Neil Gaiman's American Gods - [Starz]

RobbingBandit

Definitely gonna need a book/non book split for this sooner rather than later.

quinagh

American Gods isn't available on Amazon Video here though.

Occono

quinagh wrote: »

American Gods isn't available on Amazon Video here though.

It is, I watched it from Limerick already.

CastorTroy

I'll put this in spoiler tags even though it isn't a spoiler if you know who the actors in the credits are

Why put Emily Browning's name as the first name in the credits when her character dies in the first episode. I now know she'll be back

I haven't read the book, but since I haven't seen it linked here, I see a thread for book readers has been created
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057735858

And if you insist on posting book spoilers here, may I sugest to please put them in tags saying they're book spoilers

ixoy

Be interested to hear people's opinions of those who, like me, didn't like the book. I've not watched it yet but the novel was very underwhelming IMO.

Clegg

Occono wrote: »

quinagh wrote: »

American Gods isn't available on Amazon Video here though.

It is, I watched it from Limerick already.

I'm not getting it on Prime either

Not available due to geographical license restrictions.

RobbingBandit

Some interesting changes from the book, some really stupid ones too. I enjoyed this but not as much as I thought I would.

Occono

Clegg wrote: »

I'm not getting it on Prime either

Not available due to geographical license restrictions.

Are you not using primevideo.com ?

Sideshow Mark

Clegg wrote: »

I'm not getting it on Prime either

Not available due to geographical license restrictions.

Working for me on the Prime Video iOS app.

Brief_Lives

Still on the fence with this.. but obviously will continue to watch, it's only one episode in...

Are we supposed to spoiler stuff? I will for now, ..

Good parts, loved Ian McShane... brings a touch of class to every scene...

Loved the Bilquis worship scene... excellently done..

Bad parts..

I wasn´t crazy about all the mortal combat Gore.. not sure if it was visually necessary. I was disappointed that they didn´nt include the "It might as well be thursday" line.... THe vikings poriginally coming to America, felt off the pace.. not sure what more they could do, maybe they will have more cultures arriving to the new world in other episodes..

anyway.. looking forward to the rest of the episodes, I suppose loving the book makes me uber picky here..

The Black Oil

Wasn't sure what to make of it, really. Don't know the material and when I first heard of it I figured Gods was a reference of Norse figures, with a contemporary slant. Seemed to be delivered pretty well, a good deal of set up, as per most pilots. Can't recall if Hannibal was similar on that front. Whether I want to spend time with these characters, I shall see. The buffalo with flaming eyes felt like a call back to the black elk in Hannibal.

Birneybau

I really don't know, found it kind of naff. I also find Gaiman kind of naff so there's that.

conorhal

Birneybau wrote: »

I really don't know, found it kind of naff. I also find Gaiman kind of naff so there's that.

It's naff. Worse, it's deeply irritating.

Gaiman writes really well. But I hated Shadow Moon. He's an utterly passive character, he has zero agency and it's very off putting. Each chapter is individually great but they add up to less then the sum of their parts (as I personally find is so often the case with Gaiman's writing) because the central narrative is almost non existent and the main character has nothing to do but witness it and fulfill the agency he's allotted by what the plot needs him to do.

As for the series. Bryan Fuller has gone full Zach Snyder in this. American Gods is his 'Sucker Punch'. Style over substance, cool shots over emotional honesty and image over reality. It's both beautiful and horrible to watch, because it's so pretty but feels so hollow.
All that is compounded by a soundtrack and score that never, ever stops. It relentlessly tells you what and how to feel. There's not a pause, a break or a moment when the score lets you digest what's happening or think for yourself or, frankly, feel anything.

The entire first episode was a wash of imagery and white noise. It was the MTV version of American Gods in that it feels like a 60 minute music video and it fails where Gaiman failed and then some, probably because, like Zach Snyder's 'Watchmen', it sticks so dogmatically and religiously to the novel that it just feels inert, like homage rather then storytelling.
I'm out. The only good thing about this show is the class that Ian McShane brings to everything he does.

