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In the Beginning
Present Day
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In the Beginning
Season 1. Episode 1
Written by Neil Gaiman. Directed by Douglas Mackinnon.
Based on a book by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Starring: Michael Sheen as Aziraphale, David Tennant as Crowley
With: Daniel Mays as Arthur Young, Frances McDormand as Narrator / God (voice), Sian Brooke as Deirdre Young, Nick Offerman as Thaddeus Dowling, Ben Crowe as Freddie Mercury (voice), Doon Mackichan as Archangel Michael, Anna Maxwell Martin as Beelzebub, Nina Sosanya as Sister Mary Loquacious, Sam Taylor Buck as Adam Young, Schelaine Bennett as Eve, Jon Hamm as Gabriel, Anthony Kaye as Adam, Alistair Findlay as George Bush, Susan Brown as Mother Superior, Jasmine Hyde as Sister Grace Voluble, and Ollie as Dog.
Good Omens follows Aziraphale, an angel, and Crowley, a demon, who were there at the beginning of the universe, 4004 BC, on October 21st at 9:15 am. They watched Adam and Eve eat the apple and be cast out into the desert.
Crowley is supposed to turn people evil and lead their soul's to hell. Aziraphale is supposed to do the opposite and lead souls to heaven.
They are not very committed to their jobs and are best friends.
Everything is fine until Beelzebub orders Crowley to plant the baby Antichrist with a family to be raised on Earth. On his eleventh birthday, the boy's powers will emerge. He will become the Destroyer of Worlds, starting the final battle between good and evil.
Except neither Crowley nor Aziraphale want that to happen.
Things get complicated when Crowley arrives at the convent to switch the babies. It was supposed to be simple. But there are two newborns, two new moms, and, thanks to Crowley's delivery, three babies with no obvious way to tell which baby belongs where.
Good Omens is an irreverent look at common beliefs of heaven, hell, the beginning of the universe, and the end of the world. There are demons, angels, and satanic nuns. Both Beelzebub and God are played by women.
Michael Sheen's Aziraphale is a reserved and bookish angel, not given to grand gestures. David Tennant's Crowley is pretty much to opposite. He is sometimes overly animated, both physically and his facial expressions.
While Aziraphale is quite normal looking, maybe a little pale, Crowley has red hair and yellow eyes with vertical slit pupils. He wears sunglasses a lot, presumably to hide his eyes. His contacts don't always stay positioned correctly. I think the sunglasses probably made filming easier since they hid his eyes.
Although Good Omens isn't often belly laugh funny, it is extremely enjoyable and quite fun to watch.
Reviewed by Romana Drew March 5, 2023.
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Agnes Nutter
Anathema
The Book
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The Book
Season 1. Episode 2.
Written by Neil Gaiman. Directed by Douglas Mackinnon.
Starring: Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Josie Lawrence, Adria Arjona, Jack Whitehall, Frances McDormand, Sam Taylor Buck, Amma Ris, Alfie Taylor, and Ollie.
With: Jon Hamm as Gabriel, Paul Chahidi as Sandalphon, Konnie Huq as Pam, Simon Merrells as International Express Man, Mireille Enos as War, Chima Okafor as Prime Minister, Stewart Scudamore as His Royal Highness, Moshidi Motshegwa as Supreme Leader, Stephen Jennings as Peace Treaty Negotiator, Philip Wright as Maggs, Kate Anthony as Old Goody Larmour, Dan Antopolski as John Device, Bryony Corrigan as Virtue Device, Reagan Osman as Young Anathama Device, Gabriella Cirillo as Anathama's Mother, Nicola Harrison as Newt's Mother, Amanda Hadingue as Louisa Blatt, Ben Willbond as Nigel Tomkins, Andy de la Tour as Norman Weathered, Louise Stewart as Frobisher, and Rocco Wright as Young Newton Pulsifer.
Gabriel and Sandalphon stop by Aziraphale's bookshop to check on the Antichrist. Now that the Hellhound has been set loose, the four horsemen, Death, War, Famine, and Pollution, have been summoned. But as far as Aziraphale knows, the Antichrist is an obnoxious rich kid, and the Hellhound is nowhere to be found. He doesn't dare tell Gabriel that.
Ligur and Hastur question Crowley, who doesn't know any more than Aziraphale, so he dismisses them without comment.
The truth is a bit stranger.
Somewhere in a desert war zone, a peace agreement is being signed. That is until the Summoner comes on the scene disguised as a delivery man.
Go back three hundred sixty years to Agnes Nutter and her book, "The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter." Being a witch, a real witch, she is burned at the stake. Since she knew that would happen, she planned her revenge well.They would have been better off had they let her be.
In the present, Agnes' distant relative, Anathema, has the book. Although an anathema is something that is despised, everyone seems to like Anathema.
We meet a modern-day witch hunter and the descendant of the man who killed Agnes Nutter. One is crazy, the other incompetent, but since they are in the story, they must have future roles to play.
Although Crowley is a demon, he tempers his evil. He gives real guns to paintballers, then ensures no one is injured. His kind, down below, are anxious to get the war started, which makes sense. They are demons.
