The season finale arrived and it felt too soon too fast; this show might be one of the most promising ones of 2017's TV landscape and 8 episodes are not enough, not as criticism just from the perspective that the show, even with its gore, is a beautiful thing to watch, aesthetically and narrative wise.
"Come to Jesus" showcases Gillian Anderson as Media, Kristin Chenoweth as Ostara/Easter, Jeremy Davies as Jesus and Orlando Jones as Mr Nancy, among all the recurrent characters. In one hour. One episode of fantastic performances and jaw dropping cinematography.
The episode starts with a once upon a time story told by Mr Nancy, he introduces the viewer into what the episode will be about. Jones' tone of voice as Mr Nancy, his use of curses between the story told about Bilquis and how women are treated in America, don't result to be just anecdotal while he makes Mr Wednesday and Shadow's suits for the appointment they have but we don't know what it is yet. The story lets the viewer understand how some of the old gods relate to the new ones, you could think how or why they have sell their souls to them, and the fact that apparently Mr Wednesday needs a queen after killing Vulcan, not really as adept to his cause as the god we are following, seemed to think.
Shadow and Mr Wednesday aren't in the best of terms, Shadow is confused and wants to understand what has been happening. They leave, and as they do the union between sequences with the road almost as another character keeps getting clues of where they're going. The art and lighting of this show has proved episode after episode that has a quality most shows should be envious of, but this episode seals the deal to consider it as one of the most beautiful shows to watch of the last decade. Not because the aesthetic follows the sweet story like maybe Pushing Daisies did, but because everything is deliberately though of to cause certain effects on the viewer, even the contrast between this beautiful house, and the light color palette we are introduced to, while story wise, everything is falling apart.
Shadow and Mr Wednesday arrive to their destiny on a Sunday, in Easter's house. It's filled with different Jesus, spring stereotypes, light colors, and delicious pastries. Ostara, the goddess of Easter isn't happy to see Mr Wednesday, until he works her magic on her. Shadow is completely overwhelmed by what surrounds him, and while Mr Wednesday plays his hand to get another god to join his crusade, Shadow connects in a deeper level to spirituality. At the same time Mad Sweeney and Laura show up. For a moment we are lead to believe Easter might be able to resurrect Laura, but when she meets her what we already know comes to light. Another god killed her, and probably that is going to be what really makes Shadow get angry. Finding out that his boss killed his wife in order to manipulate him.
To make things worse the new gods arrive, Media makes her great entrance as Judy Garland in Easter Parade, followed by a faceless man dressed as Fred Astaire. It doesn't take long for Media to touch the subject of Wednesday being there and what he wants. She addresses directly that Easter is an old god made new again, that's what she, Technical Boy and Mr World offer. But Wednesday can offer her more, he finally makes things clear, after killing Media's boys as a sacrifice to Ostera, he lets everyone know who he is, old as time, grim and powerful. Mr Wednesday is Odin, and Ostera as goddess of dawn can help him and show everyone who she really is. As she can give life she can take it away too, and that's what she does. They take away spring until they pray for it. Media can't believe what have been done, while Odin is sure of himself because he has faith. War between the old gods and new ones has finally started.
To finish this complicated moment, Laura shows herself and asks for a private moment with Shadow. The episode ends and just as the colors faded, a parade of gods is starting to get together.
Next season can't come soon enough.
10/10
