American Gods ~ Lost in Adaptation

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How loyally did the first season of American Gods stick to the book its based on by Neil Gaiman?
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[@jacks1368]

I think the term you want for your new section is 'canon compliant'. It's used in fanfic for this kind of situation, describing events that COULD have happened and don't contradict the original work (and usually also remain 'original flavor', i.e. keeping the same tone as the original work, in the process).

[@AnonymousCheshire]

This is the answer!

[@sanityisrelative]

Bump to agree! (And for engagement to appease the ALGORITHM)

[@llsilvertail561]

Accurate. I didn't realize that's what it was until I read your comment lmao.

[@TheoRae8289]

I'd go with this as well.

[@EmethMatthew]

Makes sense to me. I was listening to that part thinking they're had to be a term for this, but you've got it covered

[@timothymclean]

"This adaptation doesn't fit neatly into my usual structure, and I've been thinking about how that structure makes assumptions about adaptations that aren't always accurate, but I've got an episode to release so I'll tack on a section for the gray areas and rethink my entire career later." Honestly, respect.

[@loturzelrestaurant]

Dominic Noble never did a Film-Critique in he Style of "Our Popcorn Dystopia" by KZbinr Some More News, right?

[@aliasisudonomo]

As a note, Shadow isn't just "black in the show" - his mother was black in the book, too, but Shadow himself had a complexion that people could take either way. The actor is just about accurate on that score.

[@mad8598]

Yeah I’m surprised Dom didn’t pick up on that as he’s usually pretty astute. Even if someone wants to be very deliberately obtuse about the descriptions of Shadow’s mom (the way some people were when the casting of the show was announced and they didn’t like Shadow being black), she also dies from sickle cell disease which occurs in much higher rates in black ethnic groups.

[@emilymoran9152]

Yeah, as soon as he said that I was going "Hang on, isn't he mixed race?" I knew I remembered other people playing "guess the ethnicity" with Shadow's face throughout...

[@jeleujeu4307]

Was about to write the same thing. I think they did a good job casting Shadow.

[@noramonchi5793]

I Just revently finished the Audiobook, and i dont think He is explicitly described aß black or biracial, the Term "dark" or dark skinned is used to decribe him. And jas, His mother was black, so im All around Happy with the Casting. And abought anansi: He is the african spider god. So why should He bei anything but black. Plus: i also finished anansi boys and it think the dandy Look ist rather fitting. (But i thaught He would have one of this really really skinny mustaches)

[@yudithcaron8053]

With a name like Shadow, I was surprised he wasn't Native American, black mother or not.

[@BPDurbin]

The book makes it pretty clear that Wednesday arranged Laura’s car accident. One of his first lines when he ‘first hears’ the news is something like ‘would that there was any other way’ and he repeats it at the climax of the novel in a more literal context.

[@MsMeiriona]

arranged for Shadow's life to be ruined, yes, because Shadow having a life and job when he got out would be getting in the way of the plan, but the fact he had a direct agent actually DO it felt weird. In the book it's always a much more vague action on Wednesday's part, you don't see him using power outright, just arranges events so he's able to benefit from them, but having humans actually do the thing.

[@FairyGodFather125]

Short note on Bilqis: I don't think that Technical Boy just recommended her to use Tinder to find victims/sacrifices. I interpreted their scenes to mean that he created a dating app named after her so that the attention and emotions of the users would to some extent qualify as worship to her and thereby basically transitioning her to become one the new gods. Though there is the caveat that an app as a piece of technology falls under Technical Boy's sphere of influence giving him power over her.

[@OhMightyWeirdOne]

"Angry gets shit done." Mr. Nancy's scene on the boat is so powerful and provocative that I find myself coming back to it even after i finished the series. I hate that they axed the actor.

[@TheoRae8289]

I had to scroll for a bit after my own comment before finding a reference to Jones being fired. which makes me sad because I loved what he did with the character so much.

[@EmethMatthew]

Yes! All of this!

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

Honestly, it made me not be sad that they canceled the series (aside from not liking the actor playing Shadow as a person). Orlando Jones is the actor's name.

[@uanime1]

What does anything in that scene add to the plot?

[@TheoRae8289]

@@uanime1 establishes motive for Anansi's actions (well before Jones got fired). I mean the same could be asked of most of the Coming to America vignettes.

[@Rikku147]

I've struggled finishing American Gods as a book and I finally figured out that Shadow wasn't my favorite Neil Gaiman character. Ricky Whittle really made me appreciate and love the character and my GOD you're right about Laura. Emily Browning is such an underrated actress and I absolutely adore what they did with the character in the TV show.

[@Hadeshy]

Same. I gave up around halfway through the book cause I was just so done with Shadow. It's not that I hate him. It's that I didn't care about him at all. And when that's the protagonist, that really hinder your reading experience.

[@bulbafett5001]

Ricky and Ian's castings were the reasons I gave the show a chance. Loved the book to bits, but you know, adaptions tend to suck. Suck sooo bad. But loved Ricky in The 100 (as terrible as that show was) He was a delight yas Lincoln.

