Created by Noah Hawley.
Fargo premiered on April 15, 2014.
Distributed by FX Networks.
Fargo (TV Series) Review
Fargo is a crime drama series with dark humor and surprising twists.
Each season tells a new story, but all share the same style and tone.
Season 1 follows a small-town crime that slowly turns deadly, showing how one bad choice can change many lives.
It is tense, funny, and easy to get into.
Season 2 goes back in time and tells a bigger story about crime families and violence.
Many fans think this is the best season because of its strong story and acting.
Season 3 focuses on greed and jealousy, using clever storytelling and strange characters.
Season 4 moves to the 1950s and explores crime and power struggles in Kansas City.
It feels different and slower but has interesting ideas.
Season 5 brings the show back to form with a modern story about control, survival, and consequences.
Overall, Fargo is smart, unique, and worth watching for crime drama fans.
CR Ratings – 8.5/10
Fargo TV Series Actors
Billy Bob Thornton as Lorne Malvo
DOB: August 4, 1955.
Bio: Oscar-winning actor, writer, and musician known for portraying ragged, morally complex, and often dangerous characters in film and television.
He brings a dry, menacing charisma to roles that can shift from charming to terrifying in an instant.
Role: Lorne Malvo is a smooth, amoral stranger who arrives in small-town Minnesota and subtly manipulates those around him.
Equal parts sociopath and philosophical provocateur, Malvo seeds chaos and violence wherever he goes, observing the unraveling of people’s lives.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 and 3 (11 eps).
Interesting facts: Thornton’s portrayal of Malvo earned critical acclaim and awards attention.
The role revitalized his television career and became one of the series’ most iconic villains.
Notable Works: Sling Blade (writer/actor), A Simple Plan, Bad Santa.
Martin Freeman as Lester Nygaard
DOB: September 8, 1971.
Bio: British actor celebrated for his warm, relatable everyman presence.
He rose to international prominence through roles that combine vulnerability, wit, and subtle humor, transitioning from UK comedy and drama to major film and TV franchises.
Role: Lester Nygaard starts as a meek, put-upon insurance salesman whose chance encounter with Lorne Malvo triggers a dark, transformative journey.
Freeman portrays Lester’s gradual descent from timid passivity into moral corruption with nuance, balancing humor, desperation, and creeping menace.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 and 2 (11 eps).
Interesting facts: Freeman’s portrayal earned critical acclaim and award attention.
His dynamic chemistry with Billy Bob Thornton drives much of the tension and dark humor in Season 1, making their interactions a highlight of the series.
Notable Works: The Office (UK), Sherlock, The Hobbit trilogy.
Allison Tolman as Molly Solverson
DOB: November 18, 1981.
Bio: Allison Tolman is a stage-trained American actor who gained widespread acclaim for her breakout performance in Fargo Season 1.
She is celebrated for portraying intelligent, grounded, and morally centered characters with subtlety and depth.
Role: Molly Solverson is the small-town deputy whose quiet intelligence, meticulous attention to detail, and relentless persistence allow her to unravel the chain of crimes orchestrated by Lorne Malvo and exacerbated by Lester Nygaard.
Tolman’s performance captures Molly as observant, patient, and morally unwavering, a true investigative anchor in Season 1.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 and 2 (11 eps).
Interesting facts: Tolman received Emmy and critical recognition for her performance.
Molly remains a fan favorite due to her blend of warmth, intelligence, and understated heroism.
Notable Works: Fargo (her breakout), stage work and TV guest roles.
Colin Hanks as Gus Grimly
DOB: November 24, 1977.
Bio: Colin Hanks, son of Tom Hanks, has established a respected career on his own merit with grounded, likable performances across TV and film.
He often portrays decent, conflicted men whose growth comes through responsibility and moral challenge.
Role: Gus Grimly is a cautious Duluth police officer whose life intersects with the dangerous Lorne Malvo.
Initially hesitant and uncertain, Gus’s arc centers on courage, moral responsibility, and redemption.
Over Season 1, he evolves from a timid officer into a decisive, brave figure, acting at crucial moments to counter Malvo and support Molly Solverson.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 and 2 (11 eps).
Interesting facts: Gus’s inner conflict and eventual bravery provide a human, empathetic counterpoint to Lester Nygaard’s darkness.
Notable Works: King Kong (TV/film roles), Dexter (guest), voice work.
Kirsten Dunst as Peggy Blumquist
DOB: April 30, 1982.
