'American Gods' season 2 episode 1: The New Gods draw first blood and end up uniting the Old Gods

The second season premiere of 'American Gods' was dramatic, visually brilliant and marked an important beginning in the lives of the Old Gods. We saw Wednesday bring the Old Gods together at the House on the Rock to discuss the importance of war against the New Gods. In the meeting, however, not all the Old Gods were interested in war.

For instance, Mama-Ji (Sakina Jaffrey) says she is not interested in bringing bloodshed to her backyard that has so far been peaceful. She also insists that a war that is not needed will only bring more loss to the Old Gods who remain forgotten by their people. 

Bilquis, The Queen of Sheba, on the other hand, supports Wednesday and says that it is important for the Old Gods to reclaim their position of being the most powerful. She was, however, not even invited for the meet.

So, at the beginning of the first episode, we saw the difference in opinions between the Old Gods until Shadow Moon steps up and asks them why they are hesitant in reclaiming what is theirs. After a terrific monologue, everyone meets at Mama-Ji's restaurant for a meal together. The Gods are thinking about what Shadow has said, but it hasn't necessarily made a dent in their minds.

It is only after the bloodshed, ironically, at Mama-Ji's restaurant that the Old Gods come together. The New Gods led by Mr World are just preparing for the war and they do not want to start one without knowing what the Old Gods are really capable of.

So, Mr World employs Mr Town with the task of finding out what Wednesday is up to through Shadow. As a result, Mr Town sends in a sharpshooter who uses bullets that are meant to kill Gods. Shadow, who tries to stop the shooter, gets abducted by the New Gods while Zorya Vechernyaya, 'the Evening Star', is shot dead. Wednesday, who had earlier in the day shared a joke or two with her, is brought to his knees and sheds tears for his fallen comrade. 

Czernobog, the Slavic god of Darkness, curses the shooter and, from what we can gather, the 'dead wife' Laura would be the reason for the sharp shooter's death, if the curse was to be taken literally. 

What this shootout initiated by the New Gods managed to do is to bring the Old Gods together who just minutes earlier had a difference of opinion. In the name of death and grief, they all now stand together. We cannot wait to find out how Wednesday will use this to his advantage despite grieving his friend in the next episode of 'American Gods' season 2.