[@marocat4749]

Emily is great, a is the lebrachaun. They are so fun together.

[@cutthr0atjake]

I found the book OK, but feel its greatly overrated. As for whether it was accurate, season 1 felt fairly accurate, but that was soon to deteriorate after the producers left.

[@KainGerc]

Shadow is REALLY not engaging as a main character, especially in the book but also kinda in the show. Laura's added parts in the show were decent, but they didn't really elevate the main story too much. (they made her character relatively more interesting but it didn't make the main plot more compelling to watch)

[@EndisNi]

"Everyone who knows what's coming, just avoid eye contact for a bit, okay?" Well, okay, but only because I dissolved into evil laughter instead.

[@TheDisplacerBeast]

Hey, dont mind me, just leaving a comment to boost the algorithm as i havent read this yet and so wont finish the video. Have a splendiferous day. *Edit: finished, so finally getting to this video.

[@maja.z.pszczola]

Thank you for your service and dedication 🫡

[@r.leighmorgan]

Everything you just said makes me angry and I'm going to pick a fight to also boost the algorithm!!!!

[@TheDisplacerBeast]

@@r.leighmorgan fights are not welcome. They lower the net splendiferous-ness of this comment section. And we cant have that.

[@r.leighmorgan]

@@TheDisplacerBeast Very well, you’ve convinced me

[@TheDisplacerBeast]

@@r.leighmorgan Ah, a new convert to the church of splendifife-tology. Welcome aboard!

[@sawyerblossom7244]

I think the book American Gods was rightly a story about Shadow and the series is rightly a story about the gods. It's the same principal as if you've ever heard someone say that Howl's Moving Castle the manga is a story from Howl's perspective and Howl's Moving Castle the Studio Ghibli movie is a story from Sophie's perspective. Neil Gaiman's book was a story where you wondered more and more about the wonderful characters within the pages, and the show brings these characters to life by telling more of their story than the book did. Whether or not the series ever does that too much, I can't really say because in a way, it's a different story.

[@chyhodgson7726]

I am super confused... The anime was based on the Welsh novel, which is very much still about Sophie. What is the Manga like?????

[@Jully5Jullyet]

Is there an official Howl's Moving Castle manga??? I've only seen fan made ones...

[@UzumakiNarue]

@@chyhodgson7726 i think is about how in the movie we see Howl being super romantic with Sophie vs how in the book was more like : who the f are u??" Like a ....how howls tell the story of their first meeting vs what actually happend

@@chyhodgson7726 I was super confused when you said "Welsh", so I looked it up. :) Howl's author, Diana Wynne Jones was born in London, studied at Oxford, and died in Bristol. She evacuated to Wales during WW2, but I think she was only there as a kid during the war. Howl's Moving Castle was first published by a US publisher, Greenwillow Books, in 1986.

@@Jully5Jullyet The manga appears to be a companion manga for the Ghibli film. It uses a lot of shots from the film. The English and French versions mention both Miyazaki and Jones on the cover. I can't read the Japanese or Chinese covers and Translate wasn't helpful.

[@TheOnlyToblin]

The actor who plays Anansi is an absolute comedic beast, with a huge range. I've loved everything he's made ever since I first saw him in Evolution. (Yes, I enjoy that movie, for as dumb as it is)

[@mistermaestersirthomas9164]

Orlando Jones

[@Popcultureguy3000]

Hearing what Orlando Jones said about the revolving showrunners and possibly racism fueled mistreatment he was delt by them and the clueless dunderheads at Fremantle, is the reason I decided to *NEVER* watch seasons 2 & 3.

[@mistermaestersirthomas9164]

@@Popcultureguy3000 understandable, unfortunate that it was probably Orlando’s best work.

[@Popcultureguy3000]

@@mistermaestersirthomas9164 I am not sure the Fremantle producers were as outright racist as Mr. Jones thought they were given that he posted that takedown of them during the height of BLM, but if they aren’t, then that makes them something that is in some ways a lot worse. They could well have been so scared saying anything further about the racist power structures in America so that they don’t “offend potential viewers” that they were more than willing to fire a “rabble rouser” just to keep these hypothetical conservative viewers happy in their safe little media bubbles. They are _at best_ the meek “Aw shucks, we don’t wanna offend anybody” saps the racist conservative propaganda machine depends on in order to say increasingly worse things about PoC’s and other minorities in order to normalize hateful discrimination onto them in America.

[@cunott280]

hes also great in the movie The Replacements.

[@HannahLLeonard]

Shadow was always black, as far as I can remember. I think there a bit in the book that was in the show where some inner city kids made fun of him for the way he spoke because his mother (who was black) was a professor who raised him with a more advanced education. But maybe I got one of the editions with the extra material. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@bellablue5285]

I think I have the original version (first paperback edition at least), and he was characterized the same in that version

[@darrenalmgren634]

I think Shadow is in fact black in the book - probably more on the lighter side of skin color (based on several comments made by other characters). But I believe he is black canonically - which I’m glad they kept that in the show

[@Larper64]

While I haven't read to book or seen the series, as a massive mythology fan, I like this interpretation of Anansi. It makes sense that he knows what is going to happen to his people as he has access to every story that was told, is told, and will be told, which would include what would happen in the future. It's an interesting concept to address and makes sense in a modern world that he saw what was goong to happen and would share it.

