10 Shows To Watch if You Love ‘Fargo’

While many cinephiles have grown irritated with seeing their favorite films adapted into television shows, the excellent FX series Fargo has managed to surpass all expectations by becoming an entirely unique work of art. The original 1996 classic that Joel and Ethan Coen directed so beautifully may be one of the greatest drama films ever made, but the new series from the genius creator Noah Hawley has managed to tell compelling new stories within each season, each of which takes on a new cast of characters.

Fargo set a template for how to do modern prestige television correctly, as it combined excellent production design, powerful performances from acclaimed A-list stars, and stylized direction from notable creators. While it is unclear how much longer fans will have to wait before the sixth season begins, there are more than a few great shows that can fill that void. Here are ten shows to watch if you love Fargo.

10

‘Legion’ (2017–2019)

Created by Noah Hawley

Legion was another great series from Fargo’s creator that took a subversive look at the origins of the X-Men. Although it was not technically related to the ongoing X-Men film series that had helped launch the superhero genre in the early 2000s, Legion featured a brilliant performance by Dan Stevens as David Haller, a mutant with multiple identities who has become convinced that he is actually dealing with a severe mental health condition.

Like Fargo, Legion is an inventive new take on familiar source material that serves as a perfect entry for both longtime fans and newer viewers who aren’t aware of the original. In particular, fans of Fargo will appreciate the similarities in Hawley’s style, as both shows feature trippy visual scenes designed to get into the interior thoughts of their characters, and feature a great deal of dark humor in order to keep viewers on the edge of their seats while they are watching.

9

‘Ozark’ (2017–2022)

Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams

Ozark is a riveting crime series that has a sly sense of dark humor, which is certainly something that Fargo has exemplified. One of the reasons that the first season of Fargo was so successful is that it took an interesting look at the character played by Martin Freeman, who was a relatively normal man forced to get involved with a complex criminal conspiracy.

Ozark features a career-best performance by Jason Bateman, who stars as the corrupt mafia accountant Marty Byrde. After being caught by his employers, Marty is forced to move his family to the Ozarks so that they can earn enough money to pay for the cash stolen by his traitorous partner. Although Ozark is about as violent and disturbing as crime shows can get, moments of self-awareness on Marty’s part help to make the experience very enjoyable.

8

‘Barry’ (2018–2023)

Created by Alec Berg and Bill Hader

Barry is one of the most singularly directed television shows of the “prestige era,” as a majority of the episodes were written and directed by the series’ showrunner and leading actor, Bill Hader. In the same way that Fargo served as an extended version of the unique sensibilities that Hawley had as a storyteller, Barry allowed Hader to tell a thrilling anti-hero story about a depressed hitman who surprisingly finds a place for himself by joining an acting class.

Like Fargo, Barry is obsessed with analyzing flawed people, many of whom have managed to convince themselves that they are actually good. While Fargo is still an ongoing show that will presumably return for a sixth season, Barry ended with a perfect series finale that ended Hader’s vision on a dark, thought-provoking note that paid off the themes that had been ongoing since the pilot.

7

‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)

Created by David Simon

The Wire is probably one of the most influential television shows of all time, and certainly inspired many subsequent series within the “prestige era,” including Fargo. Like Fargo, The Wire introduced a new set of characters with each season, and eventually wove together a tapestry of different storylines that interacted with one another in deeply profound ways, particularly for the loyal fans that had been watching since the beginning.

The Wire shares a lot of the same philosophies as Fargo, as both shows delve into the capabilities that humanity has of redeeming itself and working towards a better future. Although shows can be very honest about the state of the world, at times making the viewer think that they are actually quite cynical about human nature, there are enough moments of genuine compassion and redemption that there is still a sense of hope.

6

‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)

Created by Bryan Fuller

Hannibal was another creative reimagining of a popular franchise, as both Michael Mann’s classic thriller Manhunter and Jonathan Demme’s Best Picture-winning masterpiece The Silence of the Lambs had served as brilliant adaptations of the crime series written by author Thomas Harris. Hannibal managed to tell a completely new story set in the same universe by examining the complex relationship between a young Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and the ambitious FBI Agent Will Graham (Hugh Dancy).

