Fargo, in its best moments is beating Pulp Fiction at its own game, and that's quite a feat, but these are few and far between. I especially liked the undertaker with his own costume and sidekicks like some american wrestler. There are some other references and homages, like the one to the "Big Lebowski" (in S3) which is rather weak and superficial. The character of Mike Milligan (in S2) is also a poor and exaggerated imitation. There is some clever writing and appealing stylization in parts, but it's spoiled by a rather heavy hand in others. The "true story" angle is overdrawn and simply annoying, especially when a flying saucer immediately follows. Another great annoyance are the Jewish gangsters and the whole Jewish undercurrent. I get it, this was made by Jews, enough of this mishegas already. Not everything has to revolve around some recently mythologized ethnic identity, just as not all world events of all time have to revolve around the USofA, though try telling that to the Mormons. On the flip side, there is the brilliant parody of Reagan which has been done and overdone in the past but never with this degree of accuracy of bite. Very promising but too much stylization and pretense and not enough of that bite, suspense and for gods's sake, subtlety. A lot of it is cartoonish and not in a good way. What a shame.

I liked the movie Fargo, but this series is so much better. The cast, the acting, the tension, the irony and incredibly dark humor is what makes this show so good. I'll break this review down by season Season 1- 10/10. The best season of Fargo. Billy Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman and Alison Tillman, are all phenomenal, and heck even key and peele make this show better. The story is simple but unfolds and takes twists and turns that make it great. Every scene Lorne Malvo is in, he steals and is truly one of the best tv characters ever. Bob Odenkirk's incompetent police chiefs make me burst out laughing more than a few times. Overall one of the best seasons of tv I have watched. Second season 9/10. Great season. Again cast is phenomenal. Especially plemmons and dunst. The 70s backdrop also makes for some entertaining Easter eggs and references to go around with another great story of crime. One the best episodes come halfway through the season and the tension that creator Noah Hawley creates is unparalleled. My only complaint is that the finale was a little bit of a downer after two incredible episodes right before it. Season 3- 7/10. Mcgregor and Winstead shine, but I think this show lost its edge in this season. The story and characters weren't very interesting, and there wasn't the surprise factor the other seasons had. Still quality tv though. I'm hoping the eventual 4th season will learn from this seasons mistakes and create something fresh because the show's formula ran out its welcome in this season.

I've watched series 1 and 2 - that's as far as I go with Fargo. Life is too short. Basically the format is the same in : what might have been a passable 1 and a half to 2 hour movie is padded out mercilessly and expanded into as series of 10 episodes. It's like watching paint dry. Can I have my life back please? There is no point to any of it that I can fathom. The attempts at profundity come across as pretentious and trite. The stories are frankly just daft. And I can't believe the ratings are so high, that is really depressing.

I would give it six stars if possible. 1. Great cinematography especially color effects; angles; editing. 2. Really intelligent dialogue for a crime series. 3. Acting - top of the game. 4. Storyline creative; challenging; unexpected twists. Doesn't contain the often used filler to sell more time - always contributing to story. 5. Up there with True Detective; Orange is the New Black; Game of Thrones; Orphan Black; The Wire; Sherlock; Peaky Blinders.