Premiered: April 15, 2014

On: FX

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks, Martin Freeman, Bob Odenkirk, Keith Carradine, Kate Walsh, Josh Close, Joey King, Brian Markinson, Kelly Holden Bashar, Tom Musgrave, Julie Ann Emery, Rachel Blanchard, Atticus Mitchell, Liam Green, Spencer Drever, Adam Goldberg, Russell Harvard, Glenn Howerton, Peter Breitmayer, Barry Flatman, Oliver Platt, Susan Park, Gary Valentine, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Stephen Root & Helena Mattsson

Based in the same universe as – and giving several nods to – the 1996 film of the same name, Fargo has the same black humor as its predecessor but becomes more of a serious drama in this iteration.

After insurance salesman Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) has a run-in with hitman Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton), a series of murders are set off in Bemidji, Minnesota. The town’s Deputy Police Officer Molly Solverson (Allison Tolman) and Duluth Officer Gus Grimly (Colin Hanks) investigate the crimes.

The series is brilliantly written by Noah Hawley. He blends the small-town cheer and humor with the darkness of the crimes, and it’s brilliantly delivered by a stellar cast.

You’ll become invested with the characters, especially the budding romance between Gus and Molly, and have a love-hate relationship with others, like Lester.

Final say: No mystery here. ★★★★★