American Gods Review: Treasure of the Sun (Season 2 Episode 7)
On American Gods Season 2 Episode 7, “Treasure of the Sun,” Sweeney’s luck is tested as he reflects on his past battles of mind and body.
The episode rests of Pablo Schreiber’s shoulders, and his commanding, broken presence as Sweeney is an astronomical boost to the episode. His way with words, the goading and the teasing and the anger, all boil down to a character study of a man who has lost so much over the centuries.
It’s through too many bad deals to count we learn of his life, reflected back upon him as the banshees of death call for him. The short story structure the episode leans on helps focus and hone on moments of Sweeney’s life where his luck has subsided before, showing luck is not always on his side.
Sweeney’s loss of stature and title, of mind and matter, is a compelling way to bring sympathy to a fairly unsympathetic character. His crassness and words of cruelty, while fun, show a character who, as he puts it himself, is like an abused dog coming back for more. Sweeney knows he is Wednesday’s until death, which makes the moment so sudden and so inevitable at the same time.
The death comes as a means of freeing himself from his debt and his pain. With the spear now part of the sun’s treasure, lost to Wednesday, it’s a large, looming question of how far the show must go in order to gain back what a god needs for his war.
Sweeney’s warning that the animosity he and Shadow share is part of Wednesday’s poisoning of them is a fascinating reveal. It can be hard to tell if it’s more of Sweeney’s goading, or there’s truth to it. Could Wednesday be shifting everyone’s thinking in his orbit?
It explains Shadow’s undying loyalty to Wednesday, whose ellipses way of dealing with him would lead anyone to frustration. It also explains why Shadow’s rage at Wednesday is so brief and how he is able to so quickly grab the spear from midair to impale Sweeney.
Perhaps it’s the coin, the one Sweeney made disappear for a moment, a reminder of a charm (or hold) Wednesday has over Shadow. The totem could be a signal of Wednesday’s control, given to Shadow in a time of need as his mother died to manipulate him.
The best visual treat of the episode comes in the forest battle. Slow motion and rain has been a gorgeous occurrence on American Gods before, and this scene continues the trend. The sequence is a burst of excitement the season has been missing for stretches.
It’s a messy end for a character who brings a lot of life to the series. Sweeney’s relationship with Laura is a far more potent and exciting match than when she is with Shadow, and so it’s easy to wonder if the blood spilled before the gallows tree will be the drops of blood Laura is searching for for her resurrection.
American Gods Season 2 Episode 7, “Treasure of the Sun,” is one of the most effective hours the series has produced. It’s a reminder that when focused, this show can do astounding things. But its power goes beyond this episode, as the wonders of what’s next creep up due to the ramifications.
Some stray thoughts on the episode:
- Wednesday’s absolute delight at funeral food is a random but fun character trait. He may not completely approve of its greatness, but he sure is eating a lot of it.
What did you think of this episode of American Gods? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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American Gods airs Sundays at 8/7c on STARZ.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.