I agree with a number of other reviewers that Season 1 was stellar. It had some jaw dropping moments & made for a very interesting TV experience. Season 2 started losing its way & then Season 3 got lost in space. My recommendation is to watch the first season & then call it a day. Overall, I think that the book deserves a better vehicle & hopefully, in time, someone will reboot the series.
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techfilz5 March 2021
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misterjesssssse30 August 2022Season 1 is a perfect example of how fantastic cinema can be, given appropriate creative freedom and time to manifest. It culminated in a way that I absolutely loved, there was no aspect that I couldn't praise. The acting, writing, cinematography.. all as close to perfect as you can objectively get.
Fast forward to season 3... The main character is teamed up with the sheriff of a small town, trying to track down someone who's breaking into houses and stealing underwear.
The secondary main character is teamed up with a gay cab driver who's questioning his Islamic values.
The antagonist is trying to win back his ex wife.
If I were to start watching this show at season 3, I wouldn't have made it past the second episode. I wouldn't have left this review.
It was originally Meta, as good as something can get. Now it's a lower rung drama with little for plot and miserably failing pretentious subtext. -
I would still recommend season one, but they did a horrible job in season 2. It is not the same show anymore.
First season was dark, gore and intriguing. Season 2 has a different director, and derailed with a dull story line and lousy attempts of mimicking the aesthetics of season 1. For example, they tried to add lots of "gags" for the leprechaun character dealing with his lack of luck, as if they were targeted to an audience of 12 years old watching "home alone". This is an adult show. When you compare it to the first scene of first season with pirates puncturing their own eyes, you clearly see season 2 completely lost their target audience.
I stopped watching season 2 on episode 5, and canceled my starz subscription. I may try continue watching it in the future, if and only if there is a different set of directors and story adapters (ideally the same team of season 1, but would give it a try regardless). Otherwise it will be a dead show for me. -
linkedin-1219226 December 2020It seems that each episode is trying to out awe the last leaving the viewer just wondering where it is all going at such a pace. No surprise then that it all lost its steam later on. Yes, we get it with the mystery and suspense but that needs kindling and careful character development. Instead it looks like production team were split on how best to achieve this - did they all read the book?
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Well, I picked up the book a few weeks back, before the show premiered. I'm a little ahead but I tell you, the show does a great job adapting this wonderful fantasy by Mr. Gaiman, verbatim at least for the pilot. The pace is great and the contemporary take on mythical figures is perfect.
Great for people who enjoy mythology - if you know a bit about it beforehand it's going to improve the ride but not essential. Great if you enjoy fantasy. Amazing show. Watch it, it's worth it.
Only downside is - I think it should air on Wednesdays, not Sundays! -
MissCzarChasm18 June 2017All I can say is that if you don't like it, find something you like instead.
I for one looooovvve it except for the episode about the god who kills the cows. That one was kind of dumb even though I like the actors.
The actors they have on here are all fantastic too but in my opinion they casted Emily Browning wrong. I like her size. She is petite, like me, but I don't find her attractive at all. In fact, nothing against the actress but it looks as if they aren't even trying to doll her up as they have the fantabulous Gillian Anderson. Miss Browning looks awful. Even though she is supposed to be you know - dead, you can still make her look better and more appealing to the audience.
I also love the cameos and seeing actors and actresses I haven't seen in a while in minor roles. Please keep doing that. -
With books it is almost always the same, you have either a too literal adaptation, that simply does not work in the movie medium or you have a version that is so very butchered, that it hardly resembles the original at all. With this, you have the rare exception.
Even though the visuals are sometimes very gruesome, it perfectly fits the tone and story of the book and gave me almost the exact feeling that I had, when I read it. The actors are chosen well and especially the two main actors so far, Ricky Whittle and Ian McShane are doing insanely good jobs.
