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You are here: Home / News / Fargo: A Review of Sorts

Fargo: A Review of Sorts

April 27, 2014 by tamaratattles 25 Comments

Fargo2

I have not been very subtle in my attempts to lure you people aware from the dying genre of reality TV and on to something different. Much like never wanting to be the last one to leave a party, we don’t want to be the last ones to move on from reality TV now that it seems to be jumping the shark and turning into nothing more than shows produced by men, designed to get women to act a fool on national television for money. I think we are all becoming bored with that. So here is another show to consider. Despite claims at the beginning of the show (and the movie that preceded it) that it is based on a true story, it is pure fiction straight from the creative imagination of the Coen Brothers. In a lovely change of pace, it’s the men on this show that do stupid things and the women, particularly one female cop, who try to save the day.

Fargo is a show about a drifter named Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) who arrives in small-town Minnesota and brings with him a sack full of evil and malicious intent resulting in a series of murders. Upon his arrival Malvo crosses paths with an insurance salesman, Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman).  Lester has a had a bit of a rough life. He has lived in the same small town where he was bullied throughout high school and his life has not improved as an adult. In the opening episode his bully and the bully’s two idiot sons harass him, he seems to be performing poorly at work, and his wife hen-pecks him to death about a broken washing machine. Malvo arrives as both his savior and his demise killing his bully and dragging him into a series of murders.

FargoFargo is the polar opposite of Scandal. The speech is excruciatingly slow at times. The entire pace of the show glacial. I should probably admit here that if I ever watched the cult classic movie, Fargo, I don’t recall it. The series is a dark comedy full of hilarious juxtapositions. The heavy Minnesota-accented swear words like, “oh heck!” and “gee whiz”  clash together with brutal murders with blunt objects. The show manages to be funny and disturbing all at once.

Malvo is a murderer with a sense of humor. When he tries to check into a hotel in town the receptionist berates him with questions about pets and such before quoting a price. Malvo’s  sarcastic wit appears when he asked if there would be a pet fee if his pet was a fish, or some bacteria. Perhaps you had to be there. Malvo is equally funny and a bit more frightening when trying to pick up a package at the post office in episode 2. After a bit of an altercation, the post office guy finds his package and says, “This is highly irregular.” Malvo says, “”No, highly irregular is the time I found a human foot in a toaster oven. This is just odd.”  When Malvo opens the package, he finds a book and a wallet with a new ID for him. Malvo remarks, “I’m a minister apparently.” Then he turns to the postal guy and says, “You have a blessed day.”

Yep, nothing about Malvo should get the town talking.

The movie Fargo, it seems, was responsible for the whole “death by wood chipper” humor that continues to used when conversing with idiots on the Internet. I mean who hasn’t suggested some troll or  Apollo Nida supporter needs to be thrown in the wood chipper? We haven’t seen a wood chipper yet, but we have had four deaths in the first episode. A screwdriver to the back of the head, death by freezing in nothing but one’s underpants, death by hammer and of course the more traditional blowing out of the brains with a shotgun. At the end of the second episode, a live body is discarded by drilling a large whole in the frozen lake and dropping it in head first. Easy peasy.

I was just watching episode two and having computer issues at the same time. Who got thrown in the frozen lake to die at the end?  Are any of you watching this?  Anyone willing to give it a shot?

Fargo comes on FX on Tuesdays at 9pm (with frequent repeats).

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Filed Under: News, Recap Tagged With: Billy Bob Thornton, Coen Brothers, Fargo, FX, Lester Nygaard, Lorne Malvo, Martin Freeman, Review

About tamaratattles

Come for the tea. Stay for the shade. Not for the easily offended. You're a special snowflake just like everyone else.

Comments

  1. steve says

    April 27, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    TT-I like this show. The guy dumped in the lake was just some dude mistaken by the mob truckers (screwdriver head guy) enforcers to be Malvo. Billy Bobs deadpan humor is great. I liked when Malvo told the dude pee in the motel ladies gas tank, then called her while he was doing it. This is unlike any other TV show out right now. FX is going to have some decent shows this year. Something different to fill the time until American Horror Story resumes

    Reply
    • tamaratattles says

      April 27, 2014 at 5:14 pm

      Yay finally something my token straight guy will watch with us! 🙂

      On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 5:10 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:

      >

      Reply
    • MeSoCrazy says

      April 27, 2014 at 5:25 pm

      Totally agree ! Fell asleep in 2nd episode but loving it. FX has some interesting shows coming soon. Thrilled you will be recapping as it does get slow & confusing. TY!

      Reply
  2. myinfo says

    April 27, 2014 at 5:14 pm

    I loved the movie. I now hate watching any type of crime shows from CSI (my old favorite) to any show where a crime needs to be solved.
    I watch Bravo shows, DWTS, Big Brother and watch the Big Bang Theray a few times a day.
    I guess I like laughs and fake reality.

    Reply
    • tamaratattles says

      April 27, 2014 at 5:21 pm

      Well, you’re going to be a little lardass for me to drag into the light, aren’t you? I’ll get you to see the light eventually, missy! 🙂

      On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 5:14 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:

      >

      Reply
      • myinfo says

        April 27, 2014 at 5:57 pm

        I guess I better add a new show to my lineup:)

        Reply
  3. Riley says

    April 27, 2014 at 5:28 pm

    I swear….I almost peed my pants when I saw my email telling me that you blogged FARGO….YAAAAAAAA!!
    OH T, You must watch the movie. One of my all time favorites. Frances McDormand played the lead and even won an oscar for it. Thank you so much. I am so over all the reality bs. I knew the series was coming and have so looked forward to it. Billy Bob is great in his roll. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

    Reply
    • Riley says

      April 27, 2014 at 5:42 pm

      Got so carried away that I wrote “roll” instead of “role”..he he he he. Can you tell how giddy I am with excitement?

