Fargo
Fargo – my pick for best show of 2014 – somehow got even better in its second season. Creator and showrunner Noah Hawley honed and focused his vision, and managed somehow to use a more compressed timeline to comment on sweeping themes like runaway capitalism and hopelessness. The performances were great across the board, from one-off appearances like Bruce Campbell as Ronald Reagan, to Patrick Wilson and Kirsten Dunst, whose mastery and knowledge of their characters made Fargo engaging, heartbreaking, and thrilling.
The show came into its own as an ensemble drama, and further showed the mind-boggling scope of Hawley’s vision. This, like Mr. Robot, shouldn’t work, and there are probably parallel universes where Fargo is the worst show on TV.
But in Hawley’s hands, Fargo has become appointment television, destined and designed to be analyzed, but more importantly enjoyed. And I didn’t even mention the flying saucer, the biggest mic drop of 2015.
Best episodes: “Loplop,” “The Castle”