Good Omens (Episodes 1-6 complete)
Jun. 12th, 2019 09:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meteordustSo I've kind of spent a big chunk of the past week watching and rewatching Good Omens.
I can't even remember when I first read the book. I know it was after discovering Discworld but before reading Sandman. My paperback copy is well worn and dearly cherished, and I especially have so much affection for Aziraphale and Crowley. I remember reading fic on LJ back in the days of Daegaer, afrai, and lower_tadfield. It used to be rare enough for Yuletide. It seemed to be one of those low-key, perennial, beloved fandoms.
Nothing low-key about it now.
Spoilery thoughts below.
Generally
* I am so happy this adaptation exists. Even though it's not flawless, it's faithful to the spirit of the book, and it brings to life so many wonderful scenes.
* I'm basically here for the Aziraphale and Crowley show. Luckily for me, the show was also here for the Aziraphale and Crowley show.
* Michael Sheen was amazing. I love actors who can act with their faces, the most minute change of expression conveying a multitude of emotions. His Aziraphale was the highlight of the show for me.
* David Tennant was - David Tennant. I love him as the Doctor, and he's a great actor 90% of the time, but he has a regrettable tendency towards sudden bursts of scenery chewing. Those instances distracted from his otherwise fine performance. He's not the Crowley in my head, but he makes a good Crowley nonetheless.
* The Them were all right, but didn't quite spark with the personality and humour they had in the book. Maybe because we don't get to spend as much time in their heads? The narrative gave them a lot of depth and nuance.
* Anathema wasn't quite what I imagined, but she was okay I guess? Newt was very much what I imagined, but his curse of computer ineptitude does read differently in 1990 (when he dreamed of being cutting edge) compared to 2019 (when it's a vital job skill).
* I was never that keen on the Sergeant Shadwell and Madam Tracy storylines, but I guess the show did the best it could with the material? Some of it is still awkward and uncomfortable.
Scenes I have rewatched a lot
* The Garden of Eden conversation. (Aziraphale shielding Crowley from the rain with one wing!)
* "Get in, angel."
* The entire first half hour of Episode 3, ie 6000 years of Aziraphale and Crowleyfalling in love having adventures. (Debating the Ark! Oysters in Rome! Working very hard in damp places to cancel each other out! Shakespeare's gloomy play! Saving the books! "You go too fast for me.")
* Both break-up scenes. (ALPHA CENTAURI. LET'S RUN AWAY TOGETHER. TWICE.)
* "To the world." *heart eyes*
Other things I loved
* The lion that tries to attack Adam and Eve, showing how important the gift of the flaming sword is to their survival.
* Noting that the Great Flood was localised, and that other long-lasting cultures (the Chinese, the Native Americans, and the Australians) were not affected.
* Heaven and Hell reflecting our modern conceptions: luxurious skyscraper offices versus dank dim basements. Especially Hell not being some cool dimension of fire and brimstone, but the realistic kind of soulsucking misery.
* The M25 flashback, with '70s Crowley and his unappreciative audience.
* The diversity of the casting, especially for the angels, demons, and Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
* All the Queen. Best album ever.
* Every single time Crowley calls Aziraphale "angel".
Things I wish they included
* The kids using makeshift weapons to defeat the Four Horsemen of the Apocalyse. (Substituting the flaming sword instead loses the nice symmetry.)
* The assembled hosts of Heaven and Hell. (Did they just run out of money?)
* Adam's speech about how Heaven and Hell are like rival gangs. (Because Greasy Johnson and the Johnsonites don't exist in this universe.)
It's been extraordinary to watch the fandom activity explode - and delightful to roll around in all the new fic, art, meta and memes.
I can't even remember when I first read the book. I know it was after discovering Discworld but before reading Sandman. My paperback copy is well worn and dearly cherished, and I especially have so much affection for Aziraphale and Crowley. I remember reading fic on LJ back in the days of Daegaer, afrai, and lower_tadfield. It used to be rare enough for Yuletide. It seemed to be one of those low-key, perennial, beloved fandoms.
Nothing low-key about it now.
Spoilery thoughts below.
Generally
* I am so happy this adaptation exists. Even though it's not flawless, it's faithful to the spirit of the book, and it brings to life so many wonderful scenes.
* I'm basically here for the Aziraphale and Crowley show. Luckily for me, the show was also here for the Aziraphale and Crowley show.
* Michael Sheen was amazing. I love actors who can act with their faces, the most minute change of expression conveying a multitude of emotions. His Aziraphale was the highlight of the show for me.
* David Tennant was - David Tennant. I love him as the Doctor, and he's a great actor 90% of the time, but he has a regrettable tendency towards sudden bursts of scenery chewing. Those instances distracted from his otherwise fine performance. He's not the Crowley in my head, but he makes a good Crowley nonetheless.
* The Them were all right, but didn't quite spark with the personality and humour they had in the book. Maybe because we don't get to spend as much time in their heads? The narrative gave them a lot of depth and nuance.
* Anathema wasn't quite what I imagined, but she was okay I guess? Newt was very much what I imagined, but his curse of computer ineptitude does read differently in 1990 (when he dreamed of being cutting edge) compared to 2019 (when it's a vital job skill).
* I was never that keen on the Sergeant Shadwell and Madam Tracy storylines, but I guess the show did the best it could with the material? Some of it is still awkward and uncomfortable.
Scenes I have rewatched a lot
* The Garden of Eden conversation. (Aziraphale shielding Crowley from the rain with one wing!)
* "Get in, angel."
* The entire first half hour of Episode 3, ie 6000 years of Aziraphale and Crowley
* Both break-up scenes. (ALPHA CENTAURI. LET'S RUN AWAY TOGETHER. TWICE.)
* "To the world." *heart eyes*
Other things I loved
* The lion that tries to attack Adam and Eve, showing how important the gift of the flaming sword is to their survival.
* Noting that the Great Flood was localised, and that other long-lasting cultures (the Chinese, the Native Americans, and the Australians) were not affected.
* Heaven and Hell reflecting our modern conceptions: luxurious skyscraper offices versus dank dim basements. Especially Hell not being some cool dimension of fire and brimstone, but the realistic kind of soulsucking misery.
* The M25 flashback, with '70s Crowley and his unappreciative audience.
* The diversity of the casting, especially for the angels, demons, and Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
* All the Queen. Best album ever.
* Every single time Crowley calls Aziraphale "angel".
Things I wish they included
* The kids using makeshift weapons to defeat the Four Horsemen of the Apocalyse. (Substituting the flaming sword instead loses the nice symmetry.)
* The assembled hosts of Heaven and Hell. (Did they just run out of money?)
* Adam's speech about how Heaven and Hell are like rival gangs. (Because Greasy Johnson and the Johnsonites don't exist in this universe.)
It's been extraordinary to watch the fandom activity explode - and delightful to roll around in all the new fic, art, meta and memes.
