If you’ve been watching American Gods then you probably already know that last night’s episode, “Git Gone”, was a doozie. Spoiler Alert, because we’re about to talk about this huge episode, and how for the first time this acclaimed fantasy series, developed by Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Michael Green (Kings) diverges from the best-selling novel by Neil Gaiman.
Fans of Neil Gaiman’s American Gods already knew that Laura Moon, played in the series by Emily Browning (Sucker Punch) returns from the dead to aid Shadow Moon on his journey. But the book doesn’t delve nearly as far into Laura’s own experiences as the television series, which this week how miserable she was in life, how miserable she is in death, and how badass she is when she uses her own severed arm as a weapon.
I watched this episode early, prior to the SXSW Film Festival (where I also interviewed the showrunners and the rest of the cast), but when the time came to talk to Emily Browning there was nowhere left to go. The publicists threw us both in a closet to have our brief conversation about the then-upcoming episode, in an interview I’ve been holding onto for months.
“It’s womblike and secure.” That’s how Emily Browning described our unlikely surroundings. And in that somewhat awkward, somewhat comfortable environment… we began to converse.
Jan Thijs / Starz
Also: ‘American Gods’ Producers Bryan Fuller and Michael Green (Exclusive Interview)
Crave: We get to know a lot more about Laura in the show than we do in the book…
Emily Browning: Indeed.
What was it like to discover that? Had you read the book, so this was all new, or did you only know the show?
I had never read the book. I read the script first and I then started reading the book when I signed on, and was very into it, but it was like… this, the character, has become such a different thing, and this was so much information to take in. I actually stopped reading the book and didn’t finish it until after we wrapped, because I was like, she’s a new thing and I need to keep this… it felt like it needed to be purer. Because I’m the kind of person like, when I love a book, I was worried that I would read it and then be like, “Um, this is different to the book and we can’t do it.” I’m one of those people. So like, just leave it. Read it after.
In what sense were you feeling that the character had changed?
Well, she’s just there a lot more, you know? I was reading the book as preparation and it felt like, okay, this is actually not great preparation for MY character, and so I’m going to leave it for now and focus on the script and focus on the version of the character that Bryan [Fuller] and Michael [Green] have created.
But I mean, it’s not necessarily that she’s a very different character, it’s just that in the book you don’t get to know her that well. She’s doing a lot of things in the background that you don’t really get to learn about her, and I think she’s a little less synthetic than in the book, perhaps, because you don’t get to see that backstory. I’m hoping that seeing the backstory of her before she dies and when she first meets Shadow… I don’t know that she’s necessarily sympathetic, and I also don’t know if she’s necessarily relatable. [Laughs.] But I think to get an idea of her as a full human being is helpful to understand her.
She seems to be experiencing a bit of a malaise.
Absolutely, yeah. And I get that, I understand that.
I’ve seen episode four and it’s fantastic.
Oh cool. Everyone’s seen it before me. [Laughs.]
Jan Thijs / Starz
Also: Playing God(s) with the ‘American Gods’ Cast (Exclusive Interview)
That’s too bad! I have to ask, what was it like to have to carry around your own arm?
Awesome, and really weird. First of all the prosthetics people, the team of prosthetics people on this show, are unbelievably, unbelievably fucking talented. The arm was… I mean it flocked at the wrist, it sort of bent at the elbow, it was the weight of my arm exactly. It was very unnerving to be carrying it around at first.
[I] remember that, when we first shot that seen where I walk into Betty [Gilpin] in the bathroom? We did the first take and the director came up and said, “Great! Great, that was great. Only problem is you opened the door with your arm that doesn’t exist, so we might need to do it again.” [Laughs.] I opened it with my blue sleeve arm and I’m like, “Shit.” So that was weird, trying to get used to that slightly lopsided thing was odd, but being able to fling it over my shoulder felt pretty badass.
Did you get to keep the arm?
No!
That’s crap.
Because it might… who knows when it will appear again, also? Knowing how that world works it probably costs like twenty billion dollars, so they don’t trust me with that kind of shit. Maybe one day. [Laughs.]
One last thing: what are you most looking forward to getting to, for people to see?
Oooh… in this season?
Sure.
I think I’m most excited to see the very last shot of the season, which is when Laura and Mr. Wednesday finally get to meet, very briefly, for about ten seconds. I won’t say anymore. That’s what I’m excited about!
The Top Ten ‘Better Call Saul’ Locations You Can Visit Right Now:
Top Photo: STARZ
William Bibbiani (everyone calls him ‘Bibbs’) is Crave’s film content editor and critic. You can hear him every week on The B-Movies Podcast and Canceled Too Soon, and watch him on the weekly YouTube series What the Flick. Follow his rantings on Twitter at @WilliamBibbiani.
