#some of Jim remains in Gabriel

[aidaran-alha]

I decided to write the ineffable divorce from Zira's point of view and wow, this fic is definitely growing to be a whole 3rd season, haha.

I might make yet a third story combining my two fics for the divorce. It's proving to be a very fun experiment 😁

Chapters: 1/14 Fandom: Good Omens - Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, Good Omens (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Aziraphale/Crowley (Good Omens), Beelzebub/Gabriel (Good Omens) Characters: Aziraphale (Good Omens), Crowley (Good Omens), Beelzebub (Good Omens), Gabriel (Good Omens), Michael (Good Omens), Uriel (Good Omens), Baraqiel | Barachiel | Baraqil, Nina (Good Omens) Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Post 02x06, Mutual Pining, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, recovery from emotional hurt, Aziraphale the hoarder angel, Lack of Communication, Feelings Realization, Character Study, lots of feels, Loneliness, Aziraphale's side on their divorce, Getting Together, Getting Back Together Summary:

Crowley may believe they can stay on their own side, but Aziraphale knows better; the only way to survive is to finally face Heaven and make changes.

Post 02x06.

----- If two things could be said about Aziraphale and doing business, they were that he was a neat paperwork freak, and that he had the ability to deal with even the worst clients. Once he stopped feeling he was underneath someone, he was able to be the worst pest they had ever met.

  The third one was that outside of his neat paperwork, he was a bit of a nesting creature that thrived on his organized chaos, and he planned on using it.

  Something inside him broke as he thought of how much Crowley would have loved seeing him like this. He’d seen him smile with pride when he was being his worst more than once, and he planned on doing exactly that, while looking as holy as possible. He’d managed to not sell one single book in well over 300 years, so he could do this.

[goodomens-hints]

Episode 2 plot summary

Episode 2 list of scenes

SPOILER WARNING SPOILER GOOD OMEN SPOILERS BELOW!!!!!

Scene 1: The ep starts with a flashback to 2500 BC. Crowley is getting ready to destroy goats using fireballs when Aziraphale appears and tells him not to. Crowley tells him he has a permit, which is basically a really long scroll, and he explains to Aziraphale that he’s doing this because God has a bet with Satan on how Job will still remain true even if he were suffering. He has to destroy everything Job has. Aziraphale is disturbed by this. Crowley rains down fireballs on the goats.

Scene 2: Aziraphale is in heaven, examining a copy of the “permit” with Muriel. Longhair!Gabriel shows up and pretty much reaffirms what Crowley said. He tells Aziraphale not to worry because Job’s going to get everything back anyway, and that he’ll have 7 “new” children. Aziraphale is upset because that means the 3 original children will still die.

Scene 3: Crowley pretends to be a shoemaker as he talks to Job and his wife to ask where their children are.

Scene 4: Flash forward to the present. Aziraphale is trying to read but Gabriel keeps interrupting him (this is the already posted scene where Gabriel asks ‘what comes after K?’). When Aziraphale tells Gabriel to make a noise whenever he moves, Gabriel eventually starts dusting the bookshelves and singing “Everyday”. Aziraphale asks where he learned that song but Gabriel doesn’t know.

Scene 5: Crowley is sleeping in his car, parked in a sidestreet not in Soho, and is woken up by Shax knocking on his door. Shax teleports into the passenger seat of his car and tells him Gabriel is missing and that a huge energy signature (they have a specific term for it) was detected at Aziraphale’s bookshop. Crowley feigns ignorance and jokes to Shax that it might’ve been him (Crowley) who did it.

Scene 6: Aziraphale visits Maggie’s record shop. He asks Maggie if she’s familiar with the song Every day (he sings a bit of it). She’s crying again, this time because she worked up the nerve to give Nina a record only to find out that Nina has a girlfriend. She then explains to Aziraphale what the song is and gives him a record – apparently she’s been getting a lot of copies of the Every day record from The Resurrectionist in Edinburgh because every record there transforms into Every day. Aziraphale asks her if she senses something big and she says no. Panicked, Aziraphale runs back to the bookshop just in time for Michael, Uriel and Seroquel to arrive. Gabriel greets them (as Jim) and they notice him…. But they don’t recognize him as Gabriel. Aziraphale realizes the miracle worked.

The angels interrogate Aziraphale and asked why there was a huge blast of energy from his bookshop. Aziraphale is flustered and (looking at the record Maggie gave him) lies on the spot, saying it’s because he was trying to get Maggie and Nina to fall in love. They ask “well, did they?” Aziraphale says he doesn’t know yet. The angels say they’ll send down someone to verify that it worked and then leave. Throughout this scene, Gabriel is getting their attention and at some point Michael notes that he seems familiar. The angels leave.

Scene 7: Aziraphale and Crowley meet at the pub. Crowley is surprised Aziraphale asked him to meet there and Aziraphale explains that they can’t meet at the coffee shop now either. While Crowley is getting their drinks, a man (Mr. Brown) from the shopkeeper’s association ambushes Aziraphale and tells him he has to host their annual party (the ball, basically) in a few days. Mr. Brown leaves and Aziraphale is all “this is why I don’t like going to pubs” lol. He and Crowley exchange updates about the Gabriel issue. Aziraphale tells Crowley they now need to get Nina and Maggie to get together because heaven’s gonna send someone to check if it’s true. Crowley says they should get them to huddle “under an awning” in the rain and Aziraphale’s all mm nah that won’t work. Aziraphale asks if Crowley knows Jane Austen and Crowley said she used to do all sorts of crimes etc and Aziraphale is weirded out and is all “No?? She writes books!” which Crowley is surprised to hear about. Aziraphale explains that Jane Austen always included balls in her books and that they should do that.

Aziraphale tells Crowley about Gabriel singing every day, and he keeps calling it “a clue!!” to which Crowley always looks irritated lmao. They walk to the bookshop and Crowley interrogates Gabriel, asking him what the earliest thing he can remember is.

Suddenly Gabriel gets purple eyes for a few seconds and starts reciting a quote (something about humans). He goes back to ‘Jim’ mode right after and says his head’s not big enough for these things, and slinks away.

Crowley and Aziraphale exchange glances because they remember him saying the same thing back in Job’s era….

Scene 8: Flashback to Crowley entering the house where Job’s kids are. Aziraphale blocks him off, trying to convince him not to kill them. He tells Crowley “you don’t want to kill kids!” and Crowley is all “I do want to kill these kids just like how I killed those goats”. Aziraphale says he knew Crowley as an angel and Crowley says “I’m not that angel anymore.” Aziraphale gives up and Crowley prepares to cross the room. All of a sudden the crows around them start bleating. Aziraphale smiles and miracles them back into goats. Crowley gets embarrassed.

They go meet the kids. The eldest is played by David Tennant’s son LOL who flirts with Aziraphale by saying he thought there’d be a different angel while he strokes the front of Aziraphale’s robe??? That’s when Crowley says “He seems nice” LMAO. After Aziraphale fails to explain to the kids properly what’s going on, Crowley starts lighting things on fire. The kids get scared as the house starts to burn. There’s a storm raging outside and Crowley teleports everyone to the basement.

Aziraphale calls out Crowley’s bluff again, saying Crowley meant to hide the kids and not kill them. Crowley turns the kids into lizards and hides them in a little pot.  

Scene 9: The storm is still raging outside and Crowley and Aziraphale are in the basement. Aziraphale questions Crowley about the goats and asks whose side he’s on and Crowley says “my side”. Aziraphale says “that sounds terribly lonely” but Crowley insists it isn’t. Crowley starts drinking wine and Aziraphale looks disgusted, asking why Crowley is drinking human wine. Crowley offers him some and he refuses, looking grossed out. Crowley then picks up some pork ribs and asks Aziraphale if he wants to try those instead since he won’t get drunk off them. Aziraphale is hesitant, and accuses Crowley of trying to tempt him, but tries the pork rib and immediately gets addicted to them, eating non-stop.

Scene 10: When the storm clears Aziraphale and Crowley find Job kneeling under a light, with God speaking to him. Job is asking questions but God just keeps saying nonsense like “do you know who gave the peacocks their feathers, Job?”