[@JessieGender1]

Excellent as always. Also should say, make sure you check what happened to the actor who played Anansi between Season 2 and 3.

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

It's like Sleepy Hollow a bit all over again. 😑

[@NeroLeMorte]

@@LadyAstarionAncunin yup

[@sydneylynskey7587]

In the show, Shadow is a way more interesting character. As in the books, I found him to be just a way to accepting of all the crazy stuff around him. While in the show, I liked how Shadow often made an active choice to be there, making him play a more active role in the story.

[@andreasbuehler1821]

That's an important part of Shadow's story in the book, though. Shadow's life ended when his wife died, and he has to find a new life, so he can go on. It's what enables him to die and be reborn with the power of Odin/Baldr/Jesus/Easter.

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

Shadow is more of a reader's POV character in the book; whereas the TV show gave him more agency. Still didn't like his character, though. Whenever they focused on just him, I'd get bored.

[@kellyezebra]

All valid observations/opinions! In my experience, once you’ve hit rock bottom, survived, and hit rock bottom again (especially as with Shadow thinking his life is about to stop sucking and getting destroyed), you spend a while kinda stunned with an attitude like, “this might as well happen, why not‽”

[@andreasbuehler1821]

@@kellyezebra Sure. But I think the main thing for me is that Shadow's entire thing in the book is that he has a death and rebirth arc, mythologically speaking. He starts out dead, people even remark on it. He doesn't seem properly alive, he's numb. Then he dies physically, goes to the afterlife and comes back, at which point the book literally tells us that he "feels alive" for the first time in the entire book. At which point he starts being proactive again and him and Laura kind of usurp the entire plan. I think it's a lovely character arc.

[@KireiC]

Shadow certainly feels more his own guy in the show vs. the book. Book!Shadow, to me, was less assuming, quieter, more stoic/ kinda dead inside (and maybe not just due to losing his wife but just as his general vibe, since Laura comments on his non-presence to him when recollecting her time with him vs. time spent with her side-piece) and more going-along-with-things, which isn't too much of an issue since as readers we're privy to his thoughts and feelings even when he's not speaking them aloud. Show!Shadow is 1) wow okay like *model* attractive, not unassuming, and 2) displays much more emotionality. Which I think makes sense; were he more like his book counterpart he'd probably seem too dull without us virtually inside his head. I like both still - they are, I assume, iterations made different by their medium.

[@Daughter_of_Stories]

I would add a category called expansion, in which we get information that wasn't in the book, but doesn't contradict anything in the book. This would also include scenes that we were told about in the book, but we actually see in the adaptation. (i.e. character A tells character B "Oh, yes, character B and I used to be in an adventuring party together, and then the adaptation gives us anything from random, fun, out of context snippets of their past adventures to a full episode flashback of the two of them.) This plays into the viewing experience as, depending on how it's done, expansions can be anything from taking advantage of the switch from limited POV to multi POV (showing us scenes that the POV character didn't see, but we know happened), to lengthening the story in an organic way (turning a minor characters off-screen adventures into a subplot that benefits the story), to pointless filler (the above, but the new subplot feels unnecessary and you just want it to end so you can get back to the characters you came here to watch), to changing the story without technically changing it (the new information doesn't actually contradict anything/all contradictions are explained away, but it really doesn't feel like anything the writer imagined or the audience could have assumes--the difference between learning character A planned a seemingly random event and going, "yeah, that sounds like character A" and learning the same and going, "nah, character A really isn't that smart), to fixing the mistakes of the original (like in Twilight, where every time something action-y happened, Bella would be either unconscious or in hiding, and the filmmakers were like, screw that, we want to show awesome supernatural fight scenes!). Of course, a lot of this is subjective, but so it most of what you do, so...

[@tomasxfranco]

I don't think expansion is the best name for it. It implies that there is more than filling in blanks in the main story, like adding in new locations and plot events within the main story. It doesn't necessarily have to expand the "world"/scope of the story depicted.

[@inelouw]

Mr. Nancy and Laura are two of my absolute favourite characters from the book, and I feel like the show really expands on what is already there in their characters in the book, even if it's not entirely written out. In the case of Mr. Nancy, maybe I'm experiencing some crossover from Anansi Boys and being familiar with the Anansi stories, but in the case of Laura, I know that everything I felt about her is based on subtext and my interpretation, and it completely matches up with how her character is fleshed out in the show. So to me it feels like a book interpretation, not something they made up.

[@mystic0screams]

Yeah grew up on the Anansi stories so always excited when I see him depicted in pop culture media

[@alanpennie8013]

@@mystic0screams He seemed pretty evil in season 1, but became much more nuanced in 2.

[@nadirmuhammad9357]

@@alanpennie8013 Oh how so?

