25 replies to this topic

[SillyMamma]

Second episode on and I'm thoroughly enjoying this. Solid acting, great humor, so I thought I'd open a thread and see if anyone else was watching as well. A gem that seems to be slipping under the radar.

Edited by SillyMamma, Feb 15, 2011 @ 2:32 PM.

[leea]

I'm enjoying this as well. I preferred the first episode over the 2nd so far, but I'm looking forward to seeing where they go with the story. The Norse mythology is pretty unfamiliar territory for me, so no guessing is going on here :)

[Wyldemusick]

Axl Johnson, as normal a 21 year old can be when coming from a dysfunctional family, is almost run over by a young woman in a fast car. Shortly after, an earthquake saves him when she tries to stab him during a party. And then Axl's brothers Anders, Mike, and Ty take him out into the woods to meet his grandfather -- who turns out to be his goofy cousin Olaf, in reality a 92 year old who looks like he's in his twenties. At this time the brothers and Olaf reveal to Axl that he, like them, is the reincarnation of one of the Norse gods -- who left Asgard to walk amongst mortals on Midgard, and ended up persecuted...so they fled to New Zeland, where they've been reincarnating ever since. One ceremony later, Axl is revealed as the latest incarnation of Odin...

"There's always a catch." There's a quest, with serious penalties for failure, to start with. A bunch of Norns trying to get in the way. And the vagaries of life and family...with Anders the silky con-man, Mike, whose powers could make him rich if he'd just use them rather than trying to make a career as a house builder, Ty the reclusive heating/AC guy who can literally blow hot and cold, and the periapatetic Olaf, who's in his own oracular world much of the time.

The series is running on TV3 in New Zealand on Mondays, although the March 14th episode will be the last of the season. It's entertaining, although Olaf's the real breakout character for me, even when he's essentially being an irresponsible prat.

[Dead Composer]

I just watched the first few minutes of the pilot episode, and was put off by the near-constant sex. Not that I'm totally against sex on TV (I enjoyed This Is Not My Life), but I'd like to get to know the characters a little before they start frakking like dogs.

[Wyldemusick]

It gets better as it goes along, and they do taper off the sex comedy elements. They also start seriously dropping hints about who Frigg is embodied as along the way, particularly in the fifth episode.

I haven't seen the sixth episode yet, but they finally bring in Thor. Chris Hemsworth he ain't.

[SillyMamma]

Sixth episode was absolutely delightful, even with mandatory nudity and cruelty to goats.

[Wyldemusick]

It was nice to see Axl fumbling his way towards the wisdom of Odin, and it was definitely about time Anders took a few knocks -- and especially amusing that Ty pretty much twitted him several times in a row -- those poor fish! -- especially with the fridge, which I suspect wasn't actually munted...just an opportunity for Ty to tweak Anders.

Even funnier was Olaf hooking up with his opposite number amongst the goddesses. I think that's on the way with Anders, too, which is going to be very painful for Anders.

I hope there's a second season. It was loopy fun, raunch and all.

[SillyMamma]

Second series is already confirmed.

I loved the romance between Olaf and Ingrid — I hope it continues to develop. And much as I'm pleased that Ty got several over on Anders, I'm still not buying any chemistry between Ty and Dawn.

[Wyldemusick]

Good to know there's a second series, and I'm looking forward to next Monday's season wrap-up (I originally thought it was six episodes; it was a relief to find out it was ten.) Loki arriving on the scene as a lawyer is priceless, and it would seem to me that Eva isn't quite what she's supposed to be -- especially with Agnetha and Colin/Loki being as cozy as they are. The question is...what exactly is Gaia, and if she's in fact a goddess, how come none of them have ever had a reaction to her?

Axl's path to Odin's wisdom is a pretty rocky one, isn't it? Scared into doing a runner by a lawyer holding a burning roll of papers...if he'd studied the mythology a little, he'd have known that Odin can easily wallop Loki, and the thing to watch for is mind games and mischief.

