What you need to know about the show "American Gods"

What show?

"American Gods" - the film adaptation of the cult science fiction novel by Neil Gaiman.

The protagonist - Shadow Moon - is in jail, and most of all dreams of returning home to his beloved wife Laura. But a few days before the liberation discovers that she died in a car crash. Return has to have a funeral.

On the way home, he meets a mysterious Mr. Wednesday and receives a job offer. Posted Shadows particularly nowhere, so he agrees to become a bodyguard. And it turns out in the midst of the conflict between old and new gods, which are not so few in real life.

The first season was released April 30, 2017. It became showrunner Bryan Fuller (the one who wrote the script for the series "Hannibal") and Michael Green (co-author of the films "Logan," "Green Lantern," "Blade Runner, 2049").

The second season starts in March 2019 th.

About the main character tell?

Shadow acts as a link between the audience and the world of the gods, who does not know anything about him, but gradually versed in the intricacies of the relationship between the gods.

Shadow spent three years. And because he was tall and broad-shouldered, and his whole appearance seemed to say "fuck off" that his biggest problem was how to kill time. He kept himself in shape, learned tricks with coins and a lot of thought about how to love his wife.

"American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

On everything that happens Shadow reacts somewhat detached, without panic, hysteria, and a special surprise. His character is so stable that even the most surprising events he takes for granted. For example, the fact that Mr. Wednesday - the embodiment of the Norse god Odin, who collects like themselves for an important battle.

Of course, the shadow was in the thick of things for a reason. But we will not go into too much history and reveal all the cards ahead of time.

Who are the old gods?

In the US, many lives of the gods of the myths and legends of different peoples. They brought with them the first immigrants who came to America for a better life. But over time, people began to lose touch with their relatives in places, no longer believe in the old idols and sacrifice to them. Having lost its former power, the old gods have adapted to life in a new environment.

Briefly tell about several main characters.

• Mr. Wednesday. One, the supreme deity in Norse mythology. Combines artistry with an astute mind, so nice to survive the last few years, industrial fraud. It was he inciting other gods to take part in "the inevitable war." By the way, the environment was considered day one at the ancient Scandinavians, so this name Gaiman chose on purpose.
• Chernobog. In the mythology of the Baltic Slavs evil god that brings disaster. He has a brother Byelobog, but the events of "American Gods," he did not participate. The new incarnation Chernobog works in a slaughterhouse, and lives in a squalid apartment with three sisters.
• Mr. Nancy. Anansi, god knave of African folklore, the spider is able to take shape. Deceives people and makes fun of their stupidity and naivety.
• Easter. Ishtar, the goddess of fertility and love. Nice to settle into the new world, thanks to its charm. He does not want to participate in the battle of the gods, because people remember it every year.
• Mr. Ibis. One ancient Egyptian god of knowledge and writing. A funeral director with Mr. Jackal (Anubis, god of the dead) in Cairo, a small town in Illinois.
• Mad Sweeney. King of old Irish tales. He calls himself a Leprechaun. Swears, she drinks a lot and loves magic tricks with coins.
• Whiskey Jack. Viskedzhak, trickster of Native American mythology. He lives near the nature reserve of Lakota with Johnny Appleseed.
• Bilqis. The Queen of Sheba is mentioned in a number of the Arabian Nights, and is considered to be half-genie. Today was the prostitute. The love of art, of course.
• Mama Gee. Kali, the destructive part of Shiva. Hindu goddess of time and destruction.

A new gods?

Old gods came to the new shift - glossy, modern, consistent with the spirit of our time. Yes, they do not need to bring blood sacrifices. They require people to something else - their time.

The old gods cause sympathy and empathy, if only because that for a long time, we know from fairy tales and legends. But to the new gods imbued with sympathy rather difficult.

• Tehnomalchik. The new god of the computer and the Internet. In the book Gaiman This arrogant, fat and pimply teenager who dresses up as a character from "The Matrix". In the series, the writers have presented it a little differently - thin and no acne, but with a bundle on her head, in a bright dress and in the hands of Weipa. No less repellent character. He is young, even in comparison with other new gods, but quickly became one of the most powerful among them.
• Media. Goddess TV, which does not even have his own face. She speaks with other characters directly from the TV screens, taking the form of celebrity. So, it takes the guise of Lucy Ricardo of the sitcom "I Love Lucy" or the speaker of the news program. In the series, this is not an easy role went to Gillian Anderson.
• Black hats. Mr. Myrrh, Mr. Gradd Mr. Lesse and Mr. Kamen came to embody insanity of people in America to the urban legend about black helicopters and the "men in black". Such an analogue of the Nazgul to new gods who perform errands on their orders.

And what is the main conflict?

The old gods want to force to regain lost ground. New - to prove that the old gods no place in the world of smart phones, fast food and other attributes of modern life. Epic battle, which is so eager to one - the opportunity to resolve this problem once and for all.

The world is rapidly changed. The confrontation of the gods - is, of course, a metaphor for the collision of traditional and modern values.

The trouble is that the old gods are outdated, but from all of ancient beliefs remained only the names but rare rituals, the meaning of which is irretrievably lost. The new gods no cordiality, as well as love for them by the followers.

Gaiman's story - is an attempt to figure out what values ​​we follow today. And, admittedly, a very exciting story.

Why do you need to watch the show?

If you have any doubt, watch the show or not, here are some reasons why this film adaptation is definitely worth considering.

• Neil Gaiman. The novel "American Gods" after the publication became an instant bestseller and received a major book in the fiction prize - "Hugo" and "Nebula". This is only one indication of the literary talent of Gaiman, which in his native England, called the second, Terry Pratchett (with whom they even worked together). It Gaiman first drew attention to the similarity of the new technologies with the object of worship. It was back in 2001, when the Internet and phones were still not universally common.
• Folklore. Gaiman has collected different stories and legends from all over the world and carefully wove them into a narrative. The series is at least partially expand your horizons.
• The cast. Caste in the series is really strong, at least here and little stars of the first magnitude. From well-known actors - Ian McShane (probably familiar to you on the HBO TV series and the role of Blackbeard in "Pirates of the Caribbean"), Gillian Anderson (Agent Scully and psychologist succumbed to the charm of Hannibal Lecter), Peter Stormare (played Lucifer in the TV series "Constantine" and his career began with the role of a psychopath in "Fargo"The Coen brothers). But also there are a lot of new faces and names - young actors, who, judging by the trailers, do an excellent job with their roles.