# American Gods **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2017, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561 "2017-04-30T08:47:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/62 "2017-05-26T14:37:02Z")
Also Laura was working at an egyptian casino, the cards she was using literally said “Anubis” on them. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2017, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/63 "2017-05-26T15:19:58Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > I wondered the same thing and even googled around for some kind of explanation / fanwank, only to come to the conclusion that it doesn’t seem to have bothered anyone. But it really doesn’t fit with the premise and thus rather confused me. Perhaps her atheism meant that she was unclaimed and free to be picked up by any random psychopomp wandering nearby? But other than that I got nothin’. Anubis mentioned that the “circumstances of her passing” (or similar words) were the reason he had come to collect her. He did not elaborate on what he meant. I’m assuming he doesn’t turn up to all fellatio-induced car accidents, so perhaps he was there because her death was set up by Wednesday. “Death by blowjob” is mundane; “death by god” would likely warrant special attention. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/64 "2017-05-27T03:43:54Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > I don’t think I liked that Laura met Anubis after she died. > > It doesn’t really match with the belief systems and meta-theology that Gaiman set up. AFAICT, the supernatural and material existence of the gods is mostly dependent on the beliefs of humans. Anubis shows up after the death of an old Egyptian woman because she knew the old myths and observed the old customs. Presumably, most observant Christians in America would encounter some version of St. Peter at the gates of Heaven. > > Why would Laura experience any sort of after-life, if she doesn’t believe in anything? > > Anubis and Ibis also exist in the real world, but more as a residue of all the beliefs that have come to America (including modern embalming practices). Remember in the book Shadow asked the same question as Ibis ferried him across as he died on the tree towards judgement by Anubis. The response: “'It doesn’t matter that you didn’t believe in us,” said Mr. Ibis. "We believed in you.'" **Gyrate** ’s point is valid and has precednece. The circumstances of Laura’s death (yes, presumptively Wednesday and Low Key induced) … might also qualify. Point being in any case that Gaiman’s meta-theology might be mostly dependent on human beliefs but explicitly not completely so. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/65 "2017-05-29T01:10:49Z")
Just watched episode 5 – I didn’t realize this, but Starz releases the episodes On Demand at midnight Sunday morning, at least for my system. Wow, what a great episode. The big conversation with Media and Mr. World was just amazing – great actors with great writing having loads of fun, and it’s loads of fun to watch. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/66 "2017-05-29T02:04:40Z")
Did Mr World offer to nuke NK in Odin’s name? yikes. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2017, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/67 "2017-05-29T04:12:26Z")
Now I’m starting to wonder if they’re going to change the ending. Because I think the last 16 years have made me think he was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/68 "2017-06-06T01:32:11Z")
This is moving pretty far from the books at this point. Still enjoying it very much though. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/69 "2017-06-06T02:30:04Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Also Laura was working at an egyptian casino, the cards she was using literally said “Anubis” on them. Playing cards originally came to Europe through Egypt, and IIRC, were associated with mystic rituals there. And she really liked shuffling the cards, and was depressed when they introduced auto-shufflers. Perhaps every time she dealt a hand of cards, it was functionally a small prayer to Anubis. And with her determined lack of belief in anything else, those small prayers were enough to give him a hold on her. Plus, she owned a cat. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/70 "2017-06-06T04:46:29Z")
Haven’t read the book, but I had heard good things. I’m three episodes in and… well, when does this get good? So far the plot has been moving along at a snail’s pace (I think three episodes should’ve been more than enough to actually give us some idea of what Wednesday’s plan is). I read a plot summary for the book and it sounds pretty interesting, but so far the TV show has been sloooooow. And do the scenes with folks like Bilquis and the djinn ever go anywhere with the main plot, or are they just vignettes of other gods? Some of the scenes are interesting (loved the vikings scene at the start, and the graveyard scene was well-done) but other stuff really drags. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/71 "2017-06-06T09:39:54Z")
Without spoiling it, the djinn storyline has reappeared in the latest episode to merge with the main plot, and I’m sure we’ll see Bilquis again. However, I should warn you that the fourth episode is all backstory and will frustrate you. Things start moving in episode 5, and episode 6 is pretty good. I’ll admit I was a bit worried about the previous episode, particularly when the chair went all “Evil Dead” on them for no apparent reason, but it really got pulled back into a coherent narrative in this one. Some clear themes have emerged: sacrifice (of gods and men), gods adapting to new roles (Vulcan and “Mr. Wood”), and also - for this episode, at least - guns, guns and more guns. And we got an excellent turn from Corbin Bernsen as Vulcan, a most unlikely road trip group, and multiple interpretations of the phrase “Fuck those assholes”. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/72 "2017-06-06T10:17:47Z")
