American Gods

It 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?

A 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.

Season 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 am not sure what has gone wrong with season 2, but it is like someone has taken all the deleted scenes from season 1 and created a new season from them. That is the quality of season 2, the majority of scenes are dull, lifeless, and certainly don't contain any of that god like "magic" that season 1 certainly had.

There are still a few good parts, but the majority of season 2 was a chore to watch and I could not wait for it to be over. It is a real shame because season 1 was like nothing I had ever seen before. Season 2 seems to have the money, locations, actors, some elements of a story, but it just doesn't work.

I do hope we get a season 3, and that the makers of the show manage to capture some of that "magic" which made season 1 so great. Otherwise the god of disappointment is sure to have many more believers........

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.