'Fargo' Season 2 Adds Patrick Wilson, Ted Danson and More

News of FX’s ‘Fargo’ season 2 had proven slow outside the casting of ‘Breaking Bad’ star Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst, but like a Brainerd snowfall, it’ll bury us all, you betcha. Not only has Patrick Wilson joined the cast as our new Lou Solverson, but so too will the ‘Insidious’ star be joined by Ted Danson, ‘Parks and Rec’’s Nick Offerman, Kieran Culkin, Brad Garrett…it’s a lot, okay? There’s a gosh-darn lot of ‘em.

Prior ‘Girls’ and ‘A Gifted Man’ star Wilson will head to ‘Fargo’ as Lou Solverson (previously played by Keith Carradine), in 1979 a clean cut Minnesota State Patrolman four years returned from Vietnam, where he served in the Navy. The character is described as “a humble and competent man,” devoted husband to his wife Betsy (not yet cast), and father to four-year-old Molly (also not yet cast).

Not enough? Danson will portray Rock County Sheriff (and Lou’s father-in-law) Hank Larsson, “an unflappable WWII vet who embodies a certain cowboy poetry, Hank is Lou’s father-in-law.” ‘Frasier’ star Jean Smart will also join the Emmy-winning series as Floyd Gerhardt, matriarch of the Gerhardt crime family, who stood by her husband for 40 years, but steps up to run things in the wake of his death.

Shall I continue? There’s Nick Offerman, Jeffrey Donovan, Brad Garrett, Kieran Culkin, Bokeem Woodbine, and Angus Sampson all joining in recurring roles, and…you know what? Here. Just read this giant thing:

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.

Elsewhere, we know the 1979-set ‘Fargo’ season 2 will also factor in the character of eventual Duluth police lieutenant Ben Schmidt, while creator Noah Hawley claims the Coen brothers influences of the new season can be found in the original ‘Fargo,’ as well as ‘Miller’s Crossing’ and ‘The Man Who Wasn’t There.’

Well, what say you? ‘Fargo’ didn’t make our Best TV of 2014 list for nothing, so what make you of the many additions for season 2?