Brief_Lives

Well, Numero 2 was a little better... Peter Stormare is always entertaining...

pixelburp

There's definitely a slick, stylishness to the whole thing so far, but I think that's a fair approach: given the subject of old gods living in modern times, it feels appropriate that a certain lavishness - to the point of ostentation - be applied to the series itself. After all, that's what gods appreciated back in the day - colour, pageantry and style, albeit usually through the medium of gold & architecture.

The second episode definitely felt like just that, a follow-up to gently ease the viewer & Shadow into this world he has stepped into. That first scene was pretty incendiary though, really driving home the capriciousness of these gods...

Dr Crayfish

Never heard of the books but there was a bit of hype about the show so I watched about 3/4 of the first episode before realising it definitely wasn't for me. Naff is an apt word alright. I was hoping it would be good as I love Ian McShane, he's getting on so I hope he gets another TV role soon!

Agent Coulson

Renewed for a 2nd season.

Slydice

This could go the way of Legion if it draws out the story without delivering some smaller big-wins. Both have been renewed for second seasons and both good quality for TV... but like.. they're gonna need to think of the audience numbers or some execs are gonna lose face.

Saying that though, I thought it was really funny how they

pulled off the bank heist

and then it was like... No Biggie

Gbear

Bit puzzled by the random, mostly sex, asides.

Stylishly done but having not read the books, I don't know if they're even vaguely related.

I loved the African spider god dude.

Mr E

Just got through the first episode.

What the **** did I just watch?

Keep going. Doesn't get any less out there, but still amazing.

TerrorFirmer

Good show so far. Think it's the first time I've seen an erect penis on TV before - and twice, at that.....so far.

If people are interested and so inclined, they should track down the 10th anniversary (I believe it was) audiobook. It's a full cast read, with different people narrating that different roles, so it like an 15ish hour radio play with superb production design.

Gaiman`s audiobooks are usually superb, as he's heavily involved in all aspects, even handpicking the narrators.

Birneybau

Mr E wrote: »

Just got through the first episode.

What the **** did I just watch?

Not much?

Anyway, after 3 episodes, I'm out.

heebusjeebus

I'm struggling with it too. Main storyline is boring but the coming to america vignettes are interesting in a way.
Will keep on watching though and maybe read the book once the season ends.

Shane St.

How is this going down? Lot of hype it seems. Behind on so many shows so I guess I'll wait till season is over

Slydice

Shane St. wrote: »

How is this going down? Lot of hype it seems. Behind on so many shows so I guess I'll wait till season is over

It's got high production values.
Visual effects have their own special take which works ok.
So far it's been coasting on moments.
Story is being vague which can be ok but will need to deliver if it's to retain audience.

It's safe enough on that though as it has been renewed for a 2nd season.

CastorTroy

I was wondering and I would class it as non spoilery, but in terms of the novel are they dragging the story so far or are they making good pace?

I think it's keeping on a pretty excellent pace. What I'm wondering is how many seasons/episodes in each they're planning on doing. Realistically there's just one book.

RobbingBandit

Good pace so far, 8 episodes in this season some stuff is very mismatched from the book so far the Jinn doesn't come into the book until about half way.

sReq | uTeK

Ah it's all a bit mental to me but will keep watching

brianregan09

Finished episode 2 and I don't think its for me , It's just so all over the place already with little explanation why .....

Slydice

Alright, so that new lighting effect they are using is cool. I think I see where they're going and it feels like the pace was given a gentle nudge.

Will see how the audience numbers look later on:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gods_(TV_series)
0.9 -> 0.71 -> 0.716 -> ?
Maybe they'll level off.. maybe. I mean like.. it's half way through the season, I'm guessing they'll be pushing ahead from this point.

CastorTroy

Yeah saw the latest episode out in the wild. I thought it was really good and nice bit of humour in there as well.

Gbear

Now that one was excellent.

