# Fargo - S01E01 \[open spoilers\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2014, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239 "2014-04-16T08:09:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/41 "2014-04-17T13:36:30Z")
> [@interface2x](#): > > The reason they said it was a true story at the beginning is so that you’d be more likely to go along with the story if you believe it actually happened. Gosh! That makes me feel like complaining somewhere. But where? Who you gonna complain to? ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/42 "2014-04-17T14:15:42Z")
_Fargo_ is fictional but the Coen brothers claim they drew some inspiration from this case. > **[Murder of Helle Crafts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helle_Crafts)** > > Helle Crafts (English: /ˈhɛlə ˈkræfts/ (listen); born Helle Lorck Nielsen; July 7, 1947 – November 19, 1986) was a Danish flight attendant who was murdered by her husband, Eastern Air Lines pilot Richard Crafts. Her death led to the state of Connecticut's first murder conviction without the victim's body. > Helle Nielsen married Richard Crafts in 1975 and settled with him in Newtown, Connecticut, United States. Helle continued working as a flight attendant while raising their three children. In 1... ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/43 "2014-04-17T14:16:57Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I figured it was a reference to Marge’s husband Norm from _Fargo_. I think it’s safe to assume it’s intentional, since it was covering up a location-revealing sign. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211sSZIJ9l5P1Nu0ez6IhcqxWA%212m2%211d51.041456%212d-114.034872%213f275.61%214f9.166%215f0.415 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/44 "2014-04-17T14:29:42Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I liked it. I’m going to keep watching. > I caught a couple of Coen brothers references: > > 1. Norm’s pizza sign. > 2. White Russian on the “specials” sign at the restaurant/diner. > > Did anyone catch any others? The scene where the police chief is awakened by a phone call was identical to the same scene in the movie, right down to his spouse throwing her arm over him, and his “Oh, geez; where?” Having her be pregnant was an additional wink at the audience. I didn’t think Thornton conveyed menace very well, but perhaps he was leaning more to the crazy than the evil. I didn’t like the basement disappearing act at all; it was just too pat. However, I liked the first ep and the cast of largely unknown actors, who give it a sense of realism. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/45 "2014-04-17T16:18:50Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I liked that it lied to us right out of the gate, saying “This is a true story,” just as the movie did. I liked that too, but had a hard time convincing my husband that it wasn’t a true story. “But it says right there – based on a true story!” I told him they did the same thing with the movie. “That wasn’t true?” And then I told him about the Japanese woman who died looking for the nonexistent buried loot. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/46 "2014-04-17T16:34:33Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I liked that too, but had a hard time convincing my husband that it wasn’t a true story. “But it says right there – based on a true story!” I told him they did the same thing with the movie. “That wasn’t true?” And then I told him about the Japanese woman who died looking for the nonexistent buried loot. The true story of the Japanese woman who “died looking for the money from _Fargo_.” > **[Death in the snow](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2003/jun/06/artsfeatures1)** > > A body is found in the frozen North Dakota woods. The cops say the dead Japanese woman was looking for the $1m she saw buried in the film Fargo. But the story didn't end there. By Paul Berczeller. [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/18/she-thought-fargo-was-real-the-misguided-voyage-of-kumiko-the-treasure-hunter.html](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/18/she-thought-fargo-was-real-the-misguided-voyage-of-kumiko-the-treasure-hunter.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/47 "2014-04-17T17:17:11Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > The true story of the Japanese woman who “died looking for the money from _Fargo_.” > [Death in the snow | Movies | The Guardian](http://www.theguardian.com/culture/2003/jun/06/artsfeatures1) > [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/18/she-thought-fargo-was-real-the-misguided-voyage-of-kumiko-the-treasure-hunter.html](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/02/18/she-thought-fargo-was-real-the-misguided-voyage-of-kumiko-the-treasure-hunter.html) That’s just one sad tale. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/48 "2014-04-17T17:59:12Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The scene where the police chief is awakened by a phone call was identical to the same scene in the movie, right down to his spouse throwing her arm over him, and his “Oh, geez; where?” Having her be pregnant was an additional wink at the audience. > > I didn’t think Thornton conveyed menace very well, but perhaps he was leaning more to the crazy than the evil. I didn’t like the basement disappearing act at all; it was just too pat. However, I liked the first ep and the cast of largely unknown actors, who give it a sense of realism. I was disappointed she didn’t get up to make him some eggs. Gotta have some breakfast… Overall, I enjoyed the first episode and will be watching the rest. As someone who grew up in rural, central Minnesota (family vacations to Brainerd!) I’m always interested to see how Minnesota is portrayed by Hollywood. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/49 "2014-04-17T18:06:04Z")
I thought the first episode was very entertaining, and I’ll definitely be watching the second one. Although, to me, Martin Freeman had been a bit typecast - I keep expecting Benedict Cumberbatch to saunter into the room and tell him to drop the accent and get back to London . . . ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/50 "2014-04-17T18:59:09Z")
