The best episodes of American Gods
Ranked by viewer rating, highs first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.
- 01
Wednesday travels to Kentucky to recruit an Old God in his battle against the New Gods. However, the Goddess Easter is reluctant to help. Meanwhile, Technology Boy calls in his favor with Bilquis, and Laura learns who had her killed.
- 02
Shadow has to decide the price he's willing to pay for his idyllic Lakeside life. As Laura and her new ally close in on her target, Wednesday has to persuade Czernobog that it's time to make peace with their enemies.
- 03
Ibis chronicles the journey of Mad Sweeney from Ireland to America. Meanwhile, Laura learns Sweeney's true destination.
- 04
Wednesday gathers the Old Gods in his memory to discuss the New Gods usurping their power, and invites Shadow along for the ride. Sweeney still wants his coin, Laura isn't giving it up, and Mr. World draws on a new resource to target the Old Gods.
- 05
Sweeney starts to remember what his life really was before he became a god. Wednesday restores Gungnir and entrusts it to Shadow, and Laura makes her way to Cairo.
- 06
Mr. World makes his entrance and the New Gods make Wednesday an offer he can refuse… but probably shouldn't. Meanwhile, Shadow and Laura discuss Laura's infidelity, and Mad Sweeney comes looking for his coin.
- 07
In Lakeside, Shadow grows closer with Marguerite and uncovers the surprising truth behind a local crime spree. Wednesday makes his own shocking discovery. Laura and Salim negotiate with the enemy of their enemy.
- 08
When Shadow Moon is released from prison early after the death of his wife, he meets Mr. Wednesday and is recruited as his bodyguard. Shadow discovers that this may be more than he bargained for.
- 09
Shadow makes a new friend as he hitches a ride to Cairo, Wednesday and Laura pay Argus a visit at the same time that Technical Boy and the New Media do, and Sweeney's luck continues to remain all bad as he heads for New Orleans.
- 10
After months apart, Wednesday reappears in Shadow's life, resolved to drag him back into his war effort. A meeting with the god Wisakedjak leaves Shadow with a prophecy about his destiny.
- 11
Shadow explores notions of purpose, destiny and identity with a newly enlightened Bilquis. Elsewhere, Technical Boy struggles with an identity crisis of his own. Wednesday asks Shadow to assist in a new con.
- 12
Despite his past following him to Lakeside, Shadow makes himself at home and builds relationships within the town. Laura and Salim continue to hunt for Wednesday, who attempts one final gambit to win over Demeter.
- 13
Laura and Salim's quest forces them outside of their comfort zones as they learn to let go of their pasts. Shadow is surprised by a new side of Wednesday, while Technical Boy attempts to escape the prison of his own mind.
- 14
Wednesday and Shadow travel to Vulcan, Kentucky, so that Wednesday can convince an old friend to forge a special blade for him. Meanwhile, Laura and Matt Sweeney meet a new friend and go on a road trip.
- 15
Shadow's attempt to break away from Mr. Wednesday and the brewing war is thwarted by the secrets of the Gods — both Old and New.
- 16
As the search for the missing girl continues, Shadow dreams of Bilquis. Wednesday discovers the whereabouts of his old love, the Greek goddess Demeter, and resolves to free her from the grip of an unscrupulous antagonist.
- 17
After packing away his things, Shadow begins his cross-country trek with Wednesday and has an encounter with Lucy from I Love Lucy... on a TV screen. Meanwhile, Wednesday travels to Chicago to recruit an old "friend" to his cause.
- 18
In flashback, the life of Laura is revealed as she deals blackjack, meets Shadow, gets married, plots a heist, has an affair, dies, and comes back as a revenant.
- 19
While Shadow tours Cairo and gets a lesson on its history, Laura and Sweeney meet with Baron Samedi and Maman Brigitte and make a deal to bring Laura back to life. Wednesday meets with Alviss, the King of Dwarves, and is told there's another part to restoring his spear's power.
- 20
Wednesday pulls off a con to get an artifact that the dwarves need to forge the runes onto Gungnir. When Shadow questions Wednesday about his son, Wednesday remembers the 1930s and the only way that a god can die for good.
- 21
After Zorya's death, Czernobog calls for vengeance. Wednesday and Nancy go on a road trip, Mama-Ji looks for someone to cover her shift, and Laura and Sweeney set out to find the abducted Shadow.
- 22
Shadow and Technical Boy team up to search for Bilquis, who finds herself captive and in the midst of a crisis of identity. Wednesday visits the local chapter of notorious biker gang Lords of Valhalla.
- 23
Tears of the Wrath-Bearing Tree
Teetering on the edge of war and peace, the gods gather to mourn a loss. Bilquis' divine journey brings her to an unexpected revelation, while Shadow finally embraces destiny.
- 24
In two viginettes, Anubus visits one of his followers. And a Middle Eastern salesman meets a fellow countryman in a New York taxicab. Meanwhile, Sweeney discovers that he gave his lucky coin to Shadow by mistake, and Shadow discovers how Wednesday raises his money.
- 25
Wednesday takes Shadow to St. Louis to meet with a potential ally in the coming war. Nancy, Ibis, and Bilquis hold a meeting in Cairo, and World gives Technical Boy one last chance before "retiring" him.
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