a slightly older fandom beef i have, which i think tbh is a pretty recent trend in gomens fic but, like, the last few years of book fandom recent rather than a Thing that blew up after the tv show so this is a much more lukewarm take, is i don’t get why people are into crowley forgetting heaven
i like the idea that he remembers it, that he remembers exactly why he made the choice to join the side he did and why he wanted to rebel in the first place and why, even after all that, he still trusts aziraphale in the garden. i’ll read stuff where he can’t remember, it’s chill, but i wish it got explored more
I’m right there with you. I like the idea that Crowley, and all the other demons tbh, remember heaven and remember how they ended up where they are. I feel like it provides more depth to the story on multiple levels.
On one hand, you’ve got God who is booting angels out of Heaven. If falling is meant to be punishment, then making those who fall forget both the grace of Heaven and why they fell seems pretty ineffective.
And then you’ve got demons on the other hand who are angry with Heaven and are wanting (and actively planning) to wage war. Sure, it could be argued that they’re mad that they were kicked out of heaven… but it just seems flimsy if that’s their only reason. But if they all remember their original motivations for rebelling, and are sticking to their guns in their judgement against Heaven, well that’s just great. The flames of that can be fanned by the bitterness of being kicked out of Heaven and forced to Hell for eternity.
And then there’s Crowley who has said that he only ever asked questions, that he hung around with the wrong people. And despite the fact that this got him kicked out of Heaven he never stopped asking questions. That just says so much about his character. And then he meets Aziraphale, who he takes a shine to immediately because in him he sees reflected that same doubt in the Almighty’s plan. Aziraphale is a kindred spirit, as much as Aziraphale may be loathe to admit it.
So aside from there being canon context clues implying that he remembers Heaven, I just really do think it adds so many more layers to the story when he remembers what was lost, and why he made the choices he made. And really, that’s what both Crowley and Good Omens as a whole are about - choices.
So give me a few seconds to ramble because it’s like 3 am.
But I like a kind of hybridization. Crowley remembers why they rebelled, but they don’t remember heaven. And it’s by their own choice. I imagine memories of heaven are rather painful (for lots of reason) and the choice to fall might have been an agonizing one. But they had to do it because they felt so strongly about this (usually that they should not love humanity above all else, though some I imagine fell for different reasons).
One of the important things to me is the Crowley chose to fall. I know he says that he hung around the wrong people & everything- but in the end, God doesn’t cast them from Heaven. There was no “war” in which angel vs angel and the losing side became the demon. God simply asked them all if they wanted to stay in Heaven and some of them (including Crowley) said no. And God would happily take them back, but they have their reasons for falling. And they aren’t going to give up so easily…but they let their memories of heaven fade because it’s easier on them. (Or perhaps they selectively remember- so they don’t start thinking the grass might be greener on the other side. They remembering asking their siblings if they would Fall with them, and how those who remained angels turned their backs to the Fallen, how the Fallen felt abandoned and betrayed even though it was their Choice.)
(It’s also why Aziraphale can get away with lying & going against the Great Plan. Because, if the end, Falling is a choice. God asks you if you want to fall, if you can bear Heaven no more- And Crowley said yes, they needed to fall. Aziraphale said no, they needed to stay.)
Anyways, I hope that made sense.
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