Scene 11: Job returns to his house and his wife asks what God said. Job says he didn’t really understand much but that God was talking about whales a lot and stuff lol. His wife asks what happened to their children and that’s when Gabriel and the angels appear. Gabriel looks incredibly proud of himself when he tells Job that because Job never lost his faith in God, he will now get everything back, but twice as much. Aziraphale arrives late and joins the angels. Job asks about his children and Gabriel says he’s going to give Job 7 new ones. Job collapses on his knees saying he wants his original children and his wife is about to curse God when Crowley interrupts and re-introduces himself as the shoemaker from before. Gabriel asks Aziraphale who Crowley is and Aziraphale says he’s a shoemaker lmao. Crowley says he also happens to be an obstetrician and that he can help Job’s wife have her new 7 kids.

Job and his wife are confused, the angels are just as confused, and Michael asks how Job’s wife is supposed to have 7 kids. Crowley mentions that Gabriel would know how humans reproduce seeing as he was there in the Garden of Eden when Eve was created. Gabriel smugly agrees, so Crowley says kind of like how Eve was made, all he has to do is take 3 of Job’s ribs.

Job and his wife are still confused as hell but Crowley whispers to them to play along. Job’s wife “pulls” 3 ribs out of Job’s stomach, and using a miracle Crowley snaps his fingers and the 3 children reappear (he’d put the pot with the lizards on the ground behind Job and his wife lol). Michael asks why the children are fully grown and Gabriel points out that Eve was fully grown too.

But the angels are suspicious because Job calls his son by his “original son’s” name (despite his wife hushing him) and Gabriel asks Aziraphale if the children are the original ones or the new ones. Aziraphale lies, saying the children are Job’s new ones. Gabriel is satisfied with this.

Scene 12: We flashforward to the present. Aziraphale notices that Crowley is gone and Gabriel tells him Crowley left while he was thinking.

Scene 13: Crowley is walking by the coffee shop and sees Nina. He asks if Nina is interested in Maggie but Nina says “no, I barely know her”. Crowley asks if she would find it romantic if she were huddled under an ‘awning’ with someone in the rain LMAO. Nina is weirded out by his question and he walks away, heading for the Bentley. Aziraphale is there and Crowley asks what he’s doing. That’s when Aziraphale says that he’s going to go to Scotland to investigate The Resurrectionist. Crowley says “what… you’re taking the train?” and Aziraphale says he’s taking ‘our car’. Crowley gets pissed saying “It’s MY car” and Aziraphale says technically it’s HIS bookshop but it services them both, therefore Crowley’s car is also his car. Besides, Aziraphale got his license 90 years ago even though he didn’t have to! Crowley is to stay at the bookshop to watch over Gabriel. Crowley groans.

Scene 14: Flashback to Job era, with Aziraphale sitting on a rock overlooking the sea. He’s crying and Crowley approaches. Aziraphale says he figured Crowley would be the one to do it and asks if he’s going to take him to hell. Crowley laughs at this and says no, because Aziraphale wouldn’t like it there. Aziraphale is surprised because he lied to God and is now a ‘fallen angel’. He doesn’t know what he is anymore after what he did. Crowley comforts him and says “you’re an angel who sides with Heaven as far as he can go”, and Aziraphale says it feels very lonely. He tells Crowley “but you said you weren’t lonely”. Crowley says “I lied.”

END EPISODE

[avocado-writing]

Helloo would love love love some more Gabriel/Jim if you have any? Could be literally anything maybe a continuation of the last two or something but anything at all pleaseee 💕

notes: ask and ye shall receive 😌

pairing: Jim x reader

rating: T

“You’re joking. You must be.”

“Why would I be joking?” Jim furrows his brow, perplexed. You tap your spoon on the side of your coffee mug with vigour. 

“Because Notting Hill is a classic! I can’t believe you’ve never seen that film…”

Jim can actually count the number of films he’s seen on one hand - less than one hand really - because he’s seen none of them. But you seem to be incensed by the discovery of him not seeing this one in particular, so he remains quiet about all the others. 

“Are you free tonight? You could come over and we could watch it at my place. You could stay the night if you wanted. I could set the couch up for you! Or, you know, otherwise,” you say, not wanting to put too much pressure on the situation for a first overnight. But Jim lights up at the idea, excited. To be honest it’s nice to just take things slow with him. The relationship doesn’t seem to be hurtling towards sex, neither of you have brought it up, and that’s… fine. It’s nice, actually. It’s low pressure in a way you’re thoroughly enjoying, and Jim is a great boyfriend. 

For you, the event in the park is all but forgotten. 

It isn’t for Aziraphale and Crowley, though. That flash of Gabriel emerging a couple of weeks ago has very much seared itself into their psyches. Neither of them are certain what it means but they’re reasonably sure it can’t be good, so when Jim appears in the bookshop asking what he needs to bring to stay overnight at yours they’re a little… worried. 

“He’ll probably be fine,” Crowley reasons, not wanting to play devil’s advocate - well, not any more, at least - but having been significantly more affected by Gabriel than his lover. He knows the danger of the archangel. But at the same time Gabriel has never shown himself to be any danger to you, quite the opposite in fact; he seems rather smitten. This will be the first time they let him out of their sight for any significant amount of time and there’s a nervousness in the air which can’t be ignored. 

The two of them turn to see Jim packing as many books as he can into his overnight bag, “just in case”, and Aziraphale sighs.  

“Well they both have your mobile telephone number. If anything happens then they can get in contact. Besides, I’m sure nothing will go wrong.”

Neither of them say anything as Jim hoists his several-kilogram backpack onto his shoulder and grins. 

🪽

“Hey! So I’ve ordered pizza and set up the film on the tv in the lounge. Do you want a drink?”

You give Jim a greeting kiss and he grins in a dopey sort of happiness at it. 

“Sure, thanks. What kind of drink?”

“Well, I have wine, or uh, Pepsi?”

“Yes, Pepsi. Please,” he says quickly. He recently became aware of its delights and spent a whole evening at the shop drinking a two-litre bottle and giggling between every sip. You load up the pint glasses which, in traditional English fashion you nicked from the pub, and settle in for a film night with Jim. 

The pizzas arrive about halfway through Notting Hill and you think Jim might explode at the narrative being interrupted. When the pepperoni feasts are devoured and the boxes shoved into the recycling, the two of you end up in a slouchy sort of cuddle. Your head falls onto his shoulder and by the end of Four Weddings and a Funeral you’re fast asleep. 

Jim looks down at you. You’ve managed to miss some marinara when you wiped your mouth so it’s smudged on your lip, but you’re none the wiser. Your chest rises and falls easily and your eyelids flutter as you dream. 

Because he’s pretty sure that Aziraphale and Crowley have done the same for him when he’s fallen asleep, he gently carries you to your bed, lays you down, tucks you in, and whispers ‘goodnight’ knowing that you won’t hear. And then he means to head back to the couch to go to sleep. 

At around two in the morning you stir, desperate for a wee. That is the unfortunate downside of Pepsi. You swing your legs over the side of the bed—

And your heart stops. 

Gabriel is standing there. In the corner. His eyes so luminously purple that they light the room around him. He’s been watching you for some time now, just observing the way that you breathe. He wondered if he should get in bed and hold you. Just to satiate his own wonder about how you feel. Too late for that now, you’ve spotted him. 

“Be not afraid,” he says.

You scream. 

🪽

The next morning Crowley wakes up to a text message from you.

I think there’s something wrong with Jim. 

“Bollocks,” he says. 

[canarybell]

The main thing that I like about "Aziraphale was threatened" theory - it actually doesn't require any additional pieces of "something was said/done off screen" aside from what Aziraphale's face looked like after "might be considered irregular" line. All that you need for it is looking at Aziraphale's and Metatron's shown expressions and words from another angle.

Aka:

seeing Metatron's words (especially his words about "exploits", "de facto partnership" and "you working again might be considered irregular in the future") as a not-so-covert threat (and applying the "irregular" quote not just to "Aziraphale agrees to become Supreme Archangel" scenario, but also to "Aziraphale refuses" scenario - as it what was happening at the moment. Aziraphale initially refused, and it was Metatron's response to it).

Seeing Aziraphale's face during "the chinwag" as tensed, nervous and a bit scared; noticing how he swallows as Metatron talks about "enormous projects" (and their last conversation included him talking about nuclear war as something nice); and seeing him becoming even more tensed after Metatron mentioned Crowley.

