American Gods Review: The Bone Orchard

(Warning: Major spoilers)

Within moments of its opening scene, American Gods, the novel-turned-Starz-production, asserts itself as the gory, yet magical beast Neil Gaiman fans have long waited for. We arrive to a vignette involving a group of Vikings visiting the shores of America for the first time. Yet before they could even step foot to explore the land further, tragedy strikes. In order to appease Odin, their God, the men spill their own blood as sacrifice for help off the land – and perhaps a body part or two.

It’s been a long time coming for American Gods to receive the small screen treatment. The closest it got to one happened in 2011, when HBO picked up the series, and subsequently dropped it due to script problems. Fans continuously held their breath as Starz moved in to helm the massive title, with Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, Pushing Daises ) serving as showrunner and Michael Green (writer of Logan) as producer. We were burned once, you know. But finally, the show has arrived and I could finally answer this one question: Is it everything I hoped and dreamed, so far? Nay!

It’s so much more and we’re only on the first episode!

As a reviewer who has read the book multiple times, one of my main concerns was how fair would I be to the on-screen characters. Shadow Moon, the protagonist of the novel, is a man newly released from jail, sticks close to his guns and follows orders. Shadow observes the world of new boss, Mr. Wednesday, in what appears to be a nonchalant attitude, but we know this how Shadow reacts after tragedy hits close to home. Ricky Whittle immediately adds spark to the initial introduction of the character, making way for a man preparing for bad news and it arrives by word of his wife’s (Laura, played by Emily Browning) death. During one particular scene, the camera pans as Shadow is told he will be released early from jail to attend Laura’s funeral. His face says more than any words could do, and Shadow is rewarded with another release as he yells out his frustrations into a canyon’s void in the beginning of his road trip. Already, Shadow is more relatable.

Another character we will get to know plenty of is Mr. Wednesday, played by the talented Ian McShane. In the book, the character is well-known for his constant speeches, but watching it on screen, McShane adds the visual charm Wednesday oozes, which he uses to bamboozle an airline clerk to give him First Class tickets. And what do you know, Shadow somehow manages First Class seats, too! The serendipitous occasion calls for a job proposition that Shadow refuses. However, Mr. Wednesday isn’t one to give up too easily and winds up with Shadow drinking honey mead as a contractual agreement – and soon they’re off to small-town, Middle America.

While the storyline moves fast, the premiere episode is packed with enough goodies to savor as the show weaves in and out of introducing characters, the open road and vignettes that are called “Coming to America” stories of the different people we will meet that make America whole. We move through Laura’s funeral and Shadow gets more moments to grieve, but we are also introduced to some of the older Gods; immigrants to America. First we meet Bilquis (Yetide Badaki), the goddess of love, who manages to swallow a worshipper whole with her, um, love canal. Secondly, Mad Sweeny (Pablo Schreiber) arrives to cause chaos in a bar, showing off gold coins that appear out of thin air – all to irritate Shadow for his enjoyment. The show’s cinematography is nothing to gasp at either; one of my favorite scenes is one I have a hard time describing, so I will spoil nothing and await for you, my viewer, to experience it whole. You will thank me later.

Least I forget, there are many themes and political ideas we will eventually cover in these reviews since American Gods is about the immigrants who arrive at these shores with their gods and prayers in their pockets, hoping for the relief of a better life. The road trip is just one aspect of America; we still have to meet the people who are woven into the history of this land – the former land of no gods.

Photo Credit: Starz