Hannibal is quite experimental and surrealist in its direction, as, like Fargo, it often uses non-linear or confusing tangents to better understand character motivations. Although Hannibal sadly came to a close after its third season on NBC, it came to a brilliant conclusion that perfectly ended the characters’ arcs, whilst also leaving open the possibility of a potential revival project at a later point in time.

5

‘Ripley’ (2024)

Created by Steven Zaillian

Ripley may be the single most visually and aesthetically stunning television show ever made; as beautiful as Fargo is, Ripley creator Steven Zailian turned his six-part adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s classic novel The Talented Mr. Ripley into an absorbing, black-and-white noir mystery that frankly looked better than the majority of the films released in theaters the same year.

Similar to Fargo, Ripley does such a great job at focusing on seemingly insignificant details that it never becomes dull, as each scene is so well-directed that it doesn’t matter if it is only tangentially related to the story. Fargo may have featured some incredible performances by amazing actors, but Andrew Scott’s turn as the sinister Tom Ripley is so impressive that it easily ranks among the greatest pieces of acting in modern television history, and perhaps the best interpretation of a legendary literary character.

4

‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)

Created by Terence Winter

Boardwalk Empire is about as immersive and exciting as a crime series can get because, like Fargo, it is completely committed to the aesthetics of its time period. By examining the effects of the Prohibition Era and the aftermath of World War I, Boardwalk Empire created a lively, yet disturbing depiction of gangsters that was far less idealized than the way that they were depicted in classic “Old Hollywood” films.

Boardwalk Empire and Fargo both drew in talent from the big screen, as the former featured a terrific performance by Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson, a performance that is easily as good as any of the film roles that he has had (including the original Fargo film). Another standout is the great Michael Stuhlbarg, who also appeared in the third season of Fargo alongside Ewan McGregor, David Thewlis, and Carrie Coon.

3

‘Mr. Robot’ (2015–2019)

Created by Sam Esmail

Mr. Robot is one of the most idiosyncratic and thought-provoking television shows of the 21st century, as, like Fargo, it employed non-linear storytelling techniques to tell a twisty story filled with many memorable characters. Set within an alternate version of 2015, Mr. Robot starred Rami Malek as the genius computer programmer Elliot Alderson, who secretly helps to expose corrupt people by working as a hacker who models himself after Robin Hood.

Mr. Robot is deeply inspired by classic anti-hero films such as Blade Runner, The Matrix, and Psycho, but it also addresses many modern concerns about capitalism, the consolation of power, and the evils of radical politics. Although the series wrapped up with a beautiful series finale in 2019 that perfectly brought Elliot’s story to an end, the show’s ability to analyze the status quo of the world has made it even more relevant today.

2

‘True Detective’ (2014–2024)

Created by Nic Pizzolatto

True Detective and Fargo are very similar because they are both essentially anthology TV shows that introduce a new set of characters with each season, yet occasionally crossover through the use of interlocking storylines that hint at a larger universe. Both shows also share an interest in corruption, conspiracy, and killers, and seem to enjoy exploring the dark things that people are capable of when they are in a desperate situation.

Both True Detective and Fargo vary drastically in quality depending on what season it is. While the most recent iteration of True Detective starring Jodie Foster was perceived to be a fairly significant disappointment, the show’s first installment with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson was an epic serial killer thriller that ranks among the greatest achievements in modern television history, and has certainly inspired many other crime and mystery shows recently.

1

‘The Shield’ (2002–2008)

Created by Shawn Ryan

The Shield was the first modern television show to genuinely examine the role that law enforcement played, and expose how corruption, abuse, and scandals had been swept under the rug by various forms of political infrastructure. Although there have been multiple seasons of Fargo that have spotlighted cops, The Shield examines the rise and fall of the corrupt Los Angeles Police Department officer Vic Mackey, played in an all-time great performance by Michael Chiklis.

The Shield is not an easy show to watch, as, like Fargo, it contains moments of violence and suspense that can be quite intense. Nonetheless, it’s impressive to see a show that is so committed to telling a singular story that makes no apologies for its bleakness, as The Shield pays off beautifully with one of the most riveting series finales in the history of the medium.

NEXT: The Best Crime TV Shows of All Time, Ranked