Article first published as TV Review: AMERICAN GODS on Seat42F.
Anticipation is high for Starz’s newest
drama, AMERICAN GODS, premiering tonight. Based on the popular book by
British geek-god Neil Gaiman, and developed by the great Bryan Fuller
(along with Logan’s Michael Green), it tells the story of a mortal man
caught in the middle of a war between gods, old and new, as things come
to a head between the factions. It’s unknown if our hero is working for
the right team or not, but the danger is real, and the urgency is
immediate.
AMERICAN GODS has a lot going for it,
both behind and in front of the camera. While it is not as highly
stylized as other Fuller projects (Hannibal, Pushing Daisies), he is
able to make the fantasy sequences amazing, vivid, and imaginative. Lead
Ricky Whittle (The 100) and lesser known performers like Bruce Langley
(Deadly Waters) and Yetide Badaki (Sequestered) quickly establish
themselves as people to watch, terrific in their roles. The bench is
deep with familiar faces, too, including the likes of Cloris Leachman
(Young Frankenstein, Raising Hope), Peter Stormare (Fargo), Emily
Browning (Sucker Punch), Crispin Glover (Back to the Future), Pablo
Schreiber (Orange Is the New Black), Gillian Anderson (The X-Files),
Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked), Orlando Jones (Sleep Hollow), Betty Gilpin
(Nurse Jackie), Jeremy Davies (Lost), Jonathan Tucker (Kingdom), Joel
Murray (Mad Men), Beth Grant (The Mindy Project), and, of course, Ian
McShane (Deadwood).
If a long list of talented names doesn’t
impress you, though it should in this case, I’d like to stress how well
cast each of them are. Stormare brings a certain likability to his
chillingly creepy Czernobog. Anderson IS Lucy Ricardo, talking out of
the screen of the television. Schreiber will seriously make you think
twice about teasing a leprechaun. Browning is haunting as the deceased
wife who doesn’t seem deserving of our protagonist’s love, and yet has
it deeply. McShane watches over it all with a bemused charm that doesn’t
allow audiences to question for a moment why Shadow Moon (Whittle) does
what Mr. Wednesday (McShane) tells him to.
It’s been a few years since I read the
book, but the two hours of AMERICAN GODS I’ve seen feel very faithful to
it. This show finds a way to be episodic while maintaining the
important through-line of the novel. The format of a road trip is
helpful, as there are built in stops and sequences along the way. But
there are also the threats of Technical Boy (Langley) and the erotic
side trips with Bilquis (Badaki) that prove there’s something more to
look forward to than just the next god to encounter.
AMERICAN GODS is sure to work both
because of its quality, and because it shares similarities with another
network hit, Outlander. Outlander is also based on a novel, and strings
along a narrative that stays tight on a couple of characters, with most
of the cast only appearing in a small number of episodes. That can be
frustrating for those who want more Mr. Nancy (Jones) immediately, and
you will. But at the same time, it keeps the plot purer in that Shadow
and Mr. Wednesday are the people that count most, and the rest of the
cast is truly there to support them.
I knew I would be blown away going into
AMERICAN GODS, and it did not disappoint my high expectations. It’s
gripping, has terrific pacing, feels very authentic, even in the
elements that completely lack realism, and has a strong point of view.
Fantasy won’t be for everyone, and this is definitely fantasy, but it
also contains social commentary that’s worth paying attention to, along
with some stellar performances. I’ll be shocked if this doesn’t help
Starz get on the Emmy stage.
AMERICAN GODS premieres tonight at 9/8c on Starz.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.