#gos2 theory

[inafever]

This is about Aziraphale believing Crowley to be good enough even though he is a demon:

In fact we've got examples of it throughout all three minisodes where we go back through time while they're on earth and Crowley is a demon but it doesn't mean anything to Aziraphale, because he sees goodness and sympathy in him occasionally, so much more than all the angels of heaven are capable of.

The Job minisode | The Resurrectionist minisode | The Nazis minisode

So please come back and tell me again that he needs Crowley to change in order for him to be able to love him. Crowley is Good enough in Aziraphale's eyes all the same. And always has been.

[smoxensweetpea]

I finally re-watched the end of Good Omens season 2 episode 6. In the intervening week+ since this episode destroyed me I’ve read all the theories, first as a coping mechanism and then just having fun with what everyone was finding.

I don’t have a big, unique, in-depth theory. All I can share is what I see now that I am not as clouded by emotion, which isn’t difficult as I was sobbing the first time I watched it and still cried this time. Here we go:

It feels like Aziraphale is lying.

He stumbles so many times at the beginning of what he’s saying to Crowley, like he’s still trying to come up with the story or how to tell it without the parts he doesn’t want to share or to get his desired result.

He almost backs out.

After the kiss when the Metatron is asking if he’s ready to go Azi keeps looking to his right, out the window to where the Bentley is parked and where we see Crowley standing next to it in the next scene.

And Azi almost takes back his acceptance. He goes “I think I…” and then he looks, back to where Crowley is, and he struggles to put on a fake smile and he goes.

Those are not the actions of a man-shaped being who is drugged or brainwashed.

Those are the actions of a man-shaped being who is breaking his own heart to protect someone.

I don’t know what really happened in the conversation between Aziraphale and the Metatron but there was a threat made against Crowley. And the face we see him making in the elevator? When he goes from absolute heartbreak to what looks almost sinister? That’s the face of an angel who has been pushed too far. He is determined. And I hope with all of my heart that we see som BAMF!Aziraphale in season 3.

[sebthesmoll-art]

A Good Omens s2 Theory by SebTheSmoll

I already posted this on twitter, but I might as well post it here!

So keep reading to hear me out!

Ok, when you think about it, Crowley is ALWAYS the one freezing humans and stopping time, with no problem, and Aziraphale is always the one asking him to do it, because he's not powerful enough to do it himself. Crowley IS powerful enough to do it!

Take the instance with the nun in s1. Crowley was the one to freeze her. At the end of s1 he froze time. In s2, he does it to the doctor/teacher! You can't convince me that Crowley isn't powerful, he just doesn't WANT to use his big powers. Unless Aziraphale asks.

He does it in Bastille too! And warps a man over there to take Aziraphale's place! He makes a man come back from being eaten/killed by demons in episode 6 of season 2! He imagines himself not bruning driving through the fire ring around London in s1 and he survives, because he’s just THAT powerful. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the Metatron can do something similar! And he did that to Aziraphale! But because we, the audience, are on Crowley's side, we don't see the Metatron's side of the mind control/freezing! 

Angels ARE susceptible to being under the influnce of miracles, we know that now from the huge miracle Crowley and Aziraphale made together in s2! I'm more convinced now that Metatron DID do some kind of miracle, or freeze time/person, on Aziraphale!

What if Crowley WAS the Prince of Heaven, and only archangels or ranks above, can do what Crowley does, stopping time and freezing people. We haven't seen any demon nor angel do it, ONLY CROWLEY! I bet Metatron can do it too!

Crowley's memories before he fell were most likely erased, or stored in something, or SOMEONE. Who is Crowley always drawn to? Aziraphale of course!!! They're drawn to each other like a moth to a flame. Like the fly that holds Jim's memories buzz around him! 

Let me point out that Crowley said "Seemed like a good idea when we talking about it" when he talked with Gabriel about Gravity, but he DOESN'T remember why it was invented! HE WAS THERE DURING THE PLANNING OF IT ALL!!! It only shows that he was VERY high rank! 

This theory will be edited and updated the more I piece together!

[huang-er-jiejie]

the reason gabriel and beelzebub got together so so easily, was because they weren't as deeply connected to religion as aziraphale and crowley were. (maybe not crowley but mainly aziraphale.) gabriel and beelzebub may have been running the place, but they didn't believe in it. they were just the people in charge they didn't care for any of it.

but aziraphale on the other hand, has a strong moral belief system. he follows what he believes to be what god wants. she is deep into religion, thats whats made it so hard all of these years. she keeps thinking about what god thinks, what the other angels think, so she doesn't let himself indulge in the feelings he has for crowley. he only thinks its wrong because they're on opposite sides. the pure and the damned, an angel and a demon; it's unheard of and obscene.

he loves crowley very deeply yes, but he doesn't want to defy god any more than he feels he already has. he needs the validation from heaven, he needs them to finally look upon him in favor. and he thinks if he's able to systematically change heaven in a way that makes their relationship "acceptable", they will finally leave them alone and then and only then can he be able to love crowley without fear.

[yowlthinks]

Theories aplenty

I am just saying that I love the theories and the meta!

The point is, even if some of them are more believable and likely then others, the reality is Gaiman and the other showrunners could have meant it from the start, or could spot it later and say that it fits the narrative well. I think this is the biggest point we collectively might be missing: the story has its big themes and milestones defined, that is very clear in @neil-gaiman 's head, but the details and smaller stories within are something that can and does change due to ideas of other showrunners, timings, budget and actor availability constraints, etc. So at the end we get a beautiful story, wonderfully crafted, but also with its own imperfections (see Neil saying that the clock is just the continuity error, but half the fandom still going "oh, but he lied before!", and fair point to both sides)

Let me know if there are any other delicious theories and ideas I missed!

[lineffability]

"apparently if we do a miracle together it all works a bit too well" listen LISTEN i think this is why. i think the magnitude and power of that miracle they did together is what alerted the metatron and why he has come to separate them by all means, because they have not realized yet quite how powerful they are together and what that could mean!! this is why, i think???? they used to do each other's miracles and temptations for each other, but never with, and that could change everythign and could get in the way of certain Ineffable Plans (that i don't think are necessarily God's, looking at you villain metatrash)

[fishtimeyall]

GOOD OMENS SPOILERS.

So I've been thinking a lot about Muriel. About how they're sweet and naive and sort of dumb, and they're a 37th class angel.

In fact, Muriel’s level of naivety is nearly the same as Jim-level naivety/dumbness. And Jim was supposed to be a 38th class angel, after being demoted from Supreme Archangel and having his memories removed.

And when this was revealed Muriel says 'I didn't know there was a class below me', what if Muriel is just a demoted angel? What if Heaven just keeps demoting any angel who goes against God’s (the Metatron’s) Plan and making a new, lower class for them? Instead of making them fall, they just keep taking memories and demoting angels so that there wont be a perceived ‘institutional problem’. Which there isn’t. Right?

[biceratops7]

OK OK OK OK-

Ok is ANYONE else talking about the “evil coffee” theory yet??? Or is that just the discord I’m in

Cause like…. Who the FUCK puts THAT much emphasis on a RANDOM CUP OF COFFEE??

I mean Aziraphale literally says “I made my position clear” and then Metaron is immediately like “aAAH, but I brought you.. an OAT milk LaTé 👹” with foreboding music and ominous shots like some scene straight out of a fucking Disney movie, OH Kay… I see you you Jafar sounding bitch 😭😂

[neonvqmpire]

we need to talk about how close aziraphale actually was to saying no to the metatron after the kiss and why:

he's extremely conflicted and keeps looking out of the window to crowley in the car.

he previously said "nothing last forever" when crowley told him that he cant leave the bookshop (crowley also meant "you cant leave me"; the bookshop is a metaphor for their lives on earth for him) and he states exactly this as the first objection here. obviously the metatron shuts it down by appointing muriel as the next owner of the shop.

now he's stuck between wanting to be with the being he loves & who he now knows loves him back and his deep inner need/duty to do good. crowley's confession and kiss clearly made him question his decision and change his mind because here is when he actually decides for both.

you can see how he does not want to join heaven alone. he keeps looking out the window when asked if he needs anything to take with him.

he desperately needs crowley there but he can not have him so he lies and says no.

i this moment he tries to say no to heaven one last time. he starts saying "i think i-" and then looks out to crowley one last time. he's really considering crowleys offer here. i think the decision that he makes instead is actually FOR crowley as well.

he decides to join heaven not as he was previously convinced by the metatron to do good and rule together with crowley (which he did not want to do) but instead to go and keep a close eye on heaven FOR crowley.

aziraphale isnt stupid, he remembers what crowley said about heaven being toxic.

i think the confession and kiss makes him question heaven. crowley, who fell for asking questions made aziraphale question heaven too. something that he was always too scared to do. he has started to rebel in his head. he realised that something has to be up with heaven/the metatron bc they offered him the position. he decided to go but with a completely different purpose than before. 

he puts on a smile and it seems fake because it is. he wants to appear like he hasn't just fundamentally changed his position and decided to go against the one force who he was always afraid of yet dependent on. 

this is sth extremely relatable to someone who is queer and autistic and was raised by very conservative family members. even the thought of supporting queer people felt rebellious, terrifying but also extremely exiting and powerful because i knew it was the right thing to believe. 

aziraphale was being so brave here. he saw a glimpse of the life he wants and can have and choose to join heaven anyway to fight for this life. he is convinced it will not be possible for them to be together if heaven is still kicking about and making him feel powerless and scared. he wants to secure their future by changing or possibly even destroying the system from the inside out. 

unfortunately he didn't have time to tell crowley about his change of intention and i think it really breaks his heart. crowley would probably not understand it anyway. they still have a lot to work through and learn but ultimately they will find each other again. they always do.

i am so so interested to see where and how they meet again in s3, if we get it. after everything i just really want them to be happy and to spend their eternity together. they deserve it after all they went through.

[metamatronic]

“I didn’t mean to fall. I just hung around the wrong people.”

stills under the cut:

[shoemakerobstetrician]

Season 3 Opening Scene Nightingale 1941 Theory

So, season 2 opened with a flashback that had us totally reevaluating Aziraphale’s and Crowley’s relationship. I think the same will be true of season 3.

I think we will return to the night in 1941, to find out that they kissed, danced, or more that night.

1 - Why are they sitting at a table in the bookshop just drinking, no food on the table? When they’re drinking they don’t use a table. I think it’s to clue us in that there is more to the scene than what we are seeing - at some point before or after they had dinner.

2 - We know that Aziraphale did the apology dance in 1941 - again an indication that there is probably more to that evening than what we have seen so far.

3 - When Crowley says ‘no nightingales’ in S2E6 we now think he’s referring to the scene at the end of S1E6 in the Ritz, but it does seem a bit of a reach. It was a very nice moment, but I don’t think a relationship defining one that would cause both of them to think of it as their song.

4 - A Nightingale Sang was released in 1940, first charting at the end of December 1940. It would have been a hit in 1941 (according to Wikipedia it got up to #2).

5 - I think they had dinner, they danced, or perhaps even kissed to Nightingale as it was playing on the radio, and it became their song in a much more significant moment in 1941.

6 - When Aziraphale says to Crowley “Perhaps one day we could…dine at the Ritz” after “You go too fast for me Crowley” he would then be directly referring to their song from 1941.

7 - When it plays at the Ritz at the end of season 1, it’s because the pianist finds themselves mysteriously compelled to perform it, like the Oxford bus driver taking them to London.

8 - And finally, when Crowley says “no nightingales” at the end of S2 it is just devastating, it’s him saying there is no us.

And another thing: in the lyrics to Nightingale: That Certain night, the night we met/There was MAGIC abroad in the air. 😁

One more thing: I can certainly see Neil gleefully being like “Psych, it WASN’T their first kiss.”, and the scene would be just as heartbreaking if not more so if it was what Crowley thought was their last kiss.

ETA I just rewatched the bookshop table scene for like the 17th time. Holy 💩 is the dialogue strange and very loaded. The “trust me” bit, and the “shades of grey”. Throughout the whole scene Aziraphale is sideways eye fucking Crowley. There is simply no way we’re not going to see more of this scene in Season 3.

I very much like this whole idea, it probably won’t happen. Maybe someone will write a fanfic at least.

[inafever]

Oh my god I've been so stupid

GIVE ME COFFEE OR GIVE ME DEATH

It was an outright goddamn death threat

You either take the coffee, or take the death

Metatron you nasty little piece of shit

[worrynoodle]

I don't believe Aziraphale had a choice. I don't believe Aziraphale felt he had a choice.

He was offered one of the highest positions of power in the universe. Literally. The same universe where he has been afraid since before the beginning of losing what he loves most. Their entire existence something has been hanging over their heads whether it's heaven casting you out, hell torturing or destroying you, you destroying yourself, or the end of the world. They've always been afraid of losing one another.

Then, Michael, after Gabriel and beelzebub have left, decides that she has the power of erasing Aziraphale/Crowley from the book of life. That because she is the duty officer she's next in line for the Supreme Archangel position.

But instead it's offered to Aziraphale.

Now he sees that maybe he can save the world and change the universe so that finally, finally his beloved is safe for real. That he can finally let himself get close, let himself love crowley. That they can finally be together. Safe.

But crowley says no. Crowley doesn't want him to go and doesn't want to go with him and aziraphale doesn't get it because 'we could make a difference' isn't that what you want? He's slipping away from Aziraphale so suddenly and he's trying to hold on trying all his tricks of getting crowley on board and nothing is working and suddenly he's kissing him.

Suddenly the silent, unspoken words are screaming at him and he doesn't know where to go from here. Crowley is all he's ever wanted and it's all out on the table and he wants to stay.

But if he does Micheal might be Supreme Archangel. Or someone worse. Someone who doesn't want to make heaven better. Who won't allow he and crowley to be together. Who might push them back to how they were before. The arrangement, hidden glances, the briefest of touches, closet door shut tight.

No.

He will do this. He will prove it to himself. To heaven. To hell. To humanity and to Crowley that he will literally move heaven and earth to love him out loud.

But he has to let go of Crowley to do that.

[cillacantstudysosheshere]

People be like "random good omens headcanon" and proceed to say the most devastating soul crushing thing known to men

[yowlthinks]

I'm honestly not sure. Could it be continuity error combined with David growing his sideburns for Dr Who, and scenes being filmed not in a consequential order? Yes, of course it could!

Could it be Gaiman sprinkling clues all through s2 to resolve then in s3? Well, stranger things have happened! And also sideburns are so easy to correct with makeup, surely this should not be an issue, especially as there are cases where the tattoo is so obviously lower then normal it cannot have gone unnoticed!

Crowley’s Sideburns & what do they mean?

Guys this is gonna sound nuts - but Crowley’s sideburns change lengths at strategic moments through the series. It’s too obvious and specific to be a continuity error. I believe that someone who knew him when his sideburns were longer (in Heaven) is editing memories/facts & replacing real-world Crowley with their own memory of Crowley. But who cares what I think? Look at the evidence and see what you think? https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o97Y_CXwjGuLA3nPD_qtL9Sp2_P5sl9ULUSCwhS4ia4/

[yowlthinks]

The Final 15: Aziraphale's decision matrix in a no-choice situation

I have been thinking and reading about what happened since season 2 came out, and I think I have finally been able to put it all down into a logical sequence. This meta is the result of both countless posts I have read on tumblr and my own thoughts.

But let us start from the beginning, which is essentially Metatron's offer:

Notice how Aziraphale consistently declines the honour, as Metatron keeps pressing. When he says that Aziraphale is the perfect choice he also mentions that Aziraphale "is a leader, is honest and doesn't just tell people what they want to hear", which is of course a lie and they both know it. Initially, Aziraphale can't deny it because he can't just go "well, actually, I have been doing exactly that, stretching the truth in my reports and on a few notable occasions outright lying to my superiors and even God Herself". So he deflects to "where will I get my coffee?", preferring to highlight his attachment to Earth. In response to that Metatron makes his final move: he knows about Aziraphale's partnership with Crowley, and that means he knows about the lies.

This threat to Crowley gets Aziraphale to the following decision matrix:

Telling Crowley about the threat is useless. Aziraphale knows he will suggest running away together, and that puts them both in danger. Similarly, running away alone / hiding Aziraphale will not be a good move either because Metatron will not hesitate to harm Crowley and use him as a bait for Aziraphale.

So this means that Aziraphale's best option is not telling Crowley about the threat and persuading him to come with Aziraphale, his second best being going alone. Both of these offer best safety guarantees for Crowley, and this is something Aziraphale would not compromise on.

So our angel launches into this entire speech about making a difference. These are the only arguments he can come up with on the fly regarding why he took the position (the position he does not want! At a place he does not want to go back to!). And he is terrified that Metatron will come back and he won't be able to finish this conversation, won't be able to persuade Crowley. Add to this the fact that Crowley is clearly trying to have an important conversation with him too. A conversation they would like to have in private, but which Aziraphale knows can be interrupted at any moment. That's why he tries to stop Crowley, that's why he is constantly glancing out of the window.

Aziraphale is angry and frustrated, but this is mostly anger at Metatron who put him into this position, at the unfairness of it all, at himself for not being able to get Crowley to agree. It is the despair that just when Crowley confesses his love, instead of being able to say "I love you" back, he has to swallow it down again. Aziraphale's "I forgive you" is "I forgive you for not trusting me to make the best choice for us both", "I forgive you for not agreeing to go with me, I understand why you declined". And this aligns neatly with the theory about the Nightingale song in the car being a message from Aziraphale: it is his way of saying "I love you, I chose you, I chose our side, and that’s why I had to go".

And you know what? Crowley is a clever noodle and he knows Aziraphale well, so he will figure it out, he will spot this out of character, under-duress-only style of decision-making and start untangling that mystery.

We all know how it ends, and I can't wait to see it!

UPD: to put the above in perspective, see this meta with graphs!