The Almighty Johnsons

The Almighty Johnsons is a New Zealand fantasy comedy/drama television series, which was created by James Griffin and Rachel Lang and was produced by South Pacific Pictures and aired from 7 February 2011 to 23 September 2013.

The Almighty Johnsons
The Almighty Johnsons
(L–R) Olaf, Ty, Axl, Mike and Anders
GenreFantasy, Drama, Comedy
Created byJames Griffin & Rachel Lang
Starring
Opening theme"Oh My" by Gin
Country of originNew Zealand
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes36 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • James Griffin
  • Rachel Lang (series 1–2)
  • Chris Bailey
  • John Barnett
  • Kelly Martin (series 3)
ProducerSimon Bennett
CinematographyMarty Smith
Running time43–45 minutes
Production companySouth Pacific Pictures
Release
Original networkTV3
Original release7 February 2011 (2011-02-07) –
26 September 2013 (2013-09-26)

Production

Funding for the first series was approved by NZ On Air in December 2009,[1] a second series was approved in June 2011[1] and a third series was approved on 15 October 2012.[2]

In December 2012, it was announced series three was in pre-production. Series 3 was the culmination of the search for Frigg.

Filming

Series two began filming in October 2011[3] and concluded in February 2012.[4]

Series three began filming on 14 January 2013[5] and concluded on 9 May 2013.[6][7][8]

Initial cancellation and fan campaign

On 6 September 2012, various members of the cast reported via Twitter that the show would not be renewed for a third season.[9] This was confirmed by co-creator, James Griffin.[10] Fan protests were launched immediately both in New Zealand and internationally, taking the form of an online petition, written complaints to TV3, and a 'send a twig to TV3' campaign (representing Yggdrasil, the mythical 'tree of life' from the show).[9]

Second cancellation

The show's cancellation was announced in December 2013 via radio announcement on Radio New Zealand by TV3 programming boss Mark Caulton.[11]

Plot

The show follows a student named Axl Johnson, who on his 21st birthday discovers he and his family members are reincarnated Norse gods, whose powers are somewhat muted in their human form. It is up to Axl, who is the reincarnation of Odin, to restore their full powers and ensure the family's survival by finding the reincarnation of Odin's wife, Frigg. Matters are complicated by the presence of three Norse goddesses who are trying to find Frigg before the Johnsons do to prevent the restoration of the gods' full powers (which would vault them above the goddesses), as well as an antagonistic reincarnation of Norse god Loki, and the appearance of a Māori deity pantheon toward the end of the second series.

Cast and characters

Johnson Family
Character
(God/Goddess)		 Actor Notes
Axl Johnson
(Odin)		Emmett Skilton,
Siobhan Marshall (Female form, 1 episode)		 The main character of the show. Axl was raised by Mike after their father left and mother walked out. He has shown a few abilities, strength, resistance to drugs and an instinctive battle sense as befitting a war god. He sought his soul-mate, the Goddess Frigg, to restore the full powers of the Norse gods and goddesses. He is capable of taking on a female form.
Mikkel "Mike" Johnson
(Ullr)		Tim Balme The oldest of the Johnson brothers and also the wisest. Mike raised Axl, and feels responsible for them all, willing to risk debt to make good on his word. He is the god of the hunt and of games. He can track anything and wins any game between himself and an opponent, though not the stock market. Right after he got his powers, opponents in a pool game put his friend into a coma. After this traumatic incident, he believed that his powers brought more bad luck than good, and struggled to make ends meet without using his powers. He only realized his mistake and started using his powers after his friend woke fifteen years later.
Anders Johnson
(Bragi)		Dean O'Gorman The cocky brother, Anders is selfish, arrogant, and sleeps around. He manipulates others with his voice. He called off a fling with Michele after she was willing to sacrifice Mike's life for Axl to find Frigg. In series 2 Agnetha (the boys' mother) sent him to Norway on a quest for the tree of life, Yggdrasil.
Tyrone "Ty" Johnson
(Höðr)		Jared Turner Depressed over his isolation, Ty is shy and lonely. Initially the host of Höðr, he had the power of radiating cold. Ty could not feel warmth, and was unaffected by below-freezing temperatures, hence his job selling and repairing refrigerators, and hobby carving ice. At the end of Series 2, he achieves his goal of mortality by dying briefly and losing his god essence, revived by Michele. However, every mortal then forgets him, most importantly his beloved Dawn. In Season 3 Ty reveals that his powers of Höðr have returned, making him a god again (although he is able to control his powers, unlike when he first received them). Dawn seeing him use his powers causes her to remember all her time with him.
Olaf Johnson
(Baldr)		Ben Barrington The boys' grandfather is an oracle, but his diluted powers and years of drug use diminish his ability drastically. He is god of long life and rebirth, therefore looks more middle-aged than his true advanced age of 90s.
Agnetha
(Freyja)		Alison Bruce The leader of a band of goddesses[12] who are intent on undermining the male gods' quest to regain their powers, believing goddesses are more capable of ruling. She is the goddess of fertility and prosperity.[13] Born as Elizabet (played by Josephine Davison), she is the mother of the Johnson brothers. After she helped Mike become a god, she turned herself into a tree to not deal with the rest of her sons undergoing the same transition. After a few years, she got bored with tree life and transferred her essence to a woman who was killed right under her tree, becoming Agnetha. Her goddess powers allowed her to become very wealthy. After killing Ty's wife Eva in series two, she is sentenced to revert to a tree. Vengeful Loki takes advantage of the transformation and burns her forest down, so she is currently missing, presumed dead.
Johan "Joe" Johnson
(Njörðr)		Stuart Devenie The Johnsons' father who, due to his nature as Njörðr, always felt the call of the ocean and would often leave his family for extended periods of time. Eventually he stopped returning altogether and left his family to their own devices. Karen (Michele's mother) met Joe at a bar and the two returned to her daughter's home where they had sex. During a brief interlude in their intercourse, Joe went into the kitchen for a drink, where Mike happened to be with Michele, and the two were surprised to see each other.

Goddesses
Character
(Goddess)		 Actor Notes
Hanna Larsen
(Frigg)		Siobhan Marshall Hanna is the human incarnation of Frigg, Axl's pre-destined soul mate that if his love is accepted, would cause all the gods and goddesses to regain their powers at full strength. Hanna is currently working at a bridal boutique (as Frigg is the goddess of marriage). However, due to Mike's insistence that he can become Odin, he is able to meet Hanna a few minutes before Axl in an attempt to convince her to choose him (even though he is actually Ullr). Her father Fredrick and brother Martin are also gods Hoenir and Heimdallr, respectively.

Note: Introduced in series 3. The actress Siobhan Marshall also played Mia, Axl's feminine form, in a series 2 episode.

Gaia
(Iðunn)		Keisha Castle-Hughes Axl's flatmate, a nurse. She and Axl love each other but do not realize their feelings at first. After a one-night stand with him, Gaia believed Axl had just used her, so she left. Her adoptive father and former boyfriend imprisoned her inexplicably, so she returned. Series 2 reveals that her real parents were gods, so she will become a goddess at age 21. In the series 2 finale, Gaia's goddess ceremony is botched because god-slayer Natalie killed Helen [the original Iðunn]. Instead of becoming either Frigg or Maori Papatuanuku, she becomes Iðunn, as Iðunn has to exist for any of the gods to exist.
Ingrid
(Snotra)		Rachel Nash Goddess of prudence and wisdom[12] and oracle of Agnetha's band of goddesses has an analogous role to that of Olaf amongst the Johnsons. Ingrid researches genealogy of potential Norse gods and goddesses in their quest to reach Frigg before Odin does, and translates. She sleeps, drinks, and takes drugs with Olaf, consequently revealing more than the other goddesses would like.
Michele
(Sjöfn)		Michelle Langstone One of Agnetha's band of goddesses, Sjöfn is the goddess of love, bisexual, lusty, and mischievous. Michele is a family physician in the local hospital, able to heal with a branch from the tree of life, Yggdrasil. She flirted with Anders, lived with Colin, but ended up with Mike. During Season 3, her relationship with Mike begins to unravel, in part because he disapproves of her using Yggdrasil to heal mortals (and earn money) and in part because she disapproves of him believing himself to be Odin. When she stumbles upon him and Hanna together, she later attempts to kill Hanna in order to prevent the gods from using the goddesses as "playthings" if everyone's powers return. However, Martin sensed the danger and struck Michele over the head with a hammer, and seemingly killed her. She was resurrected in part by Hanna, with the circumstance that when Sjofn returned to Asgard with the rest of the Aesynjur, Michele would die. After the ascension of the Gods to Asgard, Odin remembered Axl's promise to Michele and resurrected her fully.
Stacey
(Fulla)		Eve Gordon One of the band of goddesses and Frigg's handmaiden.[12] She is a bike courier and general dogsbody, sent on errands. She leaves Agnetha to serve Eva, because her nature demands she serve a goddess. She ended a few days fling with Zeb when Michele's spell wore off. Mike promised her money from Agnetha's inheritance to purchase the courier business she worked for, which she received and ran. (She was the only goddess to receive her inheritance; Loki bugged and monitored Mike's bar as he was investing the money, then took advantage of the Johnsons temporarily losing their powers to steal it. She was the only goddess to have presented a valid plan to Mike at that time and therefore was granted what little remained.)
