentions Fargo as a comedy series. So, yeah Narcos was enthralling, but didn't really feel 10/10 especially with too much Spanish. Then I decided to give a try on Fargo and boy oh boy! It's simply sensational.
Season 1: The first episode itself left me exuberant. This Martin Freeman guy, right from the day I saw him as Bilbao Baggins, everything he does impresses me and in Fargo there's nothing less. And the others were excellent too, especially Billy Bob Throtton, that man is really one hell of an actor. He is an assassin, every scene of him is jaw dropping with some chills. All in all, Season 1 of Fargo was really the one I was waiting for these whole 6 months and I didn't want to end this beautiful experience, so I immediately decided to watch Season 2.
Season 2: Everyone who watched season 1 will have some idea about how season 2 will go on. It opened off very well and the first episode here too ends dramatically. The next 2 episodes were slow-paced and I thought this might turn out like True Detective Season 2 as it couldn't really recreate the magic of the first season (just my opinion). So, right when I thought it's sinking, it just gets better and better from episode 4. There won't be a moment you could take your eyes off till the last minute of the season finale. I'm glad they renewed it for the next season and I really can't wait for that.
The music utilized over the two seasons is absolutely mind blowing, the way it relates to each and every scenario is just spectacular. Along with this awesome music, the outstanding piece of poetry depicts the ongoing lives of the people in Fargo. The direction part is really masterful and you can clearly see that in the second season". It has few flaws but if you're just looking for some real piece of art then Fargo is a must watch.
Update: Ok, it's sad to say that this amazing show went downhill later. Season 3 for me was 7/10 but at least very Fargoish but Season 4 is pathetic and should be ignored.
Season 1: The first episode itself left me exuberant. This Martin Freeman guy, right from the day I saw him as Bilbao Baggins, everything he does impresses me and in Fargo there's nothing less. And the others were excellent too, especially Billy Bob Throtton, that man is really one hell of an actor. He is an assassin, every scene of him is jaw dropping with some chills. All in all, Season 1 of Fargo was really the one I was waiting for these whole 6 months and I didn't want to end this beautiful experience, so I immediately decided to watch Season 2.
Season 2: Everyone who watched season 1 will have some idea about how season 2 will go on. It opened off very well and the first episode here too ends dramatically. The next 2 episodes were slow-paced and I thought this might turn out like True Detective Season 2 as it couldn't really recreate the magic of the first season (just my opinion). So, right when I thought it's sinking, it just gets better and better from episode 4. There won't be a moment you could take your eyes off till the last minute of the season finale. I'm glad they renewed it for the next season and I really can't wait for that.
The music utilized over the two seasons is absolutely mind blowing, the way it relates to each and every scenario is just spectacular. Along with this awesome music, the outstanding piece of poetry depicts the ongoing lives of the people in Fargo. The direction part is really masterful and you can clearly see that in the second season". It has few flaws but if you're just looking for some real piece of art then Fargo is a must watch.
Update: Ok, it's sad to say that this amazing show went downhill later. Season 3 for me was 7/10 but at least very Fargoish but Season 4 is pathetic and should be ignored.
- Slim4Shady2
- Dec 14, 2015
- Permalink