Pilot Review: Fargo

Fargo (FX)
Premiered April 15 at 10pm

Watching a remake of a beloved classic can be a bittersweet thing. It’s hard to find a film as simultaneously chilling and hilarious as 1996 Best Picture nominee “Fargo,” which features an Oscar-winning performance from Frances McDormand as a pregnant Minnesota police detective who sounds kind of funny on account of her Midwest accent. FX’s announcement that it would be producing a ten-episode limited series was obvious cause for both celebration and concern, and I was intrigued to find the exact same poster art used for the TV show as was used for the film almost twenty years ago when I received a press kit in the mail from FX a few weeks ago. The pilot starts out the same way the film does – insisting that its events occurred, and that the names have been changed at the request of the survivors, but everything else has been left exactly as it happened out of respect for the dead. What’s marvelous about the pilot is that it does contain some of the same elements, but in a wholly different context. There is an eccentric pregnant woman, and a car salesman, and a man who couldn’t be less attracted to his wife. But this story is something else, a fresh tale that feels like it belongs in the same universe as “Fargo.” More than anything, this pilot feels purely plot-driven, unencumbered by the traditional format of a television show to keep its characters alive week-to-week, instead content to tell what is so far a gripping story, whatever the collateral damage may be. I was particularly impressed by the performances of stars Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton. Freeman, who is usually all about awkward comedy, does a dead-on William H. Macy impression as a polite everyman despised by everyone and finally encouraged to stand up for himself. Thornton is formidable as a mystery man who seems intent on creating chaos everywhere he goes, egging those he meets on to make bad choices. Bob Odenkirk, Keith Carradine, and Colin Hanks all appear in what are likely to become more substantial supporting roles. This show just has a certain quality about it that makes it very appealing, and I can’t wait to see what happens in episode two.

How will it work as a series? Ten episodes seem like a lot in theory considering how much happened in just this episode, but I have faith that this limited series has been well plotted-out to remain extremely interesting throughout its run. I’m very ready to see where it goes.
How long will it last? This show is billed as a limited series, so it’s very possible that it will conclude after just ten episodes regardless of how well it does. The reviews have been strong and the ratings were solid too, so I have a feeling that FX may want to consider expanding this into a more long-term project.

Pilot grade: A-