It might be confusing at first, but that is just the journey we are taking part in, when we follow Shadow Moon's story. It is confusing to him, so it is to us, he does not know what is going on, so neither do we. This is something several very negative reviewers of this should have realized: Even if you don't get what exactly is going on in the first episode of a show, it does not mean the show has to be bad. It is called suspense. The plot should not need to be spoon fed! Let the show carry you with it and learn what it is about the same way Shadow does and risk being surprised! Oh and on a special note, even though I do not know whether the review was done by a troll or not: No, the show is not another "typical TV show about vikings, knights and a lot of killing". If you think that, you failed basic comprehension. -
paradux1 May 2017I recall a review of Westworld where it was suggested that the entire medium of television had just entered a third cycle. The first was the 50s, the second was the 90s (major improvement in writing, imagination, use of technology) and the third is now. Where every possible mix of acting, dialog, SFX, etc. is now being used with just one single intention. To get inside the viewer's head, and make the viewer have a good time.
I am pretty sure this is another example of TV 3.0, as are other recent shows like Legion (which I still do not understand, but love) and Outcast (which I sort of understand, and also love.) American Gods seems determined to take this to an entirely different level. Even if you are a die-hard fan of VIKINGS (guilty), the opening sequence here in episode 1 where the first Viking to set foot in America is literally "arrowed to death" is, well, unforgettable.
I have no idea where this series is headed but, like the others mentioned, it is addictive and unpredictable. More, please.
**** Addendum ***** Sept 2017 *******
1. As I work my my way through S01 waiting patiently for S02 (Thank you Starz for answering our "prayers"), I still am not completely sure what I am watching but I am having a great time. There is a party in my brain. Everyone is invited.
2. This is my favorite "new" (as in "TV 3.0") show since Banshee, which seemed at first to be just another modern western (like Justified) but, the more you got into it, the more you realized it was insane and crazy and unpredictable and great fun. Like this show.
3. The casting is beyond brilliant. Ian McShane is not only an astonishing (and unappreciated) actor, but he has an empathy we can instantly relate to. If the world were to end tomorrow, and he was the one picked to give everyone the bad news, it would somehow seem more manageable. And Emily Browning, oh my, words fail me. If you were to take a moment to study the history of the Academy Awards (boring!) you would notice, the more physically challenging the role, the more likely the Academy was to honor it. Here, the ever-spunky Browning plays a dead wife who is determined to win back her husband even if she has to carry around a needle & thread in order to constantly sew herself back up. Unfortunately the Emmy people (who completely and unfairly snubbed Browning) seem to use a different playbook?
4. There are bits of astonishing dialog in this show that are already being mentioned in IMDb lists. From Git Gone (S01E04), this just a sample:
Anubis: "Was it love?"
Laura: "It wasn't. But I suppose it is now."
Anubis: "That is unfortunate. Love will always have you at a disadvantage."
Laura: "I think BEING DEAD has me at a disadvantage."
(Wow.) -
PsychoBeard66626 August 2020I just binged both seasons and if they don't make another season I'd be absolutely fine with that.
The cinematography is excellent and the performances are consistently brilliant.
The plot is weaker than a dead wife's fragile torso.
It tries to be sociopolitical instead of just telling a story.
It breaks off into so many unnecessary tangents that I found myself not caring what happened to most of the characters.
Just give me a Mad Sweeney and Dead Wife road story and bin everything else unless you plan to use Crispin Glover properly. -
Casting: As things stand, this is some of the best casting in a book-to-TV adaptation I have seen in recent memory. Each character is given their moment to shine and the cast brings it to a new level. Truly a relief considering this is one of Gaiman's most compelling works.
Music: Spot on! Very fitting for the emotion and gravity felt in each scene.
Story: Stays very close to the original book narrative, but gives some of the most fascinating characters a little more screen time.
Tone: Surprisingly whimsical at times. It may seem jarring for folks unfamiliar with the original work on the storytelling style of the show runners. There's violence and sex in abundance, but beneath it all, there's an existential dread among the Old Gods.
Overall: 10/10
Could not recommend this show any more highly! -
First off, the show is very well made visually. As for plots - when it follows Gaiman's work, it's great. When it veers off on its own it becomes horrid. The writers are really, really untalented. Their dialogue is nothing but quips and pseudo intellectualism and it stands out compared to book dialogue like a sore thumb. Their original story lines are trash.
