The Almighty Johnsons: episode guide

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An Orchard of Trees

Episode 3.01 (24)
NZ: Thu, July 04, 2013 (8:30, TV3)
Can: Thu, July 04, 2013 (9e, Space)
UK: Wed, August 28, 2013 (SyFy UK)
NZ NZ Ratings: 137,770
Written by James Griffin
Produced by Mark Beesley
Directed by Murray Keane

We pick up the action mere hours after the ceremony at the lake, wherein Gaia became neither Frigg nor Papatuanuku, but the Goddess Idun — the grower of the apples of the Gods and eternal beloved of Bragi. Axl and Gaia are dealing with this by trying to pretend it never happened, and throwing themselves deeper into their relationship.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Godly Johnson clan are cleaning up the mess resulting from the intervention by (and demise of) Natalie the God-hunter. In Anders' case this means literally cleaning up a mess — i.e. Helen's blood all over his kitchen floor; while Mike and Olaf are charged with burying her body deep in the forest, where no one will ever find her. So as not to make the messy situation any messier Anders is given the hard word by Mike: stay away from Gaia. Anders is only too happy to comply with this particular order.

Starring: Emmett Skilton as Axl, Tim Balme as Mike, Dean O'Gorman as Anders, Jared Turner as Ty

With: Keisha Castle-Hughes as Gaia, Ben Barrington as Olaf, Michelle Langstone as Michele

Guest Cast: Hayden Frost as Zeb, Rachel Nash as Ingrid, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Susana Tang [Xana Tang] as Violet Kwan, Patrick Kuhtze as Judge

This Thing Inside

Episode 3.02 (25)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, July 11, 2013
NZ Ratings: 114, 830
Written by James Griffin
Directed by Murray Keane

The morning after the night before, and Gaia is doing the walk of shame, returning to the flat from her tryst with Anders. Axl is waiting, along with the ruins of the apple tree, and Gaia has the opportunity to tell the truth; to confess her sins. But does she? Like hell she does, and in a spectacular fit of denial she instead suggests to Axl that they bring the wedding forward and get married as soon as humanly possible.

News of the advanced nuptials finds Mike at his bar, where Michele is having a great time with the demolition that will precede their renovations. Also at the bar are the hungover Oracles, Olaf and Ingrid; and they are really not impressed at this development — this cannot end well.

With: Keisha Castle-Hughes as Gaia, Ben Barrington as Olaf

Guest Cast: Hayden Frost as Zeb, Michelle Langstone as Michele, Rachel Nash as Ingrid, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Millen Baird as Lance

Bergerbar

Episode 3.03 (26)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, July 18, 2013
Written by Tim Balme
Directed by Geoffrey Cawthorne

A month or so has passed since Gaia's departure and Axl is still not dealing with it. He is not studying, not working and not paying his way at the flat, and even actively getting in the way of Zeb getting in a new flatmate. Mike is (for now) covering his rent and trying to help, to get him back on his feet, but Axl is refusing all counsel and help. Mike worries about his baby bro'.

Ty, meanwhile, is at the other end of the spectrum, and is making life-changing decisions all over the show. He's chucking in his job as a fridge repair guy, and selling his house in favour of somewhere that Dawn might like (although he absolutely denies this). The only cloud on Ty's new, Hod-free, horizon is the reappearance of Colin — who objects to Ty profiting from the house he gifted unto Ty when he was with Eva. Ty is confident that he house is his to sell — as part of Eva's will.

After a failed attempt by Olaf to pull Axl out of his rut, Mike attempts his own intervention. This too fails, but he does at least come away armed with new information: Axl feels useless and a failure as Odin; he still resents Anders' role in Gaia's departure (and Anders lack of an apology for this); and, to top things off, he's just learnt that he has failed his building course at tech.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Shane Cortese as Colin, Hayden Frost as Zeb

Guest Cast: Sophia Johnson as Erin, Ross Brannigan as Restaurant Owner, Michelle Leuthart as Real Estate Agent, Rachel Nash as Ingrid, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Michelle Langstone as Michele, Mike Probine as Course Supervisor, Millen Baird as Lance, Cassandra Woodhouse as Melanie, Fern Sutherland as Dawn

Like the Berserkers of Old

Episode 3.04 (27)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, July 25, 2013
Written by Natalie Medlock and James Griffin
Directed by Geoffrey Cawthorne

Not a great start to the day for Mike and Michele. With upstairs at the bar now gutted and mid-renovation, the Godly couple are nesting among the building supplies downstairs. It is a less than ideal state of affairs, made untenable as Axl manages to drop a beam through the floor, straight onto the bed where they have just (thankfully) vacated. This leaves them with very little option but to move to Michele's house, to share with the tenant Michele currently has in there: her mother, Karen aka the Goddess Lofn. It is fair to say that when they meet Karen is underwhelmed by Mike — especially compared to Michele's previous boyfriend, Colin, whom she adored. Mike starts to get why Michele has issues with her mother.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Shane Cortese as Colin

Guest Cast: Michelle Langstone as Michele, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Jennifer Ward-Lealand as Karen, Curtis Vowell as Bevan, Andre King as Minister, Jason Payne as Godhunter, Rachel Nash as Ingrid, Mikassa Cornwall as Tansy, Matt Baker as Jake, Hayden Frost as Zeb, Millen Baird as Lance, Stuart Devinie as Joe

Unleash The Kraken!

Episode 3.05 (28)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, August 01, 2013
NZ Ratings: 143,720
Written by Nick Ward and James Giffin
Directed by Mike Smith

An awkward family reunion, as Mike and his father Johan (aka Joe) are reunited after many years apart, here in the kitchen of Michele's house. Joe has no real explanation for his absence of many years, other than to say it is in his nature. In fact the best Mike gets out of the reunion/introduction is the knowledge that Joe had no idea he was "dating" the Goddess Lofn when he was shagging Karen, Michele's Mum. The look of panic that crosses Joe's face when he learns he has inadvertently invited another Goddess into his life is a treat for Mike to behold.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Kimberley Crossman as Amelia, Jennifer Ward-Lealand as Karen, Stuart Devinie as Joe, Hayden Frost as Zeb

Guest Cast: Michelle Langstone as Michele, Rachel Nash as Ingrid, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Millen Baird as Lance, Shane Cortese as Colin

And Then on to Norsewood

Episode 3.06 (29)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, August 08, 2013
NZ Ratings: 126,590 viewers
Written by Ross Hastings
Directed by Mike Smith

Axl is still on the road with his father, Joe. They are allegedly sorting out Axl's life while en route to Norsewood, but mainly they seem to be having loads of touristy fun. Meanwhile, in Auckland, Zeb is not a happy lease-holder. This, in turn, is making Mike unhappy because Zeb is hassling him to cover Axl's rent. Axl, for his part, cares not at all about this. In fact, Axl is thinking strongly about never coming back at all.

Over at jpr the Colin Gundersen for Mayor campaign is about to launch. Dawn, however, has many misgivings about what they're doing — from Anders recruiting models as staff, through to the fact they have no actual policies. And Dawn, it would seem, is the most passionate one of all about this campaign — a fact that Colin seems to appreciate mightily; which, in turn, causes Anders to worry that his obedient assistant is falling under Loki's gaze.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Michelle Langstone as Michele, Rachel Nash as Ingrid, Shane Cortese as Colin, Stuart Devinie as Joe

Guest Cast: Hayden Frost as Zeb, Jennifer Ward-Lealand as Karen, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Josh Randall as Bouncer, Curtis Vowell as Bevan, Matthew Saville as Martin, Julia Frost as Kay, Colleen Davis as Suzie, Geoffrey Dolan as Derrick

Typical Auckland God

Episode 3.07 (30)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, August 15, 2013
NZ Ratings: 134,160 viewers
Written by James Griffin
Directed by Michael Hurst

Axl wakes up in a strange bed, with a beautiful barmaid called Suzie. It transpires that after getting thrown up on by Derrick, Whangamaungamoa rather improved, with Axl getting to drink lots of beer and then, obviously, getting on rather fabulously with Suzie. Of course that might all change because there is the small matter of Derrick having lost Mjolnir, Thor's hammer, to be attended to.

Initial investigations into the hammer disappearance lead Axl to discover that Derrick's farm is in an even worse state than Derrick himself — which is saying something. What is more Derrick is at war with Thom and Kerry, the gay couple who own the farm next door. This war is over everything from a disputed piece of land to musical differences. And when Derrick says he 'lost' Mjolnir, the truth of the matter is that he flung it at their house and they are refusing to give it back until he apologises.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Geoff Dolan as Derrick, Colleen Davis as Suzie, Fern Sutherland as Dawn

Guest Cast: Kevin Keys as Thom, Ryan Lampp as Kerry, Shane Cortese as Colin, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Amanda Tito as Allannah, Millen Baird as Lance, Matthew Saville as Martin

The Asparagus Is Kicking In

Episode 3.08 (31)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, August 22, 2013
NZ Ratings: 111,860 viewers
Written by Tim Balme
Directed by Michael Hurst

The Gundersen for Mayor campaign is in full swing now, with Dawn front and centre, keeping Colin and Anders on message and on track. Colin, especially, is enjoying being whipped into shape by Dawn, and demands that she accompany him to a function he must attend. Anders senses this not ending well and tries to run interference. But Dawn is won over — she will go to the ball.

Meanwhile, Axl and Mike return from their road trip from Norsewood back to Auckland. Mike is satisfied that Axl is over his dramas and traumas, and ready to resume a normal life. But Axl is keen to move on the whole Jormungand thing — whatever that means. His first port of call is Olaf, who demands to be taken to the beach and, once there, upon being told of Axl's intriguing development, demands to be fed beer and asparagus rolls.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Shane Cortese as Colin

Guest Cast: Millen Baird as Lance, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Hayden Frost as Zeb, Rachel Nash as Ingrid, Michelle Langstone as Michele, Mario Gaoa as Tigilau, Matthew Saville as Martin

Mike in the Mirror

Episode 3.09 (32)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, August 29, 2013
NZ Ratings: 164,140 viewers
Written by Michael Bennett and James Griffin
Directed by Geoffrey Cawthorne

Zeb dreams of a beautiful Frigg, rising from the waters of a fjord, in a beer commercial. When he awakes he shares this vision with Axl, suggesting that they can find the Frigg by doing a casting call for a fictional Frigg in a fictional commercial for this fictional beer. In this way, Zeb thinks, they will lure the real Frigg to them. Axl is fired up at this genius idea.

But when the boys turn to Anders for help in pulling off this plan, he deems it the stupidest idea in the history of thought, leaving them to sort it themselves. Anders, however, does want to keep on Axl/Odin's good side so he offers to chase up Ingrid, who is meant to be researching Frigg-genealogies but has instead gone missing.

Meanwhile, Mike is getting suspicious of Michele's continued absences from his life. But he's not going to use his Godly powers to track down where she's going because that would be distrustful. He suspects it is Goddess-business. Olaf warns him to stay well clear of that.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Hayden Frost as Zeb, Michelle Langstone as Michele, Rachel Nash as Ingrid

Guest Cast: Felicia Brunsting as Frigg Model, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Michele Hine as Ngaire, Matthew Saville as Martin Rachel King as Joelle, Rebecca Trelease as Frigg #1, Scarlet Hemingway as Frigg #2, Aaron Jackson as Boyfriend

Playing God

Episode 3.10 (33)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, Sept 05, 2013
Written by Natalie Medlock and James Griffin
Directed by Geoffrey Cawthorne

A chance discovery, as he walks in on Stacey performing her Yggdrasil pole-dancing trick for Olaf and Ingrid, leads Axl to consider the possibility of using The Stick to assist in the Frigg-hunt. The first (and biggest) obstacle to this the fact Michele reclaims it in order to use her healing power on the test big bucks client Anders has brought in — a man named Guy, suffering from prostate cancer. Neither Michele nor the man particularly enjoy the experience but Michele upholds her end of the deal and dispenses her magic.

Ty and Dawn, meanwhile, have moved fast to settle into their new life together. She has moved into his place and they are mind-blowingly happy. Or is that too happy? And have they moved fast? And is Ty being over-protective because of the 'bad things happen to mortals who get involved in God business' rule? Second a third thoughts start to torment the happy couple.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Michelle Langstone as Michele, Rachel Nash as Ingrid

Guest Cast: Hayden Frost as Zeb, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Peter Feeney as Guy, Matthew Saville as Martin

A Bit Like Buses Really

Episode 3.11 (34)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, Sept 12, 2013
Written by Ross Hastings and James Griffin
Directed by Murray Keane

Two pretenders must overcome a host of obstacles, mortal and Godly, as they race for the prize.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Michelle Langstone as Michele, Hayden Frost as Zeb, Matthew Saville as Martin

Guest Cast: Rachel Nash as Ingrid Eve Gordon as Stacey, Mercedes Van Baarle as Twin Nurses, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Siobhan Marshall as Hanna

Late to the Point of Knowledge

Episode 3.12 (35)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, Sept 19, 2013
Written by James Griffin
Directed by Murray Keane

Forget what you think you know. Throw away all your preconceived notions, and how you think things will go. Because today is the day everything changes.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Siobhan Marshall as Hanna, Matthew Saville as Martin, Rachel Nash as Ingrid, Michelle Langstone as Michele

Guest Cast: Hayden Frost as Zeb, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Shane Cortese as Colin

The End of the World as We Know It

Episode 3.13 (36)
NZ & Canada: Thursday, Sept 26, 2013
NZ Ratings: 142,000 viewers
Written by James Griffin
Directed by Mike Smith

If you had one night left, and in the morning everything changes forever, what would you do with that night? The Johnsons face this very question in the series finale.

With: Ben Barrington as Olaf, Hayden Frost as Zeb, Fern Sutherland as Dawn, Rachel Nash as Ingrid, Michelle Langstone as Michele, Eve Gordon as Stacey, Shane Cortese as Colin

Guest Cast: Siobhan Marshall as Hanna, Matthew Saville as Martin

article: An Almighty farewell