> [@magnusblitz](#): > > Haven’t read the book, but I had heard good things. I’m three episodes in and… well, when does this get good? So far the plot has been moving along at a snail’s pace (I think three episodes should’ve been more than enough to actually give us some idea of what Wednesday’s plan is). I read a plot summary for the book and it sounds pretty interesting, but so far the TV show has been sloooooow. And do the scenes with folks like Bilquis and the djinn ever go anywhere with the main plot, or are they just vignettes of other gods? > > Some of the scenes are interesting (loved the vikings scene at the start, and the graveyard scene was well-done) but other stuff really drags. Are you familiar with other pieces of Gaiman’s work? “Fast paced” really isn’t it; “mind-blowing” is more like it. It moves quickly between scenes and explained bits, but not within each scene. There are logical jumps that are easy to miss, and references of references to the reference of the stereotype linked to the cross-cultural archetype using symbols which are obvious but somehow ignorable by most people. If Gaiman ever uses the word “juggernaut” it will refer to Yuga on an actual ship, which may or may not be rolling over people. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/73 "2017-06-06T11:27:36Z")
Going off book to be sure yet to my eye very much serving the feel and themes of the book … and the viewer/reader’s not quite knowing at this point where this is going and what role Shadow plays. But like lots of journey stories (and real journeys) the sights along the way are at least as important as the destination. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/74 "2017-06-06T13:32:57Z")
I was blown away from the first episode, if you are three episodes in and still waiting for it to get good you are probably just not going to enjoy any of it. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/75 "2017-06-06T15:02:37Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I was blown away from the first episode, if you are three episodes in and still waiting for it to get good you are probably just not going to enjoy any of it. Fro me (and maybe us - simwife still has a bit of a ? on her face) the look/feel has been great since ep1 - but it was confusing - eps 4 and 5 really start to cement it together to make more sense about things. and lowkey/loki - I don’t recall him? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/76 "2017-06-06T15:08:20Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > And we got an excellent turn from Corbin Bernsen as Vulcan, a most unlikely road trip group, and multiple interpretations of the phrase “Fuck those assholes”. That was Corbin Bernsen? From LA Law? I thought it was Howard Hesseman from WKRP in Cincinnati the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2017, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/77 "2017-06-06T15:48:15Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That was Corbin Bernsen? From LA Law? I thought it was Howard Hesseman from WKRP in Cincinnati the whole time. I was thinking it was Gerald McRaney. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/78 "2017-06-07T02:37:09Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I was blown away from the first episode, if you are three episodes in and still waiting for it to get good you are probably just not going to enjoy any of it. I liked the first episode. Czernobog just bored me, though. ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/79 "2017-06-07T05:33:30Z")
Couple of things I’m not clear on in this meta-theology of this latest episode. What is it about Vulcan that makes him a fascist? It’s been awhile, but I just don’t remember a predilection for authoritarianism being part of his character in the old myths. Also, is it just me or did they really beat us over the head with the nazi motif? Also, I thought he was the god of technology. Yeah he made weapons for the gods, but that wasn’t central to his purpose as a god IIRC. Shouldn’t he be hanging around MIT and JPL instead of a dying factory town making bullets? And how does gun violence count as a snackrifice to Vulcan? Shouldn’t that power go to Mars, or whatever appropriate wargod? (Don’t think I spoiled anything, but tagged it anyway just to be safe) Also, I was kinda expecting Santa Muerte to show up in the border crossing bit. Or does she count more as part of the “New Firm”? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/80 "2017-06-07T09:01:23Z")
Vulcan was a god of fire including metalworking and the forge. His new ambit follows more or less from that, and the culture flows from the new ambit. The relevant quote (from memory here) to your spoiler is:“The power of fire…is firepower.” ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561/81 "2017-06-07T12:38:31Z")
> [@Barking\_Dog](#): > > Couple of things I’m not clear on in this meta-theology of this latest episode. What is it about Vulcan that makes him a fascist? It’s been awhile, but I just don’t remember a predilection for authoritarianism being part of his character in the old myths. Also, is it just me or did they really beat us over the head with the nazi motif? > Also, I thought he was the god of technology. Yeah he made weapons for the gods, but that wasn’t central to his purpose as a god IIRC. Shouldn’t he be hanging around MIT and JPL instead of a dying factory town making bullets? And how does gun violence count as a snackrifice to Vulcan? Shouldn’t that power go to Mars, or whatever appropriate wargod? > (Don’t think I spoiled anything, but tagged it anyway just to be safe) > > Also, I was kinda expecting Santa Muerte to show up in the border crossing bit. Or does she count more as part of the “New Firm”? Vulcan took the deal from Mr World, he got rebranded for the modern world. Now he is popular and worshipped again, but he is not what he used to be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-gods/785561.md?page=5)