That's not what I wanted to write about, though. I was compelled to write the review because I gave up on the show after the constant politicizing became too much for me. And it's all intentional inserts on the part of the writers, because none of those scenes (listed below) are in the book.
American Gods is one of my favorite books. One of the reasons why is because it's apolitical. Or at least it ignores hot topic issues. Here is a list of things that don't exist in the books but were inserted into the show:
1)Black man being lynched. Including constant remarks from characters about the lynching. 2)Ignorant racist Czernobog 3)Anansi wearing 20th century clothing going on a civil rights rant in front of slaves on a slave boat. 4)Illigal immigrants' plight being lionized 5)Made up story of evil rednecks massacring illegals at the border 6)Illegals are the truly virtuous ones who carry Jesus with them. Jesus is in this, yes. 7)Evil white Christian rednecks shooting Jesus. So ironic! 8)Evil white American town that doesn't care about human life. 9)The true American spirit is evil and literally Nazi. I'm not misusing the word literally here by the way. 10)Stupid sexist leprechaun gets put in place by strong woman.
If you can stomach this kind of blatant, hamfisted condescending garbage from the smug writers, I guess you can give the show a try. It's certainly well made and acted, but the writers are terrible and I'm certain the quality will keep going down as they diverge more and more from the book and ignore Gaiman's writing in favor of their own.
Thanks for reading, if you did. -
I was a huge fan of the book so when it was announced that American Gods was coming to television, I could hardly wait. I wondered how they would incorporate and meld all the details into its intense and vast story, and bring it on to the small screen. For the most part they have done so brilliantly.
The story sometimes moves at a slower pace than in the book and those who are not familiar with the book may get antsy because they don't know the great stuff that's coming. They want it all now, but will eventually learn that it is only building its punch. The story is not a cookie cutter one -- if you need things explained to you, or if you re uncomfortable with things which are too "new fangledy" this may not be for you.
The negative I see in it, and whether one is for or against the series itself, there seems to be a general consensus across the board on this, is that it is indeed coercive with its political leanings and would seem to want to put them on a platform and give them center stage. I don't appreciate that. The gratuitous sex is at times too much as well. Who'd have ever thought I'd be saying that, but one thing is book sex, another in your face gratuitous and lengthy, sex which adds nothing to the series. We get it. She's the god of love, but at this point the way she is portrayed, she could be the god of fking - nothing more. I hope the producers realize as much and tone it down. -
cherold7 May 2019A lot of people raved about the first season of American Gods, but my response was more measured. I watched at first just because it's ponderous, mysterious style was unusual for TV. But I wasn't really engaged until a few episodes in when Emily Browning's Laura Moon burst in like a storm. She kept me going through the less entrancing parts of the show, which could be unpleasant and some tedious, *endless* sex scenes.
Since I wasn't a huge fan of season 1, it took me a while to realize I wasn't enjoying season 2. It seemed like pretty much the same thing, only I found myself less interested and more restless. Even Laura Moon seemed less fun. I found it harder to follow the story, and there were none of those really striking moments that peppered season 1.
I gave up at episode 4, which is basically groups of people having long, philosophical conversations interspersed with short scenes that carried the plot and that I couldn't make head or tail out of.
When I came here to write a review, I discovered my disenchantment with season 2 was not an isolated reaction. In fact, a lot of the people who adored season 1 hated season 2. My reaction to both seasons is more muted, but generally 1 is interesting and 2 isn't.
This is almost certainly because for some reason Bryan Fuller was replaced as showrunner. I like some Fuller shows better than others (my favorite is Pushing Daisies), but he is someone with a distinct vision, and I'm not convinced his replacement has one of those.
Check out season 1. Just be prepared to not have a worthwhile season 2 you can progress to. -
andriygoncharenko1 April 2019The first season was amazing, but this new season has lost its vibe, the coming to America intros are gone, the story seems to be stretched out, I'm guessing they want to run a few more seasons until the end of the story. I believe the reason they fired the old directors is the wanted to finish the story in season two with amazing story lines and visuals. a lot of people are not happy with this, waiting for two years for a dragged on story line with nothing of interest. the ratings will drop and it will get canceled before it can even finish its story. what a shame. the first season was promising.
