
Synopsis of the first episode: In the beginning, Shadow Moon is in jail for attempting to rob a casino. He is looking forward to being released in just five days. He looks forward to seeing his young wife, who has been waiting for him. However, he is called to see the warden and told that he was being released early because his wife had been killed in an automobile accident. On his flight home, he meets a mysterious "Mr. Wednesday", who offers him employment. Shadow claims to have a job waiting for him, but Mr. Wednesday just says "No, you don't". Shadow declines anyway and proceeds home. When he gets there, the wife of the man who was going to give him a job, his best friend, informs Shadow that his friend had died in the same car accident as his wife. While she was giving him a blow job. Later, while drinking away his troubles in a bar, Shadow meets Mr. Wednesday again, who renews his offer of employment. Then a large Irishman claiming to be a leprechaun picks a fight with Shadow, and the fun begins. In subsequent episodes, the dead wife returns to play a leading role in the series. Lots of strong female performances.
Everything about this TV acting is superb, including most of the acting, but you are warned that it contains a great deal of graphic violence, nudity, and sex. There are several cameos by great actors such as Cloris Leachman, Crispin Glover, Emily Browning, Ian McShane, Peter Stormare, Gillian Anderson, Orlando Jones, and many others that you may be familiar with. The sets are surreal, with lots of special effects, and the musical sound track works very well. Although the TV series introduces a few new plot twists, it is surprisingly close to the original novel.