10 'Better Call Saul' Shooting Locations You Can Visit in Albuquerque
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10. Jimmy’s First Law Office (160 Juan Tabo Blvd, Albuquerque, NM)
a.k.a. "The Nail Salon." This location was prominently featured during the first season of Better Call Saul where audiences got a chance to see how Jimmy McGill first built not only his law practices, but his persona as a lawyer. While there is a more earnest sense of doing right by the law during the time the character spends here, glimmers of Saul Goodman can definitely be spotted.
Photo: AMC
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9. Saul Goodman’s Office (9800 Montgomery Blvd, Albuquerque, NM)
This particular location hasn’t appeared on Better Call Saul at the time this list is being curated, but it feels like an inevitability that Bob Odenkirk will be returning to it before the show has run its course. It is located in a strip mall and, since the time of Breaking Bad , has been turned into a restaurant. The owner has kept Saul’s window plate up, providing a cool photo op for anyone who might be passing by. If you’re going to take a picture, why not grab a snack?
Photo: AMC
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8. Chuck’s House (1607 San Cristobal Rd, Albuquerque, NM)
A prominent fixture throughout every season of Better Call Saul so far. Like Walter White’s house, Chuck’s house is occupied. If you plan to visit you don’t have to leave your electronics in the mailbox or anything, but try to be polite and respectful of the owners. That means no kicking down doors, ripping off space blankets or stealing of tapes. And, yes, the electricity is turned on!
Photo: AMC
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7. Hamlin, Hamlin, McGill Offices Lobby (1810 East University Avenue, Las Cruces, NM)
The law firm owned by Jimmy’s brother Chuck (Michael McKean), where Jimmy and Kim first meet and work together shoots in a couple different locations. The expansive lobby is actually in the Pan American Center, which is part of the University of New Mexico campus. It’s probably the furthest out of Albuquerque that you are going to have to drive to hit all the locations on this list. A very cool space, although it is a place of business with a lot of offices housing a lot of workers, so if you are going to stop by, try to be discreet.
Photo: AMC
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6. Hamlin, Hamlin, McGill Offices Boardrooms (101 Sun Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM)
If you want to get to the heart of what makes Hamlin, Hamlin, McGill tick then you’re going to want to stop by the Sun Healthcare Group building in Albuquerque. All of the boardroom and office scenes from Better Call Saul are shot inside this building. It will probably be difficult to get direct access to the interior of the building, although if you’re as charming as Jimmy you may well be able to make things happen.
Photo: AMC
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5. Mike’s House (204 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM)
Like a few of the different locations, Mike’s house has been featured in every season of Better Call Saul to date. It debuted on Breaking Bad and was brought back into the continuity of this spinoff. Recently audiences have seen Mike being tracked to his home and flipping the script in order to track his trackers in one of this season’s best episodes. It’s a humble home where a lot of important events have been planned out. Perfect for Mike in every way.
Photo: AMC
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4. Mike’s Restaurant Office (4500 Central Ave, Albuquerque, NM)
Loyola’s was established as a meeting place for Mike in Breaking Bad and carried over to serve the same purpose on Better Call Saul. Granted, Jimmy hasn’t planned anything as nefarious there as we have seen Mike do in the past, but give him time and he could do it. It’s a nice restaurant, so go in and patronize Loyola’s while doing some wheeling and dealing of your own. Just don’t get caught.
Photo: AMC
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3. Los Pollos Hermanos (4257 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM)
Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), has finally made his triumphant debut in Better Call Saul and his infamous business has come along with him! Los Pollos Hermanos interiors and exteriors were shot in and around the Albuquerque restaurant Twisters that, awesomely, have left up the iconography and signage inside their establishment for fans to grab a selfie with. It is a Mexican restaurant, but they do serve chicken nuggets if you want to have the most authentic Los Pollos Hermanos experience possible.
Photo: AMC
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2. Mike’s Tollbooth (1st & Marquette - North End of the Albuquerque Convention Center)
If you’re going to be in Albuquerque for a convention why not give Mike’s Tollbooth a visit? Not only will you receive fair treatment, but you might be able to hire someone with a very unique set of skills. It won’t take you to a courthouse, the way it does on the show, sadly. But the tollbooth is where Jimmy and Mike first begin their working relationship that lasts all the way until Breaking Bad.
Photo: Ursula Coyote/AMC
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1. Omaha Cinnabon (Cottonwood Mall, 10000 Coors Blvd Byp NW, Albuquerque, NM)
Saul predicted that he would wind up working in a Cinnabon in Nebraska and every season of Better Call Saul is bookended and peppered with black and white flash forwards to this low point in his life. Thankfully for fans they shoot these scenes in an actual Cinnabon location in an actual mall in Albuquerque. An easy capper to the Better Call Saul tour of Albuquerque would be eating a Cinnabon while sitting alone on a bench in the mall.
Photo: AMC
