Fargo

:

Season 3
  • Network: FX
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 15, 2014
Season #: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 396 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 340 out of 396
  2. Mixed: 33 out of 396
  3. Negative: 23 out of 396
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User Reviews

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  1. HarryNuggets
    Oct 16, 2017
    5
    Go to the source, Twin Peaks, See what it looked like when it was a fresh idea. Before it became the focus of study for screenwriting classes which have produced clever, antiseptic shows like this. Lynch lite.
  2. fredphoesh
    Sep 27, 2017
    5
    I think using the same actor for both roles is a gimmick that did not add to the storyline in any way. This is a very disappointing series as I loved the first two, but this one just has nothing that grabs me. I don't care much about the characters and stopped watching after episode 4.
  3. night4
    Sep 4, 2017
    4
    Every season is getting worse, and it's a shame. I could barely sit through the final episodes, and I didn't care one bit about any of the characters. One of the more significant problems of the season is the bizarre choice to cast such a major actor in two main roles.

    Why do we have to stare at the ugly British guy for 30 minutes per episode? We get it, he's gross and evil and blah    Every season is getting worse, and it's a shame. I could barely sit through the final episodes, and I didn't care one bit about any of the characters. One of the more significant problems of the season is the bizarre choice to cast such a major actor in two main roles.

    Why do we have to stare at the ugly British guy for 30 minutes per episode? We get it, he's gross and evil and blah blah blah. So exhausting.    … Expand
  4. SomeName
    Aug 18, 2017
    4
    This season is much weaker than its predecessors.

