AMERICAN GODS Season Three

UK Prime Video, streaming now US Starz, finished airing

Showrunner Charles H Eglee

Cast Ricky Whittle,

Emily Browning, Ian Mcshane, Yetide Badaki

American Gods has had a troubled life. Showrunners have come and gone, actors have complained about their treatment (and been fired), and for its third and final year, an entire story arc had to be hacked out at the last minute. That’s because it starred Marilyn Manson, whose allegedly abusive behaviour hit the headlines just after his first scenes had aired. Remaining footage of his character was swiftly snipped. And it shows: scenes don’t quite gel, dialogue leads nowhere. Regardless, it was the correct decision.

The good news is that American Gods is still a fascinating, often gorgeous experience – even if, at times, it ricochets too wildly from the pages of Neil Gaiman’s novel. There’s padding: did we really need to meet Wednesday’s wife? Does any series need this much slow-mo action? But Ricky Whittle as Shadow holds the entire show together with his charisma, finally taking the reins from Ian Mcshane. Emily Browning’s Laura and Yetide Badaki’s Bilquis are beautifully explored, there’s a pleasing mystery played out in a small town, and an orgy that’s somehow the most cathartic thing you’ll see on TV this year.

It may have had issues, but to the bitter end, American Gods was a shot of adrenaline-art to the eyeballs. Jayne Nelson