Watch the First Seven Minutes of FX's 'Fargo' Starring 'Sherlock's' Martin Freeman

FARGO -- Pictured: Martin Freeman as Lester Nygaard -- CR. Matthias Clamer/FX
FARGO -- Pictured: Martin Freeman as Lester Nygaard -- CR. Matthias Clamer/FX
Sure, we’re back in our general status quo state of waiting that is the (seemingly perpetual) Sherlock hiatus, but that doesn’t mean our lives are completely devoid of stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman.

Cumberbatch, as well all well know, is basically everywhere these days: making a few movies, photobombing superstar rockbands, planning a return to the theater, recording radio plays, you name it. Freeman, on the other hand, has been a bit harder to find, what with his multiyear commitment to pretty much live in New Zealand and wear hobbit feet for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy

Thankfully, Freeman’s about to finally get his own turn in the media spotlight with the upcoming premiere of his new drama series Fargo. Loosely based on the Academy Award-winning Coen Brothers 1990s film of the same name, the drama features the same setting, the same types of people, and, yes, the same recognizable accents, but expands the world of the film with a whole new set of characters. (Translation:  Don’t wait around for Frances McDormand’s Marge Gunderson to show up.) Freeman stars alongside such familliar faces as Billy Bob Thornton, Colin Hanks, Kate Walsh, Allison Tolman, Bob Odenkirk and more. From all indications, it looks to be a fascinating series!

And now, thanks to the lovely folks at Yahoo TV, you can now watch the first seven minutes of the Fargo pilot, which debuts on cable network FX on April 15. You should definitely click play just for Freeman’s accent, which is about as far from Sherlock’s John Watson as you could ever imagine. 

Well, that was interesting, huh?

This limited-run series will air for just ten episodes, but is being set up in such a way that it could become an anthology in the vein of popular dramas American Horror Story and True Detective. Ostensibly, if Fargo is well-received, future seasons could be commissioned that would feature new characters and storylines taking place in other parts of the town.

Will you give Fargo a try? 


Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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