Should I Try It: Fargo

We live in a big era for content. We have networks, streaming services, movies and more. It seems the only thing that hasn’t gotten bigger is our available time for viewing. That can leave you wondering whether a new show or mini-series is worth your time. That’s what this series is here to help you solve! In these pieces I’ll look at a new show, where to find it, what it’s about and some comparable options to help you decide whether to dive in or move on!

Series: Fargo, Season 5

Where to Find It: The final two episodes of the 10-episode season air Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on FX. The episodes stream next day on Hulu, where the first eight episodes are now streaming.

What’s It About: Fargo is an anthology series from Noah Hawley that is based on the mood created in The Coen Brothers film of the same name. The series debuted in 2014 and each of its seasons is a different story with a different cast. You don’t need to have seen previous seasons to be able to dive into the series. The first season featured Sherlock star Martin Freeman. This current season—the fifth—is the first since 2020.

In the new season, the action is set in 2019, taking place in North Dakota and Minnesota. The series focuses on a mother, Dot (Juno Temple), who seems like a simple housewife. She’s kidnapped early in the pilot, which kicks off a search. Her mother-in-law (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is wealthy and powerful and has the police searching.

It isn’t long before Dot escapes in a firefight that includes North Dakota State Trooper Witt Farr (Lamorne Morris). All of it seems to be linked to a powerful, ultra-right-wing Sheriff Roy Tillman (Jon Hamm). Along with his adult son and deputy Gator (Joe Keery), Tillman has a past connection to Dot and is determined to bring her back into his life in North Dakota by any means necessary.

You Should Try It If: You’re a fan of crime dramas, have seen the previous installments, and are a fan of Temple.

One Man’s Opinion of Fargo

I’ve been a fan of Fargo since the first season premiered in 2014. It’s been nearly four years since the last season, so I was excited and curious to see this new round. That curiosity picked up seeing the cast, particularly Temple who I loved on Ted Lasso. There, she played a gifted comedic character. Here, she plays something entirely different, and yet she shines in both roles.

Fargo has its own unique style and pacing. I’m a fan of the Coen Brothers films, and this series does a great job of touching on that unique style and dialogue. It works because of the characters and the ongoing mystery. In series form, we get that same thing with this anthology series. Each year is a new crime, a new set of characters. This fifth installment does a nice job of setting the table and building the world.

I mentioned above that I love Temple’s performance. Her back-and-forth with Hamm in this series is what makes it go. There are two episodes left, but what we’ve seen so far is compelling enough that it could be one of the show’s best installments. If you’re a fan of the genre or Temple, it’s worth checking out.