A Fan’s Guide to Everything That’s Happened in American Gods
Intro to American Gods
Season 3 of the massive hit series American Gods is coming soon to The Starz App– but in this complex series, you cannot go in blind. TV reviewers and Twitter fanatics alike are raving about the first two seasons of American Gods. It’s definitely worth starting from the beginning to enjoy those two seasons of near-perfect television, gorgeous visuals and star-studded cast. But, here is a little cheat sheet on the first two seasons to get you up to date before the premiere of Season 3.
Season 1: Laura's con lands Shadow in prison.
While working as a dealer in a casino, Laura was depressed, and even considered killing herself, coming pretty close a few times.There, she meets Shadow, and eventually they get married. Shadow gets wrapped up in a con of Laura’s that lands him in prison.
Shadow Moon is released from prison early and learns his wife is dead.
On the flight home to bury her, he meets an eccentric man named Mr. Wednesday who offers him a job as his quasi-bodyguard. Shadow discovers that his late wife, Laura, cheated on him with his best friend.
Shadow realizes he's wrapped up in a war between gods.
The reanimated corpse of his dead wife, Laura rescues Shadow after he is attacked unexpectedly. We then follow Shadow and Mr. Wednesday on a journey across a mythological version of America, meeting gods (and leprechauns) along the way.
Shadow gets stabbed by a god.
We follow Laura back to the present, during which time an evil man named Mad Sweeney closes in on her and Shadow. When Shadow and Wednesday make it out of the police station, there is a massacre by the new Gods, during which Shadow is stabbed by a tree-shaped god.
Season 2: A great meeting of gods before the great war.
The first season of American Gods ends with the old and new Gods making their way to The House on the Rock, where the entire journey has been heading. There is an epic meeting before the upcoming great war.
Mr. Wednesday schemes to start a war between the old and new gods.
Later, as they are eating and socializing, a God named Mr. World orders an attack on the old gods, ending in the death of an old god and Shadow Moon captured.
Mad Sweeney meets his untimely demise.
After Laura runs away from New Orleans, Sweeney goes insane: he is confused, and after some hallucinations, tries to kill Wednesday. In the end, Shadow grabs the spear and Sweeney falls upon it himself.
Shadow learns who he really is.
One of the new gods uses mind control to convince the public that Shadow, Wednesday and their team are terrorists. Shadow then learns that Wednesday is his father, making him a demi-god, and uses his powers to get out of dodge.
Shadow gets a new identity.
After the dust settles, Laura leaves with Sweeney's body over her shoulder, and Shadow goes another way alone, but when he is stopped by police, he pulls out his I.D. and is surprised to find he has a new identity…
Season 3 premieres 1/10 at midnight on the STARZ App
Phew! Enough reading for you? Well, that was a highly abridged version of two of the most complex, enthralling, and original seasons of television out there. Want more twists, turns, affairs, Gods, and battles? Claim your limited time holiday offer and see for yourself.
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By Dora Grossman-Weir