Nothing about Fargo should work.

Martin Freeman is playing a character that absolutely isn’t William H Macy (but kinda is). Allison Tolman is playing a character that is Frances McDormand (but kinda is). And Billy Bob Thornton is playing a character that isn’t Peter Stormare (you can see where we’re going with this)

Despite the seeming lack of originally, there’s something very unique about Fargo, perhaps because it steals so gleefully from everywhere else. As well as the parent film, it currently seems to be a mix of Twin Peaks, Needful Things and No Country For Old Men.

After the genuinely shocking events of the first episode, there is a sense of grim finality already setting over the town. You get the impression that you could already take a punt on who the survivors will be come the final episode, and that’s no bad thing.

In this episode, Deputy Solverson lives up to her almost-punning name, and inches closer to working out the identity of an escaping killer, before being deflected by her boss. Essentially, there’s only one plot line here, but it’s going to be a pleasure to be lost in these snowy wastes for a while longer.

Initially, we may have wondered what the point was of a Fargo spin-off without Marge and Jerry, but TV’s Fargo could run and run. And that really is a true story.

Aired at 9pm on Sunday 27 April 2014 on Channel 4.