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American Gods is an upcoming television series created by Bryan Fuller and Michael Green for Starz, based on the novel of the same name by author Neil Gaiman.
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Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon
Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday
Emily Browning as Laura Moon
Crispin Glover as Mr. World
Cloris Leachman as Zorya Vechernyaya

Gillian Anderson is Media.

Trailer from Comic Con.

I was sure that I'd read this book. However, as nothing in that trailer was the least bit familiar, apparently I haven't.

I even thought that I owned it... For some reason I think I keep confusing it with Good Omens.

TheMix wrote: I even thought that I owned it... For some reason I think I keep confusing it with Good Omens.

Same here. What's confusing is that I think they're also working on Good Omens. I think Mr Wednesday appears in both?

The only character from the book I could pull out of that trailer is possibly Odin (Wotan/Wednesday). It's been some time since I read it though.

I do believe there are plenty of stories they could tell in that universe.

While it's an old book, half the fun is not fully realizing who the characters really are until the story reveals it. I'd urge some discretion in discussing things as we move forward...

Smoove_B wrote:While it's an old book, half the fun is not fully realizing who the characters really are until the story reveals it. I'd urge some discretion in discussing things as we move forward...

Agreed.

I disagree. Read the fucking book.

I shall ruin the book for everyone now: Odin makes an appearance!

hentzau wrote:

Smoove_B wrote:While it's an old book, half the fun is not fully realizing who the characters really are until the story reveals it. I'd urge some discretion in discussing things as we move forward...

Agreed.

Thirded. but Cloris Leachman is about as perfect as I ever could've dreamed.

I have read the book recently, and it looks like a lot of good stuff is in there. I never saw Ricky Whittle before, but based on the trailer I think he will do fine. And Emily Browning, I only saw Sucker Punch, but her cover of Sweet Dreams has become one of my favorite songs.

Smoove_B wrote:Trailer from Comic Con.

I read the book several years ago and never really knew what to think about it. I liked the characters but I just never got into the "plot", and watching that trailer didn't make me feel any different, even knowing where some of that was going.

I was thinking of re-reading the book, and to be honest, that trailer didn't inspire me.

This is one I've never read, although the spine has been calling to me from my bookshelf since it came out.

My only gripe at this point is that I can not envision Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday. He can pull off the acting, but he needs a beard.

Kelric wrote:My only gripe at this point is that I can not envision Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday. He can pull off the acting, but he needs a beard.

Weak beard. He needs a BEARD.

An official trailer has been released.

Premiers in about 15 minutes.

Suddenly...arrows.

Good first episode. I imagine it must be a bit tough to follow without reading the books. My wife was pretty confused, but my son and I read the books so we liked it better than her. I did forget about that scene though.

Brian wrote:Suddenly...arrows.

After the first episode they aired a short clip with the directors who said they were trying to do some over the top humor in the viking scene. I'd say it worked.

Jag wrote:I did forget about that scene though.

I didn't. I warned my wife, "It's about to get really weird." She's a bit baffled, but from what I've read, it should start making more sense for non-book readers after the first four episodes. (Which isn't to say that the first four episodes are supposed to be bad - they're just intentionally a bit all over the place, and strings will start tying together later.)

ImLawBoy wrote:

Jag wrote:I did forget about that scene though.

I didn't. I warned my wife, "It's about to get really weird." She's a bit baffled, but from what I've read, it should start making more sense for non-book readers after the first four episodes. (Which isn't to say that the first four episodes are supposed to be bad - they're just intentionally a bit all over the place, and strings will start tying together later.)

We watched with my 16 (almost 17) year old son and I turned to him and said "that's not how they work". He said "meh, the book scene was much more graphic". I forgot he did a school paper on the book. It was on a list of books that he had to pick from, so I picked this for him.

Jag wrote:

Brian wrote:Suddenly...arrows.

After the first episode they aired a short clip with the directors who said they were trying to do some over the top humor in the viking scene. I'd say it worked.

I would agree.

My immediate thought during that scene was this classic.

Wife and I watched the first episode last night. Agree with the arrows and that scene. She has read the book. I'm the one going in blind. Well, half-blind.

Just watched the first episode. Was not disappointed in the least!

Here is an amazing breakdown of all the images in the opening credits.

I like this one.

Aries the God of Virtual War, with a chariot pulled by two customized American muscle cars, holding a crossbow with a nuclear ICBM loaded into it.

Now that's a 'MURICAN god!

I forgot how much I miss seeing Crispin Glover in all his weird and awesome glory. I'm hoping American Gods lets him cut loose, because there are few things more elemental than an uncontrolled Crispin Glover.

And good Lord, Gillian Anderson may very well be one of the most underrated actresses around. Her David Bowie, Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe were amazing. She has a fantastic way with voices and accents.

Yeah this is very great!

hepcat wrote:And good Lord, Gillian Anderson may very well be one of the most underrated actresses around. Her David Bowie, Lucille Ball and Marilyn Monroe were amazing. She has a fantastic way with voices and accents.

There were quite a few Bowie lyrics in that scene. It was just great writing overall. I'm guessing Bowie himself would have loved it.

After the episode ended, I turned to my wife and said, "I don't know what you think or if you're even following this, but I'm enjoying the Hell out of this show." She was just excited that Crispin Glover finally got some screen time.

ImLawBoy wrote:After the episode ended, I turned to my wife and said, "I don't know what you think or if you're even following this, but I'm enjoying the Hell out of this show." She was just excited that Crispin Glover finally got some screen time.

I said the same thing to my wife. My son and I read the book, but she didn't and looks puzzled at the end of every episode.

I've never read the books, but I've been keeping up with episode recaps to grok some of the stuff that's going over my head because of that lack of prior exposure.

I just have to be careful not to read TOO far as I don't want to spoil it for myself.

Last night's episode may very well have been one of this year's best hours of television so far.

Pablo Schreiber is just knocking it out of the park as Mad Sweeney. He's made that role so completely his own that I can't think of another actor playing that character now.

I was a king once, then they made me a bird. Then, Mother Church came along and turned us all into saints, trolls, and fairies. General Mills did the rest.

Totally agree and laughed my ass off when he said that.

"They're always after me Lucky Coin!"

Not the best season send-off. Wednesday's reveal was nice, but the follow-on kind of lacked oomph.

Make sure to unsubscribe to the channel if that's all you were watching on Starz.

I liked it. It showed us what the Old Gods could do...and it brought the insanely talented Kristin Chenoweth to the fold. That near the end scene with Media and Technical Boy's faceless goons was just visually great. Can't wait for season 2. And more Mad Sweeney...well, heck, more of all them. I don't think there's a slacker in the bunch.

Not a fan of the wife character, but then, I doubt that I'm supposed to be. Mad Sweeney is excellent.

That last episode of the season had so many laugh out loud moments with the rabbits and the multicultural Jesus..es. It's a testimony to how damn good Chenoweth is that she was able to outdo them all every time she appeared. I love that woman.