Also amusing me to no end -- Stacey and Michelle (damn, she's tall) grudgingly following Ingrid to the opposing side, although I'm happy to see Michelle continuing to put the screws to Anders. I'm also amused at the notion that Stacey is going to discover that she's been handmaidening for entirely the wrong person all along, and I can just see her ending up with Ty in the most confused hard-luck-cases relationship ever (this side, maybe, of Mike's troubled existence.)

So the big question now is...which goddess, exactly, is Agnetha, and why does she want to keep a lid on their powers to the point where she's collaborating with Loki? That's never, ever a good idea. The best thing to do when it comes to Loki is stay the hell away -- as poor Zeb found out. While that could just be a stupid accident, given Zeb's usual idiot behavior, it seems more likely that it was a punishment.

My question, really, is...where do they go from here in a second series?

[SillyMamma]

Stacey is going to discover that she's been handmaidening for entirely the wrong person all along, and I can just see her ending up with Ty in the most confused hard-luck-cases relationship ever

I'm pretty sure they've established that Stacey is a lesbian and that Ty is straight. Can't really see that happening.

So the big question now is...which goddess, exactly, is Agnetha, and why does she want to keep a lid on their powers to the point where she's collaborating with Loki?

I think she's Mamma Johnson, i.e. Freya

My question, really, is...where do they go from here in a second series

I read somewhere that they had a 4 or 5 year arc plotted out.

[TVraisedme]

I think she's Mamma Johnson, i.e. Freya

Wow that was bang on! I thought it was a great end to a really enjoyable season, very funny and interesting main characters. Also, great to see Dean O' Gorman in something, I haven't seen him since his stint on Young Hercules with Ryan Gosling!

I have to say that of the brothers Ty is my favorite, he is the only one that has his shit together, yet he's cursed with the emo-est of god powers. Very fitting that Hel goddess of the underworld turns out to be his mate and from the looks of that relationship they are going to be really entertaining.

But we still don't know who the Frigg is? I personally think it's Gaia(the name could be a clue, even though it's actually Greek), I know that it ends with her celebrating her 22nd birthday, but her dad seemed like the kind of control freak that would lie to her about her age. Plus the tension he had with Axl seemed like it stemmed more from hatred on a level deeper then him thinking Axl was a deadbeat.

The only issue that I had about the finale was concerning Agnetha, if she is in fact there Mother how did no one recognize her? Axl I get, but Michael and Olaf should have recognized her instantly. Hopefully that will be explained next season, otherwise I can't wait.

[roosterboy]

I was thinking that maybe Gaia would also turn out to be a goddess but a Greek one. Maybe the Aesir weren't the only ones to relocate to New Zealand? And part of the overall plot of the whole series would be the joining of the Norse and Greek gods or something like that.

And I pegged her father as Dionysus. Kinda fat and bearded, connoisseur of fine herbal entertainment, artistic, likes to be naked, sexually open, etc.

I'm still hoping I'm right about that, but I think I'll enjoy wherever they end up going with the story. I was disappointed with the resolution to the Mike/Val/Coma Rob story, mostly because it was entirely predictable but also because I worry this means even less of a role on the show for Roz Turnbull. But everything else was great.

Edited by roosterboy, Apr 12, 2011 @ 10:16 PM.

[roosterboy]

Hmm, so I guess no one's been watching the second season? That's disappointing.

Looks like I was on the right track when I guessed Gaia would turn out to be a goddess from another pantheon, but I never would have imagined she'd be potentially the Norse Frigg or the Maori Papatuanuku. And I certainly didn't figure on who she actually ended up as! That was one hell of a twist ending.

Second season was just as enjoyable as the first, though I did think it kind of slumped a bit in the middle after the Ty/Eva arc came to an end and before the final arc with Gaia's destiny. The set up for season three (please let there be a season three!) is very interesting. I hope these godhunters make a return appearance. Same with the three Maori gods; the Johnsons and other Aesir need allies, plus Jerome/Maui was funny and it's always a pleasure to see Kirk Torrance.

I figure the Johnsons' absent father will need to make an appearance at some point. I doubt Agnetha/Freya is truly dead and she'll have to reveal herself if Njord comes back. And Ty surely will be getting godded up again, but with someone besides Hod this time. Trying to think what Norse gods we haven't seen yet. Frey? Heimdall?

