Why the Ending of Good Omens 2 is So Clever | Review and Chaotic Video Essay
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- This show was so incredible that I have almost certainly forgotten to mention some things, but I had so much fun watching the show and making this video, and cant wait to hear everyone else's thoughts :)
Socials: linktr.ee/Naumaxia
00:00 Intro
01:28 General Review
03:10 Maggie and Nina
05:07 Gabriel and Beelzebub
06:31 The Mystery
08:20 THAT Scene and the Coffee Theory
09:54 Crowley's Choice
16:23 Aziraphale's Choice
24:47 Conclusion - Zábava
Hi, hope you enjoyed the video!
That said if you did not enjoy it and are only here to tell people that they shouldn’t like this season at all, then kindly go somewhere else. There is absolutely no reason to make someone else feel bad for enjoying a show or a season or any piece of media actually (unless there’s something hateful about it. Which there isn’t). If you did not enjoy season two then I wish you all the best trying to find a new show you do enjoy, but please try not to make other people feel guilty or wrong for enjoying something just because you don’t.
Thank you :)
That said if you have theories or idea that disagree with mine feel free to debate them in the comments. I love hearing other people’s points of view as long as you’re not putting anyone else down!
I really enjoyed it! And watching you draw was so satisfying ❤️
I loved everything about this video. You are so enormously talented!
@@orth82 thank you so much!!
Someone else pointed out that Aziraphale's relationship with Heaven mirror's Nina's abusive relationship with her former partner. The difference is that she got out and he's still letting them live rent free in his head. The scene that highlights this is when the Angels go to his bookshop and one of them suggests discussing the matter inside and he literally invites them, in contrast to Crowley refusing to let Shax in even when she begins harassing him about Gabriel. The show has implied that physiologically speaking there isn't any real difference between Demons and Angels, so if the Demons needed to be invited in, logic dictates that so do the Angels, but while Crowley has no qualms telling off his former people, Aziraphale still fears his.
This exactly! Aziraphale still has so much growing and learning left to do so he can break free
I'd argue that Nina's mirrors Crowley in that she was forced out of the relationship by her partner leaving her, not choosing to do so. While she recognized it as a long time coming she mirrors Crowley more than Aziraphale.
Aziraphale definitely has the growing to do though.
@@sanzoskitten I don't know about that. In the last episode, Crowley voiced that he thought that Nina needed rescuing which to me mirrors how Crowley feels the need to rescue Aziraphale.
OMGGGG!!!!! MY MIND IS BLOWN!!! 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 whoaaaaa that makes so much sense!!!!!!
@@ThePrincessCH I'm not saying they don't mirror each other, Personality wise each lady mirrors each character but situationally she was forced out of the relationship for being herself much like Crowley.
Nina mirrors Crowley in personality.
Maggie mirrors Crowley being content to wait around to just be aroud their love interest but is also the first to speak up about their actual feelings.
Nina mirrors Crowley in being in a past abusive relationship.
Nina mirrors Aziraphale in decisivness but also in their inability to see what's right in front of them.
Maggie mirrors Aziraphale in personality.
Nina mirrors Aziraphale in being in an abusive relationship(present).
Neither character are a 1-1 ratio for eachother but instead they exist to show that neither angel or demon are whole as they are. Crowley, while having escaped heaven's grasp and even hell's for the most part still has dependency and abandonment issues to work through but he's a hell of a lot father in his growth than Aziraphale who is still seeing everything black and white.
Nina comparing herself to Crowley was in my opinion a red herring in a way because people stopped looking at the other aspects.
Nina and Maggie deciding to wait of course makes sense which also is the problem because it contrasts directly to Crowley who has decided NOT to wait. The problem is Aziraphale's relationship HASN'T ended yet like Nina's. Aziraphale is still in the midst of the "we can FIX this" stage rather than allowing himself a clean break to start over.
I think Metatron decided to put them apart because they were too powerful together
I think the Metatron certainly has some sort of plan, but I can’t imagine why he would offer for Crowley to become an angel if his main goal was to separate them. Extending the offer to Aziraphale alone probably would have had the same effect? Although I suppose Aziraphale would be less likely to leave Crowley if he’d known there was no option for Crowley to follow?
They are certainly too powerful together tho, so it’s going to make the stakes for season 3 really interesting
@@Naumaxiai think the metatron knew crowley would turn it down, especially how he says that crowley always went his own way after the fight.
@@crow7137 that’s a good point, but it was certainly a risk, particularly as Crowley always comes back, almost immediately, whenever they fight. He does it twice during Armageddon after the fight on the bandstand when he then comes back to apologise in front of the bookshop (where Aziraphale tries to forgive him) and then again after Hastur shows up in his apartment he goes back to the bookshop to try warn Aziraphale but of course everything is on fire. Honestly if he’d just given them a week or so to come to a decision I suspect this would have all gone very differently. He was definitely applying a whole heap of pressure to this relationship to see if it would splinter
@@Naumaxia I came out with this idea because in certain moment Michael, I think, said that the 25 Lazarus miracle they saw coming from Az's book shop was one only an archangel would do (forgive my bad English please) Metatron knew Az's internal wish of being forgiven, and the low opportunities (😭) he had to change the angel's thoughts, after all they were together for more than 6000 years and only the demon was sincere with his feelings.
And in other things while Crowley was driving as fast as he could to make plans to hide Gabriel with Az, he were listening Lover Boy, I think it is the song he'd dedicate to his angel, and while driving, he said "oh no, there is only place for one of us." But I don't think he said that only because of the bus...😉😉
@@Naumaxia but Crowley was always the first one coming back to Az, not Aziraphale, his ideas are strong, enoughly strong to blind his true feelings...😭😭😭
I find the way Aziraphale always says "I forgive you" or "may you be forgiven" so fascinating, and how much it mirrors real-life religious trauma (and especially queer religious trauma). Despite him _knowing_ that Crowley isn't a bad person, and in fact, _because_ he knows Crowley isn't a bad person, he feels Crowley deserves forgiveness (and perhaps if Crowley were forgiven, Aziraphale could consider himself forgivable for loving Crowley and for going against Heaven, even if he did so for the right reasons) . But what he hasn't considered is that Crowley considers himself 'unforgivable' not because he feels he can't be forgiven, but because he doesn't _want_ Heaven's forgiveness.
Crowley and Aziraphale both want only the best for each other, but they both have very different ideas of what the 'best' _is_ , and that's the root of a lot of their conflicts
Yes! This is the crux of the whole thing! Aziraphale wants to help Crowley he just has no idea how
I think Aziraphale says this when he can't handle his own emotions, so he uses this phrase to put the responsibility for them on Crowley.
@@kore5080 good point!
couldn't have said it better. may the fortune be with you. and your phone
@@kore5080Azir's responses and reactions are indicative of someone unable to free themselves from religious indoctrination even though in his heart of hearts, he is just dying to break free. Being witness to his struggle & conflict is what makes this scene so devastatingly and heartbreakingly shattering.
Personally, I think people complaining that s2 “undid” all of Aziraphale’s character growth is bs. People (or celestial beings ig) who are improving themselves are bound to “relapse” so to speak, it’s totally normal. Progress isn’t just a straight line, it has ups and downs and this is just Aziraphale’s “relapse” so to speak. It makes even more sense when you compare his relationship with Heaven to a toxic one, it’s very common for people to continuously go back to someone who’s hurt them over and over again. People shouldn’t be complaining about the writing, they should be praising Neil Gaiman for writing such a realistic character.
Definitely!! We’ve talked about the idea of Aziraphale having religious trauma and being manipulated by heaven since season one, and he very much seems to be in the ‘I can fix them’ stage of that relationship right now. And he’s wrong, he can’t fix them, but he’s learnt so much that he wants to try. I’m with you I think it’s excellent writing even if it does hurt
Plus, I don't think Aziraphale has made the truly conscious choice to break free, he just felt forced to hide after Season 1. In his mind, heaven is still the "right" side and just has a few a**holes in high places.
Crowley never deceived himself into thinking he was on the right side.
back in season one aziraphale was always subtly trying to convince crowley to join heaven's side. crowley was always the one who said that they were on their own side, and aziraphale never really agreed, even if deep down he knew crowley was right
so true! i get really annoyed when people don't realize that progress isn't linear, or claiming that relapses take away from a character rather than add complexity to their arc. to me it's always been very clear that Aziraphale wasn't completely over Heaven, and despite how sad his decision made me, i understand why he did it in the context of his character and can't really bring myself to be mad at him at all
YESS!! The writing is so humane. 😭😭 I don't get people calling the writing bad. It's so good on an emotional level.
if aziraphale doesn't to the apology dance in s3 i don't know what else they're gonna put in there
In fact season 3 is just a five hour dance show from Aziraphale as he tries to win Crowley back
@@Naumaxia like a bird of paradise 😂
Crowley's going to be the one to say "I forgive you" and it's going to break me.
“Apology!; The Musical”
I love how Crowley is always shocked and impressed when Azeraphale goes ballistically rebel. You blew up your halo? Gotta be my favorite line.
I think deep down he acknowledges how hard it is for Aziraphale to break away from some of the rules heaven has impressed upon him, so when he does something like this it’s all the more impressive to Crowley. Plus it’s just very cool to see Aziraphale go a bit feral
Before I watch the video, I just wanna say that I think the reason heaven's abuse is still affecting Aziraphale is because heaven's abuse was mental and manipulative which is a lot harder to see. While Crowley's abuse from hell was a lot more blunt and physical. Aziraphale was legit getting gaslit by Gabriel in season 1. Mental abuse is a lot harder to spot than emotional or physical abuse. An example of emotional abuse would be a parent straight up insulting you. While mental is way more subtle. And y'all gotta remember, that Aziraphale only _recently_ escaped heaven. He literally only escaped like 4 years ago, which is like a few days to an immortal angel. So that's why he went back so easily.
So true! It much harder for people who are being mentally/emotionally abused to realize that they're in a bad situation, or feel that there's something they can do to fix it. I think that's also why a lot of fans were so upset and angry at Aziraphale for his decision, because I think Aziraphale's trauma also went over the heads of a lot of people watching, and so they didn't undestand why he would ever still think he can 'fix' Heaven
I can't stop thinking that the only reason Aziraphale isn't as traumatized by Heaven as Crowley is, is because Crowley shielded him from having to suffer through what Crowley did. Heaven would have 100% kicked Aziraphale out for lying about Job's children but thanks to CROWLEY'S act of kindness, Aziraphale can keep up his Holier Than Thou worldview! Now Aziraphale is going to have to go through being disappointed by Heaven and he's going to have to do it alone.
Aziraphale still believes in bad vs good and he's on the "good" side ... he toys with the idea of a grey area but either / or is what he knows - he can't conceive of heaven being bad ...
@@Xenophrenia yeah, he still just believes that there might be some bad angels running Heaven, but has yet to realize the whole system is flawed
I don't think Crowley actually remembers much of his time in Heaven and his fall. Not only does he give different reasons in season 1, they also made a point of doubling down on Crowley not remembering people he met and worked with in Heaven, that clearly remember him very well. He doesn't usually seem to have memory issues like that with other people, just the ones from his time in Heaven. And the only scene we see of him as an angel was when Aziraphale was also there, which means it could well be a memory from his point of view. Plus: his whole conversation with Gabriel about memory loss. Crowley clearly understands the feelings Gabriel's going through ("I can't remember" "I know, do it anyway", and "yea, looking at where the furniture isn't", I'm paraphrasing but yknow) as if he's lived through it himself before. So I think they removed his memory when casting him down, like they tried with Gabriel. And since memory is treated like a physical object in this world, I wonder where Crowley's is...