Aziraphale situation is a little more complex. He is enamored of the more carnal aspects of life on earth, good food, and so forth. And he desperately wants to stop the oncoming war. The management, upstairs, seems content to see Death, War, Famine, and Pollution ravage humanity, which makes one ask if there really is any difference between heaven and hell as far as the rest of the world is concerned.
Although the episode is complex with multiple storylines, it isn't ever confusing. It is clearly putting numerous characters in positions for future story developments.
Reviewed by Romana Drew March 25, 2023.
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The Globe Theater
The Unicorn is Escaping
London
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Hard Times
Season 1. Episode 3.
Written by Neil Gaiman. Directed by Douglas Mackinnon.
Starring: Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Josie Lawrence, Adria Arjona, Jack Whitehall, Frances McDormand, Sam Taylor Buck, Amma Ris, Alfie Taylor, and Ollie.
A brief history of the world:
At the wall dividing the Garden of Eden from the rest of the world, Aziraphale gets grilled about losing the flaming sword. Then it's off to Noah's ark. Crowley is outraged that God is killing children. Later, Jesus is nailed to the cross.
Crowley turns Hamlet into a hit, rescues Aziraphale from the guillotine during the French Revolution, and saves his life during WWII.
Aziraphale stops Crowley from stealing holy water. With the end of the world coming, Crowley wants a way out in case things get too bad. So Aziraphale gives him a thermos full of holy water, which is deadly to demons.
Now, thirty minutes into the show, the opening credits roll. Then it's back to the story.
Anathema gives Adam a lecture on lay lines and some magazines to read.
The witch hunters hone in on Tadfield, where Adam lives. So does Aziraphale.
Famine is conning people to eat food that doesn't have any nutrition, not even calories.
And a nuclear reactor goes bonkers.
Instead of credits, TV shows, sometimes start with flashbacks, previously on, or a teaser. The pre-credit sequence usually last a few minutes. This episode's pre-credit sequence is notable for taking up half the episode.
It shows that Aziraphale and Crowley have been compatriots throughout the centuries. But, story wise, it does a little more than that. However, it blurs the difference between heaven and hell. Crowley can't imagine killing children, yet God drowns everyone while Aziraphale makes excuses for God. Aziraphale just watches as Jesus is nailed to the cross. Makes me wonder how he can be an angel if her doesn't even think about stopping the pain and deaths.
Throughout history, Aziraphale has the same hairstyle, but not Crowley. His hair changes with each century. At one point, he even sports a kind of beard. And their costumes were chosen with a bit of humor, often designed to accentuate David Tennent's skinny build.
It was great to see the Globe Theater again. I've been there twice, but never got to see a play.
The history was interesting and fun to watch, but if you deleted it, it wouldn't be missed. It feels like there is more time to fill than story to tell.
Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this episode.
Reviewed by Romana Drew April 2, 2023
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Adam or the Antichrist?
Aliens?
Death or Anubis?
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Saturday Morning Funtime
Written by Neil Gaiman. Directed by Douglas Mackinnon.
Starring: Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Josie Lawrence, Adria Arjona, Jack Whitehall, Frances McDormand, Sam Taylor Buck, Amma Ris, Alfie Taylor, and Ollie.
Jon Hamm as Gabriel, David Morrissey as Captain Vincent, Kirsty Wark as Television Newsreader, Simon Merrells as International Express Man, Indra Ovˇ as Maud, Doon Mackichan as Archangel Michael, Ariyon Bakare as Duke of Hell Ligur, Brian Cox as Death (voice), Jamie Hill as Death Performer, Ilan Galkoff as Brian, Michael McKean as Shadwell, Lourdes Faberes as Pollution, Sian Brooke as Deirdre Young, Daniel Mays as Arthur Young, Ned Dennehy as Duke of Hell Hastur, Laura Evelyn as Alien Leader, Nick Offerman as Thaddeus Dowling, Samson Marraccino as Warlock Dowling, Jill Winternitz as Harriet Dowling, Josie Lawrence as Agnes Nutter, Gloria Obianyo as Uriel, Paul Chahidi as Sandalphon, Miranda Richardson as Madame Tracy, and Derek Jacobi as Metatron.
Atlantis rises. Armageddon falls. The Kraken devours whaling ships. Hastur and Ligur go after Crowley.
Adam realizes he can make things happen so he conjures a tornado. It looks like he may succumb to the dark side - so to speak. He even conjures a spaceship with aliens that look as if they came straight out of a comic strip.
Aziraphale calls God, but gets Metaron, the ultimate bureaucrat guarding God from anyone who might wish an audience. However, he does open the door, should Aziraphale wish to step through.
As far as Armageddon is concerned, things are a bit messed up. Although the four horseman are wreaking havoc, the Antichrist isn't working for either side.
Everything seems to be coming together and falling apart at the same time. The pace is quite fast. The episode jumps between several places and storylines, but it never gets confusing. It feels as if it is winding up for a crash.
It was great to see Derek Jacobi as Metatron, just a head in a column of light.
And, doesn't death look a lot like Anubis from Stargate?
Reviewed by Romana Drew April 18, 2023.
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Crowley is Pissed
David is Feeling His Powers
The Four Horsman
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The Doomsday Option
Season 1. Episode 5
Written by Terry Pratchett ans Neil Gaiman. Directed by Douglas Mackinnon.
Starring: Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Josie Lawrence, Adria Arjona, Jack Whitehall, Frances McDormand, Sam Taylor Buck, Amma Ris, Alfie Taylor, and Ollie.
With: Jon Hamm as Gabriel, David Morrissey as Captain Vincent, Kirsty Wark as Television Newsreader, Simon Merrells as International Express Man, Indra Ovˇ as Maud, Doon Mackichan as Archangel Michael, Ariyon Bakare as Duke of Hell Ligur, Brian Cox as Death (voice), Jamie Hill as Death Performer, Ilan Galkoff as Brian, Michael McKean as Shadwell, Lourdes Faberes as Pollution, Sian Brooke as Deirdre Young, Daniel Mays as Arthur Young, Ned Dennehy as Duke of Hell Hastur, Laura Evelyn as Alien Leader, Nick Offerman as Thaddeus Dowling, Samson Marraccino as Warlock Dowling, Jill Winternitz as Harriet Dowling, Josie Lawrence as Agnes Nutter, Gloria Obianyo as Uriel, Paul Chahidi as Sandalphon, Miranda Richardson as Madame Tracy, and Derek Jacobi as Metatron.
Crowley runs into AziraphaleÕs burning book shop distraught over losing his best friend. He does, however save the book. Then he gets drunk.
Aziraphale is in heaven but he no longer has a body. The angels are being armed for combat, but he wants nothing of it and returns to Earth. Not having a body, he borrows, Madame TracyÕs. Aziraphale/Tracy and Shadwell head for Tadfield.
Adam finally comes to his senses and heads for Tadfield.
The four horsemen meet in a cafˇ and head for Tadfield.
Crowley is drunk and unable to get to Tadfield because the road circling London is now a raging inferno, and he's on the wrong side.
Anathema and Newton having become friends in the carnal sense, also head for Tadfield.
Everything is in place for the end of the world, which will happen in seventeen minutes on an abandoned airfield in Tadfield.
We get a little more insight in Crowley and Aziraphale. Crowley is truly anguished when he thinks Aziraphale is dead. And Aziraphale will do anything to stop Armageddon.
Between the bookshop and the M25, this episode is fired up, literally, which doesnÕt bother Crowley. He just drives right through. His burning car zooming down the road to QueenÕs "IÕm in Love with My Car,Ó is great. Although the flames are obviously special effects, they are exciting to watch.
The four horsemen arenÕt all men, but that doesnÕt seem to matter. And their characters arenÕt all that well developed, but they are clearly evil and take great pleasure in destroying the world.
I do have one question at this point. If the world ends, what do all these characters do for a second act? Without the world and humanity, they have nothing to destroy. For heaven to win, the angels will have to commit a lot of violent acts. What does that say about heaven and angels?
As the set up for the ultimate battle, the penultimate episode of Good Omens is a good one.
Reviewed by Romana Drew April 23, 2023.
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Somewhere Not on Earth
Satan
Hellfire in Heaven
Holy Water in Hell
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The Very Last Day of the Rest of Their Lives
Season 1. Episode 6.
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon. Written by Neil Gaiman.
Starring: Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Josie Lawrence, Adria Arjona, Jack Whitehall, Frances McDormand, Sam Taylor Buck, Amma Ris, Alfie Taylor, and Ollie.
Andre Nightingale as Gate Guard, Anna Maxwell Martin as Beelzebub, Benedict Cumberbatch as Satan (voice), Bill Paterson as Tadfield Neighbourhood Watch, Brian Cox as Death (voice), Bryony Corrigan as Virtue Device, Dan Antopolski as John Device, Daniel Mays as Arthur Young, Danny Hayes as Lawyer Robey, Doon Mackichan as Archangel Michael, Elizabeth Berrington as Dagon, Lord of the Files, Georg Nikoloff as Russian Agent, Gina Gangar as Dr. M. Banerjee, Gloria Obianyo as Uriel, Ilan Galkoff as Brian, Jamie Hill as Death Performer, Jon Hamm as Gabriel, Lourdes Faberes as Pollution, Miranda Richardson as Madame Tracy, Mireille Enos as War, Ned Dennehy as Duke of Hell Hastur, Niall Greig Fulton as Satan, Paul Adeyefa as Disposible Demon, Paul Chahidi as Sandalphon, and Yusuf Gatewood as Famine.
Crowley is on trial in Hell and sentenced to death. Aziraphale confounds the angels by asking if the Great Plan is the Ineffable Plan, which is too great or extreme to be put into words. In other words, what does God really want?
All the players meet in Tadfield. Adam's friends confront the four horsemen. Anathema and Newton try to stop the impending nuclear war. Crowley and Aziraphale dole out sage advice, and Adam confronts Satan.
All seems well. The world is saved. But this is the story of Crowley and Aziraphale, who have just thwarted the plans of Heaven and Hell. They must be