Something like a decade and a half ago, my pal Neil Gaiman wrote American Gods, which is one of those novels that stays with you a long, long time. It's been at least thirteen years since I read it and I recall how stunned I was by the richness of his prose, his ability to blend dark visions with very funny moments, and with his ability to go to chilling places without making me want to look away from the page.
The book garnered much praise, every bit of it deserved…and I have vivid memory of this: The last time I had jury duty, I was sitting in the jury room not being called, working on a script on my iPad. But my attention kept drifting to a gent seated across from me who was reading a copy of American Gods. Watching subtle body language and subtler facial reactions, I could see the book was having a great deal of impact on him. Even in this noisy jury room with all its distractions, the book had his undivided attention.
Whether he liked it or not, I have no idea. But he sure didn't stop reading it, no matter what.
I am told (and am unsurprised) that Neil has turned down a great many lucrative offers since this book was published to move it from paper to the screen. He waited until he had the right offer from the right people…and now it's a series which debuts April 30 on the Starz Network. Last night, I took my splendid friend Jewel Shepard to a premiere screening of Episode 1 and we saw that Neil had indeed entrusted his book to folks who would do it right. At least, Episode 1 is as right as it could be.
It is a lush, visually-stunning translation that is as powerful and penetrating as Neil's own words, many of which (of course) are heard. Many more are unspoken but evident in the amazing art direction. Helming it as exec producers-writers Bryan Fuller and Michael Green, and great credit should also go to all those who contributed to the imagery and effects, as well as the music.
The only thing I didn't like about it was…well, Neil ended his introduction of it by saying, "Sorry about all the blood." So I can't say I wasn't warned but there was a lot of it, especially in the first five minutes. After that, things got better.
The acting is quite wonderful, making the incredible credible. I don't know about future episodes but Ian McShane sure walked off with the first one. Then again, there's a sex scene in there (not involving Mr. McShane) which I won't tip…but at the end of it, the audience burst into stunned applause. You will not forget that scene, especially if at any time in your life, you've actually had sex.
halo, not just here but everywhere.
Oh, and come to think of it, there was one other thing I didn't like last night. The opening was bloody and scary and ghastly and I later felt like I had been plunked down in the midst of it at the after-party. Too many folks were crammed into not-enough restaurant and the noise probably had Tijuana calling to ask, "Can you hold it down?" Trapped at its epicenter, I couldn't move, couldn't sit, couldn't hear and couldn't eat. Yes, couldn't eat. Waiters passed among us with trays of finger food and when I asked, "What's in this?," I literally could not hear the answer and therefore had to pass.
I do not understand why in a party where the crowd alone emits a deafening din, someone feels there also needs to be music playing. That is a problem I've encountered not just last night but at many soirées. It's like the organizer is deathly afraid of a spec of silence or, worse, that someone might actually talk to someone else.
So, bottom line: Great show, great writing, great cast, great everything. I'm sure American Gods will be a monster hit. When it airs, watch the first one and that will enslave you to watch the rest. I just suggest that if there's any sort of after-party, you give it a pass. Or bring ear plugs, your own chair, something to read and a bag of chips. (Hey, why not read the book? I may do that again soon.)