True Detective and Breaking Bad are the most recent examples of television shows that remind us there is a need for storytelling that aims a bit higher with its intentions. In Breaking Bad we watch as a humble¹ underdog transforms into a truly despicable evil, and in True Detective we watch as an entire region is folded into a criminal darkness. These are shows that invite the audience to read below the surface, as that’s where their most compelling thematic material takes form.

电视剧也要能讲出意义深刻的故事。今年热播的《真探》和《绝命毒师》就是两部典范之作。在《绝命毒师》里，我们看到卑微的失败者摇身一变，成了一个地地道道的卑鄙恶人。在《真探》中，我们看到整个地区都被犯罪的黑暗笼罩。这些剧想要让观众透过表象看到更深层次的主题，而这）才是最吸引人之处。

Fargo, which plays out in the same snow-swept universe as Joel and Ethan Coen’s excellent movie of the same name, is the latest television show to attempt to set the storytelling bar higher. And while the show more than succeeds at being entertaining, it never quite reaches the same highs as its spiritual predecessor².

冰血暴》又是一部试图刷新讲故事水平的最新热播美剧。该剧由（1996年）乔尔?科恩与伊桑?科恩执导的杰出同名电影改编，剧中的故事同样发生在冰天雪地之中。虽然在娱乐性上，该剧更为成功，但相较于电影原作，却难以望其项背。

The story revolves³ around Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman), a clumsy sad sack who’s spent his entire life turning the other cheek not in bravery, but in cowardice⁴. His wife hates him, his brother is embarrassed of him, and he still can’t manage to stand up to the man who has been bullying⁵ him since high school. That is until a chance encounter with the mysterious contract killer⁶ Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) emboldens⁷ Nygaard to take charge of his life. “Your problem is you spent your whole life thinking there are rules — there aren’t,” Malvo tells Nygaard.

故事围绕着男主人公莱斯特?尼加德（马丁?弗里曼 饰）展开：笨手笨脚的“屌丝男”尼加德一生性格懦弱，为人胆小。妻子讨厌他，兄弟以他为耻，甚至自己都无法正面对抗从高中时就一直欺负他的人。直到，一个偶然的机会，尼加德遇到了神秘的契约杀手洛恩?马尔沃（比利?鲍伯?松顿 饰），他鼓励尼加德为自己的人生做主。马尔沃对尼加德说，“你的问题在于，浪费了一辈子的时间想要遵守规则，实际上哪有什么规则。”

Some men can’t function properly without rules though, and in a feverish⁸ fit of pride, Nygaard hammers his wife to death. Nygaard’s actions invite an investigation⁹ by Deputy Solverson (Allison Tolman), the only detective on the police force smart enough to see a connection between the meek¹⁰ Nygaard and the maniacal¹¹ Malvo. From there, the story branches off into various subplots.

然而，一些人没有了规则就没法正常生活，于是在一次自尊心爆发之后，尼加德竟用锤子杀死了自己的妻子。尼加德的行为引起了警员萨尔沃森（艾莉森?托尔曼 饰）的注意，萨尔沃森开始着手调查。而聪明的萨尔沃森也成为当地警察中唯一一个发现温顺的尼加德与疯狂的马尔沃之间联系的人。自此，故事的各条副线情节也全面展开。

Fargo is a show about individuals and how they cope with their stations in life. Nygaard is stuck at the bottom, but in truth, that’s the place he’s earned. Solverson is stuck underneath¹² an incompetent¹³ police chief who willfully denies her genius. Malvo, on the other hand, has completely abandoned his station altogether, choosing to write his own rules wherever he goes.

冰血暴》讲述了每个个体如何面对自己人生定位的故事。尼加德生活在最底层，而事实上，这正是他自己选择的结果。萨尔沃森则被迫在一个毫无能力、还喜欢鄙视她才能的警察局长手下做事，无法施展拳脚。与其相反，马尔沃则完全抛开社会地位的束缚，不论在哪儿都为自己做主。

Fargo is the kind of story you’d expect to unfold in a world created by the Coen Brothers (both of whom serve as executive producers on the show). And while it’s not the next great television show, it’s certainly a thrilling watch.

科恩兄弟再度操刀（均担当执行制片）的《冰血暴》是一部值得期待之作。它也许不会跻身伟大电视剧之列，但观剧过程一定会令你惊心动魄。