Fargo is a dark comedy-drama based on Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1996 Oscar-winning film of the same name.
Bullied all his life and stuck in a loveless marriage, Lester Nygaard’s life changes drastically after a chance meeting with drifter Lorne Malvo. If you’ve yet to start watching Fargo, believe the hype and give it a look, you won’t be disappointed.
UK Premiere Date
This 10-part television series premieres in the UK on Channel 4 at 9:00pm on Sunday, 20 April, 2014.
Season 1 Episode Guide
SPOILER ALERT: Though these episode descriptions aim not to give too much away in terms of specific plot details, avoid reading on if you like to go in fresh. Cast and character information follows after the episode guide.
Episode 1/10 – The Crocodile’s Dilemma – 20/4/2014
Following an encounter with malicious drifter Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton), Minnesota based insurance salesman Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) sets out on a path of destruction. After being bullied and disrespected all his life, and now on the point of breaking, Lorne helps Lester realize he no longer has to smile and take other peoples crap. The pairs chance meeting flips a switch in Lester’s mind, seemingly offering a solution to his constant ill treatment.
Episode 2/10 – The Rooster Prince – 27/4/2014
Sheriff’s deputy Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman) begins to suspect that Lester is involved in the murders, but Dep Bill Oswalt (Bob Odenkirk) takes a more sympathetic approach towards the apparent victim, assigning Molly a seemingly unrelated case. Meanwhile, Lorne gets involved on both sides of a blackmail plot against Stavros Milos, a man known as the Supermarket King.
Episode 3/10 – A Muddy Road – 4/5/2014
Lorne flips the script on the blackmail operation, Molly sets a trap for Lester, and Gus debates whether or not he should come clean on his failure to apprehend Lorne when he had the chance. Meanwhile, Lester’s return to work leaves him wishing he’d stayed at home.
Episode 4/10 – Eating the Blame – 11/5/2014
When Gus takes the opportunity to correct his earlier mistake, Lorne once again slips through the officers fingers, this time by adopting an alter ego. Meanwhile, Lester finds himself in a surprising situation, and Molly uncovers a name and a promising lead in her investigations.
Episode 5/10 – The Six Ungraspables – 18/5/2014
With Mr Numbers and Mr Wrench all set to dispose of the man they think killed Hess, Lester somehow makes a last minute escape. Molly makes an unorthodox decision. Meanwhile, Duluth Police Deputy Gus Grimly weighs up some cryptic neighbourly advice as Lorne gets a little too close to home.
Episode 6/10 – Buridan’s Ass – 25/5/2014
As the blizzard takes control, Molly and Gus team up in their search for justice. About half a dozen steps ahead of everyone else, Lorne uses Don Chumph as an unwitting pawn, putting his master plan into action. Despite trying to put things right, things go from bad to worse for Stavros. Meanwhile, Lester sneaks out of his guarded hospital room in order to frame brother Chaz for the murder of Pearl and the chief of police.
Episode 7/10 – Who Shaves the Barber? – 1/6/2014
Lorne takes revenge on those who sent hitmen Mr Wrench and Mr Numbers after him, while Lester exacts further revenge of his own on by tricking Gina Hess into bed. Lester’s plan to set-up Chaz succeeds in fooling Chief Bill Oswalt, if not everyone. Meanwhile, officer Gus Grimly desperately tries to make up for accidentally shooting Molly, who’s recuperating in hospital.
Episode 8/10 – The Heap – 8/6/2014
Lorne tracks down his one surviving assailant Mr. Wrench, only to show a rare moment of mercy. Fast-forwarding in time by a year, Gus and Molly finally get it together. Everything also seems to be going right for Lester in both his professional and personal life with new wife, insurance work college Linda Park.
Episode 9/10 – A Fox, A Rabbit, and A Cabbage – 15/6/2014
Lester’s time in Las Vegas leads to a chance reunion with Lorne, but Lester’s desire to reminisce is far from reciprocated. With everything currently going Lester’s way, his new-found level of confidence may be blinding him to the dangers of a world he briefly escaped. Despite Malvo having previously shown something of a soft spot for Lester, the new insurance salesman of the year is quickly reminded Lorne is not a man to be pushed. Not that Lester himself is above manipulating others these days, especially when it comes to self preservation. Meanwhile, the resulting carnage in Vegas leads to a new investigation for Molly that winds up leading her down a familiar path.
