American Gods

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.

I just binged both seasons and if they don't make another season I'd be absolutely fine with that.

The cinematography is excellent and the performances are consistently brilliant.

The plot is weaker than a dead wife's fragile torso.

It tries to be sociopolitical instead of just telling a story.

It breaks off into so many unnecessary tangents that I found myself not caring what happened to most of the characters.

Just give me a Mad Sweeney and Dead Wife road story and bin everything else unless you plan to use Crispin Glover properly.

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.

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

I would still recommend season one, but they did a horrible job in season 2. It is not the same show anymore.

First season was dark, gore and intriguing. Season 2 has a different director, and derailed with a dull story line and lousy attempts of mimicking the aesthetics of season 1. For example, they tried to add lots of "gags" for the leprechaun character dealing with his lack of luck, as if they were targeted to an audience of 12 years old watching "home alone". This is an adult show. When you compare it to the first scene of first season with pirates puncturing their own eyes, you clearly see season 2 completely lost their target audience.

I stopped watching season 2 on episode 5, and canceled my starz subscription. I may try continue watching it in the future, if and only if there is a different set of directors and story adapters (ideally the same team of season 1, but would give it a try regardless). Otherwise it will be a dead show for me.