WARNING: The following contains spoilers for American Gods Season 3, Episode 10, "Tears of the Wrath-Bearing Tree," which aired Sunday on Starz.

While Mr. Wednesday died last week on American Gods, this week's Season 3 finale proved he was far from done with his plot against the New Gods. Season 3, Episode 10, "Tears of the Wrath-Bearing Tree," is all about Wednesday's vigil; however, this is far from a peaceful funeral, especially for Shadow Moon.

In accordance with their initial arrangement, Shadow is supposed to be part of Mr. Wednesday's vigil, even though Wednesday claimed Shadow was free from his obligations after they killed Tyr. Shadow thoroughly believes that being part of the vigil will be the proper way to become Wednesday's successor, as the demigod has developed his own god complex, wanting to be a better leader than Odin ever was.

Because of this, he willingly straps himself to the World Tree, like Wednesday did centuries ago. While this would be an endurance test for a god, this act would kill a human. As a demigod, this could go either way for Shadow, but he believes he will follow in his father's footsteps; however, it appears that Wednesday was hoping for Shadow's death.

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While strapped to the tree, Shadow suffers from thirst, hunger, visions and eventually bodily harm, as the branches suffocate and stab him. It's in the midst of this that he has a vision where he is back on the airplane from Season 1, Episode 1. This is where he first meets Wednesday, and while the god repeats some of his lines from their initial encounter, things are clearly off, with the Mabel's pasty being filled with magots and the overhead compartment raining teeth on Shadow.

The screen on the chair in front of Shadow also plays back a video of when Wednesday was disguised as an older woman from Season 3, Episode 1, and back then, she teased Shadow about how Wednesday was nothing more than a conman and liar. While Shadow initially thought this was just Wednesday trying to get to him, it turns out Wednesday was being upfront about who he was to his son.

Wednesday finally admits to Shadow what his true plan is for his son after revealing to him that they are both trapped in a space between life and death; however, it doesn't seem to be the purgatory Laura Moon was sent to earlier in the season. Apparently, Wednesday's plan was to have Shadow sacrifice himself on his behalf because a willing sacrifice from his son would likely restore Wednesday to his full glory.

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He's been planning this since before Shadow's birth, which explains why Eugenia, the midwife at Shadow's birth, separated Shadow and his mom from Wednesday. She even told Bilquis that she was afraid Wednesday would destroy Shadow, and that appears to be the case.

Wednesday knew it would be difficult to win Shadow's love, especially since he's been absent for most his life and turned everything upside down for Shadow after meeting him. Because of this, Wednesday played to Shadow's aspirations. While Shadow is far from the war god that is Odin, he has developed a god complex, longing to be in power and make a difference.

This is why he risks his life willingly during the vigil, because Shadow believes there is a chance this will make him the god he wants to be. Unfortunately, Shadow's sacrifice is meant to make Wednesday the god he formerly was, with the World Tree swallowing Shadow and Wednesday's corpse vanishing. Even Mr. Ibis, who's watching this unfold, remarks this may be the start of something much worse than the death of the Old Gods, but the season ends there, leaving Wednesday's allies and viewers wondering what the Allfather has in store after Shadow's sacrifice.

Based on the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, American Gods stars Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning, Bruce Langley, Yetide Badaki, Ian McShane, Omid Abtahi and Ashley Reyes. The series airs Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on Starz.

KEEP READING: American Gods: Mr. Wednesday Must Embrace His War God Roots for Shadow