[@forodinssake9570]

Honestly in the book Laura was absolutely unbearable to me

[@Lady_Yunalesca]

I really loved the first season. Everything was so visually cool too: I loved how each of the Gods were presented, with special shutouts to Media and Mr. World. I thought Laura was a really interesting character. And I still remember moments that gave me shivers, like "Angry gets shit done." I never watched the second and third seasons because of the behind the scenes issues I heard about.

[@TheoRae8289]

Find Mr Nancy's scenes from S2 though. Jones put a lot of work into those and it shows.

[@llsilvertail561]

I just want to say that parody at the end was beautiful, I would listen to a full song like that, and I think Green Day themselves would be (or, at least, should be) in support of it.

[@GallowglassVT]

Mr Nancy in the show is honestly legendary and the fact that the actor was sacked for no real reason is both upsetting and unsettling, given what his character says. just remember, lads: Angry gets shit done.

[@yensid4294]

I really enjoyed how Laura's & Mad Sweeney's characters were expanded on the show & that they made Sweeney the Celtic god Lugh, not just a leprochan. There was a lot added in the show & those actors breathed life into those characters 100%. Anansi especially. Too bad Orlando Jones had a falling out with the production team & his story was essentially dropped.

[@laurabrunetto5864]

I think Mad and Laura grew up so much in the show that they became the main characters in the end

[@yuso3333]

I would say the main difference for me is tone. The book was always gloomy and you felt like Shadow was death inside and wasn't really there most of the time. Then in the show, he is mostly angry and violent. I guess he was in the book too, but didn't feel like it... The separate stories felt more violent too. I couldn't even keep watching the show precisely because it felt overly violent to me.

[@o0BlackSand0o]

Your adaptation structure is good, mostly because of how you present it. You make it clear that leaving stuff out, or changing it, doesn't mean it's bad, just different

[@lois7956]

Honestly, I've never read the book but that show? It's like a religious-y experience watching. Anansi can leave you feeling angry and inspired and Mr. World's monologue about salsa is fantastic and when I was waxing lyrically about it to a friend about it how I need to read the book because I was sure that those scenes would be amazing in the book, they said that they weren't in it and Anansi was completely different. Absolutely broke my heart

[@loturzelrestaurant]

Noble never did a Film-Critique in he Style of "Our Popcorn Dystopia" by KZbinr Some More News, right?

[@aaronsirkman8375]

@@loturzelrestaurant Why are you asking this in response to multiple comments? Especially when it's a non-sequitor question?

[@waltonsmith7210]

The story of the two twins separated by slavery in the book. Its even more heaetbreaking.

[@squiddyowlbairn1028]

Every time you hinted about Bilqis, I was certain you were referring to how she died. When I read the book, the thing that hit me the hardest was the brutality of her death. When I realised you were referring to her powers, I was a bit bemused. The way she consumed people didn't give me the visceral horror that her death did. Is this the difference between someone who grew up with a male experience and someone who grew up with a female experience?

[@spangelicious837]

No, I don't think it's a male vs female perspective thing at all. Her powers are basically raping everyone she has sex with, because while they might consent initially to sex, they most definitely did not consent to being eaten by her bagingo. I didn't like that they decided to expand her role so much. That doesn't mean her death wasn't brutal and disturbing, but it does mean that I didn't particularly care that she died.

[@MistyWarden]

I think so too. There’s a similarly sharp divide between how women and men reacted to Teeth (in general).

[@RaasAlHayya]

Same here.

[@stevespain6445]

I LOVED Bilquis! For a Goddess of Love, I thought her way of accepting sacrifice was novel, and definitely Freudian. I really enjoyed her journey, albeit a sad one, in the show. The later season where she takes a turn away her down-troddedness, was also lovely.

[@NotoriousLightning]

She got what was coming to her, being such a little rascal and all.

[@Grnvolpe]

Mr. Nansi was THE BEST thing about this show. The strongest writing and social commentary. So great. Heartbroken when he was kicked-off/left the show. I haven’t seen season 3 because of it. Ian mcShane was obviously great

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

If you didn't see Season 3, then you didn't have to suffer through Shadow's weird, straightened hair. It's so distracting.

[@yanalee23]

@@LadyAstarionAncunin it really was weird 😂

[@taekwongurl]

The actor for Shadow Moon, what a smoke show of a human being and he can act!! In terms of content, I'm really glad that Gaiman expanded on his own universe. It actually really fit. Orlando Jones as "Nancy" was the reason I wanted to watch AG in the first place, he looked absolutely terrifying and from the trailers alone, he was the reason I was hooked.

[@geraltbiaywilk1788]

idk, i think it was hard for me to judge his acting ability, because Shadow is such a flat character, i think he was better in the show, but tbh i felt like he mostly just held kinda angsty smoulder the whole show, and that was extent of his acting. It might be unfair, but next to Mad Sweeney, Laura and Odin, he was very subdued

[@helenl3193]

Orlando Jones was incredible as Mr Nancy! I was gutted when they fired him

[@gateauxq4604]

Ricky Whittle was on The 100 before he was cast in American gods and was fantastic on that show. I haven’s watched AG only because I haven’t gotten Starrz (yet.)

