Couldn't find a catch-all, so I decided to start one.
Neil Gaiman’s ‘American Gods’ Lands Series Greenlight at Starz
Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods' TV adaptation has cast its Shadow Moon
And for the real reason that I chose to create this today:
Man that is some GREAT casting.
McShane.
f*ck.
Yes.
Brilliant.
Note: Spoilerish if you haven't read the book.
American Gods: Exclusive First Look at Mr. Nancy as Orlando Jones Talks Anansi Boys Spin-Off
The casting for this looks spot on.
American Gods is the better novel, but I have to say that I enjoyed Anansi Boys so much more. I would love to watch that spin-off.
I've never actually read American Gods, although it's on the 'one day when I have time again' list. But I love Anansi Boys and would love to see that as a limited run series.
Have not read the book yet, but watched both episodes and really enjoyed them. I have not bought the book and will have it on my kindle to read on the plane to and from Atlanta this weekend.
The new comic book series is also excellent.
So it seems appearing in lower-tier British soap opera Hollyoaks as a member of the Valentine family is now a sure-fire route into prime time (see also Nathalie Emmanuel)
How many episodes is this supposed to be? What's the release schedule? I'm not seeing anything else that really interests me on the Starz streaming service, which sours me on paying $9/month for weekly episode drops. If I want to be cheap and binge this, how long will I have to wait?
...
I still haven't gone looking for the World Tree. It's supposed to be an hour south of me, and Gaiman has said it's a real tree...
How many episodes is this supposed to be? What's the release schedule? I'm not seeing anything else that really interests me on the Starz streaming service, which sours me on paying $9/month for weekly episode drops. If I want to be cheap and binge this, how long will I have to wait?
...
I still haven't gone looking for the World Tree. It's supposed to be an hour south of me, and Gaiman has said it's a real tree...
I'm with you there. I'll purchase this when it's available on Amazon, either digitally or via Blu-Ray.
Wikipedia seems to think eight episodes for the first season, which fits with the "premium television" feel, but I can't speak for how accurate that is.
I'm not seeing anything else that really interests me on the Starz streaming service, which sours me on paying $9/month for weekly episode drops.
I can say that both Black Sails and Outlander are great shows, both on Starz, with multiple seasons available to binge on. I've found Starz to be a pretty good deal. About one step down from HBO. Not as many original hits, but not as many misses either. Just a handful of good quality shows.
So I'm watching this with wary enjoyment (for want of a better phrase). I feel like I've been here before and been burned.
Like Lost, the early episodes feature extraordinary surreal and supernatural events that are greeted without the main character batting an eyelid. (Really? Shadow Moon has now serious questions at all after what he's just experienced?) I hope that the answer to this is that his entire life has had a surreal and supernatural edge to it, so he's learned to bide his time.
Also, I'm still a little annoyed by Preacher, where I invested in all the individual characters and storylines only to discover
that most of it did not matter at all, because I was actually watching an extended origin story. - a jumping off point for the real Preacher series.
It felt like a bait and switch.
Fool me once, and all that...
I'll keep going for another two episodes, but I'll need more exposition at the end of that 2 hours.
I was pleasantly surprised with episode 1. The book didn't click with me and I actually put it down, which is rare for me. Maybe I had really low expectations. It was funnier than I expected too.
Started reading the book on my kindle on a 2 hour plane flight. 4 chapters in and it has covered episode 1. I'm hooked, but I got the 10th anniversary edition which guess is longer and more meandering (Gaiman's words) than the original published work.
Any of you all who aren't familiar with the novel and are spoiler-averse, be careful on the internet. I clicked some video, I believe from GameSpot, like "Introducing Character X" that had some gargantuan spoilers in it, and also didn't even seem to realize they were there.
My issue with Preacher is the fact that a number of interesting threads and character arcs that I'd been following closely, and had become invested in, were 'resolved' abruptly with... there was a big explosion and they all died.
Now, some might see that as bold and innovative coup by the writers. But I don't. I see it as a breach of faith with the audience and a bad precedent for future series. If the writers paint themselves into the corner then there's always the big red reset button.
Similarly, my issue with Lost was about the breaching of trust/faith with the audience, not about them making it up as they went along. In the case of Lost the production team were pretty explicit that all would be explained... but if never was, of course.
I don't think I'm alone in this. Dallas never really recovered from 'Pam's Dream', did it?
I'm happy to give American Gods the benefit of the doubt. As I said, I'm enjoying it... just warily.
And as you say, the book has been written so - if followed reasonably faithfully - there is an ending.
Lots is a whole other thing, and I don't want to derail this thread.
Suffice to say, I'm in the camp that believes that Lost was originally all about purgatory, and - as you say - reflection, recognition and redemption. That changed when the writers started engaging online with fans, who said "So this is about purgatory, and reflection, recognition and redemption... Right?" It was this that forced an outright denial that this was the case (IIRC), and the descent into mindless dung-flinging.
Praise Media!
Read the book a long time ago and loved it. I have been patiently waiting this getting turned into a movie/tv show.
The first scene of the first episode scared me. I HATED it and was worried that would be the tone and theme of the whole show. But it quickly righted itself.
The first scene of the second episode was awesome! This is a faithful and brave telling of the story.
So far the actors are doing a great job and are totally believable in their roles.
I think this will end up being a pretty good show. Now I feel the need top go back and re-read the book.
...you know, Shadow, I don't think anyone would have objected if you took Media up on that offer.
I've only seen Ep1. I'm thoroughly impressed. It does deviate from the book a bit, but in some very interesting ways.
Neil Gaiman gets credited as Executive Producer for the first episode. I would bet that Neil is totally ok with the changes. It might have been Neil's idea.
I'm currently reading Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology book. Because of that I understood everything that happened in the Viking prologue from episode 1. Good stuff.
Pages