Some might suggest that the real villain of the piece in the irresistible re-adaptation of the Cohen's wonderful, odd black comurdery is Martin Freeman's put upon Lester Nygaard, whose murder of his wife forms the drop of blood that starts the spreading blossom of blood in the snow, but he is merely a somewhat opportunist pawn who takes advantage of the worryingly vindicating influence of travelling slay-man Lorne Malvo. As Malvo - a genuinely poisonous, dangerous man wrapped in an unassuming package - Billy Bob Thornton was utterly irresistible, and his nomination for the best leading role at the Emmys is the perfect validation of his performance. He is the ultimate detached, calculating psychopath - more Hannibal Lecter than typical hitman - who you would suspect would merely cock his head in curiosity at the sight of abysmal violence rather than be appalled. Is he the devil? Very possibly - he certainly comes from the same primordial ooze as Javier Bardem's exceptional Anton Chigurh.
Gem is a freelance writer, musician and librarian.
Her hobbies include: recreating movie death scenes from LEGO, concocting new types of bird suet cakes, walking on fresh snow and playing the glockenspiel - all at the same time.
