FARGOne Conclusion

The Fargo TV series is really good. Like REALLY good, dontchaknow. My wife and I started shotgunning it via VOD based on numerous accounts of it being of high quality and damn, if it didn’t grab me right away. At first I was confused, thinking that it was a retelling of the original Coen brothers movie. A lot of the characters and many of the situations seemed to be analogous to the those in the 1996 film. Also, they both started with an onscreen message about being based on a true story. So was it the same true story, or two very similar true stories that happened nearly 20 years apart? Was Martin Freeman’s character supposed to be the TV version of William H. Macey’s character? They both had dead end jobs and got involved with criminals before quickly getting in way over their heads.

FANCY BASTARD BULLETIN! 
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So, what was the deal? It turns out the answers to my questions were basically, “Yessss? But also noooo?” Fargo, the movie, is NOT based on a true story. There are a few true crime stories that might have been inspiration, but one of them took place in Connecticut, and neither of them are similar enough to the film to call it “true.” That was just a lie the film makers used when marketing the movie to a world that didn’t yet have immediate access to all recorded facts in their pockets. Bullshitting was easier in the 90’s. Likewise, the FX show is also NOT a true story. It’s a great story, but a false one none the less. After a few episodes you actually learn that Fargo the show is a direct sequel to Fargo the movie in that they take place in the same universe, and at least one plot point carries over directly from one to the next. It is ALSO a bit of a remake/retelling in that many of the characters and situations are TV-ised versions of their movie counterparts. It’s a bit confusing when you analyze it, but it’s also great TV. And I should point out that knowledge of the movie is in no way necessary to enjoy the show.

Now go have some hotdish, hon, and enjoy the nice, gruesome murders on the TV.

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I also made you this super cute Adventure Time/Doctor Who shirt. GO BUY IT! 

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13 Comments

  1. One of those times when the alt text is oh so simple but absolutely perfect and my cat gives me a weird look for laughing out loud.

  2. As a Wisconsinite (which is almost the same as a Minnesotan, but with more cheese) I can confirm the cutesy accent does indeed cover an inner darkness. (Autocorrect changed 'darkness' to 'farmer.' I can also confirm we all l have an inner farmer. Farmers of darkness.) Long winters plus a carbohydrate based culture will do that to a person.

  3. The only way North Dakota could get any crazier is if it had a poorly-run military base loaded with nuclear ICBMs.

  4. Just to make it clear, most Minnesotans don't have accents NEARLY as bad as the show makes it out to be (or the movie). In fact, if you're anywhere near the Twin Cities, most people hardly have the "Minnesotan" accent at all. But I can tell you that everyone raised in Minnesota is secretly raised at birth through elaborate rituals to be capable of whipping that accent out whenever someone from out-of-state is visiting, JUST to throw them off.

    Except for Wisconsin. They know us too well. But they don't count anyway, because, you know. They're Wisconsin.

    Oh, also, we're WAY into passive-aggressive sarcasm. It is a way of life here. But we don't take it personally either, so it's all good!

  5. Maybe I'll check it out, I really liked the movie. I was really confused about how exactly the show connected to the movie so this cleared things up…kind of, still sounds confusing.

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