That’s such a cool idea! I don’t know if it would be possible for Crowley to get his back given he didn’t intentionally stash it somewhere like Gabriel did, but it would be really interesting to see more of how losing his memories might have effected him
It's an interesting idea, but Crowley clearly remembers that he's the one who made the stars and space (there was a nebula he said he made). He also remembers that he "didn't ask to be a demon" and all this stuff he is saying to himself when getting drunk because of Aziraphale death in season 1
@@korewatorika maybe it's selective? Or he tried hard and remembered some things, like how Gabriel remembered the bit about the stars dancing and angels rejoicing
@@evah4431 That's possible! I like your theory overall, hoping we will know about it a bit more in season 3
There was some specific wording about removing his memories "of his time as Gabriel". Might be some things left behind, like any knowledge he'd need in order to do angelic work.
Crowley remembers making a nebula but not who he made it with. He remembers fighting in the war but not who fought alongside him. He hasn't mentioned any other memories that he didn't contradict soon afterwards.
If he's not just being rude and sassy by pretending not to remember people, if they did indeed target any memories of people he was close to (Saraqael on the nebula, and Furfur as a brother in arms), did they include Aziraphale? Does Crowley believe he first met Aziraphale on the garden wall? Does he not remember he was the first one to offer a wing in shelter? Did this big idiot fall in love twice with the same frumpy little softie?
Them splitting up is literally the point of the season. Neil said that season 3 will be based on the sequel that he and Terry wrote and season 2 was how we got there. I'm not crying I'm so normal and fine and ok about all this.
"I'm not crying" Riiiight neither am I
I’m not either 😂😂😂
I think the ending works because Aziraphale needed a kick in the bum. He took Crowley for granted, assuming that he would always be there for him, and sure that he was right in every way and that Crowley was wanting to get away from Hell instead of just wanting to be with him. (Aziraphale wants to be with Crowley, too, but denies it- you can tell when he tells "Jim" that he has no idea what the feeling of wanting to be next to one person.) Azzie needs to get his head on straight and, when he does, he'd better have practiced that apology dance.
In season 3 (which I am sure there will be) I hope Aziraphale gets to swoop in and save Crowley for once, hopefully by sacrificing his lofty position to do so.
Yeah, this decision is going to be what snaps the final thread thing Aziraphale to his past I suspect and will eventually allow him to truly be free and start to realise the damage he’s done
Yes! These are exactly my thoughts as well! 🤔 He really took Crowley for granted... Now he'll be all alone and hopefully realize what he's lost....
Exactly, I mean in the fifth episode he doesn't really have a plan. He's like "oh Crowley has the plan" "Crowley likes rescuing me" he was clearly in over his head with the bookshop but he just waited for Crowley to swoop in.
Mnah, he said that he has his own plan, he just doesn0t tell, because Corwley likes to save him. But like Corwley, he isn't top notch with plans.@@jujufeirrieo2836
I wish this season explored why demons and angels making a miracle together was so powerful. Or was it just the love between them that amplified the magic? Or maybe that’s going to be a season 3 thing.
It would have been nice to have an explanation, but I strongly suspect that’s coming up in season 3. Between the super miracle, the hints that Crowley was pretty high up in heaven, and aziraphales new promotion I suspect next season is going to tell us a whole lot about our favourite duo and what they’re truly capable of and why
I thought it was a hint at Crowley’s past as an important angel
I thought that it actually was because of Gabriel. Later they said that it was an 'Archangel level miracle' and they did the miracle WITH Gabriel, literally channeling through him. He didn't have his memories sure, but who sais he still doesn't have his angelic powers?
Well they each did half of the miracle, so it added up to more power than each could do by himself. Like, if they each had a maximum miracle power of 100 and archangels had a power level of 150, if each of them did their half of the miracle by using 75 power, then the total power of their combined miracle would match that of an archangel, even though they couldn't do that individually.
I think it is an allegory for the power of cooperation, plus the power of love.
Aziraphale sees everything with a lens of good, it makes perfect sense that he chooses to pursue doing good over his own happiness, even to the extend that it blinds him to how much it hurts Crowley.
I think the concept of ‘greater good’ here is very relevant. Aziraphale has developed a very different concept of it than the one heaven originally had, but he still strongly believes in it and that it’s his purpose to an extent. He doesn’t want to acknowledge how much he’s hurting Crowley because he’s convinced that if he can just make things better in heaven then he might be able to make the world better for Crowley (and humanity) It’s a little suffering now for a better world later. Unfortunately heaven is a corrupt nightmare so it probably won’t work
i think it's also a sign of the influence that heaven still holds upon him / manipulation from heaven&metatron.
sure, he's always been inclined to do good, but he doesn't just blindly believe in Good as in whatever god says. i think one of the reasons metatron managed to pocket him (assuming azi's recount of their conversation is accurate) is because he made azi believe that he supported his "think for yourself rather than just accept Her word" approach to morality (for example by saying he's more suitable than michael, or that he says what he believes).
and sure azi's got a tendency to put others before his own safety sometimes (to crowley 's frustration).
BUT, i don't think that has been his main driver, not in stopping the s1 armageddon't anyway. aziraphale likes nice things, comfort and enjoyment. i believe that though he obviously doesn't want everyone on earth to die, one of the things that attached him the most strongly to saving earth, (and stopped him from running away with crowley or joining heaven's warforce) is his enjoyment of earth's pleasure : his love of books, of food, of lunch at the ritz with crowley. he's generous, but not selfless nor hyper dedicated to work : he keeps his books for himself rather than sharing them, got himself almost executed because he wanted crêpes, agrees to his arrangement with crowley which means less work for him (rather than going out of his way to perform bonus good actions). he likes comforting things. but somehow, heaven's indoctrination made him believe he has to do Good (by heaven's rules) and metatron managed to detach him just enough from the things he cares about on earth (the bookshop, crowley-as-he-is rather than as the perfect-in-heaven's-eyes angel he could be) that he willingly chooses to part from them (not even bringing a single book or journal). i don't know how the metatron made him believe that "nothing lasts forever", or if he said it himself, but something weird has been going on.
Maybe he knows but believes it's the only way to save everything
I wonder if the Christian idea of martyrdom being morally good also influences his decisions that sabotage his own chances at joy with Crowley. In the wee morag flashback he definitely seems to have notions that suffering is pious.
@@joy7367 I think Aziraphale was being very literal here in his 'nothing lasts forever'. Crowley had just said he couldn't leave the bookshop and I think he was talking about that. Whereas Crowley took it in a far broader sense
I think even though Aziraphale definitely has some fantasies left for heaven, there is no doubt that he doesn't want the second coming to happen and he's accepting the offer in an attempt to stop it. When Metatron gave him the offer, he didn't look happy at first, he looked resolved. He probably knew that he's going to a dangerous place and it's a difficult (or even impossible) task, but he still wants to give it a try anyway.
I think the fundamental difference between them here is that Crowley is so disappointed about both heaven and hell and has completely lost hope in the world, while Aziraphale still has hope and wants to save it. In season 1 Crowley was the one that wanted to run away with Aziraphale, but Aziraphale was still working to stop the armageddon. What made Aziraphale accept Metatron's offer is that ultimately Aziraphale loves humans and he wants to save them from annihilation. And he also wants to save humanity for Crowley, because he knew that Crowley loves humans too. He doesn't think running away would be a solution, and even if they can avoid the disaster, he and Crowley wouldn't be happy with all humans dead. They literally fell in love with each other because of their shared love for humanity.
This is a really good point. Crowley has always done what he can to protect humanity, but at the end of the day it’s only worth it to him if he knows Aziraphale will still be there afterwards. In season one the moment he gives up is the moment he thinks Aziraphale is gone forever
he did not know about the second coming before he had said yes to the offer. Metatron told him right before they entered the lift.
I don’t get active in fandoms, but I think it’s better for Aziraphale’s development to leave on his own decision than being “miracled”. It wouldn’t make much sense in terms of his character arc and I would consider it bad writing unless they make it more complex than that. Aziraphale is leaving the person he loves for what he *believes* to be the greater good. He thinks he can change Heaven but not even Gabriel could do that so I doubt he would be able to.
I was surprised he thought Crowley would want to join him though, but the Heaven brainwashing is deep. Maybe he still sees Crowley as the angel he used to know. He still views Heaven as better than Hell, but throughout the flashbacks in season 2 he was starting to realize what heaven believes is morally right is not always actually right. I think in season 3 he’ll complete that arc. He needs to accept that angels are not the side of good because neither Heaven nor Hell care about humans.
But maybe being the head archangel he can better thwart their second coming plan than if he was on the outside lol. I think Crowley and Aziraphale both need better communication with each other lol.
The communication thing is certainly a problem, but I completely agree about the coffee theory! It makes it too easy and cuts off this huge chance for development. I think it had to be at least in some part aziraphales decision so that he has the chance to grow and him and Crowley can finally start to over come this invisible barrier that’s been keeping them apart. The writing is so much more interesting if his decision was intentional
Same! I really dislike the miracle theory, I much prefer complex characters that make bad decisions sometimes.
I also don't believe in coffee theory because the final decision makes perfect sense for Aziraphale character. And that's what I think:
Aziraphale believes Heaven is better than Hell. That's probably true. But Heaven certainly is not better than Earth, and Aziraphale must understand that to complite his development.
I think he might feel he has a responsibility to take the position because of all the people he could help. Honestly it's a very realistic conflict, the debate about fixing the system from the inside vs. tearing it all down.
In another comment section someone said that Aziraphale could only love Crowley as someone who was once an angel and it made me think about how Aziraphale is caught in a contradiction as he loves Crowley but Crowley is a demon and demons are evil but Crowley can be good I feel like this clash of what he was taught versus what he has experienced is what made him so insistent on Crowley becoming an angel again because he would finally get rid of this cognitive dissonance (obviously im over simplifying some of this) and I think he'll end up having an existential crisis when he fully internalizes that goodness or badness isn't inherent to angels or demons
Yes yes yes! Aziraphale isn't over heaven as we might've thought he still believes everything they teach and that they are the good guys. Cos he thinks heaven and good are mutually exclusive he thinks Crowley's goodness comes from his past angelicism and not just himself so he must want to be an angel again.
It always hurts so much when Aziraphale tells Crowley "I forgive you" because he uses it like a weapon. You can always tell how much the words hurt Crowley and even after the kiss, when Aziraphale "forgives" him it's just... ahhh I can't put it into words. And Aziraphale is so determined to find the good in Crowley. He wants so badly to reconcile him to his way of thinking he can't accept the shades of gray that Crowley lives in. That's another consistent theme throughout the season.
I didn't quite understand why aziraphale says that. What does he need to forgive? The kiss? Him not coming with?
The fact that Aziraphale returned to heaven to be set up as the person organising the second coming is really sad. This just returned him before season one and reversed the role that he was when we first met him. The second coming is like the antichrist event, just with heaven but all the people on Earth will still die when it happens. Aziraphale is going to assist in the thing he fought so hard against just because he thinks heaven is ultimately the best thing there could be, especially if he makes some little changes to fit his idea better.
He doesn't see the fact how heaven is just as self destructive as hell, constantly trying to have a reason to end humanity once and for all. And I think combined with the fact that the most important angel there is, the one right after god came to ask to HIM to take over the organisation makes him believe in the divinity of it all even more.
