Fargo

Though I am not a huge fan of true-crime TV series this one is exceptional. The production is fun, interesting and the cast of characters is quite entertaining. I confess to thoroughly enjoying this. It has plenty of action and intrigue. I also really like the light-hearted way they progress through the story. I've only watched season 1 at this point but I can highly recommend it. Also, I seriously doubt that any of it actually happened. Worthwhile. Sadly, successive seasons get worse and worse.

(Season 1) Very entertaining but usually corny and hackneyed. Its folksiness rings Hollywood-hollow, and its "respect for the dead" is a mealy-mouthed non sequitur even moreso than it was in the Coens' film. Storylines earlier in the season end as red herrings and when all is said and done feel like wheel-spinning flab. The show looks meticulous and pristine, like something from Fincher or Kubrick, yet somehow sterile, hasty and cheap.

This is absolutely one of the best things I have ever watched. Each season, you think how they are gonna top this and somehow the next season comes up even better. There is this pure creativity in it, that pervades to all aspects of the series and lifts the acting, direction, the scenario... I watched them with awe, respect and this pure joy of watching storytelling at its best. I am looking forward to the fourth season (I generally wait to finish the series to comment, but I couldn't resist :)

(re-rank after season 2) The first season is a masterpiece. Thornton as Lorne Malvo is one of the best characters of all time and it's really well written and interesting throughout. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_JPbtK-IWQ The second season is clearly a bit inferior with the penultimate ep having one of the biggest copouts in television history. The Indian was amazing and Dunst's speech condemning feminism in finale was perfect. Second season was a bit inconsistent but overall good

A pretty decent Coen cover band that gets most of the surface details spot-on while missing a lot of what's under the hood. Billy Bob's villain felt like kind of a half-assed Anton Chigurh. The snowy settings are lovely though.

(Review for Seasons 1-3) I'm still on the fence about whether I like it or not. I'd probably dislike it more but it's just so much fun seeing my hometown finally get the big-budget Hollywood treatment. Watching someone get murdered behind the grocery store near my old apartment feels surreal, and it's a lot of fun trying to recognize landmarks and filming locations every episode. Is this how Angelinos, New Yorkers and Vancouverites feel all the time?

Season 1: A good adaptation anchored by Billy Bob who's awesome as the super-menacing oddball Lorne Malvo. Season 2: Flat-out amazing! This goes for the Coen-level production values, the fantastic characters (with performances to match) and the strong and unpredictable writing which matches the best of QT's work (style and music choices: ditto). In short, it's really cool. Season 3 and 5: Also great!

Most comedy-dramas flip-flop between them awkwardly but this manages to keep both in the air, creating a really enjoyable absurd/dreamy atmosphere. Not usually a fan of Thornton but thought he was pretty good too. S2 is a less interesting not-in-the-old-west Western, OK though.

I had major hesitations on a series based on the great film, but this was actually pretty damn good. Not so much a retelling, as loosely based on the same events while capturing the odd sort of mood of the world these people live in. Updating rating after season 2 which is batshit crazy and fucking brilliant. UPDATE - season 3 was a bit of a dip but not terrible, but season 4 soared back up. Chris Rock was a bit out of his element at times but the supporting cast was amazing.

The two last seasons 2nd and 3rd lose a little as a whole if we compare it to the first one but overall a pretty good show and I am looking forward to the already announced next season.