American Gods

:

Season 1
  • Network: Starz
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 30, 2017
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 355 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 269 out of 355
  2. Mixed: 38 out of 355
  3. Negative: 48 out of 355
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Buy on

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. pineapplethief
    Nov 19, 2017
    3
    I really hoped this show would be great, but I was really disappointed. It's just average. Don't believe people stomping 10's for this one. I've read the book, I've watched tons of tv series, and unfortunately have to conclude that Fuller produced something that is both lacking the punch of the original book and is in fact worse than average tv series.
    1. Story. Writing and story for 1    I really hoped this show would be great, but I was really disappointed. It's just average. Don't believe people stomping 10's for this one. I've read the book, I've watched tons of tv series, and unfortunately have to conclude that Fuller produced something that is both lacking the punch of the original book and is in fact worse than average tv series.
    1. Story. Writing and story for 1 season is just aweful, incoherent, not-happening and generally boring, one of the worst really. Hell, some sitcoms have better story compared to American Gods. Nothing of note happening in ENTIRE episodes (and those are full hour long), boring dialogues about nothing, concluding to nothing, and changing nil in characters afterwards. Story is trying to develop in all different directions at the same time and fails miserably. Long miniseries before most of the episodes which show you backstory of different gods and such are also a mixed bag - some are good, some boring, and many serve no purpose whatsoever. Sometimes I felt it's just a filler to hit one hour mark.
    2. Visuals. A mixed bag really. Director of photography did some of the most beatiful shots I've seen, and some CGI is really well done, while some other CGI effects seem to be done by eight-grader and are embarassingly bad. Gore and blood is certainly overdone in some moments, not in cool, sketchy, comic-ly way, but just in plainly bad one. Lots of nudity, which is done nicely except for one scene. Nudity if fine by me, those were fun moments actually.
    3. Acting. I must say, Shadow Moon is amazingly dumb in the series, for a character who read tons of books. He literally has no clue what's happening for most of the season, although there are a LOT of hints (like supernatural **** happening) given to him, and is overall a very blank, boring and non-protagonist character. Basically he just does nothing and understands almost nothing in THE ENTIRE SEASON. Seriously! Most other actors also underdeliver, although I can't blame them with such directing and script, with a pleasant exception of Mr. Wednesday, played Ian McShane. He's probably the reason I watched first season till the end.
    Seriously, I failed to relate to any and one of the characters in episode in any way, except for one taxi passenger in one of the mini-series.
    4. Music and sound design. Mixed bag too, some effects are good, others seem to come from 80'ties and are done by someone who has no idea and really kick you out of the flow. Music is okay, opening music is great, otherwise it's pretty forgettable.
    5. Opening in the beginning of the each episode, with subtitles and stuff - really the best one I saw in the tv series.    … Expand
  2. dinovan
    Jun 14, 2017
    1
    I love the book, and the first few episodes showed promise. Unfortunately the plot ground to a halt somewhere in episode 4 and still hadn't restarted in episode 7.
    Such a shame, but 3 seasons for 1 book is just too slow. Over 30 hours to tell a 465 page story. I thought Peter Jackson was a joke taking 3 films for the Hobbit, but this is just taking the p***.
  3. TribeSpearMan
    Jul 5, 2017
    3
    Still dont know if this is a comedy trying to take itself seriously or something serious trying to be funny. Its attempts at esoteric storytelling through its fractured editing (while bold) serves no purpose and comes off as rather silly.
    I think the best part of this show is the parodies that it will inevitably spawn.
    Visually it is quite intriguing and fun. Im hoping that it gets    Still dont know if this is a comedy trying to take itself seriously or something serious trying to be funny. Its attempts at esoteric storytelling through its fractured editing (while bold) serves no purpose and comes off as rather silly.
    I think the best part of this show is the parodies that it will inevitably spawn.

