Fargo

In 1979, the Gerhardt family runs a local crime syndicate in Fargo, North Dakota, and is losing money like "a balloon leaking air" due to another crime outfit that is siphoning off their ill-gotten profits... but who this other syndicate is and where they're from remains a mystery. When the Gerhardt patriarch, the "iron fist of God" Otto, suffers a stroke, the family business' leadership is uncertain. Meanwhile, the youngest of the Gerhardt boys, the much maligned Rye, is eager to strike it big on his own, and conspires with a local businessman on a money-making venture. In order to help his cause, Rye attempts to convince a local, tough-as-nails judge to reverse a decision, but an unexpected turn of events at a local diner disrupts the lives of all the citizens in the small Minnesota town of Luverne... including those of beautician Peggy Blumquist and her butcher's apprentice husband, Ed, who are inadvertently drawn into the ensuing anarchy.

As Floyd Gerhardt takes over the day-to-day responsibilities of running her family's criminal enterprise, Joe Bulo and a contingent from the Kansas City crime syndicate arrive in Fargo to make the Gerhardts a surprising offer. While eldest son Dodd believes he should assume control of the family's operation in the wake of his father's stroke, he is not unopposed in his assertion, leading to a potential rift within the family. Unlikely murderers Ed and Peggy try to come to terms with recent events; while he does his best to clean up their mess, she tries to keep up public appearances and has a potentially troublesome interaction with her boss. As Lou and Sheriff Larsson work their case they get new information about the Waffle Hut killings, leading the State Trooper to return to the scene of the crime where an otherwise normal winter activity results in an important discovery. And Hank makes the acquaintance of some fascinating out of town visitors. Meanwhile, the search is on for the missing Rye, with several parties interested in learning the youngest Gerhardt's whereabouts.

With the offer from the Kansas City mafia on the table, the leadership of the Gerhardt crime family still seems to be up for debate – at least by eldest son Dodd – while matriarch Floyd maintains she is in charge – and, for the time being at least, she is. While Dodd thinks they should resist the hostile takeover and strike first, Floyd maintains she is not against defending what's theirs, but going to war should be a last resort. Lou and Hank match fingerprints off the murder weapon to Rye. In Fargo, Lou shares this news with local detective Ben Schmidt, who gives him a lesson on the history of the Gerhardt crime family before the pair venture into the lions' den. As the Gerhardts' search for Rye intensifies, they seem to catch a lead; and as local authorities join the search, Peggy is discomfited when she overhears a remarkably accurate theory about the fate of the Waffle Hut shooter, leading her and Ed to take swift action to cover their tracks. Meanwhile, Lou and Ben have an encounter with a "squirrelly" Skip Sprang, which leads Lou to land in a tenuous situation, and Mike and the Kitchen brothers continue their own search for Rye.

Floyd meets with Joe Bulo and responds to Kansas City's proposal with a well-reasoned counteroffer, while Dodd – in his own inimitable way – offers a response of his own. As Hanzee continues his search for the missing Rye, a visit to the Waffle Hut reveals a telling new clue about the young Gerhardt's fate. The Indian's follow up leads Lou to a realization about his case. Lou and Betsy visit her doctor, but the news about her cancer isn't good, and she is offered a chance to enter a clinical trial for a new drug. With their troubles seemingly behind them, Ed gives Peggy some disappointing news, while she takes advice that could severely impact her and Ed's future plans. Meanwhile, Mike passes some time with (and gets some useful information from) an unexpected ally, the Blumquist home gets a pair of unexpected visitors, and another patient's doctor visit doesn't go quite as planned.

Following Floyd's rejected counteroffer and Kansas City's violent reprisal and foreboding counter-counteroffer, Floyd considers her next move. When Hanzee reports back on what he's learned in regards to Rye's fate, Dodd spins the facts given to his mother for his own ends, leading the Gerhardt matriarch to take action. Charlie tries to prove himself to his uncle Dodd, and when Dodd's daughter, Simone, continues to act behind his back she finds herself in over her head. Following Lou's troubling visit to the Blumquist home, Peggy wants to leave town, but Ed, who is committed to staying in Luverne, has an unexpected encounter that could affect his decision. And Lou finds himself sidelined from his investigation when he is assigned to escort Ronald Reagan's campaign bus through Minnesota.

Despite Peggy's protestations, Lou and Hank arrest Ed. Lou questions him at the police station before Ed makes a request. Hank tells Peggy the reality of her and her husband's situation, leading her to defend her choices. And unexpected visitors at the Blumquist home create a variety of headaches. Also in custody is Charlie Gerhardt, who tells his family of his predicament. When news of her grandson's incarceration reaches Floyd, it leads the Gerhardt clan to try and free the boy, and to once again attempt to take revenge on the "Butcher of Luverne." Meanwhile, Lou and Hank each try to defuse tense situations and prevent altercations; Dodd has a father/daughter chat with Simone about her future, but it only succeeds in separating her further from her family; and local lawyer Karl Weathers imparts drunken - but helpful - words of wisdom.

As the gang war between the Gerhardts and the Kansas City mob continues to escalate, casualties are taken on both sides of the fight, and the growing tension and mounting suspicion creates more division amongst the Gerhardt family's ranks. When Hank questions Floyd about recent activity, the wily matriarch makes a measured confession. And with Lou otherwise occupied in his own investigation, Betsy and Molly get a surprise visit from the "King of Breakfast." Meanwhile, with Dodd still missing, Bear takes on a new leadership role, and questions a family member's loyalty; Mike's lack of progress earns him an ultimatum from his boss; and police get a tip in their search for Ed and Peggy, while Ed drops a tip of his own.

Having escaped police custody, Ed returns home to discover the aftermath of the Gerhardts' most recent attempt at vengeance. He decides to take questionable action, but as he sets his plan in motion, he finds matters are more complicated than anticipated... and an unforeseen development leads to a change of circumstances for all the parties involved. Meanwhile, Peggy gets advice from an unusual source, which brings about a marked change in her personality, and Dodd ends up in unfamiliar territory… both literally and figuratively. Lou and Hank continue their investigation, and as Hanzee continues his search for the missing butcher and his wife, he leaves a distinctive trail in his wake, leading to a close call.

At their cabin, Ed and Peggy are questioned by South Dakota State Troopers, and Ed provides information that may give the police the chance to bring their case to a close once and for all. While Lou worries about the safety issues, he faces jurisdictional politics and is overruled by the powers that be; this leads Peggy and Ed to agree to follow through with their plan to meet with Mike Milligan at the Motor Motel, but they are not alone. Following the police's arrival at Rushmore, a wounded Hanzee finds himself on the run. He reports what he's learned back to the Gerhardts, but he may have ulterior motives. Meanwhile, Mike embarks on a desperate gambit to protect himself and complete his task; Lou makes a disturbing discovery which provides a break in his case, and later gets more troubling news which forces him into action; and Floyd makes a fateful decision.

As we see all the carnage that has been wrought since the start of our story, one character that was presumed among the dead has miraculously survived. As Lou takes off after Hanzee, the Gerhardt's Indian pursues a fleeing Ed and Peggy, who take shelter in a familiar locale. While Peggy stays positive about their chances for survival, Ed isn't quite as optimistic about the couple's prospects... and with good reason. Mike arrives at the Gerhardt compound but finds it nearly deserted. He wastes no time proclaiming his newfound sovereignty over all he surveys before returning to Kansas City to collect his just rewards... which may not be all he expected.