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minnickmatt20 March 2019Season 2 is so horrible and slow. Just seem to drag every episode out.
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tweekzter5 June 2017First off, the series is rather unconventional. You do not wanna expect typical mystery / scifi stuff, or you'll be disappointed, as so many are.
The strength of Americans Gods is really strong acting, very interesting characters that get you hooked onto, and a carefully, intelligently developed story that unfolds around all of that.
Like I said in the beginning, this series does not want to be action centered, it deals with mythical/philosophical questions and puts it into context to the real world. Yet this might seem weird to a few people, it is not exceeding the boundaries to become pure art-fiction. Though there are lots of artistic pictures and metaphors, it is always rooted to reality. At least if you have a bit of a sense for fantasy or a passion for philosophical questions. -
TwistedTulip19 June 2017How I love me some leprechaun!
Fine. To be fair, I pretty much love all the characters in this beguiling, quirky, sadistic, verging-on-soft-porn, gift of a show. How very much I will miss them all until Season 2.
Thank you, Bryan Fuller for bringing us, among other notables, the wonderful Ian McShane, Ricky Whittle, Gillian Anderson, Crispin Glover, Emily Browning, Kristin Chenoweth, Orlando Jones, Bruce Langley, Yetide Badaki, Omid Abtahi, Peter Stormare, Cloris Leachman and my personal favorite, Pablo Schreiber.
Thank you for the well thought out script and bringing it to the 'small' screen in such a stylistic, no holds barred fashion. Thank you Neil Gaiman for the novel.
I could do with a little less sex (on screen) and a lot less politics, but I'll take it as long as you sandwich it as condiment on a meaty main dish.
See you next season. Please hurry. -
KittensAreJerks18 June 2017The shots and visuals are beautiful. The one thing that is sad to see is how old Ian McShane is now. He looks ancient. That doesn't take away from his masterful delivery, ever. He is an amazing actor and could sell Eskimos ice water. Emily Browning is a tiny little firecracker and does a great job. Mad Sweeney is probably my favorite character hands downs. What's funny is that sometimes he looks good and others not so much. It is almost like that episode of Seinfeld with the girl who looked good and bad at turns and you never knew who was going to show up. Everyone else is great. The series moves somewhat slower than I think most would like, but they are going for quality over speed. Some people just can't sit down long enough anymore to enjoy a great meal, much less a great series. Shame, because they're missing out.
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MaryDrapedInLace18 June 2017Just shout if you can hear me. Is there any god at all? Shhhhh, don't cry. It's just a little pinprick. There'll be no more, ah, but you may feel a little sick.
As has been mentioned on this page numerous times, and in other reviews and news stories across the net, audiences should go into American GODS knowing that it isn't fare for the easily appeased and those wanting to be fed every little tidbit ala Transformers. One reviewer asks: "Why is Shadow Moon surrounded by all this as soon a he gets out of jail? Why is he so special?" That made me snicker a little, but not in a wholly good way. It's scary to see how some have become so complacent that their minds seem not to function at full capacity. Not sure if this is a spoiler or not, but here goes: THAT precisely is one of the things we are waiting to see. What makes him so special. Was that so difficult to grasp? Shhhhh. Remember, don't cry. It's just a little pinprick. Can you show me where it hurts?
American Gods is a clever, no-holds-barred series that is a little slow in establishing its characters and then in character development. It believes that making the JOURNEY fun is what counts more than getting to the destination. It is heavy-handed with political allegories and with sex, sex, sex. Some of each of the episodes is spent on setting up what comes next, and some explaining the background of each character so that you may get to k̶n̶o̶w̶, no, so that you may get to feel them. Sometimes this is done so smoothly, that the exposition isn't always slap-you-in-the-face obvious, and so people may miss it. Unlike some reviewers, I never find this boring. In fact, I look forward to each new episode with bated breath. So, please do not be like the bloke who gave this series a 1 and wrote: "Read the book ... close your eyes and let him carry you on a journey through a world where humans do not walk." Can one really read a book with your eyes closed? I'd venture to say some here actually believe so.
God, it's good.
