What I’m Watching: Fargo

Fargo: Season 3, Episode 2 “The Principled of Restricted Choice” (B)

I really do want to be gung-ho and excited about the new season of this show, but I’m not feeling quite as enthusiastic as I have in the past. I think the main reason for that is that there isn’t quite as much going on. Last season, there were so many characters and a handful of threads, and season one was so incredibly strong in every way. Now, there are the brothers, Emmit’s new business partner, and the new chief. I’d like to think that there’s a lot going on, but I’m just not sure it’s as sophisticated and superb as in the past. V.M. having his men throw the lawyer off the garage seemed like it might be a mysterious event that would have unknown consequences, but then it just turned out that he was storming in to take complete control of Emmit’s offices. Sy took matters into his own hands when he tracked Ray down and smashed his car after threatening him in the diner, and I don’t know what’s going to come of them. Nikki was more than happy to try to steal the stamp while Ray was distracting Emmit, and she has him wrapped around her finger with all this talk of his qi and her lack of support for a truthful reconciliation. A familiar TV face – Shea Whigham from “Boardwalk Empire” – showed up as the new chief who doesn’t see eye to eye with Gloria at all, and I wonder what will come of his role and how involved he’ll be in the overarching plotline.