‘American Gods’ Recap: ‘A Winter’s Tale’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season three premiere of ‘American Gods’.

If there is one shameful thing that each every and every one of us will do at some point in our lives, it would have to be, that we will run and hide from our problems. Because there comes a point where life and everything, we’re currently experiencing is just too much to deal with or outright resolve. So, we pack up and hit the road in the hopes of simply starting over or straight up escaping our problems and for a time… this is something that works like a charm. Because just like that, our troubles are in the rear-view mirror and we can enjoy a little peace and quiet for a change, and a fresh start and a second chance. But while that is appealing and quite lovely in its own right, what brings about shame from such a bold and dynamic act… is the sheer fact that we eventually come to realize that we cannot escape our problems or our past.

Because the universe prefers that we deal with such matters, and that’s why our issues eventually come back to haunt us or catch up to us whilst we are working to escape them and it just so happens, that this particular notion serves as the focus of the season three premiere of American Gods. For ‘A Winter’s Tale’ picks up a few months after the disaster at the funeral home, wherein we find Shadow living a new life far away as a factory worker and he’s finally finding some peace and success in that role. But it doesn’t take long for a government contract at his new gig to put him in hot water once again, which brings his past and an old family member back to the forefront of his life by way of the return of Mister Wednesday. Who is quick to try and save his son from prison time by pointing out that Shadow cannot run and hide from his destiny or yesterday and well… that revelation and the possibility of going back to jail, prompts Shadow to hit the road with dear old dad once more.
 
Which at first glance just makes it seem as though the All-Father is spitting out such talk because he is eager manipulate Shadow to reconnect with him and have some kind of a relationship with him. But as the episode rolls along, it is quickly revealed that for once in his sassy and extensive life, Odin is telling his son the truth about needing to walk his path and choose a side in the forthcoming conflict. Because whilst they hit the road to meet with a God named Whiskey Jack, evil machinations were happening behind the scenes. For Mister World, now transformed into Miss World, was working hard to see the SHARD Project come to fruition, and part of that hard work was putting the fear of herself into others in order to finally get some results. Which of course… gives Technical Boy cause for concern in this tale, thanks to his prior failures and all of his worries, motivate him to try and do her bidding, with minimal success of course. 

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But what matters more, is that Shadow does indeed begin to understand that he cannot escape his destiny in the slightest as this story continues along. For the meeting in question offers direction and guidance for Shadow, as does his father’s intense push to have his way. And all of these moments finally bring Mister Shadow Moon the place he has been working to avoid since the end of season two, Lakeside, Wisconsin. Which is a frozen place that is full of warm people and clearly it is supposed to serve as an important waypoint on Shadow’s journey toward fulfilling his destiny. How exactly, well we will have to wait to find out. For this particular tale ends with Shadow in distress instead of discovery and really, in the end, this fast-paced story makes it clear that the series is trying to atone for the poor reception revolving around season two in a bold manner.
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Because this particular story doesn’t give the viewer a single moment to catch their breath and that’s a wonderful thing. Since the prior season was viewed by many as being far too slow. But here, we are at Lakeside in record time and we feel the tension revolving around the march to war growing by the minute and this premiere also deserves some serious credit for making another bold decision early on in this story. Because Laura Moon’s brief appearance in this tale, wherein she tries to do the dearly departed Mad Sweeney a solid by giving him back his coin to give him life, only to fumble the hand off before disappearing into dust, leaves one to wonder if Laura is going to fade away from the lexicon of this story as well as Shadow works to find himself. And really… it is that sense of curiosity and wonder that makes this episode so great.

For we simply don’t know what to expect in season three, or what exactly Shadow’s destiny entails and that definitely hooks the viewer for certain and draws them in and that makes this quite the delightful premiere when all is said and done. Because it really does appear as though the story has finally found its voice and its direction, and that it knows exactly where it is going in season three. Which means we should be in for quite the treat as Shadow’s destiny reveals itself to us and the danger of a powerful war comes to fruition, and the foundation set up here will definitely leave this reviewer and others, counting down the minutes until next Sunday. So that we can see exactly where this wild season is going to take us in the weeks to come. Until next time.    

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