The first season of the American black comedy crime drama television series Fargo, retroactively billed as Fargo: Year One, aired on FX from April 15 to June 17, 2014, totaling ten episodes. The series is an anthology about violent crime in the American Midwest, with each season acting as a self-contained story within the show's shared continuity. Set between January 2006 and February 2007, the first season follows psychopathic hitman Lorne Malvo who stops in Bemidji, Minnesota and influences a mild-mannered salesman to give in to his most violent impulses. Their meeting sets forth a series of murders across the state and an ensuing investigation conducted by two police deputies.

The season was produced by FX Productions and MGM Television, with Noah Hawley serving as showrunner. Hawley wrote all ten episodes, titling each one after a famous parable or metaphorical dilemma. Filming took place in Calgary, Alberta, from late 2013 and to 2014. The season features an ensemble cast led by Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks, and Martin Freeman. It also includes Bob Odenkirk, Keith Carradine, Joey King, Oliver Platt, Glenn Howerton, Kate Walsh, Russell Harvard, Adam Goldberg, Keegan-Michael Key, and Jordan Peele in recurring roles.

The first season of Fargo received widespread critical acclaim, praising its writing, directing and the performances of Thornton, Tolman, Hanks and Freeman. It was nominated for 18 Primetime Emmy Awards, and won the awards for Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Casting. It was also nominated for 5 Golden Globe Award, winning Best Miniseries or Television Film and Best Actor – Miniseries or TV Film for Thornton.

Cast Main Billy Bob Thornton as Lorne Malvo, a hitman with a violent and deceptive nature, who crashes his car in Bemidji, Minnesota, while passing through. Allison Tolman as Deputy Molly Solverson, a police officer from Bemidji who is hot on the case of Malvo and Nygaard. Colin Hanks as Officer Gus Grimly, a kindly officer from Duluth, Minnesota, who meets Malvo after stopping him for speeding. Martin Freeman as Lester Nygaard, a henpecked life insurance salesman from Bemidji who meets Malvo in the hospital after an encounter with a childhood bully.

Recurring Bob Odenkirk as Bill Oswalt, the naïve police chief in Bemidji. Keith Carradine as Lou Solverson, Molly's father, a former state cop who now runs a coffee shop. Kate Walsh as Gina Hess, Sam Hess' alcoholic widow. Josh Close as Chazz Nygaard, Lester's more successful younger brother. Joey King as Greta Grimly, Gus' daughter. Brian Markinson as Max Gold, Sam Hess' attorney. Kelly Holden Bashar as Pearl Nygaard, Lester's verbally abusive wife. Tom Musgrave as Bo Munk, the head of the insurance company where Lester works. Julie Ann Emery as Ida Thurman, Chief Thurman's pregnant wife. Rachel Blanchard as Kitty Nygaard, Chazz's wife. Atticus Mitchell and Liam Green as Mickey and Moe Hess, Sam's dimwitted sons. Spencer Drever as Gordo Nygaard, Chazz's young son who has autism. Russell Harvard and Adam Goldberg as Mr. Wrench and Mr. Numbers, two hitmen - the former of whom is deaf - sent by the Fargo mob to find Hess' killer. Oliver Platt as Stavros Milos, a staunchly religious supermarket tycoon whom Malvo begins to extort. Glenn Howerton as Don Chumph, the personal trainer of Stavros' ex-wife, whom Malvo ropes into his extortion scheme. Peter Breitmayer as Ben Schmidt, Gus' senior lieutenant in the Duluth police department. Barry Flatman as Wally Semenchko, Stavros' enforcer. Susan Park as Linda Park, Lester's co-worker at Munk Insurance, who harbors feelings for him. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as Bill Budge and Webb Pepper, two incompetent FBI special agents who unknowingly cross paths with Malvo. Stephen Root as Burt Canton, a dentist whom Malvo befriends under a cover identity. Helena Mattsson as Jemma Stalone, Malvo's fiancee.

Guest stars Kevin O'Grady as Sam Hess, Lester's childhood bully and a truck salesman with affiliations to the Fargo mob. Shawn Doyle as Chief Vern Thurman, the trusted leader of the Bemidji police force. Carlos Diaz as young Stavros Milos Allegra Fulton as Helena Milos, Stavros' ex-wife. Eve Harlow as young Helena Milos

Episodes

Production In 2012, it was announced that FX, with the Coen brothers as executive producers, was developing a new television series based on the 1996 Academy Award-winning film Fargo. It was later announced that adaptation would be a 10-episode limited series.

Series creator Noah Hawley served as the sole writer for all ten episodes of the season, while the task of directing was given to Adam Bernstein, Randall Einhorn, Colin Bucksey, Scott Winant and Matt Shakman. On August 2, 2013, it was announced that Billy Bob Thornton had signed on to star in the series. On September 27, 2013, Martin Freeman also signed on to star. On October 3, 2013, it was announced that Colin Hanks was cast in the role of Duluth police officer Gus Grimly. Production began in fall 2013 with filming taking place in and around Calgary, Alberta.

The season featured many guest appearances, such as Bob Odenkirk, Adam Goldberg, Russell Harvard, Oliver Platt, Glenn Howerton, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Keith Carradine, Kate Walsh, Julie Ann Emery, Rachel Blanchard, Joshua Close, Susan Park, Gary Valentine, Stephen Root and Shawn Doyle.

Reception Critical response The first season of Fargo received critical acclaim. It holds a Metacritic score of 85 out of 100 based on 40 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 97% rating based on 140 reviews, with an average rating of 8.45/10. The site's summary says that "Fargo presents more quirky characters and a new storyline that is expertly executed with dark humor and odd twists."

Robert Bianco of USA Today gave it a highly positive review, praising the performances of the cast and "the depth of its characterizations and the individuality of its approach." Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com acclaimed the series and wrote, "With an amazing ensemble driven by great performances from top to bottom, an incredibly smart writers' room, brilliant callbacks to the original that feel more inspired than forced, and a filmmaking style that feels as cinematic as this grand Minnesotan tragedy deserves, Fargo is one of the most addictive new shows of the year." However, Emily Nussbaum of The New Yorker criticized the series for its sexualized violence and its lack of ambiguity and pathos.

Accolades