[Munchiewoman]

I've been watching too. Poor Axel. He just can't win.

I have to say, the god mythology is a little dodgy on this show - some people know who they are, some people don't really. Some have powers, some don't. What's that all about?

I agree, the god hunters should come back, and the Maori gods. And they should finish that video game!

I'm a little tired of Ty's story, so I hope he gets a god he can have a little fun with.

[TVraisedme]

I watched season 2 and really enjoyed it! The ending set itself up nicely for hopefully a season 3. I honestly wonder how they're going to resolve the Gaia situation. Poor Axel indeed! The guy can't catch a break!

It was interesting to see how the whole god spirit thing worked. I thought they were inhabited since birth and it just kind of manifested on their 21st birthdays. With this new info that means that Hod and Hel's spirit's are still up for grabs, I may be the only person that actually liked Ty and Eva. They were at least more interesting than Ty and Dawn, stable couples are rarely ever entertaining!

Also, can we have more of the Maori gods, they are awesome and hilarious!

[GG63]

This just started to air on the Space channel here in Canada. Caught the first episode and really enjoyed it. Nice to see it has a second season. I don't know any of the mythology that goes with the characters so it's all very new to me.

[Andrew Wiggin]

It took some Time but The Almighty Johnsons are renewed for a Third Seasone http://www.tv3.co.nz...tyJohnsons.aspx
Thank God,i hate Cliffhanger Endings ""

[caper24]

I'm deeply, deeply grateful that the show got a third series. Because I really liked Series One (recently shown in Canada on Space) and heard about the 2nd series cliffhanger. Don't think I could've handled watching Series Two without the knowledge that Series Three was happening.

Now if Space would hurry up and show Series Two already...

[caper24]

Just wanted to remind any other Canadians lurking about that Space is starting off Series Two tomorrow night (2013-01-14) at ten.

[Taeolas]

Loved the first season and got the second season on my PVR now.

Don't have the link any more, but apparently SyFy in the states is going to adapt the series for the US (Akin to Being Human I suspect). Guess the NZ version has too much nudity or sex for the American audiences. :)

[gryphon]

I just tripped over this series and watched season 1. I am making my way through season 2 and I really like it as well. I had to rewind some bits to catch the slang--but my ear is getting used to it.

[Bruinsfan]

Guess the NZ version has too much nudity or sex for the American audiences. :)

I think it must be the accents. I've only seen the first season of the UK Being Human, but I don't recall more nudity or sex than the American version. (For which I am exceedingly grateful to Sam Witwer.)

[bulldawgtownie]

Guess the NZ version has too much nudity or sex for the American audiences. :)

You'd be surprised what some of us get upset about.

This sounds like an interesting show so I'm glad to hear SyFy is bringing it to the US. Of course everyone cast in the American version will have to have blue eyes and blonde hair.

[GG63]

Guess the NZ version has too much nudity or sex for the American audiences. :)

Let's not forget the cursing. Unless it's on HBO/Cinemax the "f" word will not be tolerated. Watching last night I have to admit I was surprised and really pleased Space didn't censor the swearing.

This sounds like an interesting show so I'm glad to hear SyFy is bringing it to the US. Of course everyone cast in the American version will have to have blue eyes and blonde hair.

That actually pisses me off as the guys on this version are really hot in their own way. I really like the diversity of looks on all the characters and that they are not "pretty boys" but have their own sensuality and appeal not based on their looks alone.

[Bruinsfan]

I don't know that I'd be that offended by the hypothetical casting, though. If it were Egyptian or Greek gods yes, but blond blue-eyed Viking gods don't strike me as being out of place.

[bulldawgtownie]

Blue eyed, blonde haired norse gods wouldn't be out of place. My OP wasn't that clear but my complaint is that as far as American tv is concened anyone from Sweden, Norway, Finlind, Iceland, etc has to have blonde hair and blue eyes when the reality is there is much more diversity in those countries. Just like US tv shows don't show anywhere near an accurate depiction of how diverse America is.