Episode 10/10 – Morton’s Fork – Series Finale
Lorne eyes up a new target, Gus pursues a hunch, and Lester manipulates a situation.
Fargo Main Recurring Cast List
Character – Actor/Actress
Lorne Malvo – Billy Bob Thornton
Lester Nygaard – Martin Freeman
Officer Molly Solverson – Allison Tolman
Officer Gus Grimly – Colin Hanks
Deputy/Chief of Police Bill Oswalt – Bob Odenkirk
Chaz Nygaard (Lester’s brother) – Joshua Close
Kitty Nygaard (Chaz Nygaard’s wife) – Rachel Blanchard
Gina Hess (Sam Hess’s wife) – Kate Walsh
Linda Park (Lester’s work college) – Susan Park
Stavros Milos (Supermarket King) – Oliver Platt
Mr. Wrench (the tall, death hitman) – Russell Harvard
Mr. Numbers (the bearded hitman) – Adam Goldberg
Lou Solverson (Molly’s dad) – Keith Carradine
Don Chumph (the personal trainer) – Glenn Howerton
Greta Grimly (Gus’s daughter) – Joey King
Bo Munk (Lester’s insurance company boss) – Tom Musgrave
Ida Thurman (Police Chief Vern Thurman’s wife) – Julie Ann Emery
Additional Fargo TV Series Cast by Episode of First Appearance
Episode 1
Police Chief Vern Thurman (the original chief of police) – Shawn Doyle
Sam Hess (Lester’s bully) – Kevin O’Grady
Pearl Nygaard (Lester’s wife) – Kelly Holden
Gordo Nygaard – Spencer Drever
Naked Man – Dave Trimble
Dep Hank Auerbach – Graham Littlefield
Dep Knudsen – Gary Valentine
Bruce Gold – Brian Markinson
Mickey Hess – Atticus Dean Mitchell
Moe Hess – Liam Green
Moe – Liam Green
Cindy – Chantal Perron
Paprika – Lori Ravensborg
Episode 2
Wink Jourdain – Peter Strand Rumpel
Helena Milos – Allegra Fulton
Dmitri Milos – Gordon S. Miller
Mail Clerk – David LeReaney
Young Man 2 – Graeme Black
Olaf Creech – James Dugan
Wink Jourdain – Peter Strand Rumpel
Lenny – Paul Braunstein
Bartender – Sarah Elias
Perky Checkout Clerk – Marty Ronaghan
Rachel Ziskind – Leah Cairns
Episode 3
Lieutenant Ben Schmidt (Duluth Police Department) – Peter Breitmayer
Episode 4
Young Stavros Milos – Carlos Diaz
Young Helena Milos – Eve Harlow
Episode 5
Ari Ziskind (The neighborhood watch guy) – Byron Noble
Episode 6
Mr Jergen (Fargo Mob) – Andy King
Episode 7
Agent Buchwald – Christopher Rosamond
FBI Agent Budge – Jordan Peele
FBI Agent Pepper – Keegan-Michael Key
Herc – Tayden Marks
Aquasizer – Bud Klasky
Episode 8
Louise Weezy Canton – Jennifer Copping
Gunter – Daniel Rousell
Episode 9
Burt Canton – Stephen Root
Jemma Stalone – Helena Mattsson
Episode 10
Ray Almond – Lorne Cardinal
Where was the Fargo TV series filmed?
Beginning in the Autumn of 2013, filming for Fargo took place in various locations in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The show is mainly set in the cities of Fargo, North Dakota and Bemidji, Minnesota, USA.
What’s the name of the Fargo TV series theme tune?
As far as I can see, the main classical piece of music used during the opening/title sequences of some episodes, is an original song composed for the television series soundtrack.