Bio: Kirsten Dunst is an acclaimed actor whose career began in childhood and has since evolved to encompass complex, daring roles.
Known for her ability to blend vulnerability with volatility, Dunst excels at portraying characters who make shocking or morally ambiguous choices.
Role: Peggy Blumquist is a small-town hairdresser with grand ambitions and a tenuous grip on reality.
In Fargo Season 2, she becomes entangled in violent criminal events and the escalating tensions between rival factions.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: Dunst’s performance earned widespread critical acclaim, with reviewers noting her ability to make Peggy absurd, sympathetic, and heartbreakingly human simultaneously.
Notable Works: Bring It On, Melancholia, Spider-Man trilogy, Marie Antoinette.
Patrick Wilson as Lou Solverson
DOB: July 3, 1973.
Bio: Patrick Wilson is a versatile American actor known for his work on stage and screen.
He brings a combination of measured toughness, warmth, and emotional subtlety to roles that require heroism balanced with vulnerability.
Role: Lou Solverson is a young Minnesota State Trooper in Fargo Season 2.
A Vietnam veteran, he is a calm and steadfast presence amid escalating crime and chaotic events.
Lou balances the demands of law enforcement with raising a young family, serving as a moral anchor and voice of reason throughout the season.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: Wilson’s portrayal pays homage to the older Lou Solverson (played by Keith Carradine in Season 1) while exploring the younger version’s formative experiences, including war trauma and early encounters with organized crime.
Notable Works: The Conjuring series, Watchmen (film), Broadway musicals including Oklahoma! and The Full Monty.
Jesse Plemons as Ed Blumquist
DOB: April 2, 1988.
Bio: American actor celebrated for his quietly intense performances.
His career spans offbeat character roles, television drama, and leading parts in prestige films.
Plemons is known for his ability to convey inner conflict and moral complexity with subtle gestures, understated expression, and emotional depth.
Role: Ed Blumquist is a suburban butcher and Peggy Blumquist’s husband in Fargo Season 2.
A fundamentally decent man, Ed is drawn into a violent spiral beyond his comprehension, forced to confront ethical dilemmas, crime, and the consequences of loyalty and love.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: Plemons’ on-screen chemistry with Kirsten Dunst as Peggy is often cited as a key emotional anchor of Season 2.
Notable Works: Breaking Bad, Black Mirror, The Power of the Dog, Friday Night Lights, Judas and the Black Messiah.
Jean Smart as Floyd Gerhardt
DOB: September 13, 1951.
Bio: American actor whose career spans decades on stage, film, and television.
She is renowned for her ability to combine steely authority with emotional subtlety, making her a commanding presence in any ensemble.
Role: Floyd Gerhardt becomes the matriarch and acting head of the Gerhardt crime family after her husband’s illness leaves a power vacuum.
Smart portrays Floyd as intelligent, pragmatic, and emotionally layered, a woman navigating the male-dominated world of organized crime while fiercely protecting her children and family legacy.
Seasons & Episodes: S2 (9 eps).
Interesting facts: Critics widely praised Smart’s performance as a standout in Season 2, highlighting her ability to convey authority, maternal instinct, and moral complexity simultaneously.
Notable Works: Frasier, Watchmen, Hacks, Designing Women, 24.
Ewan McGregor as Emmit & Ray Stussy
DOB: March 31, 1971.
Bio: Scottish actor celebrated for his versatility across stage, indie films, and major blockbusters.
Known for his magnetic screen presence and nuanced performances, McGregor excels at portraying morally complex and emotionally conflicted characters.
Role: In Season 3, McGregor takes on the challenging dual roles of twin brothers: Emmit Stussy, the polished, successful “Parking Lot King of Minnesota,” and Ray Stussy, his envious, impulsive parole officer brother.
The season centers on their fraught sibling rivalry, which escalates through misunderstandings, revenge plots, and increasingly dire consequences.
Seasons & Episodes: S3 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: McGregor’s portrayal of two central characters required extensive body work, vocal adjustment, and careful timing for scenes where both twins interact.
Notable Works: Trainspotting, Moulin Rouge!, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Impossible, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.
Carrie Coon as Gloria Burgle
DOB: January 24, 1981.
Bio: Carrie Coon is a stage-trained American actor renowned for her emotional depth and precision across stage and screen.
She earned acclaim in theater, including Tony-nominated performances, before transitioning to television and film.
Role: In Season 3, Gloria Burgle is a principled, methodical police officer who eventually becomes the county chief.
