What would it have been like to be on the GO3 writing team? How would I think it through?
I'm trying to picture what it would have been like to be on the GO3 writing team. Given the 90 minute constraints, and whatever they inherited from NG, and whatever "terry would've wanted x" they had in the back of their head... I do appreciate it's a lot of pressure.
But, stepping back from that pressure, I'm trying to think how I would approach it as a writer. Here's what I'd do.
FIRST: I'd look at what's come before. What did s1 and s2 set up, in terms of plot, character arcs and emotions?
SECOND: I'd write a list of all the strands of the above that need paying off in the finale. If the first two seasons are an unresolved chord, what's the musical resolution?
THIRD: I'd think of some cool set pieces, because I love a cool set piece, eg Crowley's fall. They did a swing and a miss with the war in heaven scene. I'm MUCH more interested in how it started than the aftermath. When thinking about drama, I need to think: what's the most exciting part of the story to enter? What's the part that will create the most tension that needs resolving over the next 90 minutes?
FOURTH: I'd think of symmetry and shape - how does s3 balance out s1, and how does it follow from s2 in a three act structure? How does the Ritz scene in s1 balance the final 15 of s2 and whatever comes in s3?
FIVE: This is a comedy, at heart, at least to me. I'd think, not just what's the most emotionally satisfying resolution....also, what's the funniest, cleverest resolution? What's the most delightful, even if there's sadness and difficulty before the delight?
SIX: I'd delve deeper into the characters - Aziraphale and Crowley of course, but then also thinking about who are my other key characters. What are THEIR arcs?
SEVEN: I'd think about the theology and ethics of it all. Throughout the first two series, we've seen big discussions about free will, the ineffable plan vs the great plan, the role of heaven and hell vs humanity. The role of prophecy/destiny vs improvisation/free will. What is the ethical core of this show? Where do the debates, from Crowley complaining about the Noah situation killing kids to the resurrectionists and Job. What is the role of Crowley Asking Questions vs Aziraphale trying to argue why the answer is "God is good, actually".
EIGHT: I'd ask, "who do we NEED to see?" Which characters add to the story? If we're gonna have random gangsters, justify them!
NINE: Finally, what is the overall theme of all three seasons? What note do I want to leave everyone on? What kind of universe are we talking about here?
I'm thinking about writing a s3 fic at some point, so this is on my mind a lot. Including my final note to self while writing: don't fucking murder everyone in the universe then replace them with uncanny valley clones.
I don't think i'm ready to write it yet. But I think I need to, to purge the finale from my system.
I'm also thinking, what do I want to keep? SLORCH for one. Crowley's slutty heaven outfit that was definitely Aziraphale's miracle wish fulfilment. Hmm...what else would you keep? And what would you want to see in a finale that would satisfy YOU?
