American Gods returned with a season premiere that feels like the culmination of two seasons worth of development. And sure, that’s what happens when a show has been on this long. But what we mean by that is that unless you’ve read the books, you’ve had no fucking clue what this all means or is about. But “A Winter’s Tale” felt like we could see the big picture now; and oh what a picture it is.
“A Winter’s Tale” also made it abundantly clear, to those who didn’t know this before, this isn’t just Shadow’s story. This is Laura Moon’s story. This is Odin’s story. This is Bilquis story. This is Tech Boy’s story. And we’re here for all the development of these amazing Gods and dead humans alike.
What Laura Moon Did for Mad Sweeney
There’s something about these two assholes that we’ve always loved. Seriously, there’s sparks between them and they’ve been there since day one. And despite the crazy shit that they’ve been through together and because of each other, they persevere and choose each other over and over again in small ways and big. And in “A Winter’s Tale” we saw how far Laura Moon is willing to get Mad Sweeney back.
Sure, she wants to kill Mr. Wednesday. The only one who has access to the spear is Sweeney, and since he’s dead, she’s going to do everything she can to bring him back. But it’s so much more. Sweeney sees her in a way no one else ever has. He likes that she’s brash, unapologetically herself, bad tempered, foul mouthed, and all sorts of things that she hid from Shadow when they were together. And Laura knows it.
For months she’s been hounding the Baron to bring Sweeney back. And when told that the Baron couldn’t do anything else, she did something that we never saw coming. Laura decided to give back Sweeney’s coin. And in doing so, she decided to die. It wasn’t a light decision and we’ll definitely be seeing more of Laura if the season 3 trailers for American Gods are any indication. But she took a chance and she chose Sweeney.
AND WE ARE DYING HEREEEEEE. Where did Laura go after disintegrating in “A Winter’s Tale”? Will this be enough to bring Sweeney back? And what will he do when he realizes what she did for him? Seriously, we need them back mouthing each other and stopping Wednesday from the war that he’s trying to start. A key part of that, and why they keep focusing on them, is Laura Moon and Mad Sweeney. We’re sure of it and need more, asap.
WE WOULD DIE FOR BILQUIS
Seriously, this Goddess has us wrapped around her finger and we’re not going anywhere. We don’t want to. Especially if it means we get to see more of the Bilquis we saw in “A Winter’s Tale.” Our girl has always been poised AF. But she elevated it and turned us into Bilquis worshipers forever with a simple flick of the wrist. Let us explain.
With one touch, we finally understood why the New Gods are so adamant that Bilquis join them. She’s got power in her, immense and game changing power, and everyone wants to get in on this. Bilquis barely touched Tech Boy and turned this brazen fool into a quivering mess. Seriously, time stopped and in the span of one drop of water hitting the ground he had experienced the pain of war. Imagine what she could do with that power if she focused it? She could turn the tide of this war.
“A Winter’s Tale” also gave us a better understanding at why Bilquis doesn’t want to fight for the New Gods or the Old Ones. They don’t know pain, hardship, or loneliness. They only want to one up each other and feel the rushing glory of having followers. Bilquis isn’t after that, even though having worshipers sustain her. And we’re hoping that season three of American Gods allows this goddess to find what she wants and needs from this life, be it war or peace.
And Then There’s Shadow
We really love that Shadow tried to find a semblance of peace after the shit show of American Gods season one and two. He’s done with the crap of all the Gods, including his father. And we really really wish that he had stayed in that town. Would it have cut the story short? Yes, absolutely. But we loved the confidence oozing out of Shadow.
He found himself, or a part of himself, in that town. He had a home, job, and a flirtation going on with a cute woman. They were all signs that he was moving on. Then Wednesday had to interrupt it all. Seriously, such bad timing. Or all planned by him. Still not sure. But Wednesday mucked up the life his son had AGAIN for some grand plan and it rubs us the wrong way even more so than before.
Back to Shadow. He’s different now. More well rounded, established in himself, and knows what he wants. Or at least partially. And we’re hoping that this new self confidence leads him down new roads that finally give us some answers to whether he’s a God himself, what powers he has, and what role he plays in all of this? If you’ve read the book, you know. But for those that haven’t *shhhhh* no spoilers!
American Gods airs Sundays on Starz.
