Martin Carr reviews the third episode of American Gods season 2…
If season two boils down to anything it is the acquisition of knowledge. Some might watch it and see nothing more than an over saturated power struggle between conflicting ideologies, but take a moment to dig deeper. Although this episode might be named after a Norse familiar the implied omnipotence feeds back into a gathering of knowledge not power. Mythologies are expanded on through chance encounters, pitch black comic beats are scattered like broken body parts and people who choose to listen get enlightened. This is not so much a entertaining forty five minutes of gods and monsters but more a history lesson for an enraptured audience.
Kicking off with decapitation, talk of healing hands and a Shadow missing in action ‘Muninn’ foregoes explanation and favours a road trip narrative. Wednesday and Laura Moon hook up leaving Sweeney to his bad luck choices, while Mr.World and Technical Boy make way for New Media. Florescent, effervescent and embodying Manga traditions this new incarnation is cute yet carnal, feminine yet feral and decidedly captivating. Jacked into the human CPU which is Argus we are treated to the most bizarre sexual coupling since Robert DeNiro’s high point in Bad Grandpa. Sultry, seductive yet sordidly Tetsuo: Iron Man in origin, this will remind viewers of a dirty Davros rather than anything intellectual.
As a stark statement of visual intent there is no shying away from the literal conjoining of new and old as personified through this all too brief union. That old magic, crudely fashioned shanks and barely breathing corpses get between this obscene spectacle reaching completion is visual allegory in its purest form. Death and rebirth, savage dog attacks and burning boats combine with a lesson in the building of ancient religions guaranteed to keep your attention. American Gods is turning from an adaptation into a New World fable where the ultimate goal would be a melding of minds, a meeting on middle ground and an acquiescence between opposing forces.
This freewheeling collection of mythical beings thrown together into a story of mystery, murder and conflicting self-interest has few rivals. For those who require subtlety you have come to the wrong place, this is a programme designed to promote discussion, indulge in difficult dialogue and challenge expectations. These writers know that answers should be sought rather than given freely as only then can they have value.
Martin Carr
