American Gods Review
The show (based on the novel of the same name by Neil Gaiman) starts with a gorgeous intro that transports you and prepares your mind for some fantastic storytelling. And it only gets better. Starz spared no expense on production value. The language of the narrator is poetic and mesmerizing. The cinematography is stunning. It does have adult themes, language, and gore, so I would not recommend it for small children. There is a very gory scene in the first five minutes. (They still managed to make that beautiful looking.) The show is epic and can definitely be described as god-like.
We follow Shadow Moon (played by the hunky Ricky Whittle)
on his journey out of prison and how he copes with his wife’s sudden unexpected death. On the plane ride home he meets a unique stranger, Wednesday (Ian McShane). That plane ride and Mr. Wednesday will change his course in life. Through a series of events, Shadow Moon ends up working for Mr. Wednesday.
We also meet a couple of other gods:
Bilquis (who I believe represents how people worship sex); Mad Sweeney, a leprechaun; and Technical Boy who highlights how technology has become a new god: “We have reprogrammed the system. Language is a virus. Religion, an operating system, and prayers are just so much f’ing spam.”
The one line zingers this show throws out are worth it on their own, but added to the beautiful cinematography and storytelling, they become the cherry on top of a decadent dessert of a show.
American Gods, through its dynamic storytelling, inspires us to dig deeper in our minds and ask ourselves, “What really are our gods, and what do we really worship?” This is one of the best premieres of a new show I have seen in a long time. I think this show will allow us to examine and explore what it means to be a god, and how people worship them. The ending left me salivating for the next episode. I am hooked after one episode and may have to look into getting a permanent subscription to Starz.
How do I watch, you ask? Starz is available for Roku and Apple TV devices, and available for download for Apple and Android apps for mobile devices. Or you can simply watch on starz.com. They are offering a free one week trial, or it is $8.99 monthly.
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