I'm excited for the third season because there is so much potential. Will Crowley fight against the second coming just as hard as before or will he be trying to get to Aziraphale? How long will it take the angel to realise what he is doing? Guess I'll have to wait and see.
Yeah it’s definitely not hit him yet that no matter how much he changes heaven or tries to fix it, if their goal is to destroy the earth then they aren’t going to let him stop them. They’ve already ousted Gabriel, Aziraphale only has any power as long as he’s doing what they want him to
Keep on rewatching guys, together we can make season 3 happen 🙌❤
I have a feeling Crowley fighting the second coming and getting to Aziraphale will be intertwined
I think he's going to attempt (in vain) to prevent it, thinking he'll have a better chance working from within the system. Remember, Aziraphale didn't see Gabriel's trial and Crowley hasn't actually told him about it.
Yeah, I feel like we saw in season one Azirphale was never against the institution of "heaven" or Her, just the bullying Archangels and he also didn't want the world to end. So I was disappointed but not surprised that he'd want to go back at the offer if he thought he could change anything. And it was someone who pointed out on IG that maybe he really wanted Crowley to come along because he thought he could better protect Crowley up there. However, God hurt Crowley a lot because of the fall, so of course he wouldn't want to go back there.
This was like one of the only shows that i didn't see a single spoiler and it was worth it i sobbed at the end lmao
That’s so lucky! I did get spoiled for the kiss so on the run up to the ending I was so certain that Beelzebub and Gabriel getting a happy ending would finally push Aziraphale and Crowley. When I tell you I was sobbing! It was so sad
I think that Crowley has so much resentment toward Heaven because he was in the same place as Aziraphale. It was kind of like Nina's brake up, Heaven and God just let him go (maybe after some bad situations where he had been appointed a task that he questioned) and he realised that in reality they didn't care for him, or for any other angel for this matter. They maybe even disliked him with how much he questioned the will of God, the same as they are not found of Aziraphale because of him questioning everything.
Yeah definitely. It’s why they struggle to see eye to eye a lot if the time, because Aziraphale can’t stand the idea of falling, but to Crowley it already happened and it’s done it’s damage to him in a major way
Like, the first book and season have my favourite quote maybe of all time "he didn't so much fall as saunter vaguely downwards", and as funny as it is it's also amazing characterisation for Crowly- he didn't really care about rebelling, he didn't ever feel strongly about hell's side, he just left heaven when they were being actively hostile to him asking questions, and because this world is one of black and whites he kind of just ended up going 'down'.
It's not just letting him go, it's telling on his face "shut your stupid mouth & die already". That's a very bitter pill swallow.
I remember discussing the 'Metatron doing something to Aziraphale's coffee theory' with my friend just the other night, and I pointed out that I didn't think he did, because Aziraphale is such a pure soul, he just wants them to be happy with each other and he thinks that Crowley rejecting heaven is like rejecting everything Aziraphale believes in, and thus is obviously hurt. However, Crowley has absolute reason to not want to go to heaven and even more so that Aziraphale doesn't, mainly because he saw how Gabriel treated him when he was disguising himself as Aziraphale. Also, just the way Crowley knows that they were the first to blur the lines and with Beelzebub and Gabriel are following he feels more comfortable with them going forward with the love they have for each other, but Aziraphale sees it as a black and white situation when it is just so much more than he realizes.
I saw a very good post that essentially said: how tragic it is that their desperate need to protect each other is what’s tearing them apart.
And I think it makes a really good point about how an overwhelming amount of love but no communication is actually hurting then because neither one can explain why they’re so stubborn about their chosen path
Gosh, yeah, poor Crowley is trying to figure out how to have open vulnerable communication all at once within like 5 minutes, and it understandably doesn't go well!
At least he manages to say how he feels about Aziraphale but he fails to articulate the problem with Heaven...because, to him, that is SO obvious it is hard to explain!
Yeah he tries to speed run all the communication required for a six thousand year long relationship and accidentally overwhelms them both. He’s going to need so many hugs next season I swear
It’s really amazing how many hours we can spend thinking about that final argument, and still find new aspects and ways of looking at it. It’s been days and I’m still reeling from season 2. It’s SOOO clever. Loved your analysis.
Never underestimate how many additional layers you can find in something Neil Gaiman has written, there’s always another XD Glad you enjoyed the video!
Keep on rewatching guys, together we can make season 3 happen 🙌❤
I cried and laughed over Season 2. I really thought the writing was superior to Season 1. There was much more depth to the characters in Season 2 than in 1. In Season 1, Neil Gaiman seemed to do his best to stick to the original source material. When he spoke in interviews, it felt like Season 1 was done as a tribute to his dear friend and co-writer, Terry Pratchett. However, Good Omens was written in 1990 and Neil Gaiman has done a lot of living and growing during this time period. It has reflected in his writing. Also, if you watch only the first and last episodes of Season 1 and the first and last episodes of Season 2, they bookend each other so nicely that it seems obvious that both Season 2 and a future Season 3 were planned by Gaiman as soon as he agreed to take on this Amazon project. At the very end of Season 1, episode 6, Crowley and Aziraphale are sitting on their favorite park bench and Aziraphale (still disguised as Crowley) says, "Do you think they'll leave us alone now?" Crowley (still disguised as Aziraphale) answers, "At a guess, they'll pretend it never happened." They switch back, there's a bit more dialog, and then Crowley and Aziraphale foreshadow Season 2 and Season 3. Crowley says, "They'll leave us alone...for a bit. If you ask me, both sides are going to use this as breathing space before the big one." [Forshadowing Season 2] Aziraphale says, "I thought that was the big one." Crowley then says, "No. For my money, the really big one is all of us against all of them." [Forshadowing Season 3] Aziraphale says, "What? Heaven and Hell against... humanity?" And Crowley answers, "Right. Time to leave the garden."
Yes I 100% agree. People are upset about the ending, and I get that, but it just gives so much potential for season three to complete the story in the most satisfying way
I also enjoyed the season more. The plot lines in season 1 were pretty well telegraphed by all of Western media. I kept being impatient like "what else happens -- besides not the end of the world?"
My thoughts are that the Metatron didn’t so much brainwash aziraphale, but rather got rid of the “shades of grey” that Aziraphale was now seeing the world. Both Crowley and Aziraphale have been abused by heaven, but Crowley has had time to process/deal with that trauma while Aziraphale hasn’t. Aziraphale still sees heaven as the “good guys” because to him, the whole Armageddon thing was just a big misunderstanding. Aziraphale and Crowley both need time apart to heal from their respective trauma. Another thing is Maggie and Nina represent our ineffable husband with Maggie as Crowley and Nina as Aziraphale. Nina is unable to peruse a relationship with Maggie because she needs to heal from her breakup, but their is a little scene where indicates that she (Crowley) will be waiting whenever Nina (Aziraphale) is ready. The biggest thing that people who say this season was bad because of poor writing and acting out of character need to realize is that this story means a lot to Neil, and he’s very good at his job. He also knows exactly how their story will end (hopefully with their cottage in the south downs, but we will see). Just because an ending is happy doesn’t mean it wasn’t good. This breakup will allow both Aziraphale and Crowley to grow individually and as a group of two because growth can’t happen without bumps in the road (or in this case a pothole)
I 100% agree! The ending was heartbreaking, but season 3 will be so much richer for it. Plus there’s tons of brilliant, adorable, funny and clever stuff throughout the season that people seem to be forgetting because they were so overwhelmed by the ending
I'm not sure if I've seen anyone talk about this but in the last 10 minutes sure I was sad but I was mostly in shock. I was in shock because of that kiss. I didn't think it would actually happen. Oh they'll never do that the actors are probably not comfortable with it. But that's because I've been queerbaited so many times that my brain has learn to think that way. I'm so used to just getting little crumbs that when I'm actually fed (even if it's in a tragic way) I'm left in shock and confusion.
I was pretty damn certain Neil was not going to queerbair us (if he ever really was because season one might not have had explicit romance between Aziraphale and Crowley but it did have a load of gender queer characters) because Neil Gaiman is so good about putting queer characters in his adaptations, and both him and the actors have all talked about it as a love story in the past. I think there was a chance they might have played it as a queer-platonic relationship instead which would fit these characters pretty well too, but I’m really happy with the way things turned out. That said I completely understand how you feel, I think we’ve all been burned before by writers and show runners who dog give a damn about this community and are more than happy to string us along whilst constantly telling us we’re delusional for ever imagining it. Luckily Neil is not, and never has been one of those writers and I’m really grateful we have him writing this incredible story so well and with such care
I felt the exact same way! I was SO 100% sure that they would only hint at the possible love story between them! I was already shocked when Nina and Shax straight up told Crowley that they look like a couple. I thought I clearly didn't hear that right... And when the kiss happened I actually forgot to breathe for a moment, because that was incredible and (at least for me) completely and absolutely unexpected. But damn, I loved it so much! 🥹🥺
I love the queer representation in general in this season, that makes me so so so happy! 🙏🌈❤️
I was so glad the kiss was awful because the people who could watch the huge, beautiful queer love story unfold throughout season one and somehow still call it queerbaiting have now found out that there's something worse than your faves not kissing, and in some cases it's your faves kissing.
i agree that it is fun up until--Crowley starts talking about real feelings! That takes courage, but more than that, it leaves one vulnerable! It's when Crowley has made himself vulnerable, like a really fully developed character, that the problems (and fans' anger) starts. Because when a person shares their feelings, there's no guarantee how they'll be received. Neil, it seems, was trying to make the characters more true to life, but to do that, he had to highlight their faults in a way fans didn't have to deal with in S1.
Definitely. They are such complex characters with so much history and the way they both feel about heaven is such a layered and difficult thing that this was never going to be easy for either of them. I’m heartbroken, but I still think Neil did the right thing for the story and their development. We have to face our fears to overcome them and all that
I read a really interesting thing explaining the upset reactions that some fans had to the end of s2 that definitely relates to this. S1 followed a lot of the beats of a romance story, ending with them on a 'date' at the Ritz. S2 ends in a way that definitely feels more realistic, and, just like when Aziraphale says "nothing lasts forever", that's something that can be really hard to come to terms with, and so sometimes people will end up in a place similar to the Anger or Depression stages of grief. This, combined with the fact that most of us were expecting the same kind of sweet ending that s1 had, left us all shaken up, and some people don't like being shaken up.
I personally really loved how s2 ended (even if I felt ill for like 3 days afterwards lol), and think it felt pretty mature to acknowledge they still have a lot to work through, instead of just ignoring it the way traditional romcom-type plots tend to do
@@broblerone413 Great observations. I read an interesting article (I think it was on Collider) that said that if you think about it, they're both terrible communicators in that ending scene. Neither one really listens to the other very well, or takes in how the other is feeling, as they're so (understandably) overwhelmed by new realizations, emotions, and opportunities. When Crowley finally starts saying he wants to spend his life w/ A, A is already shaking his head a tiny bit and just looks confused. He isn't attuned to what is going on with Crowley, but mostly his own dismay and anxiety or whatever he is feeling. And Crowley doesn't tune in to A's feelings when he tells his "good news" because he's immediately centered on his own reactions.
I'm always complaining about how the ending destroyed my heart (it really did) that sometimes, i forget to say how amazing and brilliant it was!
It’s both fantastic and heartwrenching… damn you Neil Gaiman
If it wasn't so good I don't think it could have hurt us so deep
@@carlinkag2525 that's true. 😔
This is so true
I've already watched season 2 a bunch of times, and i ALWAYS find something new that i didnt see the first time i've watched the season, and i think it's amazing. There's so much paralleles between season 1 and 2, between Aziraphel and Crowley and the relationships of other characteres. I was litteraly destroyed by the end of the season and i'm still alive thanks to all of the cuteness and the old married couple vibe of Aziraphel and Crowley during the season (like, Aziraphel and the "our car" or that facial expression when Strax says to Aziraphel "you're not his type" or Crowley being so supportive after the magic show). Even if i want proper apologies from Neil Gaiman (the "i was wrong" dance) 'cause he had no rights to break my heart the way he did, i'm still glad that Aziraphel and Crowley didn't ended up together yet (i feel horrible writing that), 'cause i feel like their relationship is like the one with Maggie and Nina. Aziraphel needs to fix his things first, like Nina, especially about his perception of heaven and hell, angel and demon, good and evils, and needs to understand that the universe is most of the time made with shades of grey. Honestly, even if i like the coffee theory, i really think the coffee has nothing to do with it, and i'm not even mad against Aziraphel, 'cause i really think he NEEDS to understand by himself why returning to heaven is not the best idea he could have, but i hope Crowley will have his back in case he gets too hurts. And i don't know where to put it, but the kiss ! I LOVE this scene and i think the actors have everything to do with it (and also why i love the whole show, they are amazing and deserve Oscars), 'cause i think Crowley, in a last desperate attempt to change Aziraphel's mind, kissed him in a way that captures over 6000 years of love and try to show him how much he was happy while being on their own side (even if Aziraphel always denied it, i think he really was on his own side with Crowley the whole time). Honestly i don't know if any of this make sense when i write it down (but it does in my head lol), it's late and i still didn't recovered about this end, and i just need to talk about them, 'cause i genuinlly love their relationship. Their love is so ineffable. I can't wait to see season 3, 'cause that's still the only thing that can heal my heart from this end (but Neil still owns us a dance and therapy)
Could not have said it better 👏
good job, reading this I agree with EVERYTHING!
I think the coffee could have something to do with it but not necessarily as a miracle. The coffee could just be the nice present your abuser hands you to manipulate you further. So you can say, "See, they aren't that bad, they gave me something nice."
FINALLY!;
I'm curious how you interpreted Aziraphale's expression when Shax said he wasn't Crowley's type? I saw that, the big eyebrow raise and I wasn't quite sure. Maybe he's thinking like, "ha, that's what YOU think..." but he seems to always be in such denial that I'm not sure how to take it.
Ok hear me out. Aziraphales biggest fear is falling right? Crowley loves saving Aziraphale right? Season 3 Crowley becomes an angel to rescue Aziraphale and then Aziraphale “falls” for Crowley.
Ooh now that is a fun idea and I’ve not heard that before! It would be a really neat ending as well because I suspect they would end up just going about their lives as they always have afterwards, still dressed the same and acting the same, just proving perfectly that supposed sides make no difference. It would be sad to see Crowley lose the snake eyes though
Damnnn that is a really cool theory! I keep wondering if they might both turn into humans somehow to be perfectly neutral but this is like the way more symbolic twist on that and how they can only understand each other that way!
The thing that made me question that Aziraphael was being manipulated by a miracle, even though his choices still made sense for his character, was the line he said about the bookshop. This "oh Crowley, nothing lasts forever" about him having to leave the bookshop, from the quickness he said it with to the delivery is just....icky. This is the angel that was so squeamish about throwing encyclopaedias, that's got way too many fire extinguishers, etc...and he just leaves it to Muriel, from all people, who doesn't know a thing about humans or books, when he didn't even want Crowley to sell one book...
Even though he wasn't completely brainwashed with that coffee, i think it certainly pushed him to still choose Heaven, no matter what
Yeah it’s the bookshop that particularly gets me. I can see how after Crowley refused to go with him he might leave him behind (temporarily) out of stubbornness, but al the books? And food??? You think he’d at least think about it twice first
I think it's a process. The Metatron did something to the coffee to put Aziraphale into a more receptive state, then the Metatron tries to attack his already existing insecurities like Shax did, and "the Second Coming" was the trigger word that completed the process.
It is very cute that he's willing to drop all his earthly pleasures as soon as someone offers him a chance to 'save' and 'fix' Crowley... and for them to be together on officially sanctioned terms, which clearly still matters to him.
I think his expression changes in the lift over the credits is also a sign of coffee/miracle shenanigans, as he starts to look utterly deranged
A very coherent, logical and eloquent analysis. While I see the possibility of Metatron having meddled or influenced Aziraphale, his decision makes sense to me just in terms of his character development. I think part of why people feel so betrayed and angry is that in S1, Aziraphale is more or less perfect--almost without flaws, the way we wish all people could be, and this is why fans love him so much. His character doesn't really go through much development in S1, and we don't see the shadow side that everyone has. Delving into Aziraphale's deeper feelings and struggles necessarily comes at a cost: seeing some negative or ambiguous sides of him. It makes him more rounded and complicated and interesting as a character, but just as with any human or character, it means we'll feel disappointed at times.
Thanks! There are hints of Aziraphales flaws in season one, he keeps trying to get heaven to help him until he realises they can’t, but it’s isn’t until here that we see just how desperately he wants to fix everything around him, and that inability to let something be imperfect is going to cause him all kinds of problems
I read an analysis somewhere that listed everything Metatron did in their scene together and pointed out how, _in a completely human, non-magical sense,_ everything he does and says is part of the manipulation. Giving him very sweet coffee and admitting to eating human food in order to build up a feeling of similarity and shared secrecy between them, etc etc. Wish I had the link or blog name but I foolishly didn't save it. But it made an excellent case for Metatron not needing a miracle, just prior knowledge of his target and plenty of ruthless cunning. (Possibly even parallels to Az's conjuring using only human sleight of hand.)
@@suitov Yes! I’ve not read this (although I would love to) but this is the version I most agree with! I think it makes for a much more interesting story than some kind of brainwashing or magic that takes away all the character work and potential development
The part where he's talking about a secret Dr who book and keeps looking a David. 😍 Loved it
There were so many good doctor who references this season and in that specific scene, and I loved it
@@NaumaxiaDavid in a fez 😂
@@harleyloraine7699 will definitely be in my next batch of doodles
During that part, there's a subtle TARDIS sound in the background, right about when Aziraphale tells the guy that he can not just look at it, but HAVE it.
Also, when David puts the Fez on, the music includes some of the type of "alien" sounds (Theremin-like) from the Doctor Who theme.
(Those 2 I heard from others.)
When Crowley is talking to the surgeon he introduces himself as Doctor. (And in the bonus notes on X-ray right then, the show runners wrote "David has occasionally played a doctor." lol)
The fly bigger on the inside was obvious.
In season 1, when Crowley pulls his car up to the bookshop to beg Aziraphale to run away with him, then gets turned down, there's a moment when he says, "and when I'm off in the stars, I won't even think about you!" - right at "off in the stars" they show the man who will talk to Aziraphale a second later walking around the corner right past a very TARDIS-looking door.
@@sciencemama6801 thanks! I missed the sound on the first go. I caught the fly and the doctor/surgeon Convo too. 😍
i caught that usage of "smitten"!
they definitely have to heal in order to actual grow and love each other. they are undeniably close, yet they seem centuries apart at the same time. what i know is that season three will have the resolution we need; *they* need.
aziraphale has already many times went against what is expected of him as an angel, from dancing like no other to having quite the clutter, theirs already this sort of rebellious side of him thats unexplored. he needs to take the step forward and learn to be on his own side, but i imagine the idea of that is terrifying and probably lonely. it'll take time. season thee will take time. everything does and everything will. time, time, time.
This was a delightful and insightful analysis. Thank you! I can't believe I didn't pick up on the parallel between how Crowley thinks love happens and his meeting with Aziraphale in Eden (and you could kinda say it was "raining" in their very first meeting, too). Made my day! 😊
So glad you enjoyed it! And yeah that rain detail is one of my favourites :)
"You don't want to be spoiled for the ending of episode 6 of season 2"
... well... I was spoiled,. My friend told me she was obsessed with Good Omens again after watching season 2 and showed me THAT scene to explain why. Then I barely knew anything about GO except that it was a show about an angel and a devil in modern times that were shipped by the majority of the fandom. But since I like Neil Gaiman's works I've always wanted to watch it. I wasn't yet attached to the characters, but seeing that scene (though it was mostly the kiss itself and only a bit of the argument surrounding it) intrigued me and I finally decided to give it a go.
So I had an idea of how season 2 would end, but seeing it all in context - now loving the characters more than I ever thought I would - was absolutely heart-wrenching. I was shivering, shaking, could barely breathe, my chest physically hurt. I don't remember the last time I felt so much for fictional characters.
So yeah I knew that they would kiss, I knew that it wouldn't end well for them, but the moment I saw it all happen was still earth shaking for me. And the most painful part was that how they acted made perfect sense to me. I was deeply confused by people starting to say that something was wrong with the coffee. It is so heartbreaking, BECAUSE Aziraphale and Crowley acted exactly in character. It was the same argument they've always had, just this time Crowley had allowed himself to be vulnerable first and the consequences were far more serious than in their previous fights. This time their mutual love wasn't the subtext but the text. And this time they had really parted ways. Who knows for how long. But well, Aziraphale had already told us. Nothing lasts forever. Including their separation.
Firstly, welcome to the fandom! It’s always so cool to have new people here!
It is so interesting to hear this from your perspective, because I’m aware I have a huge love for this show and these characters and therefore my love of season 2 is definitely a bit biased, but the fact that you watched it all knowing what was going to happen and still loved it is really fascinating to me. I say as much in the video but I do think season 2 is even better when you have the context of the ending to look at so you can see all the ways in which characters actions foreshadow that argument, but it’s also so heartbreaking that I’m glad I got to see it the way it was intended (ie spoiler free.)
As for the coffee theory, I understand people’s need to somehow make the ending less tragic. Lots of us have loved these characters for a really long time and desperately need them to have a happy ending, but I’m with you, in that I think it ruins what is a beautiful piece of character writing, and am hoping that season 3 doesn’t go that way. But I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.
@@Naumaxia Thank you for the warm welcome! So far I‘m having a really positive experience with the GO fandom.
Of course I wished I wouldn‘t have been spoiled as well, but since it got me into the series I don’t want to be mad about it. And once I’ve reached the actual scene I forgot most of the actual words they had said, at least in the actual moment, so that was definitely a good thing. I’m glad I binged most of season 2, so I didn’t let myself think too deeply about everything, (now I’m doing it even more though lol)
As for the coffee theory I now understand why people would want it to be true. They’ve known the characters for years, sometimes decades and they all wanted their confession/kiss to be a huge romantic moment and certainly not for Aziraphale to react the way he did. I’d probably be the same if not for the fact that I don’t really like it that much if the drama mainly stems from the person in question simply not being themself and I find a conflict MUCH more impactful if it’s a result of a person’s honest feelings and inherited flaws. Even if that hurts a lot more. Still I can understand the believers of the coffee theory to an extend.
Anyway, I’ve rarely been as excited for a season of a show as I am for season 3 of GO. Aziraphale and Crowley have found a way into my heart like few characters managed to do before. They are already one of my favorite love stories ever told.
Your video essay was great and really highlighted why I love the show and the characters so much. Thank you!
