‘Fargo’ Season 3 Premiere Breaks Into 3 Million Viewers’ Homes

Counting three days of delayed viewing, that’s 8 percent better than last year

fargo season 3 characters ranked maurice lafay scoot mcnairy
FX

Has “Fargo” still got it? You betcha.

Over three days of viewing, the Season 3 telecast of FX’s Noah Hawley series brought in 3 million total viewers — that’s 8 percent better than last year’s 2.78 million.

There was a downside: This season’s premiere was down 2 percent among adults 18-49. But the 1.06 million viewers in that age range was good enough to rank the show fifth for the night across cable.

This week’s episode, “The Principle of Restricted Choice,” sees Gloria dealing with the aftermath of a crime. Meanwhile, Vargas makes a move, and Ray and Nikki shift to Plan B. The episode was written by Hawley and directed by Michael Uppendahl.

Set in 2010, the third installment of “Fargo” centers on Emmit and his slightly younger brother Ray Stussy — both played by Ewan McGregor. Emmit, The handsome Parking Lot King of Minnesota, sees himself as an American success story, although he made a bad deal recently. His scuzzier, potbellied brother Ray, meanwhile, thinks his brother owes him something. Their sibling rivalry follows a twisted path that begins with petty theft but soon leads to murder, mobsters and ultra-combative games of bridge.

Meanwhile, chief of police and newly divorced mother Gloria Burgle (Carrie Coon) is trying to understand the new world around her, where people connect more intimately with their phones than with the people around them. Mary Elizabeth Winstead stars as Ray’s girlfriend, Nikki Swango, a crafty and alluring recent parolee with a passion for cards. David Thewlis stars as V.M. Vargas, a mysterious loner and true capitalist whose bosses plan to partner with Emmit, whether The Parking Lot King likes it or not.

“Fargo” airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FX.

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