She becomes obsessed with the Stussy case, unraveling the chaos caused by the twins’ rivalry and the broader web of crime.
Seasons & Episodes: S3 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: She brings a realism to Gloria that offsets Season 3’s darkly comedic and metaphysical flourishes, making her both relatable and compelling.
Notable Works: The Leftovers, The Sinner, Gone Girl, stage work including Tony-nominated performances in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and The Coast of Utopia.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Nikki Swango
DOB: November 28, 1984.
Bio: American actor acclaimed for her versatility, able to shift seamlessly between dark comedy, psychological tension, and intense drama.
Trained in both film and theater, she frequently portrays characters who are clever, physically adept, and emotionally layered.
Role: In Season 3, Nikki Swango is a sharp, competitive bridge player and recently released parolee who forms a complex, combustible partnership with Ray Stussy.
She is street-smart, fiercely independent, and guided by a personal moral code that makes her both dangerous and empathetic.
Seasons & Episodes: S3 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: Nikki’s relationship with Ray serves as an emotional throughline across the season.
Winstead’s physicality in fight sequences and strategic confrontations was widely praised, adding credibility to her character’s toughness and intelligence.
Notable Works: 10 Cloverfield Lane, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, A Good Day to Die Hard, Birds of Prey.
Chris Rock as Loy Cannon
DOB: February 7, 1965.
Bio: American comedian, actor, writer, and producer who has successfully transitioned into dramatic and complex roles in addition to his legendary stand-up career.
Known for his razor-sharp wit and keen social commentary, Rock brings both humor and gravitas to morally nuanced characters.
Role: In Season 4, Loy Cannon is the ambitious head of a Black crime syndicate in 1950s Kansas City.
Loy is strategic, intelligent, and fiercely loyal to his family, determined to secure their place and survival in a hostile, racially divided environment.
Seasons & Episodes: S4 (10 eps).
Interesting facts: Rock’s casting marked a significant dramatic pivot for the actor, highlighting his ability to carry weighty, intense roles.
Notable Works: Stand-up specials (Bring the Pain, Bigger & Blacker), Everybody Hates Chris, Top Five, Grown Ups, producing credits in TV and film.
More Actors
Season 1 (2006 setting)
• Bob Odenkirk as Bill Oswalt (police chief).
• Keith Carradine as Lou Solverson (older).
• Adam Goldberg as Mr. Numbers.
• Joey King as Greta Grimly.
Season 2 (1979 setting)
• Ted Danson as Hank Larsson (sheriff).
• Nick Offerman as Karl Weathers.
• Kieran Culkin as Rye Gerhardt.
• Bokeem Woodbine as Mike Milligan.
• Zahn McClarnon as Hanzee Dent (key enforcer).
Season 3 (2010s setting)
• David Thewlis as V. M. Varga (mysterious villain).
• Michael Stuhlbarg as Sy Feltz.
• Shea Whigham as Moe Dammick.
• Russell Harvard as Rye/Other roles (guest).
Season 4 (1950s Kansas City)
• Jessie Buckley as Oraetta Mayflower (disturbing nurse).
• Jason Schwartzman as Josto Fadda (Italian crime family).
• Ben Whishaw as Rabbi Milligan.
• Glynn Turman as Doctor Senator.
Season 5 (2019 setting)
• Juno Temple as Dorothy “Dot” Lyon.
• Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lorraine Lyon.
• Joe Keery as Gator Tillman.
• Lamorne Morris — Whitley “Witt” Farr.
FAQ – Fargo TV Series
What is Fargo (TV series) about?
Fargo is a crime anthology series where small mistakes lead to big trouble, blending dark humor with violent, unpredictable crime stories set in the American Midwest.
Is Fargo based on a real story?
Like the original film, the series uses a “true story” device, but the stories are fictional.
Has Fargo won awards?
Yes. The series has won multiple Emmys and many other awards and nominations across its run.
Where is Fargo filmed?
Many seasons filmed in Calgary (standing in for the Midwest); Season 4 used other locations (production varies by season)
How many seasons and episodes are there?
As of early 2024 the series has 5 seasons and 51 episodes.
Where can I watch Fargo?
It originally airs on FX and is available to stream on FX/Hulu in many regions.
Conclusion
Fargo stands out as one of the most original crime dramas on television.
With its mix of dark humor, strong acting, and thought-provoking stories, each season offers something different while keeping the same unique style.
Even with a few uneven moments, the series remains smart, bold, and highly memorable.