Just finished season 2 a few days ago and am waiting for a season 3. I also loved the queer representation in general(yes, Muriel should be protected at all costs.). Seeing Gabriel and Beelzebub becoming a couple made me scream because the fact that one of the greatest archangel and demon royalty coming together was so scandalous, but I was living for it. I was gagged. Also...WE ARE WAITING FOR THEM TO COME BACK TOGETHER, PLEASE! 😢
It’s going to be painful, but it is going to be so worth the wait, I just know it
I think the Metratron has been promoted from mere mouthpiece to Angel Godfather. And the next season needs to be way longer and quicker off the blocks, if Amazon is doing it.
I personally don’t mind the season lengths because I get that if you drag it out too long you get boring things in the middle. If it gets renewed though we should get season 3 slightly faster than season 2 as they won’t be dealing with Covid again. I reckon about 2-3 years from now?
Neil has a specific reason for making each of the three seasons six episodes long.
@@suitovI wonder if S3 will have seven episodes as a nod to the original title of good omens' sequel, '667: The Neighbour of the Beast'
i absolutely love this video! you hit on everything i’ve been thinking ever since i finished watching the season, but explained in such a clear and entertaining manner.
yeah, the real tragedy of the finale is that aziraphale DIDN’T choose heaven over crowley, he tried choosing heaven WITH crowley because he thought it would make things better :( it’s understandable why they both made the choices they did, but hooo boy is aziraphale going to need to put on a mega-musical production for his apology dance once he realizes his mistake.
hopefully the time away will make aziraphale realize that he needs to stop assuming what’s best and actually compromise, and crowley will realize he needs to explain himself more often instead of telling aziraphale whatever he thinks he wants to hear, just as you said. please communicate you ineffable idiots 😭
the point you made about gabriel and beelzebub getting together so quickly because, unlike aziraphale and crowley, the two of them were already the ones in charge and so they didn’t have to work through the same levels of trauma, is one i especially appreciated. i’ve seen a couple people say they thought it was odd those two got together so quickly, and while it was surprising (and, of course, hilarious) it is also very in character when you consider these differences in each ship’s circumstances! i’ve already gone on whole rants to my friends about this topic so hearing it talked about in this video delighted me.
i also have to mention how wonderful this art is!! it’s so cute, and i find the lighting coming from behind them beautiful. all the little details are so good, like the matching designs on each of their waistcoats ❤❤❤
all in all, this analysis of the show is spectacular. i massively agree with all the points you discussed, and getting adorable fanart on top of that is icing on the cake! thank you for making such a fantastic video
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed the video and the art. And yeah I agree with pretty much all of your points and am so glad there’s a whole bunch of people out there who are enjoying breaking it down and looking for the parallels too!
OMG yes I had the same thought about Gabriel and Beelzebub having it easy because they are the ones that don't have to suffer through all the trauma! It makes their love almost bittersweet to me
I also remember when nina said that she was not ready for new relationship and i think it reflects aziraphale and crowley where azi is not really in the right mindset to just go with crowley. he knows that heaven has their fair share of wrong but also he’s in denial and thinks he can fix it. its also very painful when you remember aziraphale saying crowley go too fast for him. Its also a very big part of aziraphale character to stand for what he think is correct umm like in season one when crowley ask aziraphale to run away, azi still want to try to save humanity, to save earth where he has spend a long time and has called home because he believe there’s something that can be done
I kind of feel like, Gabriel and Beelzebub show what Aziraphale and Crowley could be, where as Nina and Maggie show what they are. The difference is unlike Nina mad Maggie, they haven’t been able to communicate that to each other
I think the part that many miss is that for Aziraphale is essential that Heaven is THE good. His entire life has revolved around it, he _needs_ it to be good. Maybe needs fixing but essentially good. The same way he _needs_ to believe that people are essentially good & do wrong only when they're tempted into it or they don't know better. If his beliefs are false, his entire existence and ultimate reason to be... is gone. His identity will be gone. Believing otherwise is too heavy in his mind, so he'll refuse point blank doing it even if reality is slapping him in the face. I think that's why he chooses to accept the offer, in the firm belief that with time he'll set everything right again and maybe Crowley can come back or at least come to reason. He won't see because he can't and he doesn't want to, any other possibility.
I feel like the theory that Metatron hypnotized or miracled Aziraphale into joining him just does a huge disservice to the writing, which has been foreshadowing Aziraphale and Crowley coming to this sort of impasse since S1. AZ still wants to please heaven, despite how many times it's let him down, and Crowley doesn't trust heaven or hell and just wants to be with Aziraphale. They show that in the very first scene of s2e1 when they're both still angels, and again every time AZ questions heaven but ultimately sides with them over the course of the two seasons.
Aziraphale makes a flawed choice that is consistent with his (flawed) character, and just because we want to feel better about how heartwrenching the ending was doesn't mean we can just ignore all the groundwork and foreshadowing that was laid for this choice and pretend that he has no agency.
But that's just my opinion. Obviously if you want to write a fic where something else happens, knock yourself out XD I just think if we're talking canon, we should be honest about how good the writing is and accept that it would be far less compelling if Aziraphale were somehow magically forced to make this choice rather than doing it for his own reasons.
I completely agree! I love a good fix it fic as much as the next guy, but those are for fun, or when you want an easy answer. The actual show is so much more complex than that and I don’t like the idea of there being an easy out
You can see that Crowley is hurt because it was like Aziraphale was rejecting his whole person. Like hes not good enough as a demon. Makes me so sad :((
It’s particularly sad because I don’t think Aziraphale sees it that way at all. He’s it trying to tell Crowley he’s not good enough because he’s a demon, he’s trying to say he’s so good he deserved to be an angel, he just can’t understand that that’s not something Crowley would ever want
@@Naumaxia so sad 😭😭😭
I am so much wishing for a loving kiss in season three and Crowley saying:"I forgive you" to Zira and that finally being enough for him to heal. ❤
I would specifically like to hear Aziraphale say “forgive me?” Because I feel like those two words would show such a change from where his mindset has been the last six thousand years, and they’re the two words specifically that I think would be enough for Crowley to truly take him back
@@Naumaxia Even better ❤️
This is such a great essay! I love the reveal that the "investigations" and flashbacks were ultimately not about Gabriel AT ALL, but were actually shown to let us go deeper into Crowley and Aziraphale's love story, and why Aziraphale makes that heartbreaking decision in the end. Thank you for being kind and understanding to Azirarphale. It was unbearable seeing people literally curse at Aziraphale on tiktok. Thankfully I've seen more tiktoks and tweets that are more compassionate, and one in particular which explained that Metatron lovebombing and gaslighting Aziraphale really showed the cycle of abuse that Heaven maintains.
Glad you liked it! I’ve further noticed since I watched this, that all the flashbacks seem to be Aziraphales memories specifically, not crowleys. Which I think really adds to this creeping sense throughout the series that he’s struggling with his ideas of good and evil and doing the right thing
I'm glad you caught some "miracle" noises in relation to Metatron, but I'm surprised you didn't catch the one that was (to me at least) most obvious. At first I thought it was for effect as part of the music, but no it has the distinct heaven miracle sound that includes a little choir voice with the chime. (Hell miracles only have the chime.) And it happens RIGHT as Metatron says "Second Coming", and walks to the elevator and looks back at Aziraphale expectantly.
Then Metatron is so relieved when Aziraphale gets in, it really made me think he didn't think Aziraphale would come (and maybe that he's almost a bit scared of Aziraphale?). Maybe the power of Aziraphale & Crowley together scared him. They had tried their best to do tiny HALF miracles, and the result was referred to as only being possible by the mightiest archangel- the 2 of them together could probably take even the Metatron down.
So if Aziraphale was the main part of that or strong enough on his own, and if Metatron tried to mojo him, Metatron would realize there would be a good chance it wouldn't work.
Ooh that’s really interesting. I think I’d stopped listening for them by that point but if you’re right that’s very interesting indeed. I’m certainly of the opinion that the Metatron has calculated just how dangerous these two can be, and I also love the idea that he might be trying to miracle Aziraphale, but that it’s really not working that well
@@Naumaxia I think that could explain Aziraphale's face in the elevator during the credits too. He starts off sad and troubled before we watch Crowley get in his car. Then the rest of the time during the credits, he looks defiant, calculating, and even ends off with a kind of "evil grin" look. At first I thought he was closing himself off from hurt by getting angry and more self-righteous at Crowley or something (but that doesn't seem in character). Then I thought maybe he's figured the Metatron out and is thinking about plans, or plans to protect Earth for Crowley.
But along the lines of the Metatron miracle theory and Aziraphale being powerful, perhaps the return to Heaven shifts the power back to Metatron gradually- especially because Aziraphale is also getting farther and farther from Crowley. And Metatron only let out a sigh of relief once the elevator was closed and on its way.
Keep on rewatching guys, together we can make season 3 happen 🙌❤
Absolutely, I’m planning my third rewatch this week so I can get all the best references for more art!
@@Naumaxia your analysis actually convinced me to rewatch the whole show now. And it also made me crave drawing Fanart myself. So good job, you opened my eyes to how well thought-out this season actually was, whereas my original reaction was “aziraphael, what the someone are you doing!”
@@emdove so glad to hear it! Admittedly my reaction on first viewing was also just to sit there and beg Aziraphale through the screen to turn around and stop being such an idiot, but I can now see why it happened as infuriating as it was
@@Naumaxia that’s what I love about Neil Gaimans writing. While he did give us a lot we asked for, whether written in later or already intended when he was still working with Pratchett, he doesn’t coddle us. We got Gabriel and Beelzebub, and loads of queer rep (Muriel, my heart, my soul
@@emdove I completely agree! You never quite know what he’s going to do and as such the story is always surprising. I adore how complex and layered the characters are and whilst I would have adored a happy ending, the ending we did get has left me so excited for season three and what happens next!!
i think you perfectly analyzed s2 (and didnt completely disregard s1, unlike others have) and explained it all in an easily comprehensive way. you piece together both Crowley's and Aziraphale's religious trauma and how it effected them differently. although s2 isnt really supposed to be something on it's own, it really is a complete season the more you dig down and think about what's really happening. next time someone is angry at Aziraphale for "abandoning" Crowley, i'll have to send them this. wonderful job, and ill most likely rewatch this over and over again until Amazon pays the writers/actors more and we get a s3
Thank you so much! I’m really glad it made sense and that people like the video. I adored this season and whilst I get that some people are upset, I really hope that they come to see it how I do, as a really masterful piece of character writing!
I feel the same. I'm on your side with this review. I too think it's genius writing and I love how, despite all the foreshadowing and clues building up to the final moment, I was still hesitant to believe that it's actually true and theyre finally going to that direction in the story. To be so moved away and left thinking and doubting reality up to the final moment, sigh, if that isn't genius I dont know what is. true however that I am one of the people you mentioned that clung onto this series as a happy pill, that wouldve been happy with the idea of these two acting like a married couple for all eternity, despite that being my case, I'm still happy and excited that there will be more. that we will see them grow and develop from here on out. that their traumas would be dealt with and they we will be part of that journey. and I'd take that journey with pain and suffering rather than leaving everything to my imagination. and with that, I'm so ready for season 3. and some sleep cause I'm just rumbling here with no sleep and 3 cups of coffee so maybe I'm not making sense sorry.
No you make perfect sense and I completely agree. I would have adored a happy ending for them in s2 but I can’t deny that the ending we did get was really powerful, and provides so much more depth and future development that it’ll be worth it in season 3
This is one of the best breakdowns I've seen so far. There are a lot of people who really don't understand how complex Neil's writing is. But even going back and watching s1 after s2 things start to take on multiple meanings and added significance. The more you watch it the more you see. Like how Crowley's car responds to its driver and turns yellow for Aziraphale because he thinks it's pretty. Aziraphale literally never has anything yellow anywhere near him in either season - except Crowley's eyes. The parallels with Nina and Maggie are amazing, I hope they return. Muriel seems to be just like Aziraphale was in the beginning, but being in a bookshop will get her up to speed very quickly and both Aziraphale and Crowley need to learn to function as healthy, trauma-healed individuals before they can be in their dream relationship that Beelzebub and Gabriel have - running off to Alpha Centuri together. Season 3 will be mind blowing.
Thank you so much!!
It’s such an amazing show though that I could dissect it for decades and still probably find something I hadn’t seen before XD
Thanks for pointing out that Nina called Maggie “Angel.” ☺️
Thank you for bringing some clarity into my mind about this. As much as I was hurt and had to battle the urge to rewrite the ending on my own terms I still thought Aziraffels behaviour made sense some where but didn't know exactly where . Thank you again for bringing it down to us and make me personally not hate the ending anymore.
I’m glad I was able to help. I think everyone has a strong urge to rewrite the ending. I was literally begging Aziraphale through the screen to turn back when I first watched it. But having a whole season for them to work to build trust and get over this hurt will be so rewarding when it finally happens. Until then though we have fix-it fanfics!
Great analysis. (And great drawing! I envy you your mastery of the software SO much!")
The mini-episodes are Aziraphale flashing back on his memories of vital interactions with Crowley, and even more how they've involved his own moral struggles with how Heaven fails to be good. His own struggles to understand good. The more you watch the more you realizing these are Aziraphale's memories.
Aziraphale and Crowley both made the "right" choices for them but the wrong choices for "us." For now. But it's a lot like Nina and Maggie: Not now is not the same thing as not ever.
As for Aziraphale: can anyone imagine Aziraphale "retiring" from an eternal effort to promote goodness and to be good? He can't just run away and be half an "us" in the same way one suspects Crowley can, because while Crowley is good, he's not committed to good. He can BE a demon, even if it's only up to the point Hell goes too far. One is not sure Aziraphale can ever just give up on being an angel. The two need to work out another answer, and it's no longer "Not heaven or hell," it has to be "Not Heaven and not running away and quitting the good-evil game." Because Aziraphale can't ever quit trying to be a good angel any more than Crowley can resume being an angel.
Postscript:
Crowley won't say why he fell at least in part because on some level Crowley does feel guilty--I personally think a blend of confused, furiously resentful, and guilty. It's possible he faced down God somewhat like he faces down Aziraphale in that last sequence: all Byronic passion, and anger, and blame, and trying to force a response. And no one seems to note that Crowley's kiss is forced, borderline violent, demanding...and that Aziraphale literally is shocked, confused, and hurt. It's only in the aftermath that he starts to process that kiss as his "Silly, silly" demon making a muddled mess of love. His immediate reaction is to having been rejected at first, scolded and yelled at, taken the brunt of Crowley's blame and sarcasm--and then pounced on and forced-kissed.
Thank you so much!
And yeah ‘not yet’ is definitely the situation they’ve found themselves in, although I suspect neither Crowley or Aziraphale have worked that out yet as overwhelmed as they both are. Aziraphales goodness is so important to him, but the system needs dismantling and rebuilding from scratch for him to actually be able to do good, and I’m not sure that’s within his power all alone
wow... beautifull word
@@Naumaxia (Nod) Watching the end-end-end--the very last sequences and the faces during the credits--I think Aziraphale does figure out that it's not-yet. As he also figures out better that it's Crowley just being very bad at love and courtship and at not-melodrama and sarcasm. Crowley's *Byronic.* He's also...Well. He's "Wuthering Heights" and Cathy and Heathcliff. Aziraphale is Jane Austen and he's "Jane Eyre," with plenty of feeling, but a lot less Byrony. (Hit me--I how can I resist combining irony and Byron? It's too tempting...). But, yeah. Aziraphale CARES about being good. Crowley cares more about not being evil in ways that disgust him personally.
There was also paralel that I read, that Bel and Gabriel didnt care about the world, they cared about each other. But Crowley and Zira love the Word and that is why they cannot just simply turn their back and just run.
Ooh good point!
Absolutely gorgeous art❤. I also appreciate your perspective on the coffee theory and how it shows that Aziraphale's actions can make sense even without it. Aziraphale and Crowley are flawed characters, and their actions are heavily influenced by the religious trauma and hurt caused by their respective sides. While this might not lead to a happy season finale, it's a crucial element for them to begin understanding each other better and acknowledge the depth of their misunderstandings. Neil gaimans set up for season 3 is masterclass writing, I’m so fking excited to see more. Never in a million years would I imagine my favorite book and characters to be written this wonderful for a second season.
Thank you so much! And yeah whilst I’m sure there is a hidden twist somewhere in this ending, I much prefer versions where their decisions are entirely their own. It makes the characters so much richer and more complex and does set up for season three beautifully as you say
your point about rewatching is so spot on, first time i was like why is hell even that bothered about gabriel and then you rewatch and beelzebub’s behaviour makes the world of sense
Yeah it suddenly all becomes so clear. Especially as Dagon and the rest of hell seem relatively unbothered about it all unless it gives them a chance to start a war
I can't imagine them being seperated for long considering the massive amount of miscommunication paperwork they need to do and Aziraphale only being interested in averting another apocalypse what if they trick him into causing it?
Honestly, Crowley nearly always goes back for Aziraphale the moment he’s in danger, even if they have fought so I suspect it won’t be too long. However with Aziraphale up in heaven, he might not have anyway of knowing Aziraphale needs help which could cause some problems
Seeing all the promo material hint at them as a long time ineffable bureaucracy shipper was WILD i felt like I was going insane. And then they went canon in the sweetest fluffiest way possible and Im so mentally ill about them rn.
I so did not see it coming and the realisation as I was watching it was so much fun! Like Gabriel is a horrible terrible person and I kinda want to hate him, but he’s so soft for them that I can’t really because they’re just so cute together
I was on the side of Coffee Theory™, until my friend sat me down and said “I need you to be so serious right now and think. use that thing upstairs!”
As much as I would love to say the decision taken at the end by Aziraphale was not him… It definitely was. Here’s his whole thing: he’s fighting what he’s been told for millennia that what heaven stands for is “good” and that hell is for “bad”.
So they save the world because they love humanity, and they’ve seen it through its triumphs, and it’s defeats and love it, because of its flaws, only for him to have an identity crisis, because if Heaven was willing to let an 11-year-old destroy the world, what is good? He disagreed with armageddon but never wanted to truly sever ties with Heaven.
Our favourite Angel’s problem has always been he doesn’t know where middle ground is and it’s very nuanced, I mean he believed that starting with nothing gives you all the opportunities in the world which sounds very ‘pull yourself by your bootstraps’ doesn’t it? but he says it out of this hope and belief that if you have nothing, God and heaven will give you everything! it’s not malicious, It’s what he’s been brainwashed to believe and thus held onto and this was the in 1800s!
And then this season comes around, and here is amnesiac Gabriel. Finally! Purpose and a way for him to do good! and the entire season we see him give heart eyes to Crowley, but then he remembers “wait - he worked for hell, meaning he might be bad,” but then he also remembers “but he can’t be bad because I know him and I know he is not this villain heaven paints him out to be” so when he finally gets the opportunity to do what he HOPES Crowley always wanted and where he believes he was happiest, which was when he was an angel, obviously he’s going to take it.
Aziraphale truly believes he can finally make how heaven is run purely good. He loves the institution or idea of it and god but believes they simply lost their way of operating, and he hopes he can fix this AND have Crowley by his side as an angel. They can finally be an ‘US’ in his mind, because they will be on the on the side of ‘good.’
The Metratrain took advantage of the fact that Aziraphale always wants to do what he thinks God, in Her infinite wisdom wants, but I do think he made the choice himself without much influence to believe that from within the system, he can make it pure again, and that Crowley can finally be happy, and they can finally get to have a life together without any moral ambiguity… Forgetting that the same thing that makes him love humanity, ambiguity and the grey area, is where he and Crowley ended up falling in love and ended up deciding to carve out a life for themselves together.
And part of him realises he lost Crowley when he looks at him at the end, but Aziraphale is one thing: stubborn. He’s made his choice and he’s going to stick by it…Even at the detriment of the one “person“ and relationship that has been good for him, and has stood the test of time for millions of years.
One thing Mr Michael Sheen is gonna do? It’s ACT baby. You just see and feel the conflict within him and then the resolve. the “fine. If you won’t do this with me then I won’t be with you. I will say the thing that will hurt you the most.” Because he’s used to Crowley huffing but eventually coming round to his ideas and side so him not doing so this time cuts him.
So he cuts Crowley back: “I forgive you.”
Oh my gosh this is AMAZINGGGG!!!!!!! what fabulous analysis!!!!! I initially thought so much of episode 6 was random and therefore unsatisfying, like the fly holding memories?? That was never foreshadowed! And Gabriel and Belzebub seemed to fall in love very very randomly imo -- BUT!!! your analysis is making me look at it allllll differently!! I totally want to watch it again now to see if i can spot Belzubub showing signs of being in love!!! (I also ABSOLUTELY LOOOVED any time their pronouns were used; it made me so so happy, and even my mom gendered them correctly!!!) And your insights on what the minisodes added?!?!? OMG!!! i am blown away! I loved them when I was watching them the first time. But then afterwards was unsure what they added besides Crowley & Aziraphale generally spending time with one another, but your breakdown of those parts and what they ACTUALLY meant -- such as demonstrating trust (I loooooved the bullet catch scene and my dad is actually a professional magician so he knew all about it!) and Aziraphale wrestling with his idea of good intentions in the graveyard one! I thought that one was about Crowley eventually siding with him because he said "convince her being poor is ineffably good" -- oh yeah!!! And your conclusion was BRILLIANT!!! how absolutely EVERYTHING was leading to them falling apart?!?! AHHHH!!!?! I didn't even realize that!!! 💔💔💔 ANYWAYS!!! thank you sooooo much!!!!!! You've single-handedly changed my entire perception and overall response to season 2!!!!!!! Thank you SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍
I’m so glad you liked it!! I had to agree that the ending felt a little bit random at first to me too. There were some clues of course, but not that many given it was six episodes. But then when I changed my focus it all started to clock into place, and I’m really glad some other people are looking at it that way too now
I kinda hope that in season 3 that they’ll have a flashback to the exact moment of when Crowley fell. I think it would be really interesting to see Aziraphales reaction to that. given how much the fall obviously hurt Crowley, but we dont really know how much it must've hurt Aziraphale as well.
