Editor’s Note: this post contains minor spoilers for American Gods the TV series up until this point — don’t say we didn’t warn ya!
Can’t we all just get along? That’s the guise under which Mr. World is introduced to Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane), the leader of the Old Gods, in Sunday night’s new episode of American Gods. And in the first clip from “Lemon Scented You,” we see why Crispin Glover was the only man for the part: he’s got that creepy, all-knowing omnipresent smirk down pat. But that doesn’t mean we’d necessarily trust him, either.
Mr. World is the ostensible leader of the New Gods, an omnipresent sort of fella whose immense knowledge of—well—everyone and thing in the world makes him incredibly powerful and potentially dangerous. After all, in the books (minor book spoilers!), he’s able to erase himself, almost instantly, from people’s memories—no doubt a handy tool when trying to manipulate the thoughts of the masses and the machinations of your warring gods. And, truly, Glover embodies this sort of globalist, information-driven godpower with the sort of terrifying flare we’ve come to expect from the hyper-talented and super unsettling (we mean this in a good way, we promise) actor.
(No wonder Mr. Wednesday looks so concerned.)
Whatever your feelings on the battles of old God and New, Mr. World may seem innocuous at first, but don’t discount his impressive power and hold on the world.
But what do you think of the new clip? Let us know in the comments below.
Images: Starz
Alicia Lutes is the managing editor of Nerdist, creator and host of Fangirling!, and can frequently be found on Twitter.
