Summary
- Fargo (1996) is often considered the Coen brothers' best film and a cult classic, with fantastic moments, characters, and one-liners.
- Fargo season 2 is widely regarded as the best in the series with a prequel storyline, strong cast, and stellar performances.
- Fargo season 4 is a period-piece mobster story and, although it falls a little short compared to other seasons, it still maintains the show's quality.
Fargo is a 1996 movie and an FX TV show, so figuring out where every season of Fargo and the movie rank is tough. Both the movie and the TV series are critically acclaimed, with FX's Fargo revitalizing interest in the already popular movie after its 2014 premiere. Each Fargo season and movie tells an entirely different story with fresh characters, meaning that there is much debate surrounding which season or movie is the best.
1996's Fargo movie follows a kidnapping gone wrong as an accidental murder causes a police investigation to have to sort through a massive web of seemingly unrelated crimes. Fargo was a critical and financial success, putting the Coen brothers' names on the maps as serious film directors. Since right after the film's premiere, various creatives have been trying to make a spin-off show, with a canceled Fargo TV pilot being produced in 1997. However, FX's Fargo TV show finally got off the ground in 2014, with the series currently having five seasons.
Fargo Season 6: Will It Happen? Everything We Know
The FX crime anthology series Fargo has already impressed in its first five seasons on the air, and there is a chance for season 6 very soon.
6 Fargo Season 4
A 50s Mobster Story That Didn't Live Up To Previous Seasons
Even though Fargo season 4 is the worst, it is a sign of how good the series is. Fargo season 4 is far from a bad show; in fact, it's really good. However, compared to the masterful movie and the other Fargo seasons, it's a little weaker. Unlike previous seasons, Fargo season 4 is a period-piece mobster story, taking place in 1950s Kansas City, Missouri. The season follows two feuding crime families, one led by Chris Rock's Loy Cannon and the other led by Jason Schwartzman's Josto Fadda.
Fargo season 4 does have a good cast though they didn't deliver at the level of its predecessors. Fargo season 4's biggest strength is its ambition, with the new setting and tone making it a wild departure from the other Fargo stories. However, the mobster story does have some pacing issues, causing Fargo season 4 to drag at points. In an attempt to stand out from its predecessors, Fargo season 4 does lose a lot of its charm, with the story of two rival crime families feeling a little clichéd and unoriginal.
All seasons of Fargo are available to stream on Hulu.
5 Fargo Season 3
Ewan McGregor And Mary Elizabeth Winstead Shine
2017's Fargo season 3 comes in right above season 4, with the season telling a much more conventional Fargo story. FX's Fargo season 3 takes place in the early 2010s, with the season following couple Ray Stussy and Nikki Swango who accidentally murder someone while robbing Ray's brother. The cast of Fargo season 3 has some massive talent, including Ewan McGregor, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Carrie Coon, former Coen brothers collaborator Michael Stuhlbarg, and more.
Fargo season 3's complicated crime web is incredibly engaging, with the tension never letting down. The season perfectly captures the tone of the original Fargo movies as well as the previous two seasons, making it perfectly fitting on the title even if Fargo, North Dakota doesn't actually appear in the season. Ewan McGregor has given great TV performances before, but his dual role as Ray and Emmit Stussy carries Fargo season 3, showing off the actor's capabilities and the season's superb writing. Fargo season 3 is excellent, only falling under the other Fargo stories because of how fantastic they are.