American Gods Review: Ashes and Demons (Season 3 Episode 3)
After two episodes of wondering how American Gods plans to tie together its disparate storylines this season, we are starting to get some answers. American Gods Season 3 Episode 3, “Ashes and Demons,” moves the story along while finding a balance between plots.
The balance is best seen in how Shadow’s storylines are handled on this episode, allowing him some time in Lakeside while also working in a way to connect him back to the gods.
After last week’s tense scenes in Lakeside, things feel much calmer, even with a teenage girl still missing. Shadow seems to settle into a nice friendship with landlady Marguerite and feel more comfortable in the town.
These domestic moments in the show are a fun change of pace from the normal chaos of Shadow’s life. The mystery still looms in the background, but the episode gives Shadow some room to be normal for a little while.
However, if you’ve been watching the show long enough, you know that any sort of comfort for Shadow can’t last. His domestic bliss is interrupted when he receives a telepathic distress call from Bilquis and sets out to help her.
While it’s surprising the show sends Shadow on so many trips out of Lakeside, at least compared to the source material, this trip makes a lot of sense because of the parallels between Shadow and Bilquis. It’s no coincidence she calls on Shadow, the only other person who’s trying to not pick a side in the war.
Bilquis’ next steps always seemed uncertain, but bringing Shadow into the fold may open up some new possibilities for both of them. Shadow’s primarily been a solitary figure, but this pairing clicks given their similar motivations.
Will they forge their own alliance separate from both the Old and New Gods? And what does that mean for Wednesday? The potential is intriguing.
Of course, Wednesday is still around beating the war drum, but even his storyline gets more nuance on this episode with the introduction of Demeter (Blythe Danner). For once, a major god really takes Wednesday to task for his scheming and desperation.
Demeter: The question is, what are you desperate for?
As a viewer, it’s enjoyable to see someone other than Shadow drag Wednesday in this season. But it’s also a relief for the show to address that there’s a deeper element to Wednesday that still needs exploring. He tells Shadow and his allies many things, but you get the sense we still don’t know his real motivations.
We don’t get a direct answer on this episode, and given the character’s deceptive nature we might not for a while. But it’s important to see the show at least touch on this subject, indicating that a deeper dive into Wednesday’s psyche is on the horizon and that they aren’t completely ignoring it.
The one part of the episode that doesn’t fit as neatly is the return of Laura Moon. Given the strength of the storyline, however, it’s easy to overlook that it’s out of place.
Although she “died” on the season premiere, that’s no matter for a show about gods. Instead, we get to spend some time with Laura as she journeys through Purgatory.
Emily Browning’s acerbic performance as Laura is an entertaining foil to some of the more upbeat stories we’ve gotten about the afterlife recently in pop culture. She makes Eleanor Shellstrop from The Good Place look like a wallflower in comparison.
More importantly, Purgatory, which is exactly the sort of bureaucratic nightmare you would expect, provides a framework for the show to explore Laura’s identity. Watching the movie of her life in the Purgatory screening room shows how even the most self-aware person can get things wrong about themselves.
The show has always been good about giving characters origin stories, but this goes beyond that to look at their true selves beyond the myths they tell themselves or others. The show usually focuses on Shadow’s identity, especially on this season, but this storyline makes it clear that other characters are also worth deeper psychological examination.
The purpose of Laura’s return isn’t entirely clear yet, but it’s a very interesting detour.
American Gods Season 3 Episode 3, “Ashes and Demons,” packs in a lot of stories but manages to keep each subplot equally engaging. The season seems to have finally found its footing, with a lot put into motion on this episode.
Additional Thoughts:
- Chad trying to tell Shadow that Lakeside isn’t racist like other places and Shadow pointing out it’s still in America is a perfect follow up to their earlier interactions. I hope the show continues to explore what it means for Shadow to be Black in a small town.
- Laura’s experience in the crowded Purgatory waiting room felt especially claustrophobic given the current pandemic.
- If crime shows have drilled anything into our brains, it’s that the perpetrator likes to insert themselves into the investigation. I couldn’t help but think about that during the search party given how prominent some townspeople are during that scene…
What did you think of this episode of American Gods? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Critic Rating:
User Rating:
American Gods airs Sundays at 8/7c on STARZ.
Follow us on Twitter and on 
Instagram!
Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!
Breeze Riley
Breeze Riley is a pop culture enthusiast who decided to turn her love of watching too much TV into a hobby writing about it. Although she's a convention-going sci-fi and fantasy nerd, she's just as likely to be watching an off-beat comedy or period drama. She is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic.