Ok, I like how you’re thinking, but I’m worried this involves too much fine division of which headcanons/metas/etc entered when—I’ve already seen some confusion/debate around small canon details, and it won’t be very useful for new members of the fandom who don’t know what came in where. So to simplify a bit what about:
Good Omens Classic: compatible with any version of the original story (Eden-6000 years-baby swap-Armageddidn’t). May contain S1 content (body swap, Rome, etc) but should be tagged if a significant element.
Good Omens Reverb: incorporates elements of S2 and S3 particularly characters and locations (Muriel, Edinburgh, Job, Supreme Archangel Aziraphale) but also including metas and speculation—but NOT specifically about the events of the season. Human or divergent AUs go here. Ideally, these would still be understandable to someone who avoided the seasons.
S2 Compliant or S3 Compliant: matches canon through the end of the named season, including favorable views of the ending.
S2 Defiant or S3 Defiant: Largely follows or parallels the season in question but rejects/is hostile to key elements, ESPECIALLY the Final Fifteen (S2) or the ending (S3). Fix-its and majorly divergent AUs go here.
S2 Reimagined or S3 Reimagined: Takes the whole season (or specific parts) back to first principles and tries again. Especially for cases where meta/headcanons/speculation play a far bigger role than actual canon.
So if I’m starting a new fic, how does it handle season 3? (Or 2 same rules)
Ignores it: Good Omens Classic
Uses some elements but doesn’t address it: Good Omens Reverb
Accepts and builds on it: S3 Compliant
Rejects and fixes it: S3 Defiant
Throws it out and does my own finding Jesus story: S3 Reimagined
Please feel free to continue workshopping this! ❤️
Had to scroll back and figure out who suggested which parts so apologies if I missed anyone!
@mooredanxieties for Reverb and the general ideas
@jumpinglove for mentioning the confusion between fics that fix or ignore S3
@siriosa and @oldstoneface for S3 defiant!
(Also, tag scenes or characters from canon that play a major role regardless! AO3 already has separate New Universe and Anthony/Asa tags so use them as well!)
prguitarman
titsay
jbbartram-illu
gummygunk
andulkaphoto
vaporwave
