Starz announced it last week and fans of Bryan Fuller, Hannibal, Gillian and American Gods all lost their collective chill. Gillian elevates every show she works on, and her last collaboration with Bryan Fuller on Hannibal was flat out captivating. I don’t have to sell you on her. She’s amazing. She’s awesome. She’s sexy. She’s Media in AMERICAN GODS!!!!!
How Will We See Gillian as Media in American Gods?
Here’s the thing. Media is one of the new gods. Worshipped by the American public in ways that have them destroying their minds and their families, Media doesn’t appear to Shadow in a unique corporeal form. Her scene is one of my favorites in the story, but it presents a question as to how Gillian Anderson will appear in the show.
Because Media shows up as Lucille Ball. Shadow’s spending the night in a crappy hotel, and he turns on the television to help him fall asleep. An old episode of the Dick Van Dyke Show (which is strangely about Dick’s alcoholism and spousal abuse) suddenly morphs into an episode of I Love Lucy. Lucy sits down on the couch and starts talking to Shadow from the television, asks him to come work for her.
“I’m the idiot box. I’m the TV. I’m the all-seeing eye and the world of the cathode ray. I’m the boob tube. I’m the little shrine the family gathers to adore. … The TV’s the altar. I’m what people are sacrificing to.” – American Gods, chapter 7
Media isn’t just a random tv star talking to Shadow (although later she winks at him through a newscaster); she’s THE icon of must see comedy. So, will we see Gillian dressed as Lucy?
MEDIA @GillianA@AmericanGodsSTZpic.twitter.com/NR57doc2Eg
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) June 3, 2016
Maybe. Seems likely. Certainly the quote above from the novel has the tone of nostalgia. Having the actual Lucy talk to him through the TV is what makes that scene so creepy and cool. Especially as Media ends the conversation fiddling with her buttons and asking Shadow if he’s ever wanted to see Lucy’s boobs.
But along with that pic of Gillian as Lucy, Bryan Fuller also tweeted this quote.
“I’m what people are sacrificing to. Time and attention, better than lambs blood.” @GillianA @AmericanGodsSTZ #MEDIA pic.twitter.com/4UDapxxF2K
— Bryan Fuller (@BryanFuller) June 6, 2016
Could we see her as a sleek, savvy actress in a popular drama? Maybe a svelte and erudite news anchor? Modern media has evolved way beyond connotations of “the boob tube.” Doesn’t that mean that she could show up as someone more modern and just as recognizable? And if we don’t see Gillian as the most iconic of comedic actresses, well then wouldn’t it be cool to see her as the most iconic of sci-fi drama leads? Would you not DIE to see Gillian as Media as …. Dana Scully? HECK YES I WOULD.
So, what do you think? How would you like to see Gillian as Media on American Gods? As Lucy, as a random character, as herself, as Scully?
featured image source: @AmericanGodsSTZ