      Reply
  4. steve says

    April 27, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    Myinfo-if you liked the movie give the series a shot. Its not a remake but made in the same style as the movie. Not big belly laughs but some good chuckles. Not a typical crime drama!!

    Reply
  5. crazy in nc says

    April 27, 2014 at 5:36 pm

    I am watching it. I agree with you on the very slow pacing. I also never saw the movie.
    The ice death was BRILLIANT. In a couple months the footprints and all other forensics will be long gone when the ice melts and the body is discovered.

    Reply
  6. tleighb says

    April 27, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    I will definitely start watching this. I loved the movie and Billy Bob is one of my favorite actors. I haven’t thought of FX shows since Nip Tuck ended. Thanks for the recommendation.

    Reply
  7. Blanca says

    April 27, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    Hi TT, I’m willing to give this show a chance as I am indeed growing weary of many of the reality shows, including RHOA. I think NeNe’s recent pro-Porsha/anti-Kenya media campaign has me in a tizzy. I feel on the verge of an anti-Bravo tirade.

    Reply
  8. Emma says

    April 27, 2014 at 6:52 pm

    Looking forward to watching this show – and I LOVE the Minnesota accent! I hope they mention Brainerd A LOT!

    Reply
  9. Kitty Mamma says

    April 27, 2014 at 7:24 pm

    Lester’s wife hen-pecked herself to death over the washing machine. I enjoy the dark wit of the Coen brothers. There are some great characters in this program. BBT is great. I picked this up after Justified ended. Top notch.

    Reply
  10. Gingersnap says

    April 27, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    I have no idea how I missed this blog, but I have been watching Fargo. I am a total Billy Bob Thornton fan and will watch him in anything. Glad you’re blogging about it. It will be fun!

    Reply
  11. Angel says

    April 28, 2014 at 2:01 am

    Fargo is my new favorite. I never watched FX much. I need to pay more attention to what they are offering. BBT seems to be a chameleon. Sometimes it takes me a bit to recognize him.

    Reply
  12. calipatti says

    April 28, 2014 at 1:14 pm

    I enjoy Billy Bob Thorton as an actor, I’ll give this a watch. Your recap of Fargo has me interested. I enjoy FX programming, I’m surprised I missed this.

    Reply
  13. ClassyLady80 says

    April 28, 2014 at 4:07 pm

    Netflix has the original “Fargo” movie available now for instant streaming if anyone is interested. Until this post I completely forgot that I’ve DVR’d the series. I’ll be watching it tonight if I don’t get blown away by tornadoes!!

    Reply
    • tamaratattles says

      April 28, 2014 at 4:14 pm

      Where are the tornadoes? I haven’t caught a local news episode in weeks. Am I gonna die? Be safe.

      On Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 4:07 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:

      >

      Reply
      • ClassyLady80 says

        April 28, 2014 at 5:03 pm

        Hey TT! Thanks! I’m in Birmingham, Al and the thuderstorms are scheduled to hit us at about 8pm CST. If they follow their usual route, I’d guess they’ll hit you guys in ATL some time around 1 a.m. EST. The storms are expected to bring high winds, hail, and yes, tornadoes so hunker down tonight. I’m sleeping in my basement!

        Reply
        • tamaratattles says

          April 28, 2014 at 5:41 pm

          Oh crap! Thanks for the heads up!

          On Mon, Apr 28, 2014 at 5:03 PM, Tamara Tattles wrote:

          >

          Reply
  14. jjtthomson2014 says

    April 29, 2014 at 12:13 am

    Yeah, I over looked this show initially, but now drawn into it a little more. Something else so think about that “maybe” has some substance. Damn, my claws are growing long after the long winter so I constantly have to check my spelling. God Bless all of you with the bad storms. Peace…

    Reply
  15. June says

    April 29, 2014 at 10:49 am

    Glad to see others are enjoying this show too! Like TT said, I am getting into these off major network offerings and away from too much reality (just getting sick of it.) Still watching the old OC gals though! Also, like TT pointed out the smart female cop is refreshing, as is the casting without the perfect pretty people.

    Reply
  16. omarid513 says

    April 29, 2014 at 10:29 pm

    The man dropped in the frozen lake was named Lenny, a regular patron of the stripper bar that Sam Hess frequented. He matched a description of Lorne without actually BEING Lorne, and even after Mr. Numbers and Mr. Wrench brought him in, Max Gold was convinced he wasn’t the guy. As for the show itself, though, I thoroughly enjoy it. It really does capture the spirit of the original film without being the same thing and has the same brand of humor one would expect from a Coen Brothers’ film. And both Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman are well cast in their roles. I like how other side characters are slowly introduced with small threads that will play out later on in the miniseries instead of the show feeling like it has to give every single character something to do. The tone and feel almost make me forget that I’m watching a television show since it feels so much like a film. I’m definitely on board with the show and glad that it didn’t try to be a reboot or remake of the original.

    Reply
  17. bravocueen says

    May 5, 2014 at 3:44 pm

    LOVED this show. Had a chance to watch this weekend (drill weekend so everyone was gone at my house. . .just me and the dogs. . and the cats. . and the chickens, ducks, turkeys. . . but I digress. This show is brilliant and I adore BBT in it. His deadpan humor mixed with scary eyes is just perfect. I’m a huge dark humor fan though. This is a FAB retreat from the reality world which I am weaning myself off of. But not before I watch the trainwreck that is Leann and Eddie. . .

    Reply

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