Fargo (TV series) . It premiered on April 15 , 2014 , on FX . The first season , set in 2006 and starring Billy Bob Thornton , Allison Tolman , Colin Hanks , and Martin Freeman , was met with critical acclaim . The second season , set in 1979 and starring Kirsten Dunst , Patrick Wilson , Jesse Plemons , Jean Smart , and Ted Danson , was met with even greater acclaim . Fargo (season 2) . A prequel to the events in its first season , season two of Fargo takes place in the Midwestern United States in March 1979 . It follows the lives of a young couple -- Peggy ( Dunst ) and Ed Blumquist ( Plemons ) -- as they attempt to cover up the hit and run and murder of Rye Gerhardt ( Kieran Culkin ) , the son of Floyd Gerhardt ( Smart ) , matriarch of the Gerhardt crime family .
Season 2 of Fargo takes place after 1979.