Muse by Craig Ranapia

Read Post

Muse: TV Review: Good Gods Almighty!

123 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 Newer→ Last

  • Jackie Clark,

    I was very sad to miss this last night, but 9.30 is my bedtime on a school night, and I was recording something else. So I will deffo set the recorder for 10.30 on Sunday.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I enjoyed it. It's bordering on spoof, but it's clearly going to be a social drama/commentary rather than fantasy escapism. It reminded me a fair bit of Kung Faux, but with more legs. Take the idea of the Norse gods, and work with how they might play out as New Zealanders. Can we end up caring about these people? I think so, I already recognize all of them.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to BenWilson,

    It's bordering on spoof, but it's clearly going to be a social drama/commentary rather than fantasy escapism.

    Does it have to be an either/or deal, though? I always liked Neil Gaiman's take on the idea of godhood in The Sandman and his novel American Gods: We take our gods with us - they change, wax and wane as we do. And what happens to a God when nobody believes in him any more?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Leopold,

    You're channelling Terry Pratchett in 'Small Gods', shurely, Craig?

    Since Jan 2007 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Leopold,

    PS - Why this fixation in the present-day West for Norse gods, anyway? Why not Celtic gods ,Manaan , Brigda et al. Or Hindu pantheon - Hindu epics have already shown the way there - Egyptian ones - the illustrators could go to town on the heads! - Or even Vudun gods (Greek and Roman ones may be a bit too racy for young eyes?)
    But no, every time gods pop up in fiction, its always blonde beasts to make Aryan/Western loins quiver...
    Rant over.

    Since Jan 2007 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to Leopold,

    Why this fixation in the present-day West for Norse gods, anyway? Why not Celtic gods ,Manaan , Brigda et al. Or Hindu pantheon – Hindu epics have already shown the way there – Egyptian ones – the illustrators could go to town on the heads! – Or even Vudun gods

    Apparently they can market themselves better. I'm not even sure who's handling the Celtic account.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    The celtic gods need to work on their names and pronunciations of same without the need for half a bucket of phlegm if they want to make any headway.

    Lugh, Morrigan, Goibniu, Crom Cruach, Manannan, Cernunnos, Cerridwen.

    They just trip off the tongue, don't they?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to Leopold,

    Nah, Craig R is right on the button - Gaiman's American Gods (and to a lesser extent, Ananzi Boys) has a large horde of transported deities including Egyptian, and African, and a truly terrifying Eastern European trio...

    Hmm, must go reread those titles...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    And what happens to a God when nobody believes in him any more?

    He becomes Governor of California.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Leopold,

    PS – Why this fixation in the present-day West for Norse gods, anyway?

    I hope James will drop by and speak for himself, but like most writers his own background (he's a real life Norsewood God) is the foundation of his work. But, of course, there are plenty of creatives whose mythopoetic kitty isn't quite so Euorcentric. Nalo Hopkinson's science fiction is wonderful, and her Jamacian heritage puts a deliciously Afro-Futurist spin on some very tired tropes.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • F. Beazley, in reply to Islander,

    Sorry I have a Terry Pratchett fetish so couldn’t stop myself from commenting.

    Pratchett explored many of the ideas in American Gods years before Gaiman’s book was published. His thirteenth book Small Gods especially covers that territory but the themes exist right back through the canon.

    Strange that Gaiman’s book before American Gods was a collaboration with Pratchett called Good Omens.

    Jokes. Not accusing him off ripping anything off. I love Gaiman.

    The fact that they were working together in the first place suggests they think alike.

    Since Feb 2011 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to F. Beazley,

    The fact that they were working together in the first place suggests they think alike.

    Certainly not - you could argue, and others have, that they both come out of a very English tradition of taking your heroes seriously enough not to take them seriously at all.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Islander, in reply to F. Beazley,

    I love Pratchett & Gaiman both -& yes, they both worked on"The Nice & Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch" before Gaiman's American Gods came out.
    Who knows which author created the new Four Horsemen?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Does it have to be an either/or deal, though?

    No, but it leans away from escapism, I think. Will have to see more episodes to judge.

    And what happens to a God when nobody believes in him any more?

    A civilized god concedes. The Christian one sends a massive flood to kill everyone.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to BenWilson,

    A civilized god

    Omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent and civilized? Surely you jest?

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to recordari,

    I do...I was just reading about Ragnarök and realized it ends with a big flood too. Doh!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • recordari, in reply to BenWilson,

    Always with the flood! Gods these days just don't hold water.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Alex Coleman,

    In the 'acknowledgments' to American Gods Gaimon says this:

    "Terry Pratchett helped unlock a knotty plot point for me on the train to Gothenburg."

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 247 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    A civilized god concedes. The Christian one sends a massive flood to kill everyone.

    Except the ducks

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Lyndon Hood,

    Not accusing him off ripping anything off. I love Gaiman.

    Personally I think his glorious ripping-off is a key part of Gaiman's awesome.

    And I'll chip in that the old gods in Tom Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume have similar problems.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    I do…I was just reading about Ragnarök and realized it ends with a big flood too. Doh!

    Because I'm like that, when I saw "Ragnarok", I thought of the New Zealand acid-rock band from the 70s. Who are actually on MySpace.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Because I'm like that, when I saw "Ragnarok", I thought of the New Zealand acid-rock band from the 70s. Who are actually on MySpace.

    Whereas I thought of Max Payne

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    “Raga Caviar Queen Dream”.

    Apart from the hallucinogenic name, At 16 minutes 53 seconds, I can see why they might be considered god-like.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Bet Gin Wigmore’s pleased nobody saw that coming…

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Because I'm like that, when I saw "Ragnarok", I thought of the New Zealand acid-rock band from the 70s. Who are actually on MySpace.

    LOL. You mean you didn't think of Swedish progg rock band Ragnarök from the early seventies (still going I notice)?

    Or the Norwegian black metal band Ragnarok?

    You're so local.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 5 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.