Fargo - 1x01 - The Crocodile’s Dilemma - Review

The introduction of two characters couldn’t possibly be more disparate than how Noah Hawley acquaints his audience with Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) and Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) in his new FX series Fargo. Yes, like the movie. And yes, I said Martin Freeman and Billy Bob Thornton. And No, the Coen brothers didn’t write this nor does it share any characters or actors in common with the 1996 film. It does, however, match that movies tone perfectly, and Joel and Ethan Coen serve as executive producers on the project. Set in Bemidji, Minnesota in 2006, Hawley weaves a tale with a “spirit” very similar to the film (Thornton’s words) but with a brand new cast and fantastically dark story. In the first episode we meet Nygaard, a hilariously-repressed insurance salesman whose wife, brother, and even former high school bully take every opportunity to make Lester feel small. Along comes Lorne Malvo, a completely ambiguous new character in town (his entrance in the first moments is awesome, I’ll leave it unspoiled). His influence on Lester will influence the rest of the series, and as any great pilot the story here could stand as a film in itself. Freeman’s character undergoes a radical transformation over the course of an hour or so, and one of the best compliments possible can definitely be paid to the first episode - it left me wanting more.

Billy Bob Thornton is fantastic as expected, and his character is both hilarious and terrifying at once. Malvo's penchant for causing menace everywhere he goes is overshadowed only by his unseen greater motives - he causes so much chaos in the first episode, and we still don’t even know why he’s arrived in town. Freeman also gives a noteworthy turn, again hilarious, and his emotional range throughout the first episode is a roller coaster. The darkly comedic tone of the film is captured superbly, with a new set of characters filling in the shoes of the oddball Coen brothers creations before them. Among my favorite turns is Kate Walsh as the wife of a homicide victim, she’s as sexy as ever and funny as hell - I can’t wait to see her and her dim-witted sons turn up in future episodes.

Noah Hawley has crafted not only a worthy counterpart to the film, but a great pilot in itself. The world set up by the Coen’s is greatly expanded upon, and judging from the characters whom we’ve yet to even meet yet, there’s a great deal more good things to come (Always Sunny's Glenn Howerton is among those joining the cast in episode 2). Allison Tolman will likely be a hot-commodity after her starring turn in this series, and the events of the pilot certainly lend themselves to her quirky character taking center stage. Come back after the episode airs tonight and let us know what you think - does Fargo live up to the film before it, and stand on its own even? Check out my chat with Billy Bob Thornton and head back tomorrow for another exclusive piece on my talk with Martin Freeman. Feel free to follow me on Twitter for all my SpoilerTV updates.

Fargo premieres tonight at 10 on FX.