![]() ![]() This is a story that lives and dies by its main characters, who in this case are the result of pitch-perfect casting.Īmerican Gods is in many ways the American Odyssey, driving Shadow Moon down a rabbit hole of escalating danger amidst a rich tapestry of larger-than-life characters despite what you may gather from first impressions. The vignettes for each of the old and new gods (many of them with expanded roles for the show) are interconnected, but also visually distinct despite how they should probably clash when edited together. In these scenes, the artistry of American Gods is the star, putting forth shots of flame-eyed boars and Internet-fueled spaceships that can exist in the same episode without totally alienating the viewer who hasn’t bought into the insanity quite yet. Wednesday is still a conniving, garrulous cad, and Shadow is still our “not as dumb as he wants you to think” protagonist, dealing with his grief by staring blank-faced into the camera. Much of the show has been evolved in this way, staying attentive to the source material while also adding flourishes that keep the story relevant 16 years after the novel’s initial release. Eventually, the show’s rhythm falls into place as Wednesday’s master plan (and true identity) is revealed to the audience and Shadow, opening the floodgates for a war between immigrant gods and the gods of technology, headed by Technical Boy (played by Bruce Langley), a delightfully evil incarnation that has been updated to match our current times while still capturing the spirit of the novel. Shadow’s agitation over being late for his wife’s funeral is given little to do, mixed in with scenes of “god” characters getting set up for future episodes. ![]() There’s a quick pace and energy to American Gods as well, perhaps making the entire affair seem a bit rushed in places. Every punch had by Shadow and Mad Sweeney (Pablo Schrieber) feels as visceral as it looks, and there’s enough lore in the world building to generate new fans by the boatload. ![]() Blood comes by the bucket, but not a drop is wasted. David Slade, who directed the first three episodes, manages to balance an admirable performance from Whittle with intense and provocative writing that sets the tone for a brutal first season. ![]()
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