American Gods

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.

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?

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've watched till S02E04

I loved season 1. In fact, I bought the book because of season 1. Then there were rumors that the show would be canceled and then the showrunners left. After a year in hiatus, the show returned and... Well... NO! Everything seems off.

Feels like a completely different show and not in a good way. Even the actors look like they are bored while the plot is a bit messy and not built properly. Something is missing and it does not have the magic of season 1. They try too hard to make it look "cool" and edgy and it doesn't feel natural at all the way they do it.

I don't feel entertained anymore. Hell, I don't even enjoy watching this. There are many good shows to spend your time. Maybe it's not for me. Either way I'm out.

5 stars for the first season, 0 stars for season 2.

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.