Remember that Aziraphale already had a talk with Metatron in S1 and knows what he's like (and that even before his fallout with Heaven Az still thought Metatron is a spokeperson at best, not the actual Voice of God), and that it was Metatron's words in S1 that made Aziraphale finally go against Heaven's official will.

To take the fact that Aziraphale looks out the window before beginning his conversation with Crowley (right at the coffee shop where we know Metatron is sitting), and then glances out the window every now and then, as the angel knowing they are being watched, and possibly overheard.

Taking Aziraphale shaking his head while talking about "incredibly good news" as him trying to show that news aren't actually good, and perceiving his "joy" as insincere.

Perceiving Aziraphale's choice as "Refusing - and be vulnerable to Metatron 'irregular' threat anywhere in the universe (thus putting Crowley in unbelievable danger), or seemingly agree - and then try to work together and find a way out"; him trying to show it to Crowley in a way that wouldn't alarm Metatron, and failing, with the only option remaining for him to go to Heaven - as at least it would prevent the "considered irregular" threat.

And it doesn't actually remove their conflict. Aziraphale still choose the wrong words - and that's strongly tied to the centuries of him saying similar words with some level of sincerity. Crowley in this case didn't see anything that angel tried to say between the lines - and this can be both because of fearing Aziraphale was actually able to think so, and because of subconsciously perceiving angel as more helpless and naive than he actually is. They both were lying to each other and concealed the important information throughout the second season, because they both thought they Knew Better than the other - which made their sincere communication pretty much impossible. Not to talk about "talking in code" communication, as it is actually a step above of sincere communication. Both Aziraphale and Crowley are hurt in the result - and for a good reason.

And "religious trauma" stuff? You can also just perceive it from a different angle. Specifically - asking, whether Aziraphale actually showed sings of it remaining in the present of S2, outside of flashbacks (which happened even before S1, in which he dumped Heaven) and the final conversation (that isn't considered entirely sincere in this theory and is seriously influenced by Metatron watching it)? Or this is something he already had an arc of overcoming in S1 (again, with the very same Metatron being a catalyst for him to dump Heaven)? With Aziraphale in S2:

not wanting to go back in Heaven and initially saying to Metatron "My position is quite clear";

yelling at archangels;

hiding Jim from archangels;

saying Gabriel (as a representative of Heaven) used to be awful;

having a sarcastic remark about Heaven not really "being in charge" in a casual conversation...

Yet he never actually talked it through with Crowley (as they never talk to each other about important stuff) - so Crowley could only guess whether angel's mind actually changed.

See? No additional information needed, no agency removed, no conflict denying. Only a different angle - and you can see an entirely different picture.

[ineffablydelighted]

[How exploring the Ineffable Husbands' dynamic in Good Omens can help us figure out what the show/book is all about, Part 1/?]

Also called: This human has, apparently, too much time on her hands and will be trying to Effable the Ineffable for [...] hours.

Ah, Hello! 👋

I'm ineffably delighted to meet you all! 😇

Let's cut to the chase and bear with me as we try together to analyze further the subject of the day:

Aziraphale is in love with Crowley and I am pretty sure he is aware of that fact BUT 

[yes, there is a "but", do not erase me from the Book of Life just yet, let me explain first, homie 🥺] 

I do not believe he can comprehend WHY he is just yet, and what that would mean for him in terms of... well... EVERYTHING he ever stood for.

It will also be the perfect roots to answer the biggest question yet :

What is Good Omens all about, exactly?

[Yeah, it's a tough one. When I say "bear with me", I really insist on the fact that it will be LONG. I will try my best to make it fun to read and to allow some "natural breaks" but know that I would appreciate your unshared attention if you're willing to give it to me. 😇]

Although, would you have the chance to ask him about it (probably looking at a cup of tea as we would all do in Earthy fashion), Aziraphale would have somewhat of an answer to give you, probably in the range of:

"Because, deep down, Crowley is the nicest being I've ever known."

Is it false? No, Crowley IS nice. Swaggeringly nice, occasionally unhinged, but still. Nice.

And that is somewhat the core of the... "problem" for our soon-to-be Supreme Archangel [Yep, the pain is still fresh, thanks for asking, you're welcome for reminding you 😭👍] because, as much as Crowley learned nuances due to past experiences (Falling being, most likely, the most traumatic one,) Aziraphale remains bound to think in absolutes. And everything relates to THIS perfect meme right there:

[Whoever you are, person/entity who has done that, you have forever my utmost gratitude and respect]

I'm far from bringing anything new to the table here, but to Aziraphale, Crowley should NOT have fallen in the first place. Because of how nice he is. Crowley IS an angel, to him. In fact, I'll go even further by stating that, to Aziraphale,

Crowley is more of an Angel than ANY Angel in the "Main Office."

Let's present our other contestants, shall we?

When he ruled, Gabriel was an absolute a** and had an ego the size of, idk, at least A DOZEN GALAXIES. He made Aziraphale feel like... well... poop most of the time they interacted.

That is why, in S2 when Gabriel/Jim tells him "I love you", Aziraphale, even being and considering himself a "creature of love", happens to be utterly unable to either reciprocate or take the compliment. At this moment, later enhanced when he reminds himself of the Job case, he realizes he is able to feel, if not hatred, NOT love NOR admiration for somebody he should somewhat consider a role model.

That is very important for Aziraphale's present and future character development, especially considering Gabriel/Jim's own fate, so please keep that in mind.

Michael? Oh God, Same if not worse: too condescending and ambitious in the wrong way to inspire anything nice to anybody.

Sandalphon just does what they are told but can totally throw a punch if necessary.

Uriel is mostly cold, occasionally cruel, and can also be physically threatening.

[I love the actress, though. Gloria Obianyo deserves a Ph.D. in Resting Bitch Facing for her performance in Good Omens alone and I'm here for it.]

S2 Saraqael seems to be more layered but has also been hurtful to Aziraphale (especially when she ironized that he couldn't possibly be the 25-Lazarii-magnitude-miracle caster).

Overall, S1 Aziraphale refers to the "Main Office" Angels as "BAD ANGELS!" after their hostile encounter. We could see from his face he would have wanted to use harsher words but couldn't get past his forgiving, decent nature.

Before we talk any furfur-ther [Am I proud of this so-called pun? A-BSOLUTELEH 😎🤭], let's add a really important stone/layer to our favorite Angel's thinking: to him, it is simple maths:

GOOD = RIGHT, BAD = WRONG

And let's save it for later, shall we?

[Killgrave dear is just here to remind you you can take a break anytime to drink a glass of Talisker if you'd like, or, more so, if HE'd like. Also because that character is THE best David Tennant role on television - 10th Doctor being the worthy third, I let you guess which character is our second now - and I might have wanted to use this gif just to be able to say that, who knows? *whispers* Mysssteryyyy...]

Anyway.

To a being like Aziraphale, who mostly thinks in dichotomy, being an Angel requires one main requirement: being GOOD.

[Buy a farrrrrm and be good! Not just "pretendy" good but. properly. GOOD! - NO, I couldn't find the gif and YES, I'm mad about it, but since I'm also unable to make one myself, I'll just shut it.]

That is why he refers to the Main Office Archangels as simply being BAD.

At that moment, they had been mean to him, threatening, and, by doing so, they became somewhat active in Hell's Armageddon project. Making them "bad" angels, but, more so:

Bad at BEING Angels.

Aziraphale, on the other hand, is, at heart, the penultimate goody-two-shoes: he does feel bad about himself whenever he does something bad/wrong such as lying (it has started to change, and I'll nuance that statement another time, but you get the grip).

He is constantly scared he might fall whenever he somewhat defies God's will or the idea he built in his head of what an Angel should be(have).

But have you paid attention to how his "Angelmates" NEVER seem to CARE about their own displays of, let's say "unconventional characteristics" for what should be the highest "Representatives of the sole concept of Good"?

Have you ever seen Gabriel or Michael being self-conscious about their narcissism and condescending tendencies? Uriel about their coldness? Saraqael about their sarcastic nature? Any of them about their use of violence? Of course not! They seem to be perfectly fine with it!

They own their characteristics, good AND bad.

Aziraphale does not.

Aziraphale is... soft. Even if he, at times, expresses regrets to be just that, he also applies it to his Angelic nature.

