Starring
Ewan McGregor, Carrie Coon, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, David Thewlis,
Goran Bogdan, Michael Stuhlbarg, Shea Whigham, Scoot McNairy, Mark
Forward, Andy Yu, Olivia Sandoval, Mary McDonnell. Various directors.
(2017, 520 min).
It's
still rather amazing that a classic as unique as the original Fargo
inspired a television show at all, let-alone one that managed to
strike the same balance between labyrinthine thriller, oddball
character study and black comedy. That the show remains as endearingly quirky after three seasons is
even more remarkable.
Storywise,
Year 3 isn't quite as consistently compelling as Year 2. After a
couple of intriguing set-up episodes, things meander a bit at times,
such as an entire early episode dedicated to the shady past
of a recently-deceased character. Aside from a very brief
metaphorical moment later on, it has no baring on the rest of the story. Granted, one thing that makes the Fargo
universe amusing is the various vignettes that
aren't necessarily important to the story, but are interesting
nonetheless. However, an entire episode is a bit much.
 |
| Ewan gets stuck with the check. |
That's
a small quip, though, since the rest of Fargo remains as moody, weird and
darkly funny as ever. Year 3, like the previous two, tells a
completely new story, set at a different time (2010-11) and featuring
a different cast of wonderfully weird characters. Ewan McGregor, in
a dual role, plays the feuding Stussy brothers (Ray and Emmitt), both
of whom eventually get in over their heads when their best-laid plans
spiral wildly out of control. Carrie Coon is Gloria Bergle, an Eden
Valley police chief who begins to piece together connections between
the Stussys and a couple of brutal murders (one of the victims, her
father-in-law, also happens to be named Stussy). Mary Elizabeth
Winstead is Ray's ex-con girlfriend who instigates much of the bad
blood between Ray and his wealthier brother (making her sort-of a
well-meaning femme fatale).
 |
| Santa leaves behind a little nightmare fuel. |
The
whole cast is great - and McGregor has never been better - but the
best performance is by David Thewlis as V.M Varga, a mysterious,
cold-blooded figure who once helped Emmitt (the "Parking Lot
King") save his business, but has insinuated himself into
company to become a "partner" and use it as a front for
money laundering. Not only is he ruthless, Varga is also quite
repulsive. From his disheveled appearance, spacey demeanor and
grotesque habits - like bulimic binging & purging and picking at
his own rotting teeth until his gums bleed - his very presence in
most scenes is truly unnerving.
Though
there are plenty of wild plot turns, these terrific characters
effectively carry the story through some of the rough, slow spots,
making this third season of 10 episodes well worth binging over a
night or two. None of it may actually take place in or around Fargo this time,
but really, the title is more of a brand name now, evoking a quirky
brand of storytelling that's hard to resist.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
"INSIDE
LOOK" (These are all 1-2 minute promos): "First Look";
Ray and Nikki"; Emmit Stussy and Sy Feltz"; "One
Actor, Two Characters"; "Gloria Burgle"; Varga";
"Anatomy of a Scene"; "The Digital Age";
"Connectivity and References" (Easter eggs); Locations";
"Noah Hawley"
KITTY CONSENSUS:
PURR-R-R...LIKE A GOOD SCRATCH BEHIND THE EARS
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