American Gods Recap: 1.05 ‘Lemon Scented You’

While the previous episode of American Gods was a bit of a let down, they certainly picked it right back up in ‘Lemon Scented You’. From Gillian Anderson’s Media transforming into David Bowie and Marilyn Monroe, to the first appearance of Mr World, played by the brilliant Crispin Glover, the oddly fantastic show bangs out another mostly great episode.

Nynyunnini in American GodsAfter there being no ‘Coming to America’ segment in the previous episode, it was nice to see its return again, even though it wasn’t entirely exciting. Mr Ibis once again tell us the story of a god coming to the promised land and this time it’s Nynyunnini. Just who is Nynyunnini though? This exactly the point of featuring this god’s story as it shows what happens to a god if they are completely forgotten and then cease to exist. Every scene in which the series brings, it provides us with a little more information as to what’s going on and for this tidbit, it just goes to show exactly why there is a battle brewing between the new and old gods because who ever likes to share?

We then return back to Laura Moon, who took up an entire episode so we were crossing our fingers she’s wasn’t going to hog the screen the entire time. Thankfully she doesn’t, although she does appear quite frequently in the episode but we’re willing to let it slide because of the great things that happen further into the episode. Anyway, a very reluctant Shadow greets his deceased wife and proceeds to throw a pillow at her face. Clearly emotional, he demands answers about her affair with Robbie and what led her back to him. Now, Laura Moon must have a handful of problems because she is quite the delusional woman thinking she can not only come back from the dead, but to also think her husband will take her back.

After a nice warming bath to heat up her cold body, the two share and kiss and Laura’s heart literally beats. Talk about vomit-inducing, but then again, Shadow is quite literally the light of her very dull life. Unfortunately for Laura, when she asks if he is still her puppy, he replies with no.

Meanwhile, after being visited by one of his ravens, Wednesday drops by to see Shadow, but the pair are quickly hauled away by a swarm of police officers who arrest them because of their heist. When they reach the police station, Wednesday & Shadow are questioned so we get to see Wednesday’s old man charade once more and this adds some much-needed humour to the episode.

Gillian Anderson as Media/David Bowie in American GodsTechnical Boy makes his return and he is soon faced with the same mask which transported Shadow back in Episode 1. The Boy finds himself talking to Media, but a ‘Life on Mars’ David Bowie version of Media. Now some make call this slightly ridiculous, especially those who are fans of Bowie or who don’t watch the show, but Anderson’s performance in appearing as significant figures and taking upon their persona is extraordinary and really helps to make the show. The cause for her appearance is because the mysterious Mr World demands Technical Boy apologise to Wednesday and Shadow for his previous actions. Although “Wednesday is collecting monsters like f***ing Pokemon”, he has no other choice but to agree.

Back at the hotel, poor Laura is feeling a little sad until a six-foot leprechaun by the name of Mad Sweeney storms in demanding his coin back. With a flick of her finger, she manages to incapacitate him and despite his offers to give her loads of gold coins, she’s happy with the one she has got. Naturally Sweeney isn’t happy and he attempts to kill the already-dead-but-reanimated Laura when two cops storm in to stop him and he pronounces she’s not dead, but Laura plays dead in order to get him hauled off to the station.

When Shadow and Wednesday are placed in the same interrogation room, Wednesday wants out because he now knows what is going down. This is the first time in which Wednesday seems scared and he has every right to be when blood curdling screams begin to sound throughout the station. Enter a floating Media as the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe soon followed by the reveal of a new player to the game.

Crispin Glover as Mr World in American Gods

Meet Mr World, and he is played incredibly well by Crispin Glover. His character adds to the show by further growing the opposing team and setting him up as Wednesday’s new god counterpart. After Technical Boy reluctantly apologises, the new god trio speak of forming an alliance be attempting to persuade Wednesday with an Odin nuclear missile so ‘everyone will know his name’. This would mean more power for the old god, but he’s not interested.

As they leave, Technical Boy misbehaves once more and Media blows a signature Monroe kiss except it’s so powerful it knocks his teeth out. After the newbies leave, Shadow and Wednesday escape from the destroyed and bloodied police station. These two aren’t the only ones doing some escaping as Laura kicks off the morgue locker door and heads back out into the world again.

Now, if American Gods continues to replicate this episode or the first two, it would definitely hold my interest and potentially others interests a lot better. Although shows typically have their rises and falls, with this show being so out there for some, it needs to have at least one element which will captivate the viewer and help to provide some kind of stability throughout what is an intense show. This week with its mild banter, characters and plot, it gave much more substance to the overall plot. On a side-note, I also need to mention the visuals because in each episode there has been some fantastic scenes and lastly, the score which is bizarre, yet so good.

What did you think of this episode? Let us know in the comments below!

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