'Fargo' Season 2 Teasers, Images, and Synopsis: More Small Town Crime

The first season of FX's Fargo TV show proved to be a surprising success, earning lots of critical acclaim (and some major awards), even without the involvement of the Coen Brothers. Now it's on the second season to keep on exceeding expectations.

Several new teaser clips have been released for Fargo season two, keeping up the bloody dark comedy of the original film and first season (see the 'Hand' clip, above). The anthology series is headed back in time for its sophomore storyline, going back to the 1970s to examine the case handled by police officer Lous Solverson (Patrick Wilson) that will go on to haunt him for years, even when he's an older man (played by Keith Carradine in Fargo season one).

The Fargo season two cast also includes Ted Danson, Parks And Recreation's Nick Offerman, Jean Smart, Kieran Culkin (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), and Bruce Campbell as Ronald Reagan on the campaign trail. Here is the official synopsis for this new season:

The all new “true crime” case of Fargo’s new chapter travels back to 1979 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Luverne, Minnesota, where a young State Police Officer “Lou Solverson” (Wilson), recently back from Vietnam, investigates a case involving a local crime gang and a major Mob syndicate. Helping him piece things together is his father-in-law, “Sheriff Hank Larsson” (Danson). The investigation will lead them to a colorful cast of characters that includes “Karl Weathers” (Nick Offerman), the town lawyer of Luverne, Minnesota. A Korean War vet, Karl is a flowery drunk blessed with the gift of gab and the eloquence of a true con artist. Three-time Emmy winner Brad Garrett will play “Joe Bulo,” the front man for the northern expansion of a Kansas City crime syndicate.

The new face of corporate crime, Joe’s bringing a Walmart mentality to small town America. His number two is “Mike Milligan” (Bokeem Woodbine). Part enforcer, part detective, Mike is always smiling – but the joke is usually on you. Bulo and his crew have their sights set on the Gerhardt crime family in Fargo, currently led by matriarch “Floyd Gerhardt” (Smart). With her husband at death’s door, Floyd takes over the family business, frustrating her eldest son, “Dodd Gerhardt” (Jeffrey Donovan). An impatient hothead with a cruel streak to match his ambitions, Dodd can’t wait for both his parents to die so he can take over and expand their business from kingdom to empire. “Bear Gerhardt” (Angus Sampson) is the middle son, an intimidatingly large man who, although inarticulate, is the most decent of his clan. “Rye Gerhardt” (Kieran Culkin), the youngest of the Gerhardt clan, views himself as a big shot, but in reality he’s just a small dog who barks big.

Now, check out the the latest Fargo season two promotional images (from an EW photoshoot):

The Fargo season two main cast (as pictured above) also includes Breaking Bad's nasty Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst, playing a couple whom (it seems) will take the place of Martin Freeman and Kelly Holden Bashar in the Fargo TV show's freshman season (or William H. Macy and Kristin Rudrüd from the original Fargo movie): a seemingly innocent, sweet provincial couple whose lives are forever changed from an outbreak of uncharacteristic violence. (Hopefully it's not one of their hands in that mailbox...)

For even more cryptic clips that hint at the macabre comic violence to come in Fargo season two, check out the teasers below: