In the rousing adult-animated series Twilight of the Gods , now streaming all eight of its episodes in full on Netflix, earthly hero couple Leif (Stuart Martin) and Sigrid (Sylvia Hoeks) must fight to protect what theirs from vengeful gods with names you know – Thor (Pilou Asbæk), Loki (Paterson Joseph), Odin (John Noble), and other famous residents of Norse mythology’s supernatural realms – who in this world are more like infamous. Developed by Zack Snyder, Jay Oliva, and Eric Carrasco as the latest Snyder-led project at Netflix – the voice cast features some crossover from Rebel Moon – and connected to the animated DC universe through Snyder and Oliva, Twilight of the Gods is also awash in blood spatter and a fair amount of animated skin. Also featured here are the voices of Jessica Henwick, Rahul Kohli, Jamie Chung, Lauren Cohan, and Corey Stoll.
TWILIGHT OF THE GODS : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT? Opening Shot: As a double line of oarsmen push a Viking ship through cold, iceberg-strewn waters, a voiceover from Leif (Martin) surfaces. “Now, hear of Sigrid, and when I first saw her.” The Gist: The first episode of Twilight of the Gods begins in flashback mode as Leif, the warrior-king of Völsungland, relates the story of a great battle against a horde of foreign invaders.
As the clean lines of the animation are obscured by great gouts of crimson and bisected bodies, Sigrid (Hoeks) appears on the battlefield with runes tattooed on her cheeks and a sword hungry for action. (“She hewed men and horses both.”) It’s love at first sight for Leif and Sigrid.
But Leif is also awed when a feared valkyrie – winged, helmeted, naked – descends over the destruction and singles out Sigrid for a blessing. In these lands, the gods are a part of daily life. But they aren’t known for being cordial.
It’s whispered in the village that Leif and Sigrid’s plans to marry will only anger the gods. And when they travel via an impressive magical bridge to Sigrid’s homeland of Jötunheim, there is even more cause for godlike gripes. Though Sigrid’s biological mother was human, she is otherwise a child of giants.
But even the enormity of Sigrid’s father the king, her pair of bruising brothers, and their community of big people can’t quell the frequent pillaging from the gods. At Sigrid and Leif’s wedding feast, the shouts of joy and giant-sized flagons of mead are silenced and shattered by more meddling from Thor and his imperious Asgardian associates. Twilight of the Gods will see Leif and Sigrid’s love for each other tested to the extreme.
It will challenge them as warriors in ways they weren’t prepared for, and require the gathering of a brave team to aid them. (Yes! Love a gathering of the team.) The battle will continue across land and underworld realm, against mythological foe and human adversary alike.
They’ll hear fables that tell the sagas of the past. And they’re sure to make a little history of their own with a thirst for vengeance – and carnal pursuits – in this crew of damned fools and Hel-chasers. What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Twilight of the Gods co-creator Jay Oliva directed and exec produced ARK: The Animated Series (Paramount+), which features the voices of Michelle Yeoh and Gerard Butler.
And Netflix also features Blood of Zeus , another adult-animation take on gods and heroes with a bloody color palette not unlike Twilight ’s. Our Take: Twilight of the Gods takes the term adult-animation to heart with its gleeful embrace of bloodsoaked fantasy violence and sexual satisfaction beneath the aurora borealis. Visually, it often looks like a Boris Vallejo painting come to life, in the same way the old Conan movies imagined a world that lived and died on the edge of a sword, and put the passions of mortals in play against a divine host with dark impulses.
Zack Snyder has always been down with themes like these, and his style fits right into the look and feel of Twilight of the Gods like a tale foretold by the bards. While the series travels in the mythologies that support other fictional ventures, it’s not like the MCU, for example, holds a copyright on stuff like Asgard and smiting all-powerful beings who wield magic hammers. It’s cool to see a different interpretation of well-known lore, and it immediately stands on its own with an interesting – and of course very violent – entry point.
We’re looking forward to learning how the world of Twilight of the Gods works, and what it will take for mortals to stand up to the gods’ shitty behavior. We want more noble speeches from Leif, and more information on Sigrid’s backstory, as a child of giants and fierce warrior, but also her uniqueness in the eyes of the Valkyrie, those demonic angels. There’s a lot of adventure to look forward to, and it all looks super cool.
Sex and Skin: Indeed! In Twilight of the Gods , animated butts and boobs and other body parts are periodically freed from fur tunics and from beneath armor plate. Sigrid even encourages the resident singer of Völsungland to write tributes to the stature and prowess of her betrothed. “You’re a poet.
If you want something to sing about, try his beautiful lust-limb.” So randy! Parting Shot: “It’s well you acquire a taste for blood. Drink deep.
” It’s safe to say Sigrid was not expecting the celebration of her wedding to Leif to turn out the way it does, nor that she’d end up where she is when it’s all over. Sleeper Star: The animation in Twilight of the Gods , from the studio Xilam in conjunction with Zack Snyder’s production arm Stone Quarry, is quite expressive and fluid. It feels referential to the tradition of fantasy artwork, but with a vision and aesthetic suited to its aims.
Most Pilot-y Line: “Before Odin pillaged our lands, we giants had honor. Fuck the gods, for plenty have they fucked us.” Take that , you bunch of god jerks ! Our Call: STREAM IT! Twilight of the Gods happily gets lusty and bloodsoaked as it explores the tenets and characters of Norse mythology, with a strong sense of adventure to go with its weaving of fact, fable, and director Zack Snyder’s signature style.
Johnny Loftus ( @glennganges ) is an independent writer and editor living at large in Chicagoland. His work has appeared in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media, and Nicki Swift..