I caught that this show takes place in [Bemidji, MN](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bemidji,_Minnesota) rather than Brainerd, correct? I heard someone reference being in Bemidji. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/51 "2014-04-17T19:12:24Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Why’d Billy Bob Thornton put the deer in the trunk? I laid awake last night trying to figure this out. All I could come up with was that the mess from the deer might make it more difficult for investigators to find out that the guy under the tree had been in the trunk. Was that a shout out to _No Country for Old Men_, which also had a dead man under a tree? So Billy Bob hung around long enough to ensure that his victim was dead and then put the deer in the trunk to muddy the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/52 "2014-04-17T19:12:43Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > One small point that bothered me though was at the beginning of the episode, they flashed a notice saying this was based on a true story and the names of the people involved were changed to protect the innocent. Yet the events in this TV show had almost nothing in common with the events in the movie. So, I just don’t get what is going on in that respect. … As has been discussed, neither the movie nor the show are based on true events; I’d guess that showrunner Noah Hawley wanted that notice up as a tribute to the Coens, and to fans of the movie. > [@Washoe](#): > > Beats managing a Cinnabon in Omaha. 😃 But why not both? Odenkirk’s Fargo character Bill Olson could be related to Saul, and they’re both working in the Midwest… \*Meet Saul who’s lived most everywhere Like Albuquerque (As a millionaire!) But Billy’s only seen the sights A guy sees in Bemidji Heights What a crazy pair! But they’re cousins! Identical cousins, And you’ll find They think alike, they con alike On shows they do walk-ons alike. You can lose your mind… When cousins Are two of a kind! \* ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/53 "2014-04-17T19:17:05Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I caught that this show takes place in [Bemidji, MN](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bemidji,_Minnesota) rather than Brainerd, correct? I heard someone reference being in Bemidji. Yes. You can see it on the town water tank, the police vehicles, and the cops’ shoulder patches: [http://starcasm.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Fargo-TV-Series-Shawn-Doyle-Allison-Tolman.jpg](http://starcasm.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Fargo-TV-Series-Shawn-Doyle-Allison-Tolman.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/54 "2014-04-17T19:19:58Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I caught that this show takes place in [Bemidji, MN](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bemidji,_Minnesota) rather than Brainerd, correct? I heard someone reference being in Bemidji. Yeah, it did. It was on the squad cars and such (I only noticed because I’d never heard of the place so it was a weird looking name). ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/55 "2014-04-17T20:09:44Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I caught that this show takes place in [Bemidji, MN](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bemidji,_Minnesota) rather than Brainerd, correct? I heard someone reference being in Bemidji. Yeah, the first episode mostly took place in Bemidji. A lot of the movie took place in Brainerd. edit: Woah, I’m slow. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/56 "2014-04-17T21:52:29Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I laid awake last night trying to figure this out. > > All I could come up with was that the mess from the deer might make it more difficult for investigators to find out that the guy under the tree had been in the trunk. Was that a shout out to _No Country for Old Men_, which also had a dead man under a tree? > > So Billy Bob hung around long enough to ensure that his victim was dead and then put the deer in the trunk to muddy the situation. I assumed he did it just because of his twisted sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/57 "2014-04-17T23:06:19Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > I assumed he did it just because of his twisted sense of humor. I’m with **Auntie** on this one; I think he put it in there to scramble forensic evidence, so the cops would think Frozen Boy was the driver, and somewhat demented. No head injury has raised doubt, of course. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/58 "2014-04-17T23:22:04Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m with **Auntie** on this one; I think he put it in there to scramble forensic evidence, so the cops would think Frozen Boy was the driver, and somewhat demented. Policewoman (and soon to be captain?) Molly will not be fooled forever. She is already puzzling about the issue you mention in your spoiler, and I predict she’ll meet up with the Duluth cop and they’ll compare notes about stolen cars and inexplicable crime scenes. I like that the Lorne Malvo character is less like the two dufuses in _Fargo_ the movie and more like Anton Chigurh. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/59 "2014-04-18T00:28:54Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > I like that the Lorne Malvo character is less like the two dufuses in _Fargo_ the movie and more like Anton Chigurh. Yep. Giving Colin Hanks a chance to walk away was a symbolic coin toss. Billy Bob is less intense than Javier, but not by much. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239/60 "2014-04-18T00:40:46Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > I laid awake last night trying to figure this out. > > All I could come up with was that the mess from the deer might make it more difficult for investigators to find out that the guy under the tree had been in the trunk. Was that a shout out to _No Country for Old Men_, which also had a dead man under a tree? > > So Billy Bob hung around long enough to ensure that his victim was dead and then put the deer in the trunk to muddy the situation. One other mysterious event (at least to me) was that they seemed to uncover the deer in the snot first. Then they seemed to find it in the trunk. Was there more than a single deer? Or … did they not find a deer under the snow but maybe only found some blood and a few small body parts and assumed that was the entire deer? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fargo-s01e01-open-spoilers/686239.md?page=4)