Definitely. Crowleys fall is so integral to his identity and I think understanding that would make Aziraphale finally realise why Crowley wasn’t willing to go with him
I definitely want to see a beatific Benedict Cumberbatch Lucifer on the way to being cast down.
this is such a nice video !! i agree with a lot of things you say shdjsjdjdj. i personally really do not enjoy the coffee theory because azi’s character is so much more complex and intrinsically deep.
i mention to anyone who will listen to me that i think azi is so religiously brainwashed that he still believes heaven can be good. he is an angel, he is good. but since he got kicked out, that meant he wasn’t good enough.
i dont think either of them are at fault here except for heaven and hell. i think all of this comes down to communication. and though i think azi should do the “you were right” song, i don’t inherently think that this is something he is at fault.
aziraphale is still operating in the good vs bad system, he hasn’t fully deprogramed his indoctrination.
to crowley, aziraphale was saying, “i want to make you good enough for heaven.” and aziraphale was trying to say, “i want to make heaven good enough for you. i want to make myself good enough for you.”
i have lots more to say and have written down, but essentially this whole thing is just how religious trauma affects people differently in my humble opinion KSJSKSJDLDJ.
again, great video, and also, amazing art !! i was transfixed the entire time
Yep, I’m with you, I’d much prefer meaningful character development over the coffee theory :)
I was clapping in agreement when you started talking about their different ways of loving. I think it's important to note that they both wanted to be together and tried to make the other one happy or in Azi's case, keep Crowley safe. Averting the apocalypse and making a better heaven n all. He sacrificed his OWN happiness wich was to BE with Crowley, to sort of save Crowley or love him in his own way. Which makes him sad bc he can't in fact be with him, but he just powers and smiles through the pain. I
I find it even more heartwrenching when I realise that heaven was always treating Azi bad and putting him down despite his good intentions, and in those moments h e w a s a l w a y s s m i l i n g. So he's used to it by now.
Yeah it’s so important to me the way they both knew they wanted to be together in the future, they just disagreed on how to go about it.
I think Crowley is something other than demon or angel. He's says himself that he didn't fall, he just sort of sauntered downward and his passwords still work in Heaven.
I think in terms of physical matter he is definitely still a demon, heaven seem like the sort of idiots who never change their passwords, but I think the way the world regards Crowley by now is certainly as something else. He holds no alignment to either heaven or hell and has made his stance on that very clear. He’s sort of a force of chaotic good in the world
@@Naumaxia He's distinctly different than the other demons, as he was different as an angel by asking questions. I think he's always been a step outside regardless of his assigned alliance. It can't even be blamed on "going native" with the time spent on Earth, because he's always been Crowley. He is going to have to rescue Aziraphale, but with any luck, Aziraphale will have sorted himself by the time he gets there.
What I don’t understand why Aziraphale *didn’t* understand is that Gabriel himself started to disagree and say no to Heaven’s big plans and they decided to overthrow him and wipe his memory! Pretty sure there was talk of discorporation? And suddenly The Metatron comes down to ask Aziraphale to take Gabriel’s place, despite knowing his history with disagreeing with Heaven and their big plans, AND HE TAKES THE JOB?? I think it’s a ploy. They only showed him taking the elevator up, they never showed him reaching the floor or what happened after. They know he’s been avoiding going up to heaven for all this time (after season 1) and this time they know it’s just him they’re taking (even though they thought that last time but it was actually Crowley)
I think from Aziraphale’s perspective he’s hoping that because the Metatron chose him they actually want his ideas and input. If they wanted a Gabriel clone they could have just picked Michael instead. But choosing Aziraphale and offering for him to bring Crowley is a direct deviation from normal heavenly protocol given they’re both traitors, which implies in his mind that heaven is willing to change and grow.
Now obviously I agree that it’s one big trap because as you said they got rid of Gabriel so fast, and would probably be much more efficient at getting rid of the next one, but Aziraphale can’t see this and didn’t give himself enough time to properly think it all through. Crowley on the other hand absolutely can see it like a glaring great warning sign smacking him in the face, but doesn’t manage to communicate it properly because he’s panicking too much.
Season 3 is going to be a ride that’s for sure
So I'm pretty sure...Aziraphale doesn't actually know about *any* of that. Crowley knows about Gabriel ditching heaven's plans and the trial and how he got to earth. But there was never a chance to relay any of that info to Aziraphale or anyone else. (In fact, maybe that's why Metatron showed up so fast and whisked Aziraphale away.)
And none of the characters know the romance history of Gabriel and Beelzebub except themselves (and the audience). The only thing the rest of them know of it was them suddenly professing their love and leaving.
Crowley definitely panicked, understandably. I wish he would've convinced Aziraphale to take a few days or even hours to think it over and for them to exchange more info and talk it over before he decided.
@@sciencemama6801 Oh no that’s true!! 😧🫣
@@klaudia6057 yeah. 😢 And Crowley doesn't know the Second Coming is coming either!
@@sciencemama6801 Even bigger OH NO! Gosh dammit, where is that Gaiman, I need answers! 😫😭
"This is the story of how Aziraphale and Crowley got separated"
You're right. You're so, SO right. With what Neil said about S2 being a bridge, I have no doubt that this is exactly the story he intended to write. So yes, I think you got in better than many fans. Thank you.
Oh, and your art is gorgeous too!!!
Thank you so much! And yeah I understand why people are upset because we were all really routing for them, but this is going to give them so much growth and development in season 3!
Lovely analysis, I really enjoyed it! 😊 I think you're absolutely right about the coffee being only significant from a human manipulation perspective. However, one thing I haven't seen a discussion of is Metatron's conversation with Nina about "Give Me Coffee or Give Me Death." He asks if anyone's ever chosen death, she says no, he says how predictable humans are. As I watched that, I was sure the coffee would be poison. It could be a metaphor, of course - about always choosing something that appears sweet and tasty, rather than frightening. Or the foreshadowing of Aziraphale's rejection of his own humanity, symbolized by death.. But that shop name can't be insignificant.
You read my mind!! This is exactly how I feel about season 2 and its ending!! Now I just need to figure out a way to stop crying over it-
Glad you liked it! I am coping by doing lots of art and making a heart wrenching animatic about it. It’s sort of working…?
This is so fabulous!! Both the drawing and the analysis. I didn’t even think about the coffee-excellent catch! I think you’re right though, the decisions make sense for the characters. I don’t blame Crowley for being so heartbroken. I think not only did he not know how to stop Aziraphale, but was also likely hurt that, after all they’d been through together, Aziraphale didn’t right away understand why Crowley could never, EVER make that decision. That Aziraphale would abandon all the lessons learned together, and Crowley himself, as soon as he was put back on a pedestal by heaven, was probably such a gut punch.
Thank you so much for you analysis i understood how the Aziraphale thinks about heaven and why he was so desperate, but I've never though about Crowley side of the coin and his fall trauma! Planning my fourth rewatch this week and i will be paying much more attention to Crowley this time!❤
Yeah, everyone seems to be focussing on Aziraphale but technically there was nothing to stop Crowley going with him, even just to keep him safe. But they both have so much past to deal with that it was never going to work
This season had me screaming, crying AND throwing up. This is peak TV
Agreed!!
It's kinda depressing how many fans coffee theory has, it's such bad writing. I guess it's why so many bad books have loads of fans. It's absolutely in character for aziraphale to not give up on heaven and try to use it as a force for good. The I forgive you was not for the kiss, but for Crowley giving up on the fight for good, it's a parallel for season 1, the same I forgive you.
I think I agree. Something like the coffee theory is great when you want to read a bit of sappy fanfic that makes everything ok again, and it’s perfectly fine to want an easy answer sometimes. But for a character like this who’s so complex and layered, I also want to see the difficult solution where he has to fight to make things right again!
Eh I don't really like the take that Crowley should have been "more logical" in the final scene. He has made the argument you're describing over and over to Aziraphale for millennia in a wide variety of different circumstances, and it's never taken. He's trying something else because, much like the scene in S1 where Crowley invites him to run away to Alpha Centauri, despite Crowley being absolutely right that heaven is not going to help, AZ still sides with heaven in that moment, and Crowley calls him an idiot for it. Would it have been "more helpful" to be unemotional and make a logical argument in both moments? Maybe, but if you'd been making he same argument to someone for 6000 years and they still aren't getting it, it seems pretty unreasonable to expect that you would never get emotional about that, especially when it comes to potentially losing that person or losing the world you share.
Crowley kissing Aziraphale works for me so well bc it is so clearly a last desperate attempt to make AZ understand when all other methods have failed to convince him for 6000 years.
To clarify it’s not that I think Crowley should have acted more logically. Obviously it was an exceedingly distressing moment and he’s going to act in a very human way and do the only thing he thinks will work. It’s more that I think that if Aziraphale had had some of the context of crowleys internal turmoil it might have effected his decision. We saw in season one when they agreed to be godfathers that if Aziraphale can find the loopholes or the right reasoning, he’s perfectly happy to ignore heaven. The problem is he didn’t have any of that logic to help him here. I’m not blaming crowley, his reaction was perfectly suited to the situation, I’m more suggesting that the kiss and the overwhelming nature of the confession might have pushed Aziraphale further away rather than convinced him to stay.
The lack of communication is a real stickler for these two and it’s so painful to see them constantly trying to protect one another and pushing each other away in the process
Fair enough! @@Naumaxia
Maggie and Nina are a really interesting metaphor for Aziraphale and Crowley because at first we’re encouraged to see Maggie and Aziraphale as similar, and Crowley and Nina as similar. But in the end we realize that like Nina, Aziraphale has been struggling to reconcile with a toxic, abusive partner. In his case, Heaven.
While Crowley has essentially been divorced for a long time, and has the black wings to prove it. Aziraphale, while being troubled over the flaws in his significant other, nonetheless is like a recently separated person who still wears his wedding ring. Both Gabriel and Metatron are great representations for this relationship. After previously trying to kill Aziraphale and then kicking him to curb, Gabriel shows up at his door naked with what looks like his dick in a box. He is sweet, loving, acts like nothing bad ever happened between them, but easily apologizes when confronted with past ill treatment he conveniently doesn’t remember. He acts helpless and Aziraphale immediately takes him in, lets him move in, takes care of him. Crowley, who witnessed firsthand the abuse and is very suspicious of this sudden change, is reluctant to help him, but stays to support his friend.
The other angels show they are willing to listen to Aziraphale when he pits his foot down later on, and then Metatron asks for Aziraphale to come back, promising to put him first and follow his lead. Aziraphale is convinced that Heaven can change for the better, with his help. It will be different, this time. It’s a classic victim-forgives-abusive-partner scenario.
But the thing is that as frustrating as this is, the first thing therapists and such will say is that a person has to be ready to leave the abusive relationship, they cannot be pushed.
Nina, who is at least broken-up (though she did not leave of her own accord), admits that she is not ready for a new relationship, and Maggie backs off to give her the space to process and heal. Crowley, on the other hand, afraid to lose Aziraphale, gives his best friend a sudden, aggressive kiss, in a scene which looks like he probably took it straight from a romance movie. Unfortunately, what looks romantic in movies is much less so in real life. Consent is romantic, guys.
Crowley crosses a line that Aziraphale is in no way ready to have crossed and the angel is clearly hurt by it. While some fans take his “I forgive you” as a rejection of Crowley’s feelings…in light of Nina, and the wounded look on the angel’s face, I think he is forgiving Crowley for the violation of his person and autonomy. It’s like if Maggie had suddenly kissed Nina earlier. It would have been really inappropriate, to the point that the series actually points out what a bad idea that would have been, in the canopy scene.
It’s not surprising that Crowley is feeling desperate, though. Gabriel (Heaven) is coded like a rival, right from Nina asking about Aziraphale’s “naked man” and Aziraphale’s immediate glance at Crowley’s raised eyebrows. Plus, there’s the demon’s confrontation of the archangel when they are both residing in the bookshop (but Gabriel moved in and has his own bedroom!!). Not to mention how flirtatious some of the things Gabriel says come across.
I also love that conversation where Nina asks if Crowley has a boyfriend/husband and Aziraphale is his “bit on the side.” While Crowley makes it clear that is not how it is, the case could be made that AZIRAPHALE sort of has a husband and Crowley refusing to go back to Heaven with him is kind of like refusing to be his side chick. Crowley needs to be Aziraphale’s main squeeze- an “us” vs “them.” He doesn’t want to be just a friend any more, much less a sister wife.
