Culture

American Gods praised for ‘beautiful’ queer orgy scene that left fans in floods of ‘happy tears’

Salim goes to an orgy in American Gods. (Starz)

American Gods has captured the hearts of fans with a glorious, jubilant queer orgy in its latest episode, with trans actress Dana Aliya Levinson singled out for particular praise for her performance as Toni.

The Starz television series, based on Neil Gaiman’s 2001 novel of the same name, has been a longtime favourite with the LGBT+ community for its exploration of queerness, sex and relationships.

The latest episode of American Gods season three, titled “The Rapture of Burning”, has won acclaim from critics for a five-minute long orgy which features characters across the LGBT+ spectrum – including Salim, Kai and Toni – having a “pansexual adventure love-in”.

The episode may have riled up a few conservatives, but American Gods fans loved it – with many rushing to praise the show for its sex-positive approach.

AV Club gave the episode a glowing review, noting that orgy scenes are “hard to pull off”.

“Punning aside, it’s a real issue when catering to the straight, white cis gaze to dramatise this aspect of queer culture and why it is essential,” the review said.

The critic praised American Gods for “reaching for something more, something beyond the norm, a promise of beauty and truth that mainstream TV rarely achieves.”

The episode was also praised by GLAAD, who shared a clip of Salim and Toni discussing self-acceptance and shame.

Meanwhile, Fansided praised the show for the direction its third season is taking.

“Not only are we meeting new characters, but we are getting to understand the ones we already know on a deeper level,” the website wrote in a glowing review.

American Gods’ Toni actor Dana Aliya Levinson won praise from co-stars

Ahead of the episode, actor Omid Abtahi said it had been an “honour” to play Salim in the groundbreaking series.

“Spread your wings, Salim. Spread your wings and FLY,” he wrote, along with a photo of his character attending the orgy in the latest episode.

“It’s an honour to tell your story. For those who have struggled with self-realisation, whatever the reason, this one’s for you,” he added, alongside a heart emoji.

He also heaped praise on Dana Aliya Levinson for her performance as Toni, the trans woman who owned the Grand Peacock Inn, where the orgy took place.

Abtahi called her performance “all sorts of wonderful”.

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