The surprising season 2 finale of The Almighty Johnsons aired last night on TV3 with a death, a birth (well, a rebirth), another death, and the makings of a pretty exciting video game - and I have a few thoughts right after this spoiler warning:
(Warning: Spoilers from Season 2 of The Almighty Johnsons follow.)
You know, it's kinda funny reading back through old reviews and comments from after the first season of Johnsons, and even from earlier in this season, because it quickly becomes clear that expectation is something the writers on this show are purposely trying to subvert and exploit.
For example, after the first season, I was ready for Ty and Eva to have a long and (un)happy marriage, for Agnetha and the goddesses to do battle with the Johnson brothers all season, and for Axl and Gaia to have some kind of star-crossed romance after he found the real Frigg - and exactly none of that has turned out to be the case.
The tagline "expect the unexpected" is something of a cliché on television; if I had a dollar for every time a promo told me that an utterly predictable episode would be "the most shocking episode yet" ... well, I'd be able to single-handedly fund the third season*. Yet, the writers here seem to get off on making viewers expect one thing, then delivering something else entirely - even if it means dragging their characters into some miserable, unexpected places.
That was the thought I was left with as the credits rolled last night: the final act of the show saw the mysterious Natalie (played by Natalie Medlock), a god-hunter for a mysterious Christian outfit, put an arrow through Helen/Idun's heart, which inadvertently threw a spanner in the plan for Gaia (Keisha Castle-Hughes) to be reborn as either Frigg or Papatuanuku when she ended up becoming a new version of Idun in the wake of Helen's death.
Or what about Ty (Jared Turner), who traded in his god-powers to pursue romance with Dawn (Fern Sutherland), but was surprised to learn that choosing a mortal life has made every other mortal (that is, human) forget who he was.
As of right now, it appears that a third season* will revolve around a crazy Christian group trying to exorcise the gods, Gaia's newfound crush on Anders (and the fallout from the failed attempt at rebirthing Frigg), Ty's attempts to woo Dawn, and some kind of Mike vs Loki faceoff.
It's an interesting place to leave the season - and I'd be more excited if I wasn't so sure that I'm completely wrong.
That's really the question: how long can the writers keep up this pace? At some point, viewers need some form of certainty to latch on to. Questions need answers and stories need resolutions, and as much fun as the show might be right now, I feel a third season of moving goalposts would be more frustrating than entertaining.
The second season of the show was entertaining though, deftly balancing the longer story arcs (the identity of Frigg, romances between Axl & Gaia and Ty & Dawn) with newer, shorter stories (Anders & Helen, Ty's quest to ditch his god-powers) and new ideas (the introduction of the True Gods of Aotearoa).
The Almighty Johnsons serves as a showcase for writer James Griffin, a rare talent behind the scenes, and for what is possible in local television productions.
It's also a great display of talent - Emmett Skilton made massive strides this year, Jared Turner and Ben Barrington were both great, and Fern Sutherland was a delight to watch - not to mention Tim Balme, Dean O'Gorman, Michelle Langstone, Shane Cortese ... the cast is absolutely loaded.
Anyway, enough from me - this was a great second season of an incredible local show, and I'm anxiously hoping for a third. But I'm interested in what you think:
What did you think of The Almighty Johnsons, Season 2? Do you agree that it was hard to know what to expect? Do you think that was a good thing or a bad thing? Are you happy with where Season 2 left off?
(*) It goes without saying that I think the show should be renewed. Please, NZ On Air and TV3, do the right thing.
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I knew the whole "Gaia is Frigg" thing was too good to be true. The first season showed that any expectations set up would be changed. We knew Gaia was special, but when they started pushing the whole Frigg thing on her I knew it wouldn't end up that way.
Am a bit disappointed in Gaia's crush on Anders though. It seems like a complete change in her personality for that to happen.
Bring on season 3.
I love this show. The finale was simply great, and I was left going OMG what is going to happen now!!! The scriptwriters for this show are incredibly talented, not to mention the actors - awards all round I predict.
NZ on Air/TV3 - if you're short on funds perhaps you could give the GC's funding to these guys to ensure a 3rd season - no one would mind!
It is a fantastic show and just so different to anything else out there. It has everything - great characters (played by actors rerally well suited to their roles), humour, unpredictability and some good kiwi references. I absolutely love this show and can't wait for season 3. The writers of this show are outstanding!
I don't know about you, but i felt like a bubble had been burst when Gaia was found to be idun.
I like cliffhangers, and the rest of the story was great, but for some reason the Gaia as Idun plot completely let me down. Sort of like watching your new lamborghini roll into the water whilst your only a few meters away bound hand and foot.
While I really enjoyed last night's show, and the excellent and unexpected twists, the plot didn't quite add up, and defied logic (not that that's particularly relevant for this kind of show!). Firstly, given that Ty and Dawn had much history together (including the time where the gods all lost their god powers when Axl was ill), it made no sense that Dawn would totally forget him. She would have had memories in the "non-god-worshipping" part of ther brain.
Secondly, it made absolutely no sense that Natalie's cult would be hunting down 'gods' to kill. If they were rabidly and militantly Christian, there's no way they would even admit the existence of gods other than "the one true God", so they wouldn't waste their time trying to find and kill them.
Lastly, even though Gaia was channeling/embodying Idun, there's still the fact that her human form loves Axl, and probably thinks Anders is a dick. As we've seen before, despite destiny having a strong influence on what they choose to do, they do have their own human feelings and can make choices that go against destiny. When Axl beame Odin, he didn't suddenly stop being Axl and wasn't suddenly overwhelmed by wanting to do Odin-y things. While Gaia/Idun would have been very strongly attracted to Anders/Braggi, I really didn't buy her worshipping him and calling him "My Lord Braggi", as Helen/Idun didn't, and in fact was trying to manipulate him.
It all left me going, "Yeah - good ending, very surprising and entertaining, but too many inconsistencies".
Best review is a mate back from London said to me "Have you seen this 'Almighty Johnsons' show? Bunch of Jafas walking around acting like they're gods. Typical."
god i love this show, so hope it gets renewed
loved them trying to make the video game
and im not so hot on KCH and her real life exploits, but I love Gaia she looked so pretty in her dress
The introduction of the the God Hunters will, I think, become a major plot line in the 3rd season. As for Gaia becomming Idun, I cant help but think that its quite convenient for her - she doesnt have to make her choice. I have a feeling she isn't actually Idun, just using it as a way to put of Jerome and Axl.
Wouldn't it be funny if Ty became Idun? After Helens death you don't see Ty again for the rest of the episode, he would have been the first empty god vessel lying around for the spirit to use after all... And it's not like TAMJ's hasn't played with cross gender rolls before (That is still my favourite episode this season)
For there to be a 3rd season Frigg had to not be Frigg otherwise the whole premise of the show was finished. In saying that though I think this can only be a 3 season show as frigg not being found in the 3rd season will be dragging it on too long.
For me AMJ picked up when they went from the drinking/shagging episodes to the actual ones about gods.
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This programme is crap and follows the usual NZ formulae of rubbish acting, filthy language and stupid plot. One day the funders and broadcasters may grow up and create a dramatic series - I know the writers are out there - that is of a higher quality than this teenage tripe.