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

The actor playing Shadow Moon has bothered me because he seems to have racial identity issues IRL (not just because of straightening his hair but based on things he's said). I don't care for him as a person. He has a beautiful body, handsome face, and skintone, but he rubs me the wrong way.

[@EveryDayALittleDeath]

The ending parody is everything. Tell Il Neige I need a full version

[@partyhooty4141]

I like to consider American Gods te book and the show as 2 pieces made by the same author but with 2 mindsets. I really like the fact that the show allows some character, like Laura, to have a lot more development than "cheater", but as you said yourself, I'm frustrated with Shadow not being developped a lot I think in comparison.

[@MarquisdeL3]

I was lucky enough to see a Q&A with Gaiman and Fuller in the lead up to the release of American Gods! I went because my sister and I were pretty big Hannibal fans (Fuller is one of her favorite screenwriters) and we went with a friend who was a huge fan of Neil Gaiman. They talked about development and showed us the first episode and answered questions. It was a blast.

[@Popcultureguy3000]

Do you think Fuller and Gaiman _actually_ had a falling out at the end of season one, or do you think Fremantle was *forcing* Gaiman to say all those negative things about Fuller?

[@MarquisdeL3]

@@Popcultureguy3000 I didn't follow the behind the scenes gossip too closely. What I heard was that Fuller asked for a higher budget, then he either left when he didn't get it or he was forced out. Fuller leaving is I believe also at least part of why Gillian Anderson and Kristin Chenoweth left after season 1. Also, considering how badly Fremantle treated a ton of the actors after season 2, I'm disinclined to take anything they say at face value. Orlando Jones has been very open about how they screwed him over. It's why I never actually finished season 2 (one episode away when my family cancelled the account) and haven't watched season 3.

[@alanpennie8013]

@@MarquisdeL3 Season 3 is probably the least good but still has some impressive scenes. Bizarrely Bilquis and Technical Boy became much more prominent in that season.

[@lexnight]

Il neige needs to turn that one into a full length bop, that has to be the greatest end parody song yet and I want to blast it on repeat.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

I have not personally watched the show partly because some of the bts stories from season 2 seemed off but this was definitely interesting to learn about. Having two actors play Loki makes a great deal of sense and I think Gaiman was generous when he opened up about legitimately liking the Laura episode.

[@songsayswhat]

I always felt Mad Sweeney got the short end in the book, so was glad to see his (and Laura's) role extended. Liked Selim, too. Did not like what they did with Bilquis. Didn't care for Vulcan, and agree that Shadow would not have stuck around had Odin turned to flat out murder. They lost Fuller in Season 2 & 3 if I remember correctly, and that was a shame. (Speaking of, since this is a series, how about doing Hannibal?)

[@gateauxq4604]

@hakasims that’d just make it more interestjng 👀 but seriously he could still do a video about the show (or all media) without doing a LiT

[@songsayswhat]

@Lady Faulkner Yeah. I realize LIA wouldn't fit, but would love to see him try this one.

[@RedClaw87]

I'm always a sucker for world and character building. So expanding on the world and characters, that feels book accurate is always a positive for me. As long as done well.

[@lasseehrenreich5502]

I highly recommend Neil Gaiman´s book Norse Mythology where he tells the original myths in his own amazing writing style.

[@LongfusedbombasticBarbarian]

I suspect there is going to be a lot to unpack here

[@strdseraph2765]

I really loved S1 of the show. The Coming to America bits were fascinating and I think they did a fantastic job showing what happens when there are multiple iterations of a god with the JC scene at Easter's party. Mr Nancy was my favorite character it's a shame they wrote him out of S3, but I heard he's getting his own spin off.

[@TheoRae8289]

It'd have to be Jones playing him or it won't have the same feel. And I don't know if he'd come back after what happened and how he was fired.

[@antonellamR2D2]

it's not a real spin-off, it's based upon another book (the BBC did the audio version and it was fire!)

[@JedioftheRose]

@@antonellamR2D2 Are they doing Anansi Boys?!

[@KireiC]

@@JedioftheRose oh that would be cool! Mr. Nancy's backstory (of sorts) based on the book would make a great limited-run series.

[@NeoComicus]

I wanted to love this show as much as I love the book. Alas, after a relatively decent start it took what I would describe as a nosedive. Partway through the second season I completely checked out.

[@lucianacarvalho3136]

This show had so much potential! I'm sad it was cancelled. Anansi and Mad Sweeney were amazing, my favorite characters.

[@ShidoMedia]

As a person who really adored the book American Gods it's really interesting to see how the material was changed to the tv-screen. I never had access to the series when it aired and had only heard miixed views on it - that being the purists being upset and the non-readers being... I can't recall why they were bothered. I'm myself open to the changes that come with interpreting a work from one medium to another. Anyway. Really interesting to see this work being worked through.

[@redravin40]

I absolutely loved the first season (like putting it on the top ten shows), slowly lost interest in the second, and bailed on the third. It's basically on my list with Heroes and Sleepy Hollow of shows that only have one season.

[@TheHeroOfMobius]

"Hypnotize them with your catty goodness." Sir Terry, the new American God.

[@Itsgay2read]

TV Anansi was too much for the world, his monolog was phenomenal and powerful!

