5 reasons why Fargo series 3 might be the best yet

If you’ve watched either of the first two series of Fargo that have aired so far, you’ll know that a third series is going to be have to be pretty damn mind-blowing to beat them. Creator Noah Hawley took the Coens Brothers’ original film and really threw most of it out of the window of a speeding car when he came to make his series based in the same world that the Coens established.

Now, Hawley is returning after the critically successful second series for a third delve into murder and random mayhem in the snowy setting of Minnesota. Could the next series of Fargo be the best yet? “Oh yah!” Here’s why:

Two Ewan McGregors for the price of one

Yes that’s right, Ewan McGregor, Trainspotting legend and the second best Obi Wan that ever lived, has been cast in a dual role. Like Tom Hardy’s recent stab at playing both Kray twins in Legend, McGregor will be playing both of the brothers called Emmit and Ray Stussy. When not attempting to act opposite the abomination that was Jar Jar Binks, McGregor can be a fine actor (see tsunami drama The Impossible for proof) and the synopsis for Fargo series 3 suggests he’ll be playing two very different siblings. Emmit is a handsome family man and ‘American success story’, while brother Ray is a balding, pot-bellied parole officer with ‘a huge chip on his shoulder about the hand he’s been dealt’. Sparks will fly!

It’s the most contemporary setting yet

Series 1 was set in 2006, while series 2 flashed back all the way to 1979. Now series 3 is going to be the closest thing to a contemporary setting that we possibly ever get. Hawley has confirmed that this series will take place in 2010 and has alluded to the fact that we are now in a very selfie-centric culture. The people of Minnesota always come across as a little, how shall we say, ‘detached’ from the modern world, so it will be interesting to see how Hawley updates things in the new series.

Someone is returning from season 1

Series 2 had younger versions of a couple of series 1 characters, but they were obviously played by different actors. With a 2010 setting this time round, just four years after the events of series 1, there is scope for some of the stars of the first series to return. FX chief John Landgraf has confirmed that “As far as I know, there is one [character returning]”. Hopefully it will be Allison Tolman as Molly Solverson, because let’s face it, it’s not going to be Billy Bob Thornton or Martin Freeman. Then again, it could also be Keith Carradine as Molly’s father Lou, who was last seen looking a lot younger in series 2 played by Patrick Wilson.

Creator Noah Hawley is taking his time

You clearly can’t rush something as complex and clever as a series of Fargo, so it’s very pleasing to see that Hawley is taking his time on the third series. FX are supporting him in the process of writing and producing the show and it looks like we won’t get the third series until 2017. Hawley seems unfazed, even if the rest of us want him to get a move on: “We can take our time and get them right and put them on the air, whether that’s 12 months or 15 months or 18 months after the last one. I think that really makes it an event. I think the minute you’re hitting the same airdate every year you’re just making a television show.” True that. If only Game of Thrones could hold off on the final couple of series until the final books have been written!

It’s all about sibling rivalry

Two strangers, one a complete psychopath, met in a hospital in series 1. A husband and wife tried to hide a dead body in series 2. Now, the focus is on the two brothers played by Ewan McGregor in series 3. Hawley states that “it starts with Ewan and Ewan as brothers. It’s not as big character-wise a story as the second year, but I’m really excited about it… There is an old wound between them that sort of gets reopened and re-litigated, and that rivalry becomes contentious and that sort of puts all the events in motion”. I wonder if they’ll end up having a scrap as brilliant as Tom Hardy did with Tom Hardy in Legend. Bring on another 10 hours of Fargo in 2017!

Picture credit: Radio Times