Karen
(Lofn)		Jennifer Ward-Lealand Michele's mother who is also a party planner, although loves throwing god parties. She and Michele have a strained relationship, in part due to Michele becoming a "minor goddess." She eventually begins a relationship with Joe Johnson, the Johnson boys' father.
Suzie
(Sága)		Colleen Davis Suzie is a barmaid from Whangamaungamoa, and unbeknownst to herself, she is the Goddess Sága. Both of Suzie's parents died in an accident when she was a child, so there was no one to inform or prepare her for her 21st birthday. When she turned 21 she saw what she thought were fireworks in the sky when Sága joined with her. Due to her nature as Sága, she always worries about Derrick (as Sága and Thor were best friends).
Eva Gundersen
(Hel)		Brooke Williams A goth musician who Stacey finds working in a butchery. Stacey and Michele, then Axl and Anders, see her perform at a dingy bar, sense her divinity, and believe her to be Frigg. However, she is Hel, the goddess of the underworld, and Colin Gundersen's daughter. She marries Ty in the series 1 finale. When she endangers Ty, Agnetha makes her deliberate death look like an accident.
Helen Larvig
(Iðunn)		Sara Wiseman Helen was the initial incarnation of Idun, and met Ty in her bar. Ty ended their affair when Olaf said Idun is forever doomed to have a relationship with Bragi (Anders) that never ends well. Unfortunately, she still meets Anders and demands more sex than he can fulfill. Because god-slayer Natalie kills her when coming for Anders, Gaia is possessed at her 21st birthday ceremony by Iðunn instead of Frigg or Papatuanuku as expected.

Gods
Character
(God)		 Actor Notes
Colin Gundersen
(Loki)		Shane Cortese Colin is an eccentric and prosperous lawyer, and the estranged father of Eva. As the god Loki, he is a trickster and the God of Fire. He secretly allied with Agnetha in series 1. He contracts that a Johnson will marry his daughter, or Mike will die, so Ty takes on Eva to save Axl. He believed Ty killed Eva, but when Agnetha is sentenced to live as a tree for the deed, burns down her forest, hoping to kill her.
Derrick Hansen
(Thor)		Geoff Dolan Derrick is a goat farmer, but not a very good one. He loves beer, his trusty hammer, Mjollnir, and his daughter Delphine. He becomes depressed when his farm begins to fail and his daughter gets married and moves out, but a visit from Axl rejuvenates him.
KvasirMichael Hurst Kvasir is the wisest of all the Gods, and has the annoying compulsion to answer any question another God asks him. He is homeless (and has never given his mortal name) but eventually ends up living under Mike's bar.
Frederick Larsen
(Hœnir)		unknown actor Fredrick Larson is the human incarnation of Hœnir, and also the father of Frigg. However, due to a head injury, he is rendered unable to speak and subsequently placed in an assisted living home. By the time Ingrid, Axl, and Zeb find him (with the help of Yggdrasil), he is a very old man.
Martin Larsen
(Heimdallr)		Matthew J. Saville Martin is the son of Fredrick (Hœnir) and the brother of Hanna (Frigg). His powers include teleportation between realms and locations and wisdom. These come into play when Mike (in an attempt to claim Frigg for his own) finds the Larsen house and tried to meet Frigg before Axl can. Martin uses his powers to continually send him back to the bar and lay traps to keep Mike from finding Frigg, as he knows that Mike is not meant for her.

Other Mythicals
Character Actor Notes
BrynJohn Leigh Bryn is an exceptionally short giant (jötunn) who, after hearing of a prophecy of a child who would kill all giants, was chosen to go to New Zealand to kill the baby girl since his small size would help him blend in. However, when Bryn laid eyes upon the girl, he felt as though he couldn't do it. Noting that her God-parents were terrible people who didn't deserve to have a child, before taking the girl away with a vow to protect her, telling them he killed her. Bryn moved to Waiheke Island, named the girl Gaia and made arrangements for legal documents that would indicate she was older than she was.
JacobArthur Meek Jacob is an exceptionally tall dwarf, secretly working with Bryn to protect Gaia, after previously pretending to be her boyfriend.
EggthérOliver Driver Eggthér is a giant (jötunn) who comes looking for Gaia during the second season.
Jerome
(Māui)		Matariki Whatarau Jerome is the reincarnation of Māui, the Māori god of fishing, and Māori trickster. He seeks Gaia's hand in marriage, as he believes her to be the Papatuanuku.
Leon
(Rongo)		Tainui Tukiwaho Leon is the reincarnation of Rongo, the Māori god of agriculture and crops. He lives in the House of Jerome, with Jerome.
George
(Punga)		Kirk Torrance George is the reincarnation of Punga, the Māori father of all things ugly. He lives in the House of Jerome, with Jerome.

Mortals
Character Actor Notes
Valerie JohnsonRoz Turnbull Married to Mike, she endured hormone treatment for in vitro fertilisation to have a child. She was the fiancée of Mike's best friend Rob, until Rob went into a coma after a bar fight. When Rob woke fifteen years later, he impregnated her in an affair. Realizing Valerie and Rob were still in love, Mike decides on divorce.
ZebHayden Frost Axl's other flatmate, and best friend. Loyal but impulsive, he is reckless and does not consider consequences. After discovering the truth about the Johnsons and their lives as Gods, he assigns himself the role of Freki and risks the wrath of destiny, and Mike, by his mortal involvement in 'God business'. Mortals are forbidden to be present at god ceremonies.
DawnFern Sutherland Dawn is Anders' secretary and runs his PR company. She does not realize Anders' persuasion keeps her working too hard. She dated Ty until he accidentally froze her, and gave her up. In his mortal form, she cannot remember him. Anders exploits her at work, but has not slept with her. When she sees Ty using his returned god powers, she regains her memories of Ty. Ty eventually tells her about the gods and goddesses, and which due to her knowledge makes Anders unable to use his powers on her.

Series overview
Main article: List of The Almighty Johnsons episodes
SeriesEpisodesOriginally airedRatingAverage viewership
(in millions)
First airedLast aired
1107 February 2011 (2011-02-07)11 April 2011 (2011-04-11)9.81.64[14]
21329 February 2012 (2012-02-29)23 May 2012 (2012-05-23)——
3134 July 2013 (2013-07-04)26 September 2013 (2013-09-26)——

Reception

Series 1 holds a "100% fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes, critics giving 8 out of 10 points, and 88% from audiences.[15]

Awards and nominations

Aotearoa Film & Television Awards
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref
2011 General Television Award Best Performance by a Supporting Actress Fern Sutherland Nominated [16]
Images & Sound Best Editing Drama/Comedy Bryan Shaw Nominated
Best Original Music Sean Donnelly & Victoria Kelly Nominated

New York Festivals
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref
2012 Finalist Certificate Best Writing James Griffin (for "Every Good Quest Has a Sacrifice") Won [17]
2013 Drama Simon Bennett, James Griffin, Rachel Lang, Chris Bailey and John Barnett Won [18]

Rialto Channel New Zealand Film Awards
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref
2013 Television Award NZ On Air Best Television Feature or Drama Series The Almighty Johnsons Nominated [19]

Sir Julius Vogel Award
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref
2012 Professional Award Best Dramatic Presentation The Almighty Johnsons Won [20]
2013 Nominated [21]
2014 Nominated [22]

SWANZ
Year Category Nominee Result Ref
2012 Best Television Episode: Drama Script James Griffin (for "A Damn Fine Woman") Won [23]
2013 Best TV Drama Episode Natalie Medlock and James Griffin (for "Playing God") Nominated [24]
James Griffin (for "Typical Auckland God") Nominated [24]
2014 Best Television Drama Episode James Griffin (for "The End of the World as We Know It") Nominated [25]

Home video releases
See also: List of The Almighty Johnsons episodes § Home video releases

The first series of The Almighty Johnsons has been released in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. The second series has been released in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The third series has been released in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The complete series 1-3 box set was released in the United States on 28 April 2015.

Broadcast

Series one premiered in Australia on Network Ten on 19 December 2011, airing at 10:30 p.m. on Mondays,[26] and on Sci Fi Channel on 26 February 2012, airing at 6:30 p.m. on Sundays,[27] in Canada on SPACE on 23 July 2012, airing at 9:00 p.m. on Mondays,[28] and in the United Kingdom on Syfy on 2 February 2012, airing at 10:00 p.m. on Thursdays.[29]

Series two premiered in Australia on Network Ten on 21 December 2012, airing at 9:30 p.m. on Fridays,[30] and on SF on 22 March 2013, airing at 9:30 p.m. on Fridays,[31] in Canada on SPACE on 14 January 2013, airing at 10:00 p.m. on Mondays,[32] and in the United Kingdom on Syfy on 17 September 2012, airing at 10:00 p.m. on Mondays.[29]

Series three premiered in Canada on SPACE on 4 July 2013, at 9:00 p.m., the same day as the New Zealand premiere,[33] and in the United Kingdom on Syfy on 28 August 2013, airing at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.[34]

Series one began broadcasting in the United States on 11 July 2014 on Syfy, with series two set to follow.[35] According to the review site Common Sense Media, the Syfy broadcasts are somewhat censored, with nudity blurred out.[36]

In the Republic of Ireland the show airs on TG4.

The complete series was available on Netflix in some countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia.

The series can also be viewed in the UK on Amazon prime video.

As of January 2022 full series can be viewed on Tubi.

References
  1. "NZ On Air Television Funding Decisions". NZ On Air. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  2. "Almighty Johnsons to get third season". The New Zealand Herald. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  3. "Day one of Series 2 shoot starts tomorrow!". The Almighty Johnsons (official). 8 October 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  4. "Today is the final day of shooting on Almighty Johnsons, Series 2. What a ride it's been!". The Almighty Johnsons (official). 11 February 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  5. "Cover Photos". The Almighty Johnsons (official). 14 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  6. "Good morning, folks". Jared Turner. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  7. "And that's a wrap (well, for me)". Jared Turner. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  8. "Timeline Photos". The Almighty Johnsons (official). 9 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  9. "The Almighty Johnsons – cancelled?". Stuff. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  10. "Almighty Johnsons axed, says creator". The New Zealand Herald. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  11. Glucina, Rachel (11 December 2013). "The Diary: Show's creators hear of drama's axing on radio". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  12. "The Goddesses". South Pacific Pictures. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
  13. "The Inside Story Feb 24 – Godesses are amongst us". TV3. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  14. "The Almighty Johnsons – Series 2 on the way". MediaWorks. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  15. "The Almighty Johnsons". Rotten Tomatoes.
  16. "Winners Announced: Aotearoa Film & Television Awards" (PDF). Aotearoa Film & Television Awards. 12 November 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
  17. "Browse by Winners". New York Festivals. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  18. "Browse by Winners". New York Festivals. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  19. "NZ film award contenders revealed". The New Zealand Herald. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
  20. "Sir Julius Vogel Award Results – 2012". SFFANZ. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  21. "Sir Julius Vogel Award Nominations – 2013". SFFANZ. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  22. "Sir Julius Vogel Award Nominations – 2014". SFFANZ. Retrieved 26 April 2013.
  23. "The Winners of the Script Writers Awards New Zealand 2012". New Zealand Writers Guild. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  24. "And the SWANZ Finalists for 2013 in the following categories are…". New Zealand Writers Guild. Archived from the original on 31 July 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  25. "Announcing the 2014 Finalists". New Zealand Writers Guild. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  26. David Knox (2 December 2011). "Airdate: The Almighty Johnsons". TV Tonight. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  27. "The Almighty Johnsons Premieres on Sci Fi Sunday Feb 26! : SCI FI PI // SCI FI Channel". Sci Fi Channel. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  28. "Bell Media Specialty Networks Own the Summer With Over 45 Buzzed About Premieres". Bell Media Television. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  29. "The Almighty Johnsons". Syfy. Archived from the original on 12 April 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2012.
  30. "The Almighty Johnsons | Channel TEN". Network Ten. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  31. "The Almighty Johnsons Episode Guide – SF". SF. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  32. "Cover Photos". SPACE. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  33. "The Almighty Johnsons (official)". The Almighty Johnsons (official). 22 June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  34. "Timeline Photos". The Almighty Johnsons (official). 4 August 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  35. Marechal, AJ (13 August 2013). "Syfy Acquires New Zealand Series 'The Almighty Johnsons' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  36. Slayton, Joyce (2013). "The Almighty Johnsons". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
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