    While the premise, setting and character cast are relatively strong, the execution is just lacking. There are strange leaps in logic by both characters and plot, weird and out of place narrative tools and even product placement that is shoehorned into the dialogue/scenery.
  5. slfite
    Jul 1, 2017
    5
    A strength of the previous seasons was that the actors disappeared inside their characters. Season three has you watching actors act. Ewan Mcgregor was a mistake. Neither wigs or padding helped him in being anything other than a Brit badly putting on a Midwest accent. This season's story was of the "jumping the shark" level. It seems like a parody of what worked so well in the first twoA strength of the previous seasons was that the actors disappeared inside their characters. Season three has you watching actors act. Ewan Mcgregor was a mistake. Neither wigs or padding helped him in being anything other than a Brit badly putting on a Midwest accent. This season's story was of the "jumping the shark" level. It seems like a parody of what worked so well in the first two seasons. By the time the convoluted plot wrapped up, I felt a sense of loss. There was no reason to try to take this show up a notch. It was already brilliant.… Expand
  6. soutarm
    Jun 23, 2017
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The film was brilliant, season 1 was amazing start to finish, season 2 felt odd to begin with but turned out to be fantastic (including the UFO bits). Season 3, not so much. It's not bad per se, but I wouldn't call it good either. I haven't connected with any of the characters in either a positive or negative way and the stories just seem to wander around. Many elements seem forced, it feels like the show is trying to be like "Fargo" instead of just being Fargo. A good example of this is the police chief's dogged refusal to even listen to "old chief". What is his motivation? He has none other than that's what they did in season 1. This season is also missing the warm family elements we had in season 1 (Molly and Lou, Gus and daughter) and season 2 (Lou and his wife and father-in-law etc). Lastly, the music. Every time a song starts I cringe as it's either an obnoxious sounding old Eastern European track or something else equally annoying. This was made more apparent when the "deaf fella"'s theme started playing after his surprise return. If they make a season 4 I hope they stop trying to copy themselves and do something fresh.… Expand
  7. metaknightmare
    Jun 23, 2017
    6
    I am a fan of shows that attempt different goals in every season but this is an example of going too far off the rails. This season attempts to be ultra-artistic, bringing out very obscure moments and scenes, even the entirety of episode 3, that feel like a waste of time. Side stories and random moments that never fall into place and instead fade out of existence doesn't make greatI am a fan of shows that attempt different goals in every season but this is an example of going too far off the rails. This season attempts to be ultra-artistic, bringing out very obscure moments and scenes, even the entirety of episode 3, that feel like a waste of time. Side stories and random moments that never fall into place and instead fade out of existence doesn't make great entertainment nor art for that matter. If I wanted to look at some obscure films or tv shows, I would pay to watch those, I didn't expect that to be the main staple of a suspenseful franchise with colorful characters and dark humor. Along with being obscure, this season is bland, in color and in feeling, in fact it strove to make me feel uncomfortable a lot. All the fun and comedic irony I know Fargo for is stripped out, there are no chuckles and no silliness in either the story or characters, all that's left is the location and the accent in people's voices. The ending too is a decide-for-yourself moment and I did like that because it made me think and ties in with the plot, unlike all the preceding, random decide-for-yourself moments. The acting is superb, especially by David Thewlis who plays a despicable antagonist and Ewan McGregor who is playing two brothers. The acting is a pillar that held my interest. The montages are stylish and captivating but most of them empty because they serve little purpose to the plot and at times they are overdone. Even with all the issues present, I would still be able to enjoy the season and think that it's just the weaker one but there is a more glaring problem. There is no character that is truly likable besides for a side police character. There was Nicki Swango, but her story wraps up so disappointingly that it makes it pointless to think back on her. The main protagonist is bland beyond belief, with plainness and dedication being her main personality traits. There is no light or darkness in her, in fact the symbolism used to portray her is that of a person that doesn't exist as she cannot be detected by technology and is juxtaposed with a repetitive robot that nobody cares about. I like when shows try to do something new in a season and if in this season they set out to have everything follow a theme of blandness: bland characters, bland colors, bland artsy moments, then they have achieved it immensely, otherwise whatever they were trying to achieve wound up to be scattered, disconnected bits of shallow glory that were irrelevant to the plot.… Expand
  8. deck
    Jun 16, 2017
    6
    Up to the middle of the season the episodes are extremely successful and have the same quality as season I & II, if not better. Again great actors and dark humor.
    Maybe a spoiler for you:
    In the end, the series loses sight of the story. Story jumps that leave the viewer unclear about the action strings of the characters and mistery sequences which irritate. Somehow the story will end,    Up to the middle of the season the episodes are extremely successful and have the same quality as season I & II, if not better. Again great actors and dark humor.
    Maybe a spoiler for you:
    In the end, the series loses sight of the story. Story jumps that leave the viewer unclear about the action strings of the characters and mistery sequences which irritate. Somehow the story will end, but why is the time until then not used to the viewer further detailed to lead? Instead, always go back to the same peculiarities of the characters? And why some characters suddenly act as if they were different personalities. The pregnant winnie drinks alcohol? Nikkie gets from the nothing the harshness of a professional criminal? implausible, too bad.    … Expand
  9. shoulderoforion
    Jun 10, 2017
    5
    I dunno, I found the first episode hard to stomach. Didn't latch onto any of the characters (except the cop & thewlis) the way I did immediately in seasons 1 & 2. Sure the brother angle is alright, but until the last scene I found myself not enjoying the show, pretty much at all, here's to hoping it ramps up. *** Update : It only took 8 episodes to deliver, stop in your tracks action,I dunno, I found the first episode hard to stomach. Didn't latch onto any of the characters (except the cop & thewlis) the way I did immediately in seasons 1 & 2. Sure the brother angle is alright, but until the last scene I found myself not enjoying the show, pretty much at all, here's to hoping it ramps up. *** Update : It only took 8 episodes to deliver, stop in your tracks action, but it got there, upgrading my 3 rating to 5. MORE OF THAT AND LESS OF OTHER THINGS THANK YOU VERY MUCH… Expand
  10. McGillotine
    May 18, 2017
    6
    Three seasons in the mix, a great cast and unfortunately the show has become a bit of a mess. Upon any viewing of the Coen brothers original vision for Fargo, even a blind man could see the similarities between the film and the show in the realm of both its characters and its black comedy tone, however Fargo season 3 has become less concerned with making similarities more so than it isThree seasons in the mix, a great cast and unfortunately the show has become a bit of a mess. Upon any viewing of the Coen brothers original vision for Fargo, even a blind man could see the similarities between the film and the show in the realm of both its characters and its black comedy tone, however Fargo season 3 has become less concerned with making similarities more so than it is concerned with making a carbon copy of what has already been done. The lack of anything that we really haven't seen before makes viewing each episode a disappointment with about 5 minutes of the 50 minute run-time being amazing and the remaining 45 minutes dull and boring to watch. The cast however is great to watch and they do play there role well, although i do find Carrie Coon to be dull and McGregor and Thewlis to be the stand outs of the show. Ultimately this season ain't great and while it does not taint the amazing film and first two seasons it is heavily underwhelming.… Expand
  11. akplebani
    May 7, 2017
    5
    I'm having some hard time on sympathizing with this season characters. Two reasons for that, I believe: (a) three characters have the same dumb personality (the Stussy brothers: Emmit and Ray; and the loyal Sy); (b) this personality is just an emulation of the first season character, Lester Nygaard, whom is also an emulation of the movie character Jerry Lundegaard. This lack of sympathyI'm having some hard time on sympathizing with this season characters. Two reasons for that, I believe: (a) three characters have the same dumb personality (the Stussy brothers: Emmit and Ray; and the loyal Sy); (b) this personality is just an emulation of the first season character, Lester Nygaard, whom is also an emulation of the movie character Jerry Lundegaard. This lack of sympathy also made me dislike the aesthetic, which has too much long and contemplative takes with too little drama contribution. Looking on the bright side, though, they are doing a great jog with the bad guy, V. M. Varga.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best TV Season of 2017
25
#25 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
29
#29 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
89

Universal acclaim - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Under The Radar
    Reviewed by: Kyle Mullin
    Apr 28, 2017
    90
    From its dynamic female characters, to its willingness to turn dashing leading men like McGregor into far more fascinating warts and all character actors, to its exquisite (and frequently hilarious) montages about everyday Americana, Fargo's third season is thus far as strong as any of the sterling preceding tales in this snowed in noir universe.
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  2. TV Guide Magazine
    Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Apr 27, 2017
    100
    One man's bland is another's bliss, don't ya know. That's certainly the case with the third season of Noah Hawley's Fargo franchise, with its delicious recipe of quirky humanism and chilling, shocking violence unaltered by a year's hiatus. [1-14 May 2017, p.19]
  3. Yahoo TV
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    Apr 19, 2017
    90
    As always, however, the pleasures of Fargo derive from the variety of the characters and the clever wordplay they indulge in. ... Coon and Hawley quickly establish the distinctiveness of Gloria’s character: she’s not as polite as Allison Tolman’s Deputy Molly Solverson in season one, nor as tight-lipped serene as Patrick Wilson’s Trooper Lou Solverson in season two.
    Read full review
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