    Visually it is quite intriguing and fun. Im hoping that it gets some form of dialogue in the future along with a plot to back up the visual aspects because its got potential. Hopefully people dont judge the source material too hard from watching the show.    … Expand
  4. BillJustBill
    May 21, 2017
    1
    The first episode seemed promising. Interesting characters, interesting situations. The second episode however was another story entirely (or rather lack of story might be more accurate). The problem with these types of shows is that the producers are under the impression that they can string together a series of events--they are really just more or less "something happens"--and that's theThe first episode seemed promising. Interesting characters, interesting situations. The second episode however was another story entirely (or rather lack of story might be more accurate). The problem with these types of shows is that the producers are under the impression that they can string together a series of events--they are really just more or less "something happens"--and that's the same thing as a "story." They can make it work up to a point if the events are inherently interesting and/or entertaining. However the second episode of AG didn't have these (or this) element going for it. Long, loooonnnnnggggg speeches by not that interesting characters with nothing much else going on (or at least not enough). Bottom line here is that if you put me to sleep (which you did) I'm not too likely to try and watch more.… Expand
  5. Nathonas
    May 13, 2017
    3
    Poor directing and pacing, cringeworthy dialogue, and a completely flat leading actor. I'm surprised this show actually made it to TV with such poor craftsmanship.
  6. Whatdaphuck
    Aug 8, 2017
    0
    I watched this **** based on my brother telling me about it. This is the biggest load of crap ever written, produced, filmed and broadcasted. Even as Gods, blacks are reduced to a reject from a Pimps and Hoes convention. Mr. Nancy, a **** tailor, sounds like he just jumped of the train from the State of Blaxploitation. Beloise or whatever she's called is portrayed as a homeless whore whoI watched this **** based on my brother telling me about it. This is the biggest load of crap ever written, produced, filmed and broadcasted. Even as Gods, blacks are reduced to a reject from a Pimps and Hoes convention. Mr. Nancy, a **** tailor, sounds like he just jumped of the train from the State of Blaxploitation. Beloise or whatever she's called is portrayed as a homeless whore who sucks souls through her vagina. The Jinn of the Islamic religion is reduced to a homo. And let us not forget the Black flunky for the white cracker devil god oden, Shadow Moon. Stupid name aside, this idiot is of course a convict. I mean naturally because he is black he deserves prison. Not only that, he is grieving over a woman who died sucking another man's dick. There is not enough love in the world to forgive some **** like that. When you watch this on demand as I did, because I don't watch stars, they run interviews from the producers trying to explain what it is that they are wanting to convey via their stories. They try to sound as if they are making some great statement about the world and race relations and other social issues as if they are offering some great point of view of it all. All this **** does it maintain the ideas that white gods are the natural curators of life and everything in it past, present and future and all other gods are subservient to them. Case in point, the white gods, although not believed in or worshipped have all prospered in the new age of Athieism, while the Black Gods are their servants. This show is total crap, no one of African descent should watch this.… Expand
  7. raporgi
    Apr 23, 2019
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. slow boring and incoherent its just full of boring gay/interracial sex. takes too phooking long to go anywhere and the narrative is just padded out and uninteresting.… Expand
  8. exota
    Feb 13, 2018
    3
    I loved the idea of this show . the CGI and acting is well done , but the story leaves me indifferent . i'm not intrigued or eager to see the next episode ( i'm at episode 2 and i already want to stop watching) . very disappointing . Still congrats to the actors and the CGI people , they're the stars of this show , the writers should be replaced for next season though. From HBO i alwaysI loved the idea of this show . the CGI and acting is well done , but the story leaves me indifferent . i'm not intrigued or eager to see the next episode ( i'm at episode 2 and i already want to stop watching) . very disappointing . Still congrats to the actors and the CGI people , they're the stars of this show , the writers should be replaced for next season though. From HBO i always expect good acting , good images , and yes a little bit too much gratuitous sex so i expected all that . what i didn't expect was the poor storyline… Expand
  9. Thompo84
    May 17, 2017
    0
    More self indulgent drivel from Bryan Fuller, Hannibal had potential, he ruined it. This had potential of which % was fulfilled. The quality TV market is so competitive right now, why are they letting this fool kill off shows before they even get going!
  10. moviestalker
    Jul 17, 2017
    3
    First off, I liked the premise, which is why I've watched season one *hoping* all loose ends would lead somewhere... Well, all I can say is: No they don't.
    American Gods not only is an incredibly slow paced show it also - for whatever reason - decides to tell the story of characters who will have ZERO influence on the story of season one, for example Bilquis and the Genie. In case you    First off, I liked the premise, which is why I've watched season one *hoping* all loose ends would lead somewhere... Well, all I can say is: No they don't.