[@isc8900]

i loved Sweeney's arc throughout the show, i genuinely felt concerned when he said "someone here is gonna die" in _Treasure of the Sun_ episode, and my concerns came true, he died. but his past being revealed, and his rebellion against Grimnir was a joy to watch...

[@therandomartist3201]

Honestly I really enjoy listening to Dom talk about books and book series

[@connorflynn3462]

While I have not read the book, I found myself in love with the first two seasons of the show, it kept me engaged pretty thoroughly. I would love to see a Lost in Adaptation of the next 2 seasons, even if season 3 is a bit rough.

[@LikeTheProphet]

I’ve gotta be perfectly honest with you, the thing that impressed me most in the show was the TechBoy. I STILL think his redesign was flawless.

[@LunaWitcherArt]

The lyrics in the credits were great, Il Neige hardly ever disappoints!

[@theduskmonarch6207]

I have read the book and watched the entire show and i have to say that i am reluctantly okay with the changes. The book has a very selective focus on the core idea of belief and how it changes Shadow in particular. His perspective is the red string leading us through the story. We only learn at the end how much everything was interconnected and plotted for the purpose of Odin and Loki. That in itself would have made a poor TV show. It is too introspective and slow to conform to the modern style of showmaking with a handful of interesting characters and an interweaving plot. The show feels a lot more modern and approachable. It draws people in with more clear characters, less cloak and dagger, more interesting visuals and more. Overall it feels like a work with two potential timelines. The book feels like a story written after being told by Shadow. It has this old time feeling of black and white movies, slowly evolving technology and a true "war" between the blossoming technology and the individual style that Odin is preaching. The show in contrast is modern and takes on a more modern style of telling the story. It evolves characters like Odin, Loki, Shadow and most of the other characters into more time appropriate versions of themselves. For me the book is a story, wheras the series is a world. They are both amazing in different ways and for different occasions.

[@drgnlady13]

I read the book a long time ago, and really looked forward to the show. I was not at all disappointed. The differences are unmistakable, but both versions are immensely entertaining, and I'm grateful that they both exist.

[@rafaelmarkos4489]

Maybe it's the ace side of me talking, but Bilquis in the show doesn't squick me out much. It's just a slightly different variety of skin slapping and exploding wetness to me.

[@MravacKid]

Them dropping this show is a bloody outrage. It's such a unique thing on TV...

[@WeCanCos]

Bryan Fuller rarely disappoints me with adaptations. He understands what is the spirit of the book while making interesting changes which bring further depth to the work. In other words, he makes really good high quality fanfiction. American Gods wasn't for me, but I cannot deny it was ambitious.

[@chizzicle]

God as NFTs is a banger line in the ending song absolute nightmare scenario

[@FadzaiSimango]

The crimson red nails are definitely my fave so far. Love it!

[@melanino]

Honestly, the best part of the show (the show is pretty good) Laura has the most interesting developement. I love what they did, they fleshed her out and made her more interesting without really forgiving her actions. I ended up loving her and relating to some of her thoughts at times

[@wasd_totallyreal_dsaw9865]

Mr Nancy's speaches remain the best.

[@nickasaro8789]

Season 1 of the show is God Tier, the other 2 are a different story but for this season alone, I thought that this was a very well made adaptation that gave me confidence they were gonna get it right straight out of the gate. even though there were flaws with the things they decided to expand upon, there are just as many changes to love, like Laura, Sweeney and Mr. Nancy. In fact, I lost count of how many times I watched it the summer it came out because I was that impressed by it. Shame the behind the scenes drama made it so the other seasons couldn’t follow suit, except for a few episodes.

[@RukoHanaji]

Just throwing this out there in regards to Bilkis. I knew she was supposed to be the Queen of Sheba and possibly a wife of Solomon, but she could also be counted as semi-immortal as her mother was supposed to have been a jinn. Also with queens in antiquity being associated with and worshipped as incarnations of goddesses, would that actually affect them after their mortal bodies stopped working?

[@keepperspective]

The cast is incredible

[@indianajo3557]

"shadow is black in the show" to be fair, he is black in the book too, although it is left a bit more ambigious - he is obviously non-white though so while more subtle racial themese are being brought up in the book as well

[@oklaclarinet]

I read the book last summer prior to a road trip which included a stop at the center of the continental US in Kansas, but I've not seen the show. Your mention of scene with multiple Jesuses reminded me of a play I saw at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2008. It was called The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler, written by Jeff Whitty, and there was a scene with a Lake of Many Jesuses.

[@Jarakin]

I’m not normally one to shill for the advertisement, but I really cannot recommend the full cast audiobook version of this hard enough, it’s an amazing way to experience this book

[@ftalbert1]

I loved the book and really enjoyed the show. They definitely took different directions as they went, but I def appreciated them both. I never expected the show to be too loyal to the book. I do wish they hadn't canceled the 4th season

[@Joenah5]

Huh, a lot of the additions sound really interesting. I might have to check out the show.

[@monicaenns9967]

I loved the show, and now I need to check out the book!

[@Rork310]

First season of American Gods is a bit of a weird beast. It has parts I love and parts I didn't care for, Its sometimes extremely book loyal and sometimes it does its own thing. It's casting is absolutely god tier and it's above all very weird, which I think is to the season's benefit. It's got it's own identity.

[@webratjen]

Neil Gaiman was my absolute go to when growing up. Now that I have some years, i still recognise his skill and imagineation, but he is no longer the be-all-end(less)-all. I liked the adpation of American Gods, and would like to see more. Janice Poon deserves mention as Brian Fuller's food designer (she did amazing work on Hannibal)

[@joeb0624]

I watched the show before I read the book, all 3 seasons and I love all the extra world building that comes with the side characters getting extra screen time. Mad Sweeney is far and away my favourite character, and to see how he came to be at the point he is now, as with all the gods that get a fair bit of backstory, is fascinating. Centuries of change and adapting to the world as it is for them is a testament to the ever-changing of the mythologies they come from, and with Gaiman’s love of the Norse pantheon, mythologies and with all things Americana, this gradual change is demonstrated in the book, but the visuals of the show add an extra layer of supernatural ambience which only heightens the fish out of water feel coming into this world. Long story short, loved the show and the book and will take any chance I get to experience more of this world, and hoping somebody picks up season 4 😂

[@chanimalice3874]

I loved both the book and the tv series (well, what little of the tv series we got) I liked the changes and thought it suited a tv adaptation a lot better. Crispin Glover was amazingly menacing as Mr World, Ian McShane is always a win, and not only is Ricky Whittle 100% what I envisioned Shadow as (and also smoking hot) but he is also one the loveliest people I've ever had the good fortune to meet. I met him at a karaoke bar in Perth Australia, and then at Comic Con in Melbourne a couple of years later, and he remembered me from the bar! Like genuinely did (he remembered what song I sang without me prompting him) I was so upset when the show was cancelled after three seasons.

[@adrianodrika]

Well, I've seen the show, and as in Coraline, Good Omens and Sandman, we can feel Gaiman's creativity in the whole.

[@darrenalmgren634]

I love how Orlando Jones has Mr. Nancy switch between multiple accents depending on how serious and how mad he gets. When he’s serious, he switches to an African accent (don’t know if it’s a specific region accent), then switches to a more urban accent when he gets SUPER mad. Just love that addition

[@VioletDeVille]

My only real complaint about the first season was the change to Easter, a goddess of the people and turning her into a socialite that hid herself away. “Let it feed them.”

[@KireiC]

Yeah I always read her as a more bohemian type - probably a kind of mysterious one, but certainly not, uh, posh - given their meeting with her in the book.

[@Alefiend]

Unfortunately, I'm in more or less the same boat as you are. The show felt very much like American Gods, and I was more than willing to accept the changes because of the different era and medium. But at the same time, it failed to bring me back for the second season because I felt the show was losing the thread of the book, getting too expansive. I'd probably enjoy season 2 and season 3 if I were to watch them, but so far I haven't had enough desire to dive back in.

[@ruthbennett7563]

Season 2 is very weak. Season 3 was horrid/insulting. Season 1 is an adaptation… the look later seasons threw away both the book & original adaptation plan.

[@unclegumbald989]

Betty Gilpin was an underrated gem of a bit part. She is AMAZING in everything she does.

[@summercucumber4964]

Thank you for the content you create. It's always a joy to see your videos pop up in my notifications!

[@moxxibekk]

I have to wait to finish this as I haven't finished the tv series yet, but wanted to say I love this book and have read it several times!

[@juliaproenca7101]

So... this one is hard. I absolutely love the book. It was one of my first Gaimans and as a kid that loved mythology I felt right at home. I was very excited for the show, especially since it was produced by Bryan Fuller (I love Pushing Daisies!), and the first season was great! The second season not so much, as I felt that the narrative of the book was being left aside to cater to fan favorites or a story the writers had in their heads. But oh, boy the last season.... I had to force myself to finish it, for my love of the book and my nagging feeling of leaving things halfway. Overall it was kind of a waste of great material and good actors :(

[@grundgutigertv6170]

6:30 as a former airline employee, I can confirm this. We basically are the bouncers of the airport lol

[@stanleyteriaca2184]

Well, Anansi is a trickster God, but his anger is understandable. His people were enslaved and he couldn't do anything to save them.

[@ladytremere85]

I've read the book (it's one of my absolute favorites out of everything I've ever read), and regarding just season one, I didn't mind the changes that were made. Sometimes change is necessary when going from page to screen, and sometimes a character can evolve in the mind of the creator in that time. I absolutely adore the changes to Mr. Nancy, and nothing comes off to me as a bad change.

[@jackkain7141]

I really hope that you get to the next two seasons! I'm quite sad that the studio pulled the plug on the final season. It would have been good to get a proper wrap up of it all. Also, point of amusement - a good part of this very Set in America story, was filmed in Ontario, Canada. The department store meeting between Shadow and Media is in a Canadian Tire store, a chain with immediately recognizable decor to anyone who's lived in Canada for a couple years.

[@seancain2216]

Liked before I even started watching it. This is going to be GOOOOOOOD! Thank you!

