The Top 25 Shows of 2015, No. 2: FX's Fearless "Fargo"

For anyone who feels that way I refer you to the No 3 entry on my Top Shows of 2015 list Foxamp8217s amp8220Empireamp8221 which blew up television along with Twitter when it arrived in January And for anyone who insists that comedies be separated from dramas look again at the No 4 entry CBSamp8217 amp8220The Big Bang Theoryamp8221 Situation comedy doesnamp8217t get better than thatFor anyone keeping track I have just revealed that my upcoming choice for the No 1 position on this list aka the Program of the Year is not a drama series a situation comedy or a limited series Youamp8217ll have to check back next week for that oneFor now letamp8217s talk about amp8220Fargoamp8221 a franchise so fine it will likely be remembered decades from now in the same way people look back on amp8220Rootsamp8221 amp8220I Claudiusamp8221 amp8220Shogunamp8221 amp8220The Thorn Birdsamp8221 amp8220Lonesome Doveamp8221 and amp8220Band of Brothersamp8221Season one of amp8220Fargoamp8221 was an amazing piece of work true to the spirit of the Coen brothersamp8217 1996 cinematic masterpiece but a wholly separate project with just a minimal connection to the movie that stood on its own It was equal parts funny and frightening often very insightful and at times given to brutal ultraviolence The performances amp8211 in particular Martin Freeman Billy Bob Thornton Allison Tolman Colin Hanks and Keith Carradine amp8211 were flawless The story was full of surprises that were frequently dark and dangerous but also sometimes delightful I included the first season of quotFargoquot on my list last year of the Top Shows of 2014amp160In the same way that the current multiseason arc of the Twelfth Doctor on BBC Americaamp8217s amp8220Doctor Whoamp8221 is connected to a single scene in an episode from the arc of the Tenth Doctor over seven years ago as explained here the second season of amp8220Fargoamp8221 grew out of a single scene in season one when retired state trooper turned diner owner Lou Solverson Carradine mentioned during a conversation with roaming psychopath Lorne Malvo Thornton that something unspeakable had happened in the region several decades ago That was the planting of a seed in a scene that was about other things one so intense it had viewers cringing throughout ultimately for no reason but thatamp8217s part of the fun Meanwhile Solversonamp8217s daughter Molly a local deputy wasamp160trying to solve the many murders that Malvo hadamp160committedThe justconcluded second season was a prequel set in 1979 that revealed the nightmare Solverson was speaking of back when his wife was diagnosed with cancer and Molly was just a little girl It involved a turf war between a local crime family and a larger mob from Kansas City and a painfully ordinary local couple played to awardworthy perfection by Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons pictured above and below that gets caught up in the middle of itamp160the ultimately failed efforts of police officers Lou Solverson Patrick Wilson pictured at top utterly convincing as a younger version of the Carradine character from season one and his father in law Sheriff Hank Larsson Ted Danson to prevent a massacreamp160a maniacal killer who wreaks havoc everywhere he goesamp160a visit from Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail and a UFOIamp8217ll distance myself here from the critic hive by complaining that I thought all the air went out of this season in its final episode which was unexpectedly slow and at times almost boring plus it never addressed the silly UFO thing which didnamp8217t enhance the story one bit and could have been left out But the two episodes before that Holeee God Without question two of the most sensational hours of television ever produced right up there with the most powerful episodes of amp8220The Sopranosamp8221 and amp8220Mad Menamp8221All we know about the third season of amp8220Fargoamp8221 is that it will connect to the franchise in the way season two connected to season one and season one connected however remotely to the movie and that it wonamp8217t premiere until sometime in 2017 It will be an eternity to wait Meanwhile the second season of amp8220Fargoamp8221 will undoubtedly remain top of mind next year because I expect it to receive multiple nominations and presumably many wins at all of the major television award shows from the Golden Globe Awards and the Criticsamp8217 Choice Awards in January to the Emmy Awards in SeptemberThe opinions and points of view expressed in this commentary are exclusively the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageMyersBizNet management or associated bloggers

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The Top 25 Shows of 2015, No. 2: FX's Fearless "Fargo"

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Ed Martin

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The Top 25 Shows of 2015, No. 2: FX's Fearless "Fargo"

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Ed Martin

FEMA and the Ad Council Encourage AANHPI Communities to Enhance Disaster Preparedness in New PSAs - Ad Council InSites

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