They handled the whole thing with as light a touch as it merited.

Not sure where they're going with her as a character yet though.
What does redemption look like here?

GottaGetGatt

Best episode yet. Think i'm finally hooked on it.

naughto

Excellent ep is going to be guardian angel perhaps

CastorTroy

Anyone else reminded of The Equalizer when the opening theme of this show plays?

Birneybau

CastorTroy wrote: »

Anyone else reminded of The Equalizer when the opening theme of this show plays?

Reminds me of this, way too much:

Slydice

Slydice wrote: »

Will see how the audience numbers look later on:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gods_(TV_series)
0.9 -> 0.71 -> 0.716 -> ?
Maybe they'll level off.. maybe

Oof!
0.9 -> 0.71 -> 0.716 -> 0.631

Maybe word of mouth can help.. maybe. They'd want to deliver something though.

RobbingBandit

Twin peaks returned Sunday this and everything else was always gonna take a hit, five episodes before we see Mr Nancy interact with Shadow properly has me perplexed, it will be worth the wait.

TerrorFirmer

Figures aren't too bad for a Starz show, I mean Black Sailz got 4 seasons and that has incredible production values, with an average viewership of 500K per episode.

Slydice

Ok, top performance from Gillian Anderson. The other guy had a pressence about him if that's what they're going for but the casting might be weak considering Andersons pressence is so strong.

Again, I think I'm keeping up with where they are going and what they're trying to get across. They also gave out a little of the overarching plot. Still feels like they want the audience to go do some homework without delivering a scene.

Even the

police station mighta been a big win. They could'e done a nod to the Terminator 1 attack-the-police-station scene. The end result even looked similar.

. Might be a budget thing though. They could be holding back for a big thing towards the end of the season.

GottaGetGatt

Slydice wrote: »

Ok, top performance from Gillian Anderson. The other guy had a pressence about him if that's what they're going for but the casting might be weak considering Andersons pressence is so strong.

Again, I think I'm keeping up with where they are going and what they're trying to get across. They also gave out a little of the overarching plot. Still feels like they want the audience to go do some homework without delivering a scene.

Even the

police station mighta been a big win. They could'e done a nod to the Terminator 1 attack-the-police-station scene. The end result even looked similar.

. Might be a budget thing though. They could be holding back for a big thing towards the end of the season.

I though this show aired on Sunday nights. Is episode 5 out?

Edit: Yeah Ep 5 is out.

Sudden Valley

The overall plot has become a lot less confusing with the last two episodes (4&5)- pity the audiences don't seem to be sticking around to get to this point. I'm not sure is the Laura character supposed to be manipulative or just clinically depressed?

Dyr

Sudden Valley wrote: »

The overall plot has become a lot less confusing with the last two episodes (4&5)- pity the audiences don't seem to be sticking around to get to this point. I'm not sure is the Laura character supposed to be manipulative or just clinically depressed?

From what I remember of the books she was a minor walk on. An addition to the show to fill the strong female character quota

tbh any scene in this without Ian McShane is just dull.

TerrorFirmer

I want to love this and the first two episodes were incredibly intriguing but it's starting to lose me a little I have to admit.

Slydice

Slydice wrote: »

Oof!
0.9 -> 0.71 -> 0.716 -> 0.631

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gods_(TV_series)
0.9 -> 0.71 -> 0.716 -> 0.631->0.666

Bit of a boost ... also :eek::eek::eek::eek:

Dyr

I'm going to amend this and say any scene without Ian McShane, Crispin Glover or Gillian Anderson is just dull

I didn't know it was Anderson when she first appeared but thought she did a great job. Thing is she's just too old to play a deity as image obsessed as Media

Zombie wife is a pain in the hole though

RobbingBandit

Jebus the Media scenes were weird, got a laugh off the x-files star playing Starman. It's getting to the point of Poochie when are they going to get to the fireworks factory for me, all this filler is too much, McShane was practically pissing himself laughing when the bad guy walked into the room, get back on track next time please.