    American Gods not only is an incredibly slow paced show it also - for whatever reason - decides to tell the story of characters who will have ZERO influence on the story of season one, for example Bilquis and the Genie. In case you don't know who Bilquis is, you're out of luck as the show never bothers introducing most of the gods we meet.
    Now let's talk about the "Main character" of the show, if you can even call him that ... I could live with the fact that he has a name you'ed normally expect to see in a cheap anime, but what really makes me dizzy is how completely indifferent he appears to be about the stuff that happens around him and only once in a while bothers asking what on earth is actually going on. He has numerous opportunities to ask the other gods he meets about who they really are, but decides against it. Pretty much every single character in this show is more interesting that Shadow moon.
    I don't understand why this boring show get's praised so much. Maybe mediocrity is something to strive towards nowadays? After watching this mess I truely believe it is.    … Expand
  11. abm0
    May 19, 2017
    0
    Looks like a bunch of snobby crap where they think forcing the viewer to come up with their own story (for lack of one on screen) is a brilliant idea and that it makes it a show "for smart people". No, it just makes it a heap of lazy vapid crap.
  12. Phix105
    Sep 4, 2017
    0
    This has to be one of the worst shows I've seen in years. The story is a mess and lacks any fluidity. There is about 10 minuets in each episode worth watching. I must director think that very long pauses between words is very dramatic. It's not! The pacing of the story is horribly slow.
  13. jackylus
    Jun 20, 2017
    0
    The show fails to deliver on every level: poor acting, slow-paced progression of the story, incoherence etc. It is an abuse of post-modern storytelling - references to gods are far-fetched and overwhelming instead of being economically intertwined with meaning of ancient in modern world.
  14. wantedtolikebut
    Jul 5, 2017
    0
    Update: 06/23: "American Gods" is cringe-worthy, cliche-ridden faux surrealism. It's such an awful show. Not even deliciously horrible. Just an exhibition of bad taste. The fact that this show has a score of 77, and "Twin Peaks: The Return" has a score of 74, is a JOKE. Update 5/24: Yeah, that's it for me. Done with this show. There are so many problems. But the casting of Ricky WhittleUpdate: 06/23: "American Gods" is cringe-worthy, cliche-ridden faux surrealism. It's such an awful show. Not even deliciously horrible. Just an exhibition of bad taste. The fact that this show has a score of 77, and "Twin Peaks: The Return" has a score of 74, is a JOKE. Update 5/24: Yeah, that's it for me. Done with this show. There are so many problems. But the casting of Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon is the main issue. It makes me think of how good Tom Hardy is in "Taboo" which is a great show no one is watching. "American Gods" is a terrible show everyone is watching. Welcome to America where the Gods are bad storytellers. ....................................................... Last night's episode was unbelievably pretentious. And it has nothing to do with the subject matter--that I love. It's that the execution is poor. A mess. From some bad casting to sophomoric direction... I think I'm done with this show. ..........................................................................."American Gods" is off to a rocky start for me. I am surprised by its weaknesses--the directing and the visual effects, particularly. In the two episodes I watched so far there are more gratuitous Extreme Close-Ups than in a student film. An ECU of a match strike doesn't lend specificity, it lends tedium. The digital effects are inconsistent, and downright tacky at moments. I borderline hate the show opening. For me a great show open tells a short story in an innovative, concise visual style. Take the open for HBO's "Westworld" for example -- that's a stunning open. "American Gods" open is an unfocused mess. Some choices are inspired--Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday, Gillian Anderson as Lucille Ball, for example. Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon has yet to grab me. Two episodes in, that's a bit concerning. I'll keep giving this a try though. I want to like it.… Expand
  15. TUZLO
    May 21, 2017
    0
    This show is extremly boring bad directing. In episode two you can learn how to tape the boxes and how to light the candle. I watch and allways fell in sleep. If you cant sleep you watch this tv show
  16. BrightCityLight
    Jun 2, 2017
    2
    Gander that it should be good, but damn it's not. The book was great, the crew looks solid ... but it's hard to struggle through an episode without thinking "huh" and "wow, this is borderline horrible". Reasons? Ricky Whittle is horrific in this - his lines come of so scripted its simply vomitus. He sounds like he is reading off cards and his mannerisms are terribly transparent. TheGander that it should be good, but damn it's not. The book was great, the crew looks solid ... but it's hard to struggle through an episode without thinking "huh" and "wow, this is borderline horrible". Reasons? Ricky Whittle is horrific in this - his lines come of so scripted its simply vomitus. He sounds like he is reading off cards and his mannerisms are terribly transparent. The way his ex-wife walks to the car out of the Casino in Episode 4 is simply nauseating - fingers on a chalkboard. Does nobody see this in post-production? Good actors just are ... this Whittle dude is having his challenges. If it weren't for McShane and his, what some would perceive as a glass eye ... totally rugged. After I try and will myself through an episode (I went through 4), I must watch The Leftovers and Fargo just to get back to base 1 sanity and remind myself that there is still talent on TV.

