Marge Gunderson, the still pregnant police chief of Brainerd, Minnesota, investigates the murder of a town pharmacist, shot in a snowy parking lot by a stranger who was helping jump his car battery. Meantime, an old man dies of exposure in his ice fishing house, leading one of his sons to kidnap the body. Snow, snow, everywhere.
Acting
Edie Falco channels Frances McDormand's Marge with maternal steel.
Direction
Kathy Bates brings theatrical warmth to the frozen landscape.
Director
Kathy Bates
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This forgotten pilot was produced for a Fargo TV series that never materialized; the 2014 FX series rebooted entirely separate with new characters.
Kathy Bates directing this after her Oscar win represents a brief window where studios let actresses direct mid-budget crime dramas—then promptly closed it.
US