You know who else is soft?

Crowley.

Crowley is soft because he cannot kill children and takes it upon himself to LITERALLY DEFY BOTH GOD AND SATAN'S WILL TO SAVE SAID CHILDREN, including two annoying ones [especially the one who DARED to hit on Aziraphale but that is a topic for another day]

[MASSIVE Bildad the Shuhite fangirl here, consider yourselves warned.]

Crowley is soft because he cannot even kill GOATS.

Defying both God's and Satan's will to save kids? Yeah, eventually, okay.

Defying God's and Satan's will to save goats? Man, that's so effingly. more. powerful.

[Oh, look! A bird flying, normal thingy, nothing to see here, buh-bye!]

Crowley is soft because he proposes/"tempts" Aziraphale to "eat a spot of lunch", especially whenever his Angel experiences stress.

We have barely seen him eat, which might indicate he does not have such a strong taste for it personally. He only goes to the Ritz to enjoy Aziraphale's company and to watch him happily eat scrumptious, comforting foods.

[Okay, also because it morphed into a proper kink at some point but that is NOT today's subject, so stop trying to make me deviate from it! 😣]

Oh, and, before you bring that up, no, the alcohol motive is not relevant since he can, in all probability have a glass of Talisker in ANY sort of pub/restaurant in London.

[As a proper peated whisky lover who happens to be French, let me tell you this is NOT the case in my country and I'm super duper jealous of you, lads.]

Crowley is soft because he takes care of both Gabriel and Aziraphale's bookshop, even if it is clear he loathes the first and expressingly said he would not be a bookseller "even at gunpoint."

And, by "taking care of", know that I MEAN IT: he kept an eye on Jim, didn't wake him up when he heard him snore, answered any question he had, no matter how seemingly stupid they were [Even if Crowley, of all beings, cannot be anything but a raging "There is no stupid question, only stupid answers" representative] and offered him hot cocoa. As for the Booksho-P[uhhhhh *exhales in asthma*], he attempted to repair Jim's messy ordering twice and meticulously rearranged the place after ✨the Ball✨

[What do you mean, "he also Killgraved him into jumping out of the window?" HE ALSO STOPPED HIM FROM DOING SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. #NotBiasedInTheSlghtestIndividual]

Crowley is soft because he shares his Bentley with Aziraphale. Which is a VERY. BIG. DEAL. considering it was, at the time, HIS LAST ONE AND ONLY PRIZED POSSESSION.

[Should I mention that the Bentley FALLS IN LOVE with Aziraphale or is debating on whether or not that falls into the Oedipian complex territory off-topic? Yes, I'll see myself out.]

Crowley is soft because he rescues Aziraphale on countless occasions, even though, 99% of the time, that is pretty much unnecessary.

For real, guys: if Aziraphale had been discorporated in the course of his 6000+ years on Earth at any other given moment BUT on the eve of THE WAR with a capital "W", nobody in Heaven would have flinched.

[I do have a theory, though: maybe being re-incorporated takes quite a long time, which would have meant too many years apart from each other, hence the growing Damsel in Distress kink in Aziraphale, idk THAT IS NOT TODAY's SUBJECT, OKAY?!]

Also, Crowley is soft because "doing that makes him so happy".

Do you know who is supposedly "so happy" to save living things, aka GOD'S CREATIONS? Angels.

Crowley is soft because he rescues Aziraphale even when it is ACTUALLY ENDANGERING for both of them

He risked: his life, his pretty comfortable position "he carved out for himself", both his Earthy and Infernal homes sort of speak, AND EVEN HIS CAR to save his Angel's bottom/help him out in the direst situations (like stopping time to stop SATAN HIMSELF.)

[Also his past/present/future existence altogether, but the Bentley is more important, as I'm sure we'll all agree.]

[That is a Class A Protective/Helpful Husband, right there.]

Crowley is soft because he encourages Aziraphale to follow his passion for ✨prestidigitation✨

Even though he is pretty... amateurish at it. Not only does he encourage him, but he also HELPS him when he accepts to be his dashing assistant on stage.

[Yes, he does tell S1 Aziraphale to stop doing magic because he "has no idea how demeaning that is" but I'm pretty sure it was BECAUSE of S2 1941's events. Also, #WeStan1941Crowley here.]

Crowley is soft because he works pretty hard to make two humans he barely knows fall in love.

Yes, he also does it to cover his and Aziraphale's 25-Lazarii-magnitude-miracle lie BUT don't tell me his amazed expression when he thought he was about to witness Nina and Maggie actually falling for each other was not the purest, sincerest of all.

Finally, even if I could come up with more examples,

Crowley is soft because he saved Aziraphale's books JUST because he KNEW and CARED that Aziraphale CARED about said books.

That also, in Michael Sheen's very own opinion [as stated by Neil Gaiman in S1 GO DVD commentary], shared by many fans, and myself very much included, marks the moment

Aziraphale falls in love with Crowley.

[I DARE you to tell me THIS is NOT THE LOOK OF LOVE PERSONIFIED, go on, fight meh.]

So. WHY did it happen at that moment in particular? Well, because, first of all:

As a proper Jane Austen fan, Aziraphale is a slow burner.

Also, to him, an actual Angel, love is everywhere, so differentiating one love from another might be more difficult for somebody who can feel it whether or not it is even their own.

BUT [have you started getting used to my "but"s yet or should I harass you some more?] Let's go back in time to see how every previous encounter (that we know of) led to that pinnacle, shall we?

[Oh and, YES, this sort of essay will be long, and NO, I had no idea how much it would be when I started writing it, and still haven't, tbh 🤷‍♀️]

During part 2, we will also dive a little bit deeper into what Good Omens is all about.

[Yeah... I figured we would all need a break at this point.]

More on that later, then!

Hope I kept your interest at a reasonable peak. See you soon, Angels ❤

Need help to find the rest of this analysis? I've got you covered! Follow me, Angel 😇

Previous - Beginning (you're here) - Next

[rebeccadewinterthinks]

Good omens The Book of life Conspiracy theory Part 6

the previous parts of this theory you can read here

6. Hide a tree in the woods

so, it's not so important whether Gabriel remembers anything about his former life or not. The problem is that the Book disappeared in the interval between the erasure of memory in the elevator and the appearance in the bookshop, and this period remained with Gabriel only in the form of vague sensations. He carried the box somewhere for a long time, his hands ached.... the rest was a blur.

when the Archangel walked down Wickber Street, the box was already empty, which means the Book is not in the shop. However, if he doesn't know or remember this detail, he might think that is where it is. After all, it's a very logical decision to hide the book among the books, right?

and you know what? There are at least three people looking for the book in the series, and all three think Aziraphale has it somewhere. The trap of the obvious.

let's start with Gabriel. Yeah, he doesn't remember it, but he's looking for it. I don't know why.

there are two moments in the series that indirectly point to this search. First, a very strange activity that Gabriel found in the bookshop: shelving books by the first letter of the first sentence [06:05 Ep.2].

«– But look, what exactly are you doing? – Oh, I thought, I'd make the books easier to find, so I thought if I put them in alphabetical order.

– Alphabetical... by author?

– What's author? No, I was shelving the books by the first letter of the first sentence.

– But no one would ever... Jolly good. Good idea. Thank you, Jim. Carry on. »

an occupation, at first glance, as ridiculous as possible. But! Aziraphale's permission allows Gabriel to open all the books in a row without raising any questions or suspicions. He doesn't remember what the Book of Life looks like, but he obviously recognizes it when he starts reading it. And he really may not know what the author is, because the only book he knows has an obvious "author" as well.

the second point is the dialog about gravity. Gabriel drops the book on the table. Crowley says it's gravity, it's needed for things to stay where they're put [16:17 Ep.3].

«– Gravity. It's um...a thing that happens when object are pulled together. In this case they're all pulled downwards because the earth is the largest thing around.

– Why?

– Ah. Honestly, um, I don't remember. Seemed like a good idea when we were all talking about it. So things would stay where you put them, not just drift off.

– But it doesn't stay where I put them. It goes down. Except for flies, they go up.»

yes, here again they draw our attention to the fly, but in the beginning the conversation is about the fact that books don't stay where Gabriel puts them. Maybe this is a hint like «I remember putting the book in the box, but now it's not there, where could it have gone?».

we can also speculate about that the book hanging out in space next to Crowley when he launched the nebula was the Book of Life, and it certainly didn't fall anywhere then. This idea is entertaining because it could suddenly shoot up in season three, if Neil does decide to develop the Book storyline in some way.

[pomegranate]

tagged by @marley-manson - 6 albums I’ve been listening to a lot lately! plus one track from each that I’m especially fond of:

1) “You Don’t Mess Around With Jim” - Jim Croce

Just picking the one Croce album bc this one’s probably come up the most but I’ve been really enjoying him recently! Funny enough, I had him on while driving my parents & nephews home from the park today and my parents said they both listened to him back in the 70s, and it seems to happen frequently that I tend to enjoy musicians that both of my parents were into as well. I guess it’s in my DNA or something.

2) “Selling England By The Pound” - Genesis

I had an ex who was really into prog rock and got me into a few albums back in the day, and recently I revisited some of those albums & this one is just really solid. Peter Gabriel Genesis > Phil Collins Genesis to me.

3) “Has A Good Home” - Owen Pallett

I first heard Owen Pallett when I saw them perform during a Vinyl Cafe concert in the 2000s and the way they used live recording tech to make musical loops and build melodies on stage was utterly fascinating. I’d totally forgotten about them until a song of theirs came up on shuffle recently & have been revisiting some of my faves, and this record is terrific.

4) “Feed The Animals” - Girl Talk

Another artist that I forgot about until it came up on shuffle recently - there are few mashups that are as well done as Girl Talk’s imo.

5) “SOS” - SZA

This is just one of the albums I’ve been returning to over and over since it came out and because “Saturn” isn’t from any album but has remained stubbornly on my recently played since I first heard it, I’m including this one. It’s just so endlessly relistenable. Is that a word? Idk well it is now. SZA has one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard and I’m a bit in love with her. I would follow her to the ends of the earth.

6) “Bronco” - Orville Peck

Another recent album that I keep revisiting; every single song is fantastic. Apparently Orville is coming to Toronto again this summer but he’s playing at Budweiser Stage which is nowhere near as good a venue as Massey Hall, so idk if I’ll go. But god, he puts on a great show.

Tagging @partlyironic, @amrv-5, @captainhunnicutt, @sequencefairy, @archerism, @etriva, @pherre, @discotexx, @gabsy, aaaand anyone else who wants to do it! I’m struggling to remember usernames 😭

[cygnusmori]

Good Omens S2 thoughts ahead, beware of spoilers

It's been already two days since I binge watched the season in one go, and I wanna share some thoughts. However, they aren't positive, if you're looking for praise you won't like this.

I won't talk about the big bad end or Aziraphale, I think there's already enough posts covering the issue and explaining Aziraphale, or theorizing about Metatron, or that Crowley wasn't in the right either.

I wanna talk about him.

For many, it seems like he was the only positive sweet thing about that ending, and that this was his redemption arc.

But I digrees.

See, I've always been fan of Gabriel, and I always thought he was a nuanced character, I don't think Gabriel is anywhere near of perfection. I like him with his flaws, I think he's funny, ignorant, mean at times, and has that alienating "non human" feeling. He did bad things, but I never saw him as an evil big bad force, I never thought he was a villain. He was on the opposing side of our protagonists, which is different.

But that's the S1, let's talk about S2 and why I'm disappointed.

Maybe just showing that he isn't all evil a didn't want to try to destroy the world is enough of a development for most. But not for me, because we didn't see this development.

I'm grateful that he wasn't shown as an evil edgelord compulsive serial abuser? Yeah. Thanks.

But for most of the season, we didn't see Gabriel, we saw Jim. This amnesiac, empty, thoughtless person. I loved him, we all love him, I know! He's sweet, cute, empathetic, dumb, and apologized for something he didn't know he did.

But he didn't have any actual meaningful "eye-opening" experiences with the ineffables. He didn't have like, let's say an attempt at bonding or friendship, or getting to know and discover earth. Everyone theorized and was eager to have Gabriel discovering the wonders of earth and humanity, realizing is worth saving.

And what did we go? ...A flashback in the last episode that lasted less than, what, 6 minutes? Where he just enjoys the same song that Beelzebub. Everything about their relationship is left as just guess work, there's not even a fraction of growth like the ineffables had.

But not just that, is that it was mostly told. Not shown.

We didn't see Gabriel having any actual feelings, or conflicts, or problems, or worries. Nothing.

We're shown he could sacrifice himself to save the humans and trying to avoid the problems he was causing, which is sweet and beautiful! I love him! But that's still Jim...Would Gabriel do it? I wanna say yes, I wanna believe that he would! But that's the problem. we don't really know because we just got about less than 10 minutes of the actual Gabriel.

He remained as this silly amnesiac character for the first 5 episodes. And then on the last 20 minutes he got his memories back, and what did he do, after being protected and cared by Aziraphale and Crowley?

Nothing. There wasn't an exchange of words, there wasn't a "They helped me". There was nothing, there wasn't any explanation for why he actually seeked Aziraphale, besides that little implication made by Metatron that maybe Gabriel thought Aziraphale should be the next leader (which, let me add, could be a lie).

I, even as a fan of Gabe, feel like he had barely anything to offer. No much more relevant bits of his personality than what we already knew. I still thought he was super funny and loveable as Jim, but yeah...not growth. Especially between Aziraphale and him, after all...they knew each other for ages, Aziraphale thought he was awful but also that he would protect him, and this amnesiac Gabriel was eager to apologize and help, where are the follow ups of that?

I get it, he's a side character.

But this season he's a Plot Device.

What about these "lucid moments" where he spoke with the voice of God? Or those "It hurts to remember!"? They meant nothing? They weren't clues, he was just so ready to drop everything?

And as an audience I have to accept he really changed that much, he really didn't care about falling or losing his over 6000 years job. That's so...empty.

I didn't see any eye-opening, or mind-changer experience for him. We saw he's capable of love and respect and selfless actions, I guess, but that's just the most bare minimum, and one that I already always believed, so there's not excitement for me at all.

I think maybe I feel like this because I always thought he wasn't evil, but all of the reasoning for him not being evil, barely got touched. I mean the responsability maniac, the workaholic tendencies, the extreme obedience, the stress, the emotional familiarity with other archangels, the fear of falling... he had none of these things, he apparently changed in four years. That's it. "He's changed, and doesn't care about being the leader! And now he's singing a love song and disappearing happily on the sunset!" is not the direction I expected.

They just left, without consequences besides stepping down of their ranks? Gabriel's memories loss wasn't even a punishment. He had no real consequences for anything and that hurts me, because those are needed for a character to learn and progress. He got rewarded for loving freely, but that love wasn't even actually shown (no, cheesy and super sappy pet names aren't a relationship development)

I'm just sad...or more like devastated about almost everything in this S2. I guess I can just enjoy the fact that him being just a random dude and not worse than the devil himself is my consolation prize. And even with that I was left feeling like I don't have any reason to be in the fandom.

That said, those are just my thoughts. You can disagree and think this season was wonderfully done on every aspect, that's what opinions are.

[vintage-bentley]

I loved the majority of the season, I had a great time, but G x B is the most overhyped, underdeveloped, passionless, chemistry-less, soulless ship I’ve ever seen. It was hard to get through 15 min with them, and I’m glad we didn’t actually have an episode specifically about them to develop them because it would have been unwatchable. Also ‘Gabriel redemption’ I see everywhere and I’m like??? WHERE. He didn’t redeem anything, he didn’t help Aziraphale and Crowley with their happy ending, he just fucked off the second he could. He’s boorish and selfish and he’s an asshole, and the fact they got to go off with no worry or (presumably) consequences pisses me the fuck off and doesn’t make sense with how C x A have danced around each other in FEAR for millennia. Unless you take it that Beelzebub being female has something to do with it. That they’re straight and therefore aren’t judged as harshly for being together by both sides even though it’s still being a traitor. I think b having they-them pronouns completely erases and hides this VERY VITAL difference.

I agree completely!!

