There are bigger sacrifices one might be asked to make than going a little mad." True to form, American Gods is dark, twisted and a little bit bonkers. Honestly, I'm struggling to follow the thread and the overall message that the show is trying to convey, but the execution and total conviction of the acting is breathtaking. Following last week's dreamscape of twists and turns that not many people were expecting - this week opted to take back seat to proceedings and view them in a clearer, more sure-footed way. The combination of visual expertise and some fine performance from McShane and Stormare made for some eye-opening entertainment.
I'm loving the opening scenes. An introduction to a new God that has seemingly emigrated to America is a great way to usher in each episode, allowing us a taste of their power and a feel for their intentions. This week's covered Anansi, an African folklore, that convinced a group of slaves in the 17th century to burn down the ship that was carrying them to their perpetual incarceration. Whilst heralding racial themes, this scene also gave us a hint as to the motivation of this unusual God. Hopefully there's a connection to a spider in a future episode that links nicely to this. The monologue was wonderfully written, and was given inspiration in a strong performance by Orlando Jones. Meanwhile, Bilquis' conquest continues this week, with four new victims. The method with which she consumes her prey is unclear, but the imagery and mystery surrounding her entire person has such an impact that we're almost stunned into silence. Perhaps that collection of jewellery is a clue to the origin of her power. More exposition would be helpful, but in a show this independent and unconventional, that's a big ask. Two great scenes this week that really stood out for me; the first was in the superstore, when Shadow's shopping duties are interrupted by Media, played, to my utter surprise and delight, by Gillian Anderson. Anderson shows her versatility in giving us a character brimming with sarcasm and old-fashioned wit. Her primary existence is a mystery at the moment (as is everything on this series), but the concept of Media is clever, no doubt the original idea of Neil Gaiman. What person who owns an electronic device on this planet, doesn't believe it to be God? It's a tempting piece of technology that has easily captured us all. And now, Shadow has met the entity behind it all. The second scene of choice was the final one - a game of checkers between Shadow and Czernobog. Already represented as a mean-spirited, spine-chilling man of unusual talents, Czernobog has turned even more terrifying in his second outing, arranging to kill Shadow with his sledgehammer if he lost the game. Whether this deal was worth it or not to persuade this crazy character to join them on the road is now negligible as we wait for the hammer to fall. It's an odd cliffhanger, but an effective one. The only question is, where does the reality end and the fiction begin in this tricky and untempered show. Stormare is dynamite though, bursting with demonic hatred, and facial expressions that will always give you the chills. I'm giving this show the benefit of the doubt, simply because I'm enjoying the aesthetic of the visuals, and the original way in which this story is told. Regardless of whether the story is progressing cohesively, there's spirit there with the writers, and a rewarding passion from the actors involved. Something tells me that there's a big chunk of explanation that I'm missing, but it may be yet to come. Anyhow, I like American Gods for what it is - pure, artistic entertainment. 8/10
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AuthorA very passionate Welsh nerd... Archives
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