(CW: Neil Gaiman mention.)
It seems that GO 3 co-writer Michael Marshall Smith has just published an article on Substack (a conversation with horror writer Lisa Morton) in which his work on Good Omens was mentioned.
The full article does not directly relate to Good Omens, but Morton asked MMS at one point about writing for/condensing the finale, and this was his response:
It is now abundantly clear that we (the audience/fans) were deliberately misled about Neil's involvement with the finale in terms of what happened following his "removal" from the project after the allegations against him came out.
MMS states above that all of them (he, NG, and Peter Atkins) have known each other for 30 years, and we know they have worked together previously. So despite Neil being "firewalled" (a turn of phrase that frames NG as a victim of the situation and seems entirely dismissive given the circumstances that led to his removal in the first place) from the production, it is more than reasonable to believe that his interests and what he wanted to have happen were being represented by these writers.
I'm particularly galled by the sentence above, "It was seeking--against a strong headwind--closure for beloved characters." Because Aziraphale and Crowley are beloved queer characters, and yet three straight men set to work removing every scrap of visible affection from them, acting as if the chemistry and attraction between them never existed, and denying them any chance at meaningful communication.
I can also think of nothing that embodies stunted emotional development more than deciding that "Better to erase all of history and everyone in it than to talk about our feelings" is an optimal form of closure. The question then becomes, closure for whom, exactly? This is something MMS conveniently left out of the article above, as his comments sharply contradict the sentiments coming from so much of the fandom. So if it wasn't closure for the characters (I'd say not) and if it wasn't closure for the fans (which it sure as hell wasn't), then who was it for?
Because here we are all, two months later, still trying to reckon with what we were given. Still trying to work our way through confusion, disappointment, through an ocean of duplicitous double-talk and seeking--against a strong headwind--some scrap of understanding about both everything that we saw on screen and what we were told by those in the know.
Yet the one thing I understand more now is that this finale was never for us, or for Michael and David, or anyone who was so invested in Aziraphale and Crowley. And what closure we have been left to find will not ever come from the finale writers. It has to come from ourselves...
S3 essentially says that the s1, the main and best one, based on the original book, has no meaning.
Ask yourself, why s1, just like the book, begins with God saying: “To understand the true nature of what is happening, we need to go back to the beginning. Namely, to the garden. In this case, the Garden of Eden”?
Because in that scene, humans discover free will, and along with it, they hold the flaming sword in their hands for the first time, the same sword that will later be in the hands of War.
Free will. That is the true essence of everything that is happening, at least in the book and s1.
And now Crowley suddenly wants “free will to be the real thing”???
BookAziraphael would have let Crowley die in a ditch, SeriesAziraphael cares about Crowley a bit more.
I beg to differ
Book Aziraphale might give bastard-ish vibes, he is still an angel, and he still cares about his (best)friend/unofficial husband
Best exemple I have right now is this moment in the book :
At some point Warlock gets a hold of a gun and Aziraphale's first reaction is to perform a last minute miracle to turns the gun into a harmless water gun
And the water hits Crowley. Warlock was aiming the gun at Crowley, who was distracted with looking for the hellhound.
And then Az is hit by a cream pie
He wasn't even paying attention to his own surroundings, because he had to make sure Crowley didn’t get discorporated FIRST
This is probably the most obvious instinctively attentive and caring thing that Aziraphale did for Crowley in the book
I have been getting several... "Show is better" comments on my art (2 in one day actually??).
This one upset me the most
It makes me so sad that because Book Omens aren't explicitly showing their love, or acting like ShowOmens's bumbling teenagers going through forbidden love arc, there are people saying they are "less warm", "the show is another level" on my BOOK OMENS ART of all places. (On Facebook, not here)
First of all, the show being better? The book didn't kill everyone off and AziCrow didn't die. AziCrow in the Show didn't even say a proper Goodbye before they got erased. They had awkward smiles and finger kiss. Not even a hug. Where's the warmth?
Second of all, Book Omens are like gay old men who are so comfortable with each other that they don't even need to run around saying "I love you" or kissing to understand that they care and love each other. Think those old ladies living together with cats that you are so sure are a couple but you have no proof. That's Book Omens.
To me, Book Omens feel more... mature. More fitting for actual 6000 years in love beings.
By the way, if anyone didn't need a kiss, it's Book Omens. Not Show Omens.
Anyway, made me sad so I looked at the book again. Here are some things I like from the Book about their characters:
Aziraphale didn't let Crowley get fined for speeding. He blushes!
Aziraphale casually eating from Crowley's plate lol
Crowley checking on his angel's wellness XDDDDDDD
Arm grabbing! (not that you don't have this in the show I just love it)
Aziraphale already is aware that Heaven aren't better than Hell. He didn't have the struggles of ShowAzi because the two of them have had these discussions long before mordern time. Both of them have had conversations about their "company policy" long ago.
Even the gun moral argument thing wasn't Azi's thought. It was "current thinking". Not his personal belief.
Aziraphale knows heaven's propaganda is bullshit. He just go along as far as he can.
Look, the wall slam was hot or whatever. I know. But for me, it was unnecessary. They are so cute just talking. I felt the wall slam was a bit too aggressive for my taste. Just preferences.
I love how Crowley learned to control his mischief when he's with Aziraphale. LOL
HE FEELS ALONE. MY POOR SNEK.
