The upcoming Fargo season premiere has an interesting mix of characters, but it falls flat when compared to past seasons. The Stussy brothers are differentiated by Ewan McGregor, but his Emmit character doesn’t feel as thrilling as other major characters. Nevertheless, the season premiere does a good job of establishing the series’ philosophies. Let’s look at these characters one by one.
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False equivalence
In the Emmy-nominated episode ‘The Law of Vacant Places,’ Colonel Horst Lagerfeld believes that a Ukrainian man killed his girlfriend, Helga, and that the accused is Jakob Ungerleider, a German citizen who is married. But the ‘equals’ comparison fails to capture the full complexity of the situation.
Mistaken identity
The third season of Fargo begins in central Minnesota in 2010. The episode focuses on a parole officer, Ray Stussy, trying to settle an inheritance dispute with his brother, Emmit (Scoot McNairy). The episode is titled, “Mistaken Identity: The Card Game.” It involves the Law of Vacant Places and Restricted Choice, principles used in contract bridge.” The episode also involves a subplot involving a pulp sci-fi novelist, with references to Kurt Vonnegut’s Kilgore Trout character. As the episode ends, there’s blood on the snow.
Sense of setting
Sense of setting is one of the most important things to consider when watching a television series, and Fargo is no exception. Its characterization, plot, and setting are all very specific to the year of its first season. However, Fargo season 3 takes this even further, creating a heightened sense of place that will stick with fans for many seasons to come. In a world where we are bombarded by information, the show makes the setting even more specific.
The first episode of season three focuses on the combative brothers Emmit and Ray Stussy, played by Ewan McGregor. Their rivalry and competition is the main plot of the show, and it’s a dark comedy all the way through the town of St. Cloud and the nearby town of Eden Valley. While Fargo season three takes place in the year 2010, season one and two were set in the years 1979 and 2006, respectively.
Joel Coen’s philosophies
Fargo season 3 features an opening scene that deviates from previous seasons in several ways. Not only is it in another language, but it also takes place outside of the United States. What’s more, it’s the first scene in the series to take place outside of the country and to take place in the 1980s, rather than the present. This is an interesting move for a series that’s known for being primarily set in the American West.
The film opens with a line stating, “This is a true story. While the names have been changed to protect the dead, we have stuck with the story.” This confirms that the story is based on true events from 1987. As such, fans of the Coens’ films will likely appreciate this line of dialogue and the fact that it’s part of the show’s most memorable scene.
