Gloria goes to L.A. in search of answers.
Theres something uncanny about the third season ofFargoso far.
Three episodes in, and everything seems to be in order based on what I know about the series.
Credit: Chris Large/FX
Theres a central crime thats almost immediately complicated by layers of purposeful deceit and bargain-brand levels of stupidity.
There have been multiple jumps into different time periods.
Oddball world-building, like a Santa Claus convention.
Playful pokes at shallow aspects of modern life, like Facebook.
Hell, theres even an animated sequence, building off one of the strong sequences fromLegion.
It looks likeFargo, and it sounds likeFargo.
But is that reallyFargoin there?
Of course, Zimmerman blows the money.
Of course, Vivians got a coke problem.
Of course, Thad gets pulled down into the gutter with them.
None of it is surprising.
Its not even compelling.
How are we supposed to care for a kid who gets played like this?
Instead of saying, Poor Thad, our only reaction is, Well, yeah.
I mean, when the whole plot is revealed, Vivian literally says, I used you ahole.
Maybe shes got a point.
But maybe theres some value to this.
There are a lot of heavy nods toward significance.
But his story ends without a strong emotional or thematic destination.
There are a few problems that keep the story from being absorbing.
We already know that there isnt a connection between Ennis time as Thaddeus and his death.
And because Gloria now knows that Maurice is already dead, theres even less of a sense of urgency.
The only mystery with any emotional resonance is already solved, so where do we go for our hook?
Are we supposed to root for Ray and Nikki to get with their murderous gambit?
Nikkis only motivator seems to be complicating the plot, and Rays too weak a personality to oppose her.
Emmit was foolish with his finances and is now paying the price.
All of the pieces are here for a season ofFargo, but theres no heart.
The show still looks like our friend, but theres no life in its eyes.
