American Gods

The first season was very intriguing and I wanted to know what was going on. Season 2 was still good, you know what's the main gist and who the main characters are. Then season 3 just drops all the momentum. Every episode feels dragged out and just filler, no real continuation or building on the main story. Shame as it has such good actors and interesting characters and concepts. Mythology gives so much material and scope for an interesting ongoing story I'm so disappointed by this last season. If you have just started to watch or are deciding whether to start, watch the first two seasons, then just leave it.

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.

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........

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.

Season 2 is so horrible and slow. Just seem to drag every episode out.