Good Omens: The (not) Nice and (in)Accurate PhantasProphecies of EverydayClumsy, definitely not a witch
A one sided debate using series!canon about Crowley (Demon) and Aziraphale (Angel), and their place in the world after the Apocalypse-that-wasn’t. (SPOILERS AHEAD!)
Hello good Tumblr-people. It is me, a someone you probably don’t know, that hasn’t used tumblr in a few years.
I recently came to watch the fantastic Series ‘Good Omens’ which you can find on Amazon Prime (and also probably on dozens of illegal movie-sharing websites, tho don’t use those, it’s illegal). And like all slightly obsessive people, I read the book afterwards, and the script book… and the TV guide. Naturally I also followed the fandom on instagram (there are some great folks there), and fell once again into the trap of wanting to read every analysis of the story that has come up so far!
But differently than usual I also have something to contribute, and @ohlordhealthisbike on instagram (and @berrybanana-arts here) encouraged me to make an actual Tumblr post about it and I thought to myself, “Well, why not? I have some time to kill and I could do worse things.”
So here we are!
Let’s start then.
Aziraphale tries to be a devoted Angel, but we know he isn’t succeeding 100%. We know he has doubts (that’s more book!canon but Michael Sheen is a very good actor and can portray doubt convincingly), and if he were an Angel that is 100% devoted to God and his Righteousness than there would also be no Agreement.
The same goes for Crowley. The thing with him is though, that he doesn't even try to be really evil. He’s as evil as a redwave of traffic lights when you have to go quickly somewhere. Inconvenient sure, but not the worst thing that could happen.
These things make them both not wholly who they are supposed to be. But it does show one thing.
Together they personify all the Vices and Virtues!
Let us look at the big four first (definitions are from wiki):
The Cardinal Virtues
Prudence: the ability to discern the appropriate course of action to be taken in a given situation at the appropriate time
That’s Aziraphale with giving away his sword to Adam & Eve
That’s Aziraphale with not wanting to run off to Alpha Centauri because he has to do something to save the world
Courage: also termed fortitude, forbearance, strength, endurance, and the ability to confront fear, uncertainty, and intimidation
That’s both of them throughout the whole series, I don’t think it needs special mention
Temperance: also known as restraint, the practice of self-control, abstention, discretion, and moderation tempering the appetition
That’s Aziraphale with the critical hit line, that drained us all to 1% HP “You go too fast for me, Crowley.”
That’s Crowley indulging Aziraphale throughout the series but holding back himself
Justice: also considered as fairness, the most extensive and most important virtue; the Greek word also having the meaning righteousness
Crowley’s indignation about Adam & Eve being kicked out of the Garden of Eden
Crowley’s “Not the kids? You can’t kill kids.”
Then there are the Seven Virtues and the Seven Capital Sins (or The Capital Vices and Corrective Virtues) (also from wiki):
Chastity & Lust
Chasity would be Aziraphale being who he is, and Lust could be Crowley (though there could be a good point made about Aziraphale and Lust, because of the Gavotte) - This is more fanon that canon though
Temperance
when Crowley, even if it would be more evil of him and in his “nature”, doesn't let anyone die during the paintball bit
Gluttony
Aziraphale and Gluttony are best buds, not questions asked
If they would be human, they would be certified alcoholics
Charity
feeding the ducks, even if they don’t have to
giving Anathema a lift
Greed
Aziraphale taking Anathemas book
Diligence
Trying to prevent the War of all Wars
not chucking the Antichrist into a ditch
Trying to contact God, because it’s the Right thing to do
Sloth
Sleeping when you don’t need to
Patience
Spending 11 years raising a kid even if you feel like he’s not the right kid, just on the chance that he might be
Wrath
“Grow better!”
That whole scene in the burning bookshop
Kindness
making Hamlet popular
the books in the church
Envy
Ah, that’s the one I don’t really have anything for.
Humility
“I’m soft”
“I only ever asked questions.”
Pride
“[...]Godfathers. Well, I’ll be damned.”
“It’s nice to have someone who recognises our part in saving the . . .”
Now, you are probably wondering what all this conjecture is supposed to mean.
What I’m trying to say/prove here is that Aziraphale and Crowley are no longer fully an Angel and Demon but something different. So it makes absolute sense that they have their own side now.
They are, in my opinion (as the whole post has been), more like the Guardians of Humanity and their Vices and Virtues that they express so freely.
One could say, they’ve become Humanities Godfathers. Wholly outside of Heaven and Hell but still under God.