    Perplexed by the numbnutts higher ups that say 'Yeah guys, friggen' great job!' while giving each other high-5's ... not understanding who let this out of the cage - he or she should be fired. If the crew would have come to me with Episode 1 and said 'Boss, what you think ... good to go?' ... I would have said "Drawing board now ... this dogs#it is f'in sub par." But in a culture like America where sub-standard IS par-for-the-course and people take the I-don’t-want-to-think-but-just-zone-out stance, shows like this surpass in ratings truly lovely works of art like Tom Hardy's Taboo.

    Simply rugged.    … Expand
  17. dell221
    Jul 9, 2017
    0
    American Gods is God awful. i gave this show a try and it got worse and worse. Someone told me this show was good but there is no **** way this show is good. worst show I've seen all year. The critics gave this show a good ratting but i can't agree with this at all. Its not funny not much action just straight weird. this show can take some pointers from preacher and ash vs evil. thats howAmerican Gods is God awful. i gave this show a try and it got worse and worse. Someone told me this show was good but there is no **** way this show is good. worst show I've seen all year. The critics gave this show a good ratting but i can't agree with this at all. Its not funny not much action just straight weird. this show can take some pointers from preacher and ash vs evil. thats how you make a show funny and good at the same time. the only thing that is some what good about the show is the dead wife. everything else is just so un focused. they have way to many stories and they don't explain anything at all. they need 13 eps to try to tie things together. 8 eps wasn't close to enough.… Expand
  18. deck
    Jun 1, 2017
    2
    American Gods fasci.ates with questionable means. The focus is pure violence against life itself, presented in strong visual image
    Similar to Frank Miller's Sin City or 300.
    Unlike 300 or Sin City, the viewer is unusually close to the protagonists. Since these are anything but sympathetic, this creates a disgust. Problematic, because it is about gods and not everyone is this form of    American Gods fasci.ates with questionable means. The focus is pure violence against life itself, presented in strong visual image
    Similar to Frank Miller's Sin City or 300.

    Unlike 300 or Sin City, the viewer is unusually close to the protagonists. Since these are anything but sympathetic, this creates a disgust.

