GO 3
More than week ago we got the last bit, and it took me quite some time to figure out how I‘m feeling about it. The best way I can describe it is: empty.
First things first. It was absolutely a Gaiman thing. He did the same with the Sandman and I already hated it there. Not that I ain‘t pleased that the two found each other in the end. To me it was enough, to finally close that door.
Anyway I hate to admit it but I actually do understand why the fandom is so divided. It just took me a while to sort out the patterns because they got cut short and this added an undertone of confusion. But let me explain.
So the big theme of S3 is gambling. It picks up on god playing cards in the very beginning, like Crowley says, with the baby. And hints that she got a big gambling problem. We see it throughout the whole movie. Crowley loses his Bentley trough gambling. A game he’s forced into. Like the ineffable game they are all forced to join. The game Aziraphale plays, by bending the rules to his benefit. As he always does. And Jesus learning the card game that somehow is reminiscent of the game god plays at the birth of the antichrist. Just that Jesus felt like a character without a purpose here. All he does is getting lost.
Also at the very end Satan, the one god likes to take bets from (Job) appears for the last great game. He seems to be existing outside the book of live, as he wasn't burned with it. I can only guess here, as there isn't any hard evidence, but it seems to me, God liked to amuse themselves with the love story of our angle and demon. And maybe had a bet going on about it with Satan.
Somehow Crowley and Aziraphale manage to win. I think Crowley knew this was a game all along. As I see it, Crowley finally admits that he’s selfless, by picking humanity over his love (feels out of character though. What’s the whole point of trying to convince Azi to run away together all those times before?) while Aziraphale resists the temptation of Crowley, by giving in, and not kissing him directly. Even though, he was tested in many other ways.
Because I think that’s what the bet between god and satan was. That they would finally corrupt each other to selfishness. But they won and that’s why god had to pay. By allowing them to ask their questions.
There’s only one doubt I ponder over. Michael tossed the book of life into the fire. Crowley only was able to rescue the bookshop. Not their own pages. So why did both of them survive? Probably because it was gods will, to see how the game would end.
So yeah, that’s it. It’s done like he always does it. Placing something obvious somewhere everyone can see (best place to hide it, really) and build the details around it. Use some flawed divine entity that will ultimately destroy everything so something new can grow from it.
If you ask me, this is Gaiman's pattern. I don’t think he can actually write a true happy ending. How could he? Eventually your heart always shows on the page. And to me his speaks of a certain kind of hopelessness. The moral of it? We could have known. Never trust someone who’s disappointed you before.
There is one thing that really got to me in a negative way though. Could just be me, but when Azi mentions that Crowley is the real artist, I wanted to scream, because the wording was such, it immediately reminded me of the book: Art matters. And that Gaiman would place himself there, forcing his shit down our throats made me furious. To me it felt like he was placing himself into Crowley, while at the same time reminding us, that he's the god of this story. And yes, he is, and somehow that's his right, but also he didn't write this for the fans. At least it doesn't feel this way anymore.
It is hard for me to explain, but the whole, we erase Gaiman from this show and paint it as a Pratchett thing just doesn't work. And I feel sorry for the Crew who put so much love into it and tried to make it a good ending. Gaiman's name is written all over it. And yet, the hate from people doesn't reach him, but the poor director. It's always the women getting the hate, because he's too good a manipulator.
Here's an excerpt from my copy of GO (page 403) and if memory serves right, I heard this story in many different versions. But it was always hinted on Gaiman being the original owner. They made a fuss about how they were able to sound like each other, but honestly, Gaiman is nothing as funny as Pratchett. He's good at copying though. You'll especially see that if you go and read Tanith Lee's books.
The point is that many of the fan theories where more interesting thatn what we got in the end. And maybe that's owed to the massive build up of expectations and excitement. (Something similar happened with Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness). But honestly I didn't have too many expectations to this whole movie. Maybe that's why it didn't hit me as hard as it has others.
We are just lucky that we got David and Michael, who love those characters and fell in love with each other. They made it worthwhile. Because they were the ones who carried our love and hopes and I think people should treat the crew with respect for giving us some sort of closure. If you'd like to hate someone, give it to the person, who actually deserve it. And if you liked it, that's good for you.
