The power of American Gods
The Sexiest Show On TV pushes the envelope
The most provocative series on television right now is American Gods, based on the novel by Neil Gaiman (Coraline, The Sandman). Set in a secretly fantastical version of America, the show revolves around the simmering conflict between the Old Gods and the New Gods, while following Shadow Moon, an ordinary man (with an awesome name) who gets caught up in the conflict.
The show simultaneously tells the deeply personal tale of recently-widowed ex-con Shadow Moon, as well as a grandiose odyssey through America and religions, both archaic and modern.
The original novel was not shy about its content, to say the least, and fans were pleasantly surprised to see that the transition from print to television has done nothing to dull the shockingly graphic imagery on display, especially in terms of its overt and thematic use of sexual situations. Showrunner Bryan Fuller is known for pushing the envelope during his time on the cult NBC series, Hannibal; American Gods airs on Starz, a premium cable network. Finally free from the shackles of mainstream network programming, Fuller is able to truly cut loose with his penchant for stunning visuals in sexual contexts.
The pilot features a beautifully-shot sex scene which explores the true power of lust in the form of Bilquis, the Old Goddess of love, and how she draws her strength. Meanwhile, episode three made headlines after it showed what has been hailed as the most graphic and passionate gay sex scene in television history.
The scope of the sexual empowerment of American Gods will only continue to grow as the series continues; after only a couple of episodes had aired, the show was renewed for a second season, which will likely air sometime in 2018.