What's the deal with Fargo?

[The Nexerus]

So, I live in Saskatchewan. In case any of you didn't know, Saskatchewan is just north of North Dakota, as shown in Exhibit A.

Exhibit A

Now, people who live in different regions of North America have different accents. Generally, accents do not differ starkly over small distances, especially within the same region. Someone from southern North Carolina is going to sound pretty much the same as someone from northern South Carolina, for instance. I don't really think that I have a noticeable accent, but evidently people don't notice their native accent, so I'm willing to accept that maybe I do have one. At the very least, though, I can say that people from Manitoba, Alberta, North Dakota, Montana and Minnesota sound very similar to each other and to myself.

So, with that in mind, why the hell does everyone in Fargo have cartoonishly ridiculous, completely wrong accents? Has no one involved in the production of that series ever been to North Dakota? It's what you'd expect from someone who's really bad at accents trying to imitate Swedes. Television series' generally do at least an OK job of regional accents, so why are the accents in Fargo so horribly wrong?

[Dinh AaronMk]

[Vilageidiotx]

I haven't seen the series, but the movie was set in Minnesota and only named Fargo for the opening scene. And there are rural Minnesotans that have that sort of accent. The Swedish comment fits, because I've heard it said the unique accents of Minnesota and Wisconsin are often explained by Scandinavian ancestery

[NotAMouse]

*clears throat*

I believe I can supply some insight here.

I was born in North Dakota.

I have lived in Fargo (I was a wee thing and didn't live there for long, but still).

I've lived in rural areas (South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin) for a fair amount of my life.

While I agree that the actors sometimes overextend, they're really not that far off. Most members of my extended family have pretty noticeable "Minnesota" accents. They're regional. They exist.

And while I might cringe at the way they come off on television, I also internally cringe during every family reunion, so....

so why are the accents in Fargo so horribly wrong?

@The Nexerus

I don't know, Nexxy, why don't you take a field trip down to Fargo (or Roseau/Bemidji, I think it's worse there) and get a real understanding of the accent. Then you can revisit your claims and we can talk more!

[NotAMouse]

I haven't seen the series, but the movie was set in Minnesota and only named Fargo for the opening scene. And there are rural Minnesotans that have that sort of accent. The Swedish comment fits, because I've heard it said the unique accents of Minnesota and Wisconsin are often explained by Scandinavian ancestery

@Vilageidiotx

Also this. Many of us Wisconsinites/Minnesotans are Svvveeeeeeedes.

[The Nexerus]

Why don't you take a field trip down to Fargo (or Roseau/Bemidji, I think it's worse there) and get a real understanding of the accent.

@Taaj

I'm not sure it's worth visiting small town North Dakota just to get a precise assessment of exactly how wrong a TV show's accents were.

[NotAMouse]

ok well then be quiet and carry on.

[Dinh AaronMk]

Every excuse for a fieldtrip is a good excuse.