Summary
- Neil Gaiman's newest TV project, Anansi Boys, has the potential to fix the failures of the previously adapted American Gods.
- American Gods failed due to constant changes in showrunners, leading to a loss of its magic and ultimately cancellation.
- Anansi Boys, set in the same world as American Gods, has the opportunity to repair the legacy of Gaiman's work with a solid team behind it.
Author Neil Gaiman has had several of his works adapted to the screen, from The Sandman to Good Omens, but his newest television project, Neil Gaiman adaptation is American Gods.
American Gods is a 2017 show that is based on Neil Gaiman's book of the same name. The story revolves around a man named Shadow Moon, who was recently released from prison and is haunted by the memory of his beloved but complicated wife. After meeting a strange man named Mr. Wednesday and agreeing to become his bodyguard, Shadow is thrown headfirst into a world of gods and monsters, and more than that, a war against the old and the new. Ultimately, American Gods is a strong story from Gaiman, that delves into mythology and history, however when it was adapted to television, it lost what made it magical.
Why American Gods Failed
In total, American Gods had three seasons before being canceled. Although the first season was well-received, even earning the series nominations at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, the remaining seasons did not hit the same bar. In particular, American Gods season 2 was called "derivative" and critics felt that it lost some of the holy magic that had made season 2 so good. And though American Gods season 3 was received better than season 2 was, it still led to American Gods being canceled. This was a disappointing turns for fans of the book and series, but ultimately, was probably for the better.
The main reason why American Gods failed over the course of its three seasons is that its showrunners were constantly changing. Bryan Fuller and Michael Green acted as showrunners for American Gods season 1, but exited the series soon after, and were replaced by Jesse Alexander and Neil Gaiman himself. Unfortunately, Alexander did not stay on the project long, leaving American Gods season 2 in the hands of producers. American Gods landed Charles Eglee for its third season, but by then, it was too late. With so much change and unpredictability, the series ultimately failed.
How Anansi Boys Can Be A Great Neil Gaiman Adaptation
Despite American Gods' failure, Neil Gaiman's newest project can make up for it. Gaiman's novel "Anansi Boys" is being adapted to television, and notably, it takes place in the same world as "American Gods." "Anasi Boys" follows the sons of Mr. Nancy, a version of the West African trickster god, Anansi, who is a ing character in "American Gods." Because Anansi Boys will be returning to the world of American Gods, and will even include some of the same characters, it has the chance to fix what American Gods couldn't. Hopefully, with a solid team behind it, Anansi Boys can repair the legacy of this side of Neil Gaiman's work.