Yes! This is a fantastic exceedingly long comment that I don’t have time to respond to each part individually, but I essentially agree with all of it! The parallels between the two relationships are so strong and there are so many hidden undertones in it to find. I also love the messaging through both Aziraphale and crowleys relationship, and Maggie and Nina, that you can’t force love. That it has to happen naturally, and trying to force it or manipulate it into being only ever makes things worse and often gets in the way of the very real feelings that might actually exist
I do also think that the Metatron did something because at the end of the credits in the final episode we see Aziraphale smiling which is feels odd given how things ended.
i think aziraphale smiling was him trying to convince himself that he made the right choice. although im definitely still hating on the metatron.
I really hope that him smiling was him deciding to take down heaven from the inside :/
Found it hard to tell, Amazon decided to slap a big advert for Dune right over Aziraphales face.
@@swanchamp5136 You can click the "Hide" button.
I've debated his array of facial expressions too. A lot of information has been thrown at him in a very short time, and in the still and quiet of the elevator ride I think things are dawning on him. I'm inclined to believe he smiles at the idea of thwarting a second coming, but Crowley's confession of love may also be sinking in. Perhaps he smiles too because he recognizes feelings in himself he hadn't previously allowed or attached to himself (regarding him and Crowley).
Why was Gabriel and Beezlebub so cute together? I was literally drowning in rainbows.
I know! Like Gabriel is a terrible person?? How did that last episode make me genuinely root for him and Beelzebub?? It makes no sense but they were so cute
i cried so much that my eczema flaired up
i was sobbing meanwhile my skin was just ✨️burning✨️
Oh no! Hope you’re ok now :) y’know, physically. Emotionally I’m not sure any of us will ever recover
Excellent video, i was trying to find something like this to calm my heart and help me organise my thoughts.
I just got to know good omens and ended up seeing season 1 and 2 in 3 consecutive days, my heart was not prepared for this, but i'm happy i got in this series, it's making me feel like my teenager self absolutely obsessed by a series and ready to devour content about it, write fanfiction and draw fanart
Welcome to the fandom then! It’s a bit of a chaotic time given what season two has done to us all, but trust me when I say it’s a brilliant supportive place, and this series is such a centre for queer joy and hope for humanity and I really hope you stick around
I thought the ending of this season worked very well, especially if you consider the end of the first season when they switched "faces." Aziraphale never really saw how awful Heaven and Gabriel was in the way Crowley did, and well, of course, Hell and its denizens were going to be horrible. Crowley, on the other hand, already knew the Heaven was dreadful and the almost callous glee when Gabriel ordered "Aziraphale" to just shut up and die just proved Crowley's thoughts on Heaven. So the tragedy comes when Aziraphale is offered the carrot of returning to Heaven and taking Crowley with him and doesn't have the concrete understanding that Crowley has that Heaven is toxic no matter what pretty facade that is put up.
That said I really want a season three that end with them reconciled.
Agreed! He does know that Gabriel is a bad person, but he has no idea of the extent, or why Crowley is so scared of heaven conceptually. Hopefully he’ll figure it out before things get too bad though and then he can work on winning his demon back
For Aziraphale, it's "...bad angels!" rather than "systemic issue". Because he never saw Gabriel's naked, sadistic glee at that moment, and because _they never talk._ it seems Crowley hasn't told him just how nasty it was.
@@suitov Yes, exactly. I suspect in this case (their other issues are another matter) Crowley just couldn't bring himself to even describe it to Aziraphale as it so horrified and frankly scared him. We see Aziraphale cheerfully describe the antics he pulled (the rubber duck, the towel) while Crowley sits there possibly not wanting to bring down Aziraphale's good mood.
You start season one thinking Crowley is Nina but by episode 6 you realize he is the Maggie
Yeah pretty much actually
I definitely noticed that the Metatron gives Crowley a very DARK look before he leaves to talk with Aziraphale over coffee, and I think that lines up with the possible read that Metatron never expected Crowley to say "yes" to coming back to Heaven in the first place.
Yeah I noticed recently that the ominous music kicks in the moment Metatron looks at Crowley so I certainly don’t think he had good intentions towards him. I don’t think he brainwashed Aziraphale either though (I’m not sure you can brainwash an angel like that) but just used very human methods of manipulation to hurt him
I loved your analysis! It really touched on some of my feelings as well. I'm also wondering if maybe Aziraphale feels, in some way, guilty for the fact that Crowley fell. He tries to gently suggest that maybe a suggestion box isn't a great idea in the first scene, but I wonder if he might feel as though he could've done more to keep Crowley from falling, keep him from asking the questions out loud? That would add another layer to the last scene, where he might see bringing Crowley back to heaven as a way of righting his wrongs and making the world right again (especially in the way you said, by fitting with his world view once more). That would also make the 'I forgive you' bit at the end more heartwrenching, because it would be what Aziraphale was hoping to earn for himself.
Thanks! And yeah I think you could definitely have a point there! I very much got the impression that Aziraphale wants to fix heaven for Crowley. He thinks Crowley deserves so much better than what happened to him during the fall and doesn’t know how to make it right again
I think this fandom often forgets that Crowley isnt the only one traumatized by Heaven and that Az is very much Not Free from them yet. He isnt away from his abusers nor does he have the same pull that Crowley does against his people. Hes very much still stuck and he wants to believe things can be ok again - even though we as the viewers know otherwise. Because thats how abuse WORKS.
Aziraphale is described by i think Nina??? As being the one who always sees the good in things. And hes doing it here. Because IMO thats how hes coping. If he doesnt think about the bad, he can just move on from the problems hes faced
Yes! Crowley has been traumatised by heaven, but it was a long long time ago now, and he’s had 6000 years to start to come to terms with that. It still hurts of course, but he’s worked through a lot of those issues, and hell doesn’t really have any grip on him because he’s known he’ll was corrupt from the start. Aziraphale on the other hand has only just started to accept that heaven is toxic and broken when he’s then given an opportunity to try fix it and make it the way he believes it should be!
He can’t fix it… but he hasn’t realised this yet, that’s for next season
@Naumaxia trauma is soooo hard to recover from, my C-PTSD causes me so many issues, and I've been free for...almost 3 years now, Jesus. Azi hasn't been out for anywhere NEAR as long and likely hasn't started processing ANY of it let alone accepted that they hurt him.
Season 3 is gonna *hurt* not only with the angst between the Husbands but also like...Azi is gonna get really hurt
I entirely agree that Metatron set a trap. A terrifying, existential trap. He appealed to Aziraphale's conviction that he could make things better. And, as you said, they don't communicate, so it didnt occur to him that Crowley might say no. Its not until Metatron has gotten Aziraphale away from Crowley that he explains the job is heading up Armageddon #2. Which is about the last thing he (and Crowley) want, and Heaven (and Hell) were willing to work together to destroy them both. So he will be watched closely to see that he executes the plan, because if they suspect any deviation, they'll execute him. He cant warn Crowley, because that will put Crowley at risk, that being the other last thing Aziraphale wants. I think, at the last, on the way up, the extent of this trap, and the extent of Heaven's betrayal, is dawning on Aziraphale.
Honestly I just think that aza has never seen crowly as truly happy as when he made the stars, he just wants crowley to be happy again
Yeah there’s a bitterness to Crowley after the fall that he never quite shakes, he loses his optimism and Aziraphale doesn’t quite realise that that isn’t something you can get back. The Crowley who made the stars is still a part of him, but he is who he is because he fell
I had the exact same thoughts about Aziraphels choice !!! The ending was really heartbreaking but I loved it because everything made just perfect sense ! I also expected a big Mystery when first watching it and when the Gabriel and Beelzebub thing came out (rly loved them they are so sweet together) I thought wait what do these other flashbacks have to do with it ? Then the ending came and oh boy that's such an interesting setting for season 3!!!
really excellent analysis! i agree with your breakdowns of their characters, it kind of made me sad when i saw people were saying aziraphale wasn't autonomous in making his choice at the end. it seemed perfectly right for him in my eyes. also i am in so much pain
The pain is real, but if it was his choice (which I hope it was) then it’s going to make the redemption arc in season 3 so sooo good
I don't think god let crowley really fall... She just let him go from a place where he didn't fit in. Hell is not much better but at least he get to be his own person and not be as black and white as the other demons and angels
Yeah, I think that Crowley has so much resentment toward Heaven because he was in the same place as Aziraphale. It was kind of like Nina's brake up, Heaven and God just let him go (maybe after some bad situations where he had been appointed a task that he questioned) and he realised that they didn't care for him, or for any other angel for this matter, at all. They maybe even disliked him with how much he questioned the will of God, the same as they are not found of Aziraphale because of him questioning everything.
This is a BRILLIANT analysis of Season 2. Your illustration is adorable, too! (Have you come across the BBC Sit-Com 'Cabin Pressure' - written by John Finnemore, it is just so good.) I cannot wait for Season 3!
Thank you so much! And I haven’t heard of Cabin Pressure but I am now very tempted to check it out
That was all so well said. I’ve always had a hard time expressing myself properly, in a way that makes sense and follows a golden thread and you’ve really done it here.
A lot of it I have already been thinking about myself, but you have also brought up some other points that I haven’t thought of yet, simply because there is just so much in this story to untangle.
I’ll definitely be using this as a summary if my thoughts go all over the place, because I’m thinking about this new season and Good Omens in general so much lately, that I’m starting to lose it.
So this is great thank you.
Thanks! Honestly I’m shocked this video makes sense because my thoughts felt so all over the place that I was as certain I must have missed something, so to hear it follows some semblance of reason is very reassuring
this was such a great analysis!!
Thank you so much!
I watched this video before watching the actually show when I went back I watch this video and honestly I think knowing how it would all end made me cry harder as I felt some tragic irony as the scene began cause I new it was gonna end badly.
This was a great break down of the characters!
Your point about what the story was building towards is such a good one! In hindsight it's the exact same pattern as in season one where the things that's driving the plot is pretty seperate from our main characters (which is the part of the story that we arguably care about the most). They somewhat involved in the main plot (trying to stop the apocalypse, hiding Gabriel) but ultimately the plot more influences them and their story than they influence the plot
so, when they're about to go to heaven in the ending scene, the metatron says "we call it the second coming" and there's a very noticeable miracle sound effect. i'm not really sure what it would be a miracle for, but i think it's super interesting and it has to be intentional
I’m sure it is! Although it’s just occurred to me he might have been summoning the lift? I’d have to rewatch it to be sure. But even if that is it, I just know the Metatron is up to something deeply suspicious and I’d be interested to know how much of this he’s been planning and how far back it goes
absolutely fantastic video essay, really puts everything in order and makes it all make sense
Thank you!!
There is another clearer miracle sound before Aziraphale gets into the elevator.
I love your analysis on this Season. You have such a good way at explaining character choices, the mindset each of them have, how it further impacts each of them, and why. It's really good. And your art is such a joy to see being made.
Thanks so much!! I really enjoyed the character breakdowns ngl
this was an INCREDIBLE analysis!! over the past few days i've read countless metas, theories and analyses on this season but yours has to be the absolute best. bravo🎉
Thank you so much!! Honestly I was just looking at what’s there. I won’t rule out any crazy or complex theories but I figured it made most sense to start with what we know for sure :)
great and informative analysis that pretty much spoke my mind! i definitely needed a video like this after finishing the season a few days ago and not really knowing what to do with myself
Glad i could help!!