    Problematic, because it is about gods and not everyone is this form of representation fallen. Since the questions of good & evil, believe and not believe or black & white should not be treated by a entertainment series, which puts their focus on pictures, it is the best not even to turn on.    … Expand
  19. jigme
    May 1, 2017
    2
    About as entertaining as vomit. The upside of vomit is that after vomiting, you generally feel better; on that count, vomit has the advantage over this show. The two points I did give it were for its single redeeming moment: the punch in the face of the leprechaun. Horrific, masturbatory direction, no plot, grade-school dialogue, ridiculously overdone visuals all result in a steaming pileAbout as entertaining as vomit. The upside of vomit is that after vomiting, you generally feel better; on that count, vomit has the advantage over this show. The two points I did give it were for its single redeeming moment: the punch in the face of the leprechaun. Horrific, masturbatory direction, no plot, grade-school dialogue, ridiculously overdone visuals all result in a steaming pile of hollywood restaurant food.… Expand
  20. SchnitzelPoof
    Feb 14, 2018
    3
    This show is so bad, it makes me support the new Gods. It only gets 3 points due to Mr. Wednesday.
    I read the book years ago, and enjoyed it. Now, I couldn't have missed the point so badly, so I'm left to conclude that the writers have re-interpreted the entire story through their distorted view of the world.
    Just rename it to anti-American Gods, and save the rest of us normal people the effort.
  21. MLR
    Apr 12, 2019
    3
    I really enjoyed Season One, but as in any book someone is trying to convert into an infinite series, they have "deviated from the source material" in season two into meandering subplots about lynching blacks, oppression and social justice, and it is becoming clear the series is just treading water. You have these really fine actors standing around with nothing to say but pablum. A wasteI really enjoyed Season One, but as in any book someone is trying to convert into an infinite series, they have "deviated from the source material" in season two into meandering subplots about lynching blacks, oppression and social justice, and it is becoming clear the series is just treading water. You have these really fine actors standing around with nothing to say but pablum. A waste of talent. Anyway, after episode 5 I canceled my Starz subscription, I am out. I wish they had just filmed the book and made a great mini-series.… Expand
  22. M0NST3R_G4MING
    Apr 30, 2019
    0
    0/10 - The show "American Gods" is really garbage.

    Extremely slow and confusing story, everything is oversexualized and very strange animations. That's what you can expect in American Gods. To be honest, I expected a lot after the first trailer and was very disappointed. The story rarely really gets to the point and that makes it very difficult to understand. Especially if you start    0/10 - The show "American Gods" is really garbage.

    Extremely slow and confusing story, everything is oversexualized and very strange animations. That's what you can expect in American Gods. To be honest, I expected a lot after the first trailer and was very disappointed.
    The story rarely really gets to the point and that makes it very difficult to understand. Especially if you start with the series without any previous knowledge of the comics. The story might actually be very interesting. Interesting strands are often torn, but they are only executed bad and it ends in an incomprehensible story. The story only becomes more or less "good" at the end of the season.
    And as I have already mentioned, what bothers me about the series is the exaggerated use of nude scenes. In almost every episode there are some nude scenes, which wouldn't even have been necessary. That's very confusing.
    And I really don't like the animations. The animations really didn't represent the atmosphere well and in my eyes they even destroyed the atmosphere a lot. Through the combination of the very strange animations and the incomprehensible storytelling I had this "What the hell" moment throughout the whole show.

    Conclusion: I really can't recommend "American Gods". It's the worst show I've ever seen and I'll avoid the 2nd season. I won't do that to myself again. I can't recommend it to you either!    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Best TV Season of 2017
17
#17 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
18
#18 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Lorraine Ali
    May 1, 2017
    80
    The result is a wonderfully eclectic mix of gory bloodlust and fairy whimsy, ethereal beauty and tenement apartment realism. Special effects are masterfully used throughout American Gods to thrust viewers into alternate dimensions or let us know something otherworldly is about to happen. And when American Gods does get all supernatural, it’s beautiful.
    Read full review
  2. Salon
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    May 1, 2017
    100
    The conscientious visual style that Fuller honed on “Hannibal” achieves riotous new heights of sensuality in this series. Green, a DC Comics veteran whose television credits include serving as an executive producer on “Heroes,” aids in harmonizing the story’s surfeit of histories and personalities into an intelligible and spellbinding structure.
    Read full review
  3. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: Sophie Gilbert
    May 1, 2017
    60
    The eight-episode show fantasia of ancient mythology and Americana is gorgeously conceived, vastly imaginative, and ludicrously over the top. It also unfortunately falls sway to the worst, most self-indulgent excesses of prestige television, namely terrible pacing, prodigal violence, and a thuddingly unsubtle score that often feels better suited to a high-budget porn film.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »