In Review: American Gods – The Bone Orched

Synopsis: When Shadow Moon is released from prison a few days early, following the death of his wife, he meets the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday and is conscripted into his employ as bodyguard. Attacked his first day on the job, Shadow quickly discovers that this role may be more than he bargained for.

Review: This first episode of ‘American Gods’ does a brilliant job of setting the scene of what is to come.

Ricky Whittle is perfectly cast as the reluctant body guard to the enigmatic and slippery Mr. Wednesday who is likewise played brilliant by Ian McShane.

The story starts with Shadow Moon going through his final days in prison where he is getting some sage advice from his friend Low Key. But when his wife dies in an automobile accident. Shadow gets released early on compassionate grounds.

It is during his journey home that he meets with Mr. Wednesday who offers him the job as his personal body guard. Shadow is reluctant at first, but when he realises that there is nothing left for him to go home to. He reluctantly agrees.

Ian McShane is effortless as Mr. Wednesday. It seems to be a role that he was born to play. His earlier role on UK television as the slippery antiques dealer Lovejoy and his role in ‘Deadwood’ may well have been good preparation for Mr. Wednesday. There’s a magical quality about the character and an air of mischief that Ian McShane captures brilliantly.

As an introduction to the characters. This opening episode works brilliantly.

We get to meet at least four of the Gods in this opening episode in the form of a sexually charged scene featuring the goddess of love Bilquis and an introduction to the evil Technology boy who tries to have Shadow Moon lynched.

If this first episode is anything to go by. Then fans of the book series as well as those new to the story are in for a very enjoyable ride.

In fact. I’d say that this is the must watch show for the Spring and a fairly good show to fill the gap left by the fact that ‘Game Of Thrones’ will be starting a little later this year.