-Signed, A Lemon-Scented me -
Shame I can't recommend this series to anyone anymore. The first season was amazing. Interesting plot lines put together with care. Great acting. Fantastic use of mini plots scattered through the show (particularly in the openings) to give information about the world this is set in and to provide contrast where needed to the way characters were responding. In some ways I actually think the show was better than the books, something I almost never say! Might be a bit confusing at times for those not up with their mythology but it may also keep the mystery more too that way too as they drop hints from episode 1 if you know what to look for. This is a show you need to watch, rather than half pay attention to. (I'd give it a 9/10).
Season two started showing cracks. Sounds like some drama happened behind the scenes and they lost characters that hurt the show. Still, they seemed to be trying to pick up the pieces and it looked like it was going to find its way through. (Maybe a 5/10)
Then season three happened. It's mostly awful. The storyline is all over the place and sometimes it seems like they just decide to substitute interesting story for long drawn out scenes of "adult" activities for.... reasons? Most of the characters become boring to watch and the show had completely lost its way. Such a sad end for a show that had so much promise initially. I'm not surprised it was not renewed for another season. (Score 1/10.) Watch the first season, skip the rest if you can handle leaving a series unfinished. -
I read the book about a year ago and needless to say i liked it. Hearing of this TV show really excited me but at the same time i had that apprehension of it falling short of expectations or deviating from the book. I must say the first episode dispelled all such apprehensions. The TV show remains fairly faithful to the book (as per my memory at least) and Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday is near perfect. The visual effects are good and the episode was engrossing. I am really stoked about this one. Thinking of all the scenes that are coming.
The only thing that i can complain about is that at times the choice for the musical score seemed off with the actual events of the scene. This is a minor issue though and very subjective. All in all, this is a must watch for both, people who have or haven't read the book. :) -
benno_vk26 June 2020I honestly don't know what to think of this show. I,mean it's all dark and gloomy and the wa6 it has been filmed is spot on, but even after 2 seasons I have no idea what is going on.
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Mary_Juana18 June 2017I love the actors and setting and the entire premise of the gods. And Gillian Anderson - WOW. She is gorgeous and amazing as the two famous characters she has played so far. Captures the essence so well! Well, they all do! Love it, love it, love it! If you haven't caught it yet, you should. And you may want to sort by Love It since there is a little troll who must absolutely hate this show because he thumbs downs every positive new comment 22 times within minutes. Lol! How fun a life! :) ENJOY this show. It is wonderful and I can't say enough god (ooops, Freudian slip, but it stays) things about it.
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SnoopyStyle2 April 2021Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) is in prison and is told about the death of his wife Laura (Emily Browning). Upon his release, he is recruited by Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane) into a world of Gods. Laura is an undead. They are joined by leprechaun Mad Sweeney (Pablo Schreiber). Wednesday's origin is revealed as he declares war on the new Gods.
This is adapted from work by Neil Gaiman. It is visually stunning. Its subject matter is imaginative and original. That is its greatest asset. It is a world of a singular vision. I love all the ideas. The characters are great and the actors are terrific. As for the story, it needs a better narrative flow. Sometimes, it feels like it's meandering. There is no singular lead to follow. There are essentially three main characters with a lot of main-ish characters. By far, Ian McShane is the most compelling actor and quite frankly, he is one of the greats of our times. His problem is that his character is a very selfish. It's not the character to lead. Whittle's character is more the lead but his acting can't really match the others. Then there is Emily Browning who exits the main narrative with Schreiber. It would help the show if these characters form a group and work together. They need to be a Scooby gang but they work at cross-purposes. They interact well but that doesn't happen enough. That makes the flow disjointed as the narrative skips from one story to the next. The war is always coming but is never here. The story just meanders around. Starz! Cancels the show after three seasons although the producers are looking to continue the series elsewhere. It would be a shame to end it here with a cliffhanger when the story finally is getting somewhere with the impending war. Maybe they can finish off the series with a movie, 3 seasons and a movie. -
buirge11 April 2019With the original production team getting the shaft, the show very sadly sucks. Season one had great potential but it's gone with Season 2. What a waste!