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funnyoldworld-isnt-it · 13 hours ago

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An Unexpected Encounter (or, 2 Angels and a Demon walk into a Park...)

[From the "Moments That Matter" scene analysis series]

The fight at the Bandstand in S1 is a painful conflict to watch. It seems to establish a pattern of how Aziraphale conducts himself. He doesn't just prattle heavenly platitudes occasionally -- in times of stress, he praises heaven and devalues Crowley, hurting him deeply and damaging their relationship.

Except, I don't think that's what really happened here. Back in 1862, at St. James Park, Aziraphale said awful things to push Crowley away --because the angel realized that hell was still closely monitoring Crowley, watching and listening, after finally releasing him from the 1827 kidnapping and punishment. Azi was never going to let that happen again. I talk more about it in Anything to Protect Crowley and also in The Night That Changed an Angel.

I believe something very similar happened at the Bandstand. Our Angel wasn't speaking freely. He knew that they could be overheard and discovered at any moment, because there was another angel in that same park -- a very powerful and potentially dangerous angel.

The Supreme Archangel Gabriel had taken up jogging. In that park. On paths in view of the Bandstand itself.

Crowley and Aziraphale had agreed to meet at their "third alternative rendezvous", the old Bandstand, to share info and plan what to do next. Instead, it all quickly fell apart. Aziraphale was closed off, tense and edgy from the moment he arrived on the scene.

When Aziraphale approached the Bandstand for the secret meeting, he was frantically looking around. Crowley was already there waiting.

Aziraphale, I believe, had unexpectedly seen Gabriel just minutes before in the park, or even had to speak to Gabriel while on his way to meet with his-best-friend-a-demon to subvert the Apocalype -- and there was no safe way to warn Crowley that this absurdly impossible and incredibly dangerous thing had happened. To say it aloud was to risk being heard in an alliance. To leave Crowley there alone with the Supreme Archangel so close by was unthinkable.

To protect them both, Aziraphale had no choice but to turn the meeting into a confrontation.

Let's break down the two park scenes to see how all this comes together.

Tricksy as always, Good Omens separated the two park scenes into separate episodes. In all my re-watches of GO Season 1, I'd never noticed that the bandstand from E3 was literally in the background in E4 when Gabriel jogs away from Aziraphale after their conversation, miracles back, and jogs away again.

(Clue #1) I didn't catch on until I was formatting photos for my post on Good Omens & The Existential Art of Not Giving Up. That's when I realized that, in the E3 bandstand photos I showed above, the small figure of Aziraphale wasn't just casually glancing around to confirm their privacy. He was practically walking backwards as he approached the bandstand, arms and coat swinging wide as if he were turning around urgently.

But why?

The answer that makes the most sense is that Episode 4 wasn't the first day Gabriel went jogging in the park. So I started examing the scenes. And in my down-the-rabbit-hole gotta-figure-it-all-out way, I found more to justify this solution.

(Clue #2) In E4, just after the intro, Aziraphale is just hanging out in the park (4:02). We see him strolling aimlessly and looking widely around, as if looking for something (or someone!), just before the "Last Day of the World" sign is shown to us. Then he gets distracted by the golden "angel" busker. (Since when does Aziraphale just wander around a park alone? Especially when there's an Earth and all humanity to save by teatime??).

(Clue #3) Gabriel, confident as always, seems quite familiar with his route. He doesn't react to either the golden "angel" human or the easily recognizable Principality. No weird glances, no mocking eye roll. He just jogs on. As if neither one is unexpected. As if he's seen both in the park before.

And why wouldn't he? Physical training programs are typically a daily thing (so I've heard!). E4 is literally the day of the expected Apolcalypse, which the Supreme Archangel declares is "right on schedule". He knew exactly when it was coming. Even if Gabriel doesn't actually need to train, it's unlikely he would go for his very first run on the actual day of Armageddon Far more probable that he's jogged here at least a few times. Good ol' Gabe understands the assignment -- he's got a custom-made sweatsuit and running shoes, after all!

(Clue #4) Nor does Aziraphale appear upset to see Gabriel jog by. He's startled that he didn't see him coming, but our Angel's face is steady, determined. He's not surprised or anxious to see him here.

Azi gets his bearings and immediately jogs after the archangel and tries (quite unsuccessfully!) to pull ahead of him to talk.

Azi already knew that Gabriel would be there, because he'd seen him there yesterday (E3). Our Angel came back to the park today to wait for him, hoping to convince him to cancel Armageddon. He'd apparently planned to flag the archangel down, but missed his chance when he got distracted.

(Clue #5) Aziraphale had eagerly grabbed for the phone in E3 when Crowley called (around 49:43). The moment he hears Crowley's voice, he starts to light up, then his expression becomes perplexed as Crowley uses their code words for the rendezvous location. Azi looks stressed, but otherwise normal as they arranged to meet at the old Bandstand in 15 minutes.

Aziraphale's manner towards Crowley is entirely different when we next see him, presumably only 15 minutes or so later. He walks up the few steps of the Bandstand and stops, hands tightly clasped, body tightly poised, keeping Crowley at a distance. He is no longer open to or eager for this meeting.

(Clue #6) Look at Aziraphale's face -- he's not greeting his dear and familiar friend to talk together about something that makes him anxious. That's his trauma mask, wide eyes and a frozen expression to hide his feelings and his fear. The angel's sightline doesn't even seem to be focused on Crowley's face yet.

He's encountered Gabriel on his way to their meeting. Possibly that's why Crowley arrived first and is waiting for him -- Aziraphale might have gotten delayed by the surprise encounter. If our Angel had been forced to speak with Gabriel, as is likely if Gabriel also saw him, it would be absolutely unnerving!

Gabriel is somewhere in the park, right now, training for a war to destroy demons. Crowley is vulnerably standing in that open structure where paths through the park intersect, one behind our dear demon and one behind Aziraphale. The Supreme Archangel could turn onto a path that leads him back towards the bandstand at any moment, from either direction. He could spot them from a distance, possibly even miracle close enough to hear everything before Azi sees him approaching.

Aziraphale had no safe way to warn Crowley, or tell him that Gabriel was on the park paths that day. He could only hope they wouldn't be discovered -- or do his best to ensure that, if Gabriel did come across them at the Bandstand, nothing would be seen or overheard that could be used against them.

(Clue #7) Just like in the 1862 conflict in St. James Park, Aziraphale's eyes keep darting around watchfully every time Crowley says something too familiar, something that sounds like they're friends. When Azi refutes this, he can't meet Crowley's eyes -- because he doesn't really mean it.

And, for awhile, Crowley knows that the Angel doesn't mean it.

A: I don't even like you!

C: You dooooooo-oooo.

When Crowley steps in too close, Azi sometimes glares, sometimes looks down. If you watch it without sound, it can easily look to an outside observer like Crowley is threatening Aziraphale, and that the angel is defiantly resisting.

Aziraphale is struggling to keep up the act. He wants to respond genuinely, and has moments where he does, before forcing himself to continue provoking Crowley and pushing him away.

Finally Aziraphale aggravates Crowley enough with heavenly rhetoric and a superior attitude that their argument becomes mutual. Crowley is angry, and it hurts to watch.

Our Angel knows that Gabriel could circle back around at any time. Crowley, especially, is in grave danger. The Supreme Archangel would be furious to find them "fraternizing" -- who knows what further harm he would inflict on Crowley in his anger. (We know from S2 that Crowley is terrified of Gabriel when caught unawares.) If Aziraphale appears to have the upper hand on Crowley, perhaps Gabriel won't feel a need to step in to smite the demon.

Crowley has to be kept safe... He has to leave. NOW. Aziraphale pushes the ultimate button. "There is no OUR SIDE, Crowley. Not anymore. It's over!"

He says it deliberately. It sounds Final. It breaks Aziraphale's heart.

(Clue #8) Need further proof? Despite how definite Aziraphale sounded at the bandstand, his manner is very different when Crowley finds him the next day outside the bookshop (E4). Crowley jumps out of the Bentley to apologize -- and Aziraphale literally exhales a sigh of relief that Crowley hasn't actually run away hating him. We can see his breath in the chill air (around 33:41).

He didn't need the apology. He's pleased to see his demon.

Because Aziraphale never meant what he'd felt forced to say in order to protect Crowley.

Unfortunately, everything is still happening too fast -- Crowley gives so much rapid information to react to, Aziraphale is distracted and determined to contact God, Crowley is in a panic about the powerful demons coming after him, and they don't get to sort out what happened the previous day.

But their trust still holds. As soon as each deals with their immediate crises, Our Ineffables reach out to each other. Aziraphale still calls Crowley to tell him where the Antichrist is. Crowley apparently tries to call Aziraphale back on his cell phone, which manifests a flame image and sends Crowley racing to rescue His Best Friend.

We don't need to condemn Aziraphale to defend and protect Crowley.

Aziraphale has already completely dedicated himself to doing so. And Crowley, when he's not in a temper flare, trusts him completely.

*****

Thanks for listening! If, like me, you believe in the strong bonds our Ineffables formed across the milennia, you might be interested in some of the other weird MOMENTS THAT MATTER:

Crowley on Patrol (They Weren't Entirely Caught Off-guard)

"They're Not Talking..." (But are they communicating?)

Fearful Memories (Aziraphale KNOWS)

Other posts I mentioned, about 1827 & 1862:

Anything to Protect Crowley

The Night That Changed an Angel

#interesting!#good omens

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