When I rewatched the season, I actually fast-forwarded through the whole part with them. They don’t exist to me. I find it funny that people are complaining about how A/C is apparently “forced”…but don’t make the same comment about B/G who are the definition of a forced couple. Tbh most straight couples in media are, it’s just a simple “man and woman see each other, they fall in love” formula. It’s really frustrating that Ineffable Bureauhets is supposed to be some sort of model relationship for Ineffable Husbands…when IB is so out of the blue and nonsensical, and IH is built on 6000+ years of friendship and companionship.

I was hoping for a Gabriel redemption this season, because it sounded really interesting. I was expecting him to side with A/C after experiencing life as Jim, and then in season 3 they’d go into the war against Heaven/Hell and Humanity with the supreme Archangel on their side. It was very disappointing to see that the Jim arc really didn’t lead anywhere for Gabriel’s character development. He didn’t even thank Aziraphale and Crowley, didn’t apologise for anything…he just remained self-centred.

Because of that, it’s really annoying to see him and the equally selfish Beelzebub get the ending that Aziraphale and Crowley should get. Maybe that’s the point, I’m not sure. It would be really interesting if the point is to expand on the allegory of religious homophobia…with showing that a straight couple with not even a fraction of A/C’s history can go off together with no problem, while a gay couple is still struggling due to factors the straight couple never had to deal with (like internalised homophobia for example).

[celluloidbroomcloset]

Good Omens: A Big Gay (Queer) Allegory

Please note: these are just my thoughts and interpretation. It's one way to read some of the events of Good Omens, especially Season 2, but is not the only way by any means. I'm not looking to denigrate or sideline any other interpretation or understanding of this show.

The show has turned, slowly, into a big gay allegory, about the complications of perception and openness, especially in the 20th and 21st Century, and especially in terms of how Aziraphale and Crowley both manifest themselves and are perceived by the world around them. The show uses elements typically associated with the persecution of queer people throughout the 20th Century, as their relationship must remain secret (closeted) through much of their exitences. The 1941 episode in Season 2 involves fascists spying on Aziraphale and Crowley with a camera, trying to get evidence of their relationship. The 60s vignette takes place in 1967, the same year that Britain decriminalized homosexual acts, and is the first real indication that Aziraphale might be able to put a name to their relationship (but can't quite do it yet).

This is not about whether Aziraphale and Crowley are gay in the sense of being two homosexual men, but how they are perceived by the world at large. The joke from the book that Aziraphale is "gayer than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide" is in the context of how others (humans) perceive him. And this governs them both—because they both typically manifest as men, use male pronouns, and because the world perceives them as men, their relationship would be perceived as homosexual (whether that is a reality or not). Nina asks Crowley about their relationship because, to her, they are behaving as a couple, and her assumption after he tells her "it's not like that" is still that they're together, just maybe not a couple-couple. She certainly never assumes that Crowley is a straight cis man—her questions are all about whether he has a husband or boyfriend, and all assume that he and Aziraphale are having sex. She seems to assume that they are two gay men.

That kind of open discussion, from an out lesbian who discusses her relationship with customers and friends (but not, we note, with cops), would have been impossible in 1967. Or 1941. Or 6,000 BC. But it is possible in 2023, in a relatively safe space like Whickber Street.

Crowley's reaction, I think, is not surprise about the relationship itself, but about how their relationship is being perceived. It's putting a name to something that has had to remain nameless or been outright denied as even existing. He falls back on denial—"it's not like that"—but he realizes that it is, in fact, like that. It's him facing the fact that a relationship that has never been defined is being perceived by others and that's something that is now relatively safe. This quite obviously becomes something he embraces as he realizes that he and Aziraphale can be together, openly, as whatever they want to be. There's nothing to be afraid of anymore.

(I think it very indicative that the next scene involves Crowley confessing that he's been worried about Gabriel/Jim "waking up" and smiting him. It's a repeat, in its own way, of Aziraphale's initial conversation with Jim and is expressive of the last fear that Crowley has: that someone will see what he is and destroy him for it. And it's one that's put to rest by the next scene between him and Jim.)

Aziraphale hasn't made that move yet, at least not in the same way. He is still, essentially, closeted, because he perceives their relationship as still being dangerous. In the very first episode of Season 2, he responds to Jim's question about needing to be close to one particular person in a series of microexpressions (thank you, Michael Sheen) that indicate, yeah, he knows exactly what Jim is talking about. But he immediately denies it and draws away, saying that he has "no idea what that feels like." Of course he knows, but Jim might very well be Gabriel, a representative of the organization that will destroy him and Crowley if they are found out (outed). He can't admit that feeling openly, though he knows he has it, and he's likely known for a very long time.

The entire act of concealing Gabriel is a queer act: they are choosing to protect someone who is hiding from powerful entities because, as we learn, he has fallen for someone else he's not supposed to love and defied Heaven. Aziraphale's bookshop becomes a safe haven for persecuted beings, but Aziraphale himself doesn't feel safe about his own relationship.

Crowley finally feels safe enough, through his conversations with Maggie and Nina and through the example of Gabriel and Beelzebub, to speak his feelings and try to put a name to what exists between them that they've spent their existences pretending wasn't there. Aziraphale doesn't yet. He thinks he finds a solution with returning to Heaven, to literally go back into the organization that would have destroyed him for his relationship—literally enforced social conformity that nonetheless would be safe.

Although it is safer now, in 2023, to be openly queer than it was in 1941, it is still dangerous. There is still the threat hanging over people that how they are perceived will harm them, that the discovery of their relationships and their identities will be used against them, even by those who seem to be innocent or their friends. It's as much about fear as anything else. Crowley and Aziraphale cannot be together openly in part because they are still afraid of what could happen to them if they are. They not only know what Heaven and Hell can do to them, but what was done to queer people over the course of centuries. They were there.

[sarucane]

Glorious Good Omens S2 Missable Details

I watched Good Omens S2 roughly 507 times the last few weeks (been a rough month, it kept me afloat and I'm eternally grateful), point being:

Tumblr Reader, please benefit from my wild-obsession and read on for good deep-cut bits to pay attention to on your next rewatch:

Episode 1

-Crowley has a very slightly different accent in the opening scene. It's a bit more "proper" and "angelic."

-Maggie's shop is called "The Small Back Room," and she tells Nina it started out as a corner of Aziraphale's bookshop...one of his back rooms.

-Crowley's newspaper says that voters named Tadfield the best village in England--and that the weather there remains perfect.

Episode 2

-There are crows visible and audible in the background riiiight after Crowley "smites" the goats.

-"Jim's" bendy-fan book is a Terry Pratchett's first Discworld novel "The Colour of Magic"

-Someone wrote the whole article! Apparently business at "The Resurrectionist" slowed down when "Everyday" got old, but now people are showing up just to witness the miracle.

-The fellow at the pub who Aziraphale miracles out of a chair has a newspaper that mentions Milton Keynes. Most of the article is out of focus, but Milton Keynes is a city that, in the book, both Crowley and Aziraphale took credit for.

-Job, when introduced, is leaning against a pile of steaming manure. I'm aware that I'm an idiot for not noticing this right away...

Episode 3

-Jim is using a mug that Aziraphale had in the first season. Either he or Aziraphale has added the label in the interim.

-Muriel doesn't say "cup of tea," she says "cuppatea," because she didn't properly hear what Aziraphale said.

-At some unshown point, Crowley takes over body-hauling duties for Elspeth

-Beezlebub hauls their chair horn-ed chair around to 2-3 rooms over the whole season--and is also, on reflection, clearly quite worried about Gabriel here and in episode 1.

-Aziraphale finds the surgeon's whiskey to be a step too far, smell-wise.

-Laudanum courtesy of Cut-me-own-throat-Dibbler. It's a miracle the thing had any effect on Crowley, it was probably mostly rat urine and even more questionably sourced water.

-When Crowley tells Elpeth to leave just before she exits stage left, he calls her "hen," which is what Wee Morag almost always called her.

Episode 4

-Mark Gatiss's (Nazi Male Sidekick) arm is falling off half the time because he's the one who was holding the books that Crowley demonically saved. The nazi's arm was sticking out of the rubble, holding the suitcase, to make it easy to retrieve the books. Hence it got tugged by both Crowley and the scavengers, and fell off by the end of the episode. Serves the book-thief right.

-The Nazi Zombies hang in the Dirty Donkey to spy on the fellas in the bookshop--the same pub Crowley and Aziraphale visit in E2, and the pub that the heaven elevator commanders in E4 and E5

-Aziraphale gets nervous and seems to jump to the end of his act when he asks the audience who has experience with firearms. He hasn't told Crowley that this will be the cue. So, quite reasonably, Crowley does not raise his hand when asked if he has experience with firearms.

-Listen to the credits all the way through to the end of the music here: the audio changes. I don't know music well enough to know what happened, but it's fun.

Episode 5

-The owner of "Marguerite's," the French restaurant, is in fact named Justine. When she goes into Aziraphale's shop for the ball/business meeting, her accent has changed completely.

-All the candles we see on the chandeliers, as well as the candles in the next episode, are battery-operated.

-Nina's the only one this season who gets to drop the f-bomb.

-Mrs. Sandwich and the whole sequence. Google Discworld+seamstress guild if you don't get it.

-The music shop owner took the Doctor Who manual with him when he fled the demons.

Episode 6

-When Crowley changes his clothes to look angelic, the only thing he's wearing that's ACTUALLY white are his hilariously dumbass white slippers.

-The box that Gabriel came with is now storing a bunch of books, pamphlets, and papers. Two of these are the lost Shakespeare plays mentioned in the original Good Omens novel: Golde Diggers of 1589 and The Comedie of Robin Hoode.

-Gabriel's first 2 memories appear after he goes down an orange-red tunnel. But after he and Beezlebub have their first "background" meeting, the tunnel becomes blue. The whole thing ends (after bookending, Crowley says "let there be light" in the first episode and Gabriel says it in this one) with Gabriel's eyes turning purple...blue+red.

-Background acting appreciation: 1) look at Gabriel when Beelzebub says Shax could be Grand Duke of Hell, 2) look at Aziraphale in the corner when Crowley talks to Shax about his apartment, he's nodding vaguely while staring dreamily and it's adorable, 3) also rewind and check out Martin Sheen in episode 2 when the angels come to the shop, he's in the background being terrified and it's amazing

-...I can't resist: based on episodes S01E06 and S02E06, one way or another this'll end with nightingale song

[34to42]

I am so excited/nervous/scared for season 2 of this awesome show that I figured it might be fun to write out what I hope DOESN’T happen once the show comes back as Netflix historically doesn’t have a great track record with second seasons of their original shows.

- Peter dies at the end of the season. I know this is what Gabriel Basso mentioned he sees as a future for the character in an interview, but I really, really, really hope they give Peter a happier ending

- Rose is in only one or two episodes. I desperately need to see them interacting more than this

- Peter has some sort of romantic interaction with a fellow Night Agent or specifically with whichever character Brittany Snow is playing. Absolutely NOTHING against Brittany Snow as an actress but I really liked that Rose is played by a woman of colour and would love to see her remain as the main and only romantic interest

- A few of the character descriptions released on Instagram indicate a storyline involving the Iranian embassy and I just really hope anything they show regarding this isn’t horribly racist

- the character of President Travers being replaced by a male actor. It was refreshing to see Travers be a female president and I would love if they continued with that

- For the show to forget storylines started in season 1 that are still unfinished, such as Jim’s article, Farr being arrested, and Wick still be being in the wind

Would love to hear what you are or aren’t looking for in season 2!

[trashboatprince]

So, here's some stuff I have for the sea monster wives au:

-Aziraphale comes from a rich family of merchants and business owners. She herself owns and runs a bookshop in the small island town of Tadfield, where the citizens know she won't sell books. She does repair them though, so she can make a living without having to rely on her family. She lives above the shop because she refuses to live at the estate, but will visit because she feels she has to.

-Aziraphale is a bit of an outsider with the family. She wears dresses and skirts, but is often seen dressed in men's clothing while she works because she prefers it that way. Always sports a tartan bowtie, no matter the outfit.

-Visits the beach often, and goes to a secluded spot that is hard to access. This is where Crowley lives.

-Aziraphale is a lesbian and knows what she's all about, but refuses to bring it up with her family.

-She has older brothers and she's the only daughter, and the youngest. Gabriel James and his twin brother James Gabriel (who goes by Jim) are the eldest and mainly run the businesses, Michael is a military officer. Jim is the only family member Aziraphale likes. The rest of the family are cousins that live in the home.

-Crowley is an ancient creature from the Mediterranean Sea. She used to be in a pod with other creatures like her, but she never was on the best of terms with them. She went along with them as far as she could, which wasn't far. She was never into the whole 'drown sailors to eat them' thing, humans are disgusting and full of diseases.

-She is fascinated by humans in a scientific setting, so she has... experimented on remains, to see how humans work. She doesn't understand any of it, but she's curious.

-She was forcefully removed from her home months before meeting Aziraphale by the gods, and cannot swim back to her home waters. Any time she tries, the waters fling her far away.

-She swam around for ages in the Atlantic before being pulled towards the north, where the waters are colder and not meant for her kind, but she's stuck. She is forced into exile here.

-Crowley was injured when arriving near the shores of Eastgate Isle, having been captured by fishermen and was slashed in the back by one upon her escape during a storm. There is a massive scar going from her right shoulder down to her left hip.

-Crowley washed up on the shore of the island and had been occupying it since. She lives in a small cove and comes out to sunbathe and hunt for food, but mainly stays hidden. Until an angel shows up.

-Crowley can change forms. She has her normal form, where she's coated in black and red scales, is clawed, and is much more dangerous. Her second form makes hers appear a bit more like a typical mermaid, if a mermaid had the tail similar to a sea snake's. Her third form is a human form, but she gets that when drawing blood from a human who willingly offers it to her, or at least that's how it works for her nowadays, as she can't forced a human to offer it like she could in her home waters.

-She can speak languages if she 'steals' from people. She can learn every language a human speaks if she drains the life from them through their mouth and keeps those languages for ages. Or she can learn the main tongue of a human by kissing them and gaining words from each kiss. This is how she learns English from Aziraphale, as she mainly speaks her natural language and a few of the languages from her home waters.

-She also just really, really likes Aziraphale, so kissing her to learn to speak with her is a lot more fun this way.

-She fell in love with Aziraphale at first sight, but kept a distance for ages until she felt that she could approach. It resulted in Aziraphale passing out. Better than her screaming, at least.

-Aziraphale took a while to warm up to Crowley, but there was something there from the start. Probably doesn't help that Crowley is really pretty to look at, and actually wants to listen to Aziraphale talk and read books aloud.

-A major plot point I have is that Gabriel wants to marry Aziraphale off, as she is the only daughter and really, a young lady shouldn't be running a shop all by herself.

-Crowley takes on her human form to keep Aziraphale from being married off to someone, she will not let someone take her mate away from her. Which results in Aziraphale having to help Crowley blend in with humans, which isn't... easy. At all. How do you teach an ancient sea monster who hasn't walked on land in centuries proper Victorian behavior?

-Look, part of me is really, really tempted to have the 'I'm just so angry! Ten!' scene from season two, but with a slightly-feral Crowley doing this in the middle of the town street, in front of people, and fucking pulling a whole 'ancient god' move with the lightening. And then just stomps off, like the weird redheaded mystery friend of Ms. Fell did not just get struck by a bolt of fucking lightening on a clear and sunny day.

-Oh, and Crowley absolutely hates clothing, so the less layers the better. Which is not proper in public. Proper in the bookshop, when it's just her and her angel, but not with everyone looking!

-Crowley also goes by they/them, because sea monsters don't give a shit about gender that much. She/her is used more often because that's what humans just assume.

[chibiseakraken]

I'm just going to put this here, in the collection of Good Omens related Powell/Pressburger references

The Boy Who Turned Yellow (1972)

Part 1 | Part 2

Editing this post (Part 1 now) to add what I'd call an epiphany...

In this movie a boy loses his pet mouse, has a dream during a lesson about electricity, falls asleep, experiences a flash like lightning and his train and the passengers turn yellow. With the help of this electric guy named Nick, he saves his pet mouse. At least that is what it says on Letterboxd. (I watched some of it on youtube.) It's a psychedelic 1970s kids movie.

It has a few elements in common with season 2. That odd lightning strike Crowley sent off when he got really angry for one. I'm sure there is a reason the strike happened, I have ideas... But not related to this movie. But, it is pretty interesting that it happened nonetheless. It does seem significant and reminiscent of this movie if we are talking about P&P references.

The lost pet mouse in London, or rather in the tower of London. Who do we know that recently got lost in London? I mean others were looking for Gabriel Jim not our protagonists, but he is a bit like a lost mouse, isn't he? And, A & C aren't sure where Gabriel went while Jim remains.

The Bentley turning yellow. This happens at an odd point where I have seen other meta point out the animated hills are also a reference to another P&P movie. If you watch the scene above about The Boy Who Turned Yellow, the ambience is similar in this scene in GO in that it's cartoonish, cute, and kid like. Plus, Aziraphale's hair and outfit are already kind of yellow.

Anyway, the train and clothing are turning yellow... Like the Bentley. It was all yellow, like the Coldplay song. Also, those lyrics. Ooof. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[thingsisayinmyhead]

Thoughts about Good Omens 2 Episode 5

Here we go. Spoilers under "Keep Reading" link.

Okay - now that the mini-sodes are out of the way - we move on with the main plot. I think this episode was my favorite so far (Or at least tied with the Job part in episode 2.) I thought the scenes in hell were so visually stunning. I loved the retro-yet-creepy-looking tech, the empty warehouse where Shax prepares her troops for battle (the empty spaced out chairs feel influenced by the pandemic).

Eric (the bunny-rabbit-looking demon) totally deserved what he got. If you've even been in a meeting or teaching a class and had that one person constantly interrupting you and disrupting your flow - you know just how Shax feels. I can also see why people are shipping Eric and Muriel despite the fact that they've never met - they both play similar functions - the timid voice of reason.

I have to rewatch Nina's confrontation with Crowley. What was it she said - something about other people relationships always feel simpler than our own? Feeds into my brand new headcannon that Aziraphale has actually been conducting the world's slowest seduction and Crowley remains oblivious.

I love it when Crowley gets all protective (apparently so does Aziraphale). His confrontation with Jim feels pivotal - first of all, he just spilled the beans on the body-swap, but also he seems to accept that Jim is not the Gabriel he knew. Crowley does also not have middle-of-the-road emotions. He went from "kill yourself" to "have a hot cocoa" in about 2 seconds.

I can't begin to describe how BADLY I WANT TO GO TO THAT PARTY in the bookshop! Oh man. I would give 20 years of my life to attend that party. Aziraphale is high as a kite here. I have a new headcannon - not only can Aziraphale sense love, it gives him a buzz. He can feel all of his neighbors love for each other, for the neighborhood, for their businesses and he is just riding that wave! I think he was a millisecond away from confessing his love for Crowley before the demon army interrupted.

Jon Hamm is having was too much fun playing Jim the assistant bookseller. One of my favorite moments was Jim bursting out of the bookshop in full Elton-John regalia "Here I am!"

I need to rewatch the scene where Crowley confronts the demon "legion". I didn't catch all the dialogue. Apparently demons are forbidden form directly harming humans but have some loophole(?). Also, I think Crowley totally bluffed them out by spouting some bogus regulations.

Awwww - Maggie stayed to help Aziraphale and Nina stayed with Maggie. So sweet.

Aziraphale: "I have a plan, but coming to my rescue makes him so happy." Fess up Aziraphale - have you been deliberately getting yourself into scrapes for 6000 years just to give Crowley a chance to rescue you? You naughty Angel!

What is Crowley's plan here? He actually seems to be improvising - he sees Muriel and gets her to "arrest" him- is he hoping to get heaven to help? Or is he hoping to get an army of angels chase him down and get in a battle with all the demons?

Guess I'll find out when I watch episode 6. I almost don't want to because then I won't have any more Good Omens to watch for a long time. :(

[adiarosefandoms]

Good Omens Season 2: Part 2/6

Spoiler Warning for what’s to come ahead. This post is coming from a pile of quickly scribbled down notes during my watch, which was filled with much laughter, gaping, and tears, so brevity and clear communication are not guaranteed as you proceed.

Episode Two: The Clue

This was a great episode, with just enough of both past and present mixed into it. That being said, apparently the very first note I wrote for this episode was “What the hell is that haircut and beard thing Crowley has going on?”, and in all fairness... to me, it looked like Jerry Garcia mixed with Sebastian Bach plus a mini Billy Gillins beard. Aziraphale’s “Women’s Rights” moment with “does she want to birth four more?”, means this being had a better grasp on individual rights 6,000 years ago than we do now. And it shows us just another moment of him questioning God’s plans WITHOUT Crowley’s influence. I still can’t believe Aziraphale actually let Gabriel handle his books, but the various noises the angel made while moving around made me laugh out loud. Plus, then he brought Buddy Holly into the mix! I cannot remember a time I was so excited to hear a song in a tv show. Aziraphale muttering “this is why I don’t go out”, after the shop-owner organizer person talked to him and tried to rope him into a social occasion was peak introvert behavior, certainly something we’ve all done before.  “Get humans wet and staring into each other’s eyes” is a line that actually came out of Crowley’s mouth, and seeing the way the angel and demon both tell the ways they think humans fall in love definitely spawned a thousand fics with an insight to how they view love. Crowley’s was just the two lovers in the rain (think season one garden of Eden), and Aziraphale’s being a Jane Austen-esque ball was so fitting. Also, I get that Crowley taking off his glasses and approaching Jim with a stern voice was probably just a tactic of intimidation given his snake-like eyes, but it still feels to me like compelling or hypnotizing. It’s actually a myth that snakes can hypnotize their prey, but I still want there to be a headcanon out there. Aziraphale saying “I knew the angel you were” and finding out Crowley turned the goats into birds was a major turning point, especially in regard to Aziraphale’s end of the relationship. It was a real moment of him going “oh yes, I wasn’t wrong about him. He’s no longer an angel, but perhaps he has more good in him than the other angels do.” That smug little “Well...” he lets out after is also just perfect. Then when Crowley starts spreading about the fire, Zira is so sure that he won’t cause them any harm, calling Crowley’s bluff even as he admits to the kids that he can’t do anything. “I ca... I can’t you see. He has a permit.” I love the little girl of the trio! She’s so cute, as is the the little “oh” Zira lets out as she proudly shows the pot she had made and Crowley’s raised eyebrows. Then when Crowley lets her remain human because she “hadn’t annoyed me yet”, she actually wants to be a blue lizard, so he turns her into one. It’s the cutest thing ever. We find out in this episode that Aziraphale first tastes food after Crowley tempts him, which is no big surprise but a piece of knowledge we can now confirm as canon. We also get this moment when Jobe is talking with God, not getting answers but able to ask the questions, and we see it twist a knife into Crowley a bit. Jobe remained God’s favorite human, Crowley was cast off into hell for the very same act. I haven’t the faintest how Crowley and Aziraphale kept The Arrangement going and secret for as long as they did given how shitty they are at lying. I mean, “Huzzah! My two passions! Shoes and birth! A midwife and cobbler!” How were you two not killed ages ago? Also, does this mean that Gabriel and the angels as a whole don’t know about sex given they don’t know about birth? Aziraphale lying to protect Crowley, giving his word as an angel, was perfect. Crowley did some good here, Aziraphale did some bad. The Arrangement rang true. And let us not forget Crowley staying to rush in as the cobbler/midwife to save Aziraphale’s ass. I can never tell if I like the flashbacks or present more with these two. I mean, the best episode of season one was the “through the years” montage of the two of them that might as have just been playing Time of Our Lives the whole run, but then you get moments like the following scene: “Our car.” “We don’t have a car.” “Of course we do.” “This is my car.” “The same way my bookshop is ‘technically’ my shop. We both get plenty of use out of it.” Which is just so utterly familiar and couple-y that it warms your heart. If you, like me, were tearing up when Aziraphale cried in this episode, you were also unprepared for what was to come four episodes later, and I sympathize. The final point of this episode that I would like to highlight, is the parallel’s expressed between the two of them. When talking about sides in the basement of Jobe’s house, Crowley remarks that he is on hells side... as much as he can be. This is a phrase he repeats to Aziraphale later on in the episode after Zira sins by giving his word as an angel and questions if he’s a demon, only for Crowley to say, “you’re just an angel, who goes along with heaven as much as he can.” Then Crowley confirming that it is a lonely existence when he denied it earlier (when Zira asked), saying that he lied, only makes what’s to come that much more heart wrenching.