This comment is about season 1, which I have just finished. I should say that although I have read the book, I do not like it, it is the one thing Gaiman wrote that I did not care for. The fact that the TV series was suddenly not following the book precisely was a plus for me, but now I am wondering if they somehow managed to make it worse.
The cast is great - I think every actor involved did a fantastic job in their characters, and the characters came out much more interesting and likable than in the book. I particularly enjoyed how much screen time Laura is getting, and I loved how Browning also played Essie. The "Coming to America" sequences were my favorite parts in the book, and I am not surprised to have enjoyed them in the series also.
However, in 8 episodes, I mostly got the feeling that nothing happened.
They added a lot of new things, specially with Laura and Mad Sweeney, and Wednesday and Shadow felt more like secondary characters than main ones, as their storyline is basically empty while everything happens to everyone else. In 8 episodes, Wednesday has had barely any advancement in his cause, and while the congregation at the House on the Rock is one of the first things to happen in the book, the entire season ended before old man Mr. Nancy could ride the carousel, and that was a sight I was looking forward to!
With the current positioning of the gods, I feel like the series is aiming for a far more complicated plot than the one in the book, but the creative team is, unfortunately, failing at writing it to work with an 8 episode season. They have set what looks like a very big stage, but the plot does not feel yet big enough to fill it.
I am quite disappointed, as individually the episodes are ok, but they just fail to be cohesive together and convey a good story. I will probably check out the second season premiere, but unless they fix this awful writing, I will just look for better things to waste my time on.loading replies
@milkhoneytea I can wholeheartedly agree with you. I thought book was just ok, but loved the ideas and portrayal of certain gods, but I also thought it would work great as a TV show. Then I watched the first ep and something just felt off for me. After a while I returned to it and while I like the new additions and changes it never clicked for me. I think essentially both the book and the show had spread the main story too thin to be engaging.
Worst. dialogue. ever.
My wife loved the original. But we couldn't even get through episode 2. They literally narrate everything they do, including describing the gestures their own hands are making as they make them. It's so on the nose, literal and leaves nothing to the imagination.
For example, a snippet of conversation during battle with a bad guy:"I think I'm stronger, faster and smarter than you. That is why I will am continuing to fight you. Oh no, you are using your hands to make an 8 pointed star in a power attack. Oh no, I must get out of the way. Don't go near your attack. I do not believe what you are saying. Oh no, what you just said is true and I believe it now"
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@poweraccess To be fair, that's one of the few things that are exactly like the original animation... It's just one of those things you don't notice as a kid but it makes you cringe when you re-watch it.