[@juliewedam9826]

"Yes, yes hypnotize them with your catty goodness", yes we are hypnotized. :) I wasn't in a good head place when I first as reading in American Gods. Belaquist's scene was the final straw for me at the time. These videos give me the inclination to start again. Thank you !

[@asarishepard8171]

im glad youre covering this one!

[@johnathanholmes1297]

Here. Have mine '.

[@throwaway2294]

Personally, I’d really enjoy a What They Followed/Kept The Same - What They Adapted - What They Contradicted setup. I’ve had some trouble following the current setup sometimes with my ADHD, and I feel like this setup would also allow you to talk a bit more about the themes and tone of the adaptation as opposed to just plot - a scene can be adapted from the book but still very loyal to the general tone and themes, and it can be kept the same but in context completely contradict everything the book was doing (an example is The Giver - by following the book exactly, they ended up revealing a twist that takes a significant amount of time in the book literally in the trailer, which changed how the tone evolves through the story as we learn more). On the topic of an adaptation adding to the original, while I’ve neither read the book nor seen the show, I personally love when adaptations do that and therefore actually add something of interest to the canon rather than just repeating the books. It’s impossible to keep the tone of a book completely intact when adapting anyway imo, so you might as well use the different medium and the fact it’s a new retelling to your advantage.

[@CorySkelton]

The full cast audiobook was the title that converted me into a full audiobook listener. I adore the novel. Overall I really liked s1 of the show and thought the changes were a good addition as a tv show is not a book and you simply need to add more perspectives. And I loved Laura and MS. I think had the show aimed for 3 seasons and Fuller not left it would've been incredible. Attempting to stretch it to five was just unnecessary.

[@Dantalliumsolarium]

I’ve only listened to the book and this is making me really eager to watch the show. Cuz I loved Laura and like, ooooh my godsss this is so goooooddd

[@AlgernontheWizard]

I loved the show. A great adaptation I thought.

[@tepkunset]

Fantastic video as always! I've only ever seen the show, but your two videos here make me want to check out the novel as well.

[@MsPoopdragon]

I watched the first 50% of this episode, realized it was making me want to watch the show, so I went and watched the first season, came back and finished this episode, and now I'm coming back again after 'finishing' the show to watch again with context. All I can say is...GOD I HOPE THERES MORE AT SOME POINT AHHHH

[@impym9033]

I'm one of those people who adore the book (and for awhile gifted it to anyone who seemed at all interested) but the first season of the show is amazing and the additions/changes worked very well for the most part. Never did finish the series because all the behind the scenes stuff coming out was less than great to put it as nicely as possible.

[@astraltoast]

wait what behind the scenes stuff? genuine question

[@impym9033]

@@astraltoast The original showrunners left, a few cast members left pretty much immediately after, Orlando Jones (Mr. Nancy) has said he basically had to write a good solid chunk of scenes for the non-white characters, and I'm pretty sure they lost another showrunner or two after. There's more out there if you want to look, especially when Jones left the show as he went off about what prompted him no longer being on the show.

[@astraltoast]

@@impym9033 oof that sucks

[@aaronrivera2736]

As someone who has read the book and watched the show, my feelings are just as complex as yours. Both are great to me but the show seems to miss points that hit in the book and do things well that the book missed. The overall stories seems to be like alternate reality versions of each other. I almost can't hold both in my head as the same story at the same time.

[@BinturongGirl]

Gillian Anderson was fantastic in this. I enjoyed the series and thought it made broadly positive changes, but it missed out my favourite storyline from the book (the Clunker) and I never got into season 2.

[@mariaah3073]

They included the Clunker in one of the other seasons, I don't remember which one though.

[@fenrirsdaughter9880]

Such an insightful video essay, in such a soothing voice!

[@rodentgoddess]

While I love Dominic's videos, if I'm brutally honest, a good part of why I keep coming back are the ending songs, and Dominic's interaction w/his cat lol.

[@roselover411]

I only saw two of the three seasons but I really enjoyed it! I read the book over a single weekend and it was a good time. But I really did love the expansion most of the side characters were given. Mad Sweeney was such a pleasure to watch XD bilquis though...I understand they showed her more to make her death more impactful but it did seem rather uncomfortable

[@misstrussteLgbTq]

’d love to see you do an episode about Neverwhere (my favourite Gaiman book) because it happened in reverse. The tv show happened first and Gaiman adapted his own scripts into the book. There’s a lot about American Gods that I preferred in the show (stopped watching part way through the second season though). I liked how it gave so many interesting characters more screen time. I liked Anansi in the book but the show made me like him more and as a result it made me go out and buy Anansi Boys despite that book being about book Anansi and not show Anansi.

[@alorapendrak9752]

I love Anansi boys! it was like an adventure rom-com with an African folktale element!

[@phillipschmidt6295]

Been waiting for this! Love it.

[@chilanya]

i enjoyed the first season immensely for the excellent cast and staying true to the idea of the book (it's been a while since i read it and i didn't even notice the changes, or they made sense). good to know there are more seasons! hadn't noticed that either!