From Page to Screen - A Book to TV Comparison of Episode 3 of 'American Gods'

Written by Scott Murray

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Weekly reminder: I will discuss events in both the show and the book only if they have been portrayed in the show thus far. Things that have happened in the book but not appeared onscreen will go unmentioned, and spoilers are treated as if you have watched the show up to this point, but have not read the book.

Where Episode 2 deviated from the book in several ways, and added its own bits and pieces, Episode 3 was almost perfectly true to the book. It may seem strange then, when I tell you that the opening 'Somewhere in America' sequence with Anubis and the old woman, was entirely original. However, this segment serves not only to show us another form of the Old Gods in America, but also takes 'show don’t tell' to heart as we watch this woman go through a process which is explained, later, to Shadow in words: 'You lined up when you died, and you’d answer for your evil deeds and your good deeds, and if your evil deeds outweighed a feather, we’d feed your soul and your heart to Ammet, the Eater of Souls.' Seeing this brought to life while also giving us another look at the ways traditions and cultures are assimilated into America was simply fantastic.
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The other 'Somewhere in America' sequence, featuring the Jinn and Salim, was an almost perfect reproduction of the events in the book; the only changes were made for the sake of time, as must always happen with any adaptation. I was utterly delighted by every frame of this segment, and it even gave some credence to the Jinn’s appearance in Episode 2.

We also get to see Shadow’s second checkers game, where he beats Czernobog thus locking him into helping Mr. Wednesday. Leaving Episode 2 off after only the first game felt uncomfortably paced, but I will admit using it here helped this episode’s pacing feel more natural. We also get to see Shadow interact with Zorya Polunochnaya. Here we find the only change that really bothered me: Zorya Polunochnaya’s kiss. In the book, when he asks what he has to do for her help, she specifies: ‘You do not even have to kiss me. Just take the moon from me.’ I must admit, I don’t really see the point: why change this specific, incidental moment? I suppose the purpose of the kiss, if there is one, will be revealed later. However, that change, although irksome, is nowhere close to damaging.

Much like his conversation with Laura overnight in the Motel America, Shadow has what seems to be another dream. Here he wakes yet again, and finds no fire escape outside the window, and it would all seem to be no more than a dream if it were not for the coin which now rests in his pocket. This and the revelation with Laura at the end of the episode finally free me to mention that Shadow’s overnight talk with Laura at the motel in Episode 2 was, in the book, also not a dream (I did not want to mention that until they confirmed that Laura was truly out of her grave, which is why I did not mention that change last week). Although he does wake up to find no fire escape after his talk with Zorya Polunochnaya, his only evidence a coin, he always knew (or at least suspected) that his conversation with Laura was real.

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And speaking of Laura, Mad Sweeney makes an early return, not only to the screen but into Shadow’s life, to ask about his coin, his special and lucky coin, which Shadow gave to Laura. It all finally comes together to deliver what was revealed much earlier in the book: Laura is back. Whether she’s alive or a zombie, or a ghost, or something else entirely will have to wait until the next episode, it seems, but weaving Sweeney back into the narrative to help with the reveal actually felt rather comfortable, especially since it alludes to his failing luck and how much he needs his coin, which was something we had to wait a bit to see in the book. I will say that I missed Zorya Polunochnaya’s comment to Shadow, when he tells her about Laura talking to him in the motel despite being dead, that the wisest thing to ask the dead is what they want. I suppose Shadow will either come up with the question on his own, or get that advice from somewhere else.

Also, we get to hear Zorya Vechernyaya give Wednesday a fortune, and he tells her that it is only his fortune 'for today.' Does that mean the fortunes aren’t as important as the Zorya sisters believe? Or does Wednesday simply know something we don’t? Regardless, his line about 'knowledge over all things' was a nice touch, as the myths about Odin include him sacrificing an eye to gain knowledge.

Although there weren’t any serious changes, I do want to take a moment to say that the bank robbery was just as wonderful as I’d been hoping for. It’s a part of the book I look upon with particular fondness and seeing it come to life was simply riveting. I also appreciate the little added touch about the cameras: is the Technical Boy watching their every move? Also, I mentioned last week the hidden items on Shadow’s shopping list which I suspected were to appear later, and these were the earmuffs I suspected Wednesday would be using for his security guard costume.

One last note: I want to mention the moment when Shadow nearly hits the wolf, which was not in the book. I have absolutely no idea whether it’s an allusion to something, or simply used to punctuate their conversation, but since almost everything we’ve seen so far has had some sort of symbolism or importance, I’d bet we’ll be reminded of this moment later.

If Episode 2 left me glancing sidelong at the show as it led me by the hand off the familiar road, Episode 3 showed me a beautiful hidden waterfall before bringing me back to the car. The changes or additions made thus far have all come together to bring us to right where we should be, having experienced a few pleasant surprises on the way. It was reassuring enough that any more changes will leave me less skeptical and more trusting; instead of pondering if we’ve lost our way I’ll be wondering just how many new flavors and surprising delights I’ll be left with when we finally come home again. It’s given me more faith than ever in the showrunners and the show itself and left me impatient for more. May 21st can’t come soon enough.

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