This one is enough said. People analyised it to death already.
The implication that Crowley often spent time around Aziraphale until he's hinted that he should leave. lol
This moment alone melts my heart:
They thought they were going to die together here. And this is how they were saying Good bye.
BookAziraphael would have let Crowley die in a ditch, SeriesAziraphael cares about Crowley a bit more.
I beg to differ
Book Aziraphale might give bastard-ish vibes, he is still an angel, and he still cares about his (best)friend/unofficial husband
Best exemple I have right now is this moment in the book :
At some point Warlock gets a hold of a gun and Aziraphale's first reaction is to perform a last minute miracle to turns the gun into a harmless water gun
And the water hits Crowley. Warlock was aiming the gun at Crowley, who was distracted with looking for the hellhound.
And then Az is hit by a cream pie
He wasn't even paying attention to his own surroundings, because he had to make sure Crowley didn’t get discorporated FIRST
This is probably the most obvious instinctively attentive and caring thing that Aziraphale did for Crowley in the book
Imagine looking at this sweet, brave baby and thinking "Ah, yes, he deserves to be belittled and insulted repeatedly, treated like the villain for *checks notes* enjoying earthly pleasures and trying to make things better and save the universe and make Heaven and Hell stop treating people like shit, and not get the happily ever after he's dreamed of for so long."
Imagine looking into his round pookie sunshine face and his bright eyes and being mean to him.
Good omens 3 killed the main human characteristic of Crowley and Aziraphale: selfishness
You can’t convince me that mr “let’s go off to Alpha Centauri” isn’t selfish, he wants what’s best for him and Aziraphale , sure he is amused by humans and loves worldly things but ultimately he can totally sacrifice everything for Aziraphale and him to be together.
Aziraphale on the other hand is selfish as well: he keeps Maggie’s shops “alive” by forgiving her the rent because he wants to have his records, he cannot bring himself to sell ONE book.
I loved them being selfish just like humans would, why kill this part of them and make them saints?!
" Angel! " I called out, I can't deny that my voice was..harsh. not that I wanted it to be that way- I didn't want it to be that sharp hiss it was when I called for him. " Yes Crowley? " My head snapped to his direction as soon as he replied. I strode to him, footsteps heavy and purposeful. " You turned my car YELLOW?! " I roared in irritation. Aziraphale sat down simply, fixing his white reading glasses..which made him..somewhat more adorable than he already is.
" It's our car, Crowley " Aziraphale replied simply. I felt my hands bawl into fists of frustration. My pupils constricted sharper then usual. " It is NOT! " I rebuttled. Though the way Aziraphale was so calm and collected as I shouted made me falter more than I'd want to admit. " We share my bookshop, we can share your car. " Aziraphale said with a small but visibly sly smile. I was sheathing in anger now.
" I didn't chose to share this bookshop with you! I-I don't even own it! " I tried to argue but my excuses were weak. When I was going to talk again..Aziraphale interrupted me. " You have a key. " Aziraphale said simply, peeking up at me through his glasses. 'Damn you angel.. ' I thought to myself. I paced around the bookshop, More angry now.
" Just change it back, Angel! " I exclaimed, I hated how pleading my voice was. Aziraphale sighed to himself, setting his book down on his lap. "I will change it back, Crowley. " he said with a soft voice. I stopped dead in my tracks. While pretending to be composed I fixed my suit. Clearing my throat. " Thank you.. " I said, voice still holding a tremor. Aziraphale smiled to himself.
" Come here, my dear snake " aziraphale gestured to the floor beside him. My snake eyes widened slightly at the endearment. Cheeks flushing a soft hue of pink. I walked over to Aziraphale, dropping before him. Back against the chair leg as Aziraphales leg was on the other side of me.. suddenly I felt a tingling sensation. It made me flare. It was Aziraphales hand in my hair..
He threaded his fingers through it, scratching my scalp with gentle fingertips. I felt my eyes flutter slowly as I leaned into the touch. My head fell to the side on his lap. A small content hiss leaving my mouth. My angel truly knows how to calm me..
Not to prattle on or anything, but it does strike me as odd that the more traditionally, “feminine,” lead in Good Omens is the one who is stripped of a great deal of agency towards the end, and constantly reminded of the fact that his choice to try and save humanity by changing what he perceived to be the most powerful force in the universe from the inside was foolish and naive.
Naive? Perhaps, but not without reason.
I will never stop being angry about the fact that they make show-Aziraphale “stupid,” towards the end (s2 and 3). He’s hardly a character at all - moreso a vessel for Crowley’s angst. What a waste of a perfectly interesting character - two perfectly interesting characters, Flanderised almost beyond recognition.
Soft does not mean stupid, or helpless, or weak. Soft just means… soft.
oh, but imagine if your tumblr dash was now flooded with gifs and pictures of aziracrow hugging and kissing and saying 'i love you'. imagine if you could replay that moment when they hugged so tightly and grin widely, kicking your feet all giddy and happy
what if everyone was comforted by the finale? if there was no fight over who is in the right, just as we were all united in pain after s2? if everyone was happy, including them and including us? if that 90 minutes gave us what we were hoping for? if the finale wasnt so cold and heartless and instead loving and tender? if they actually ended up in their south downs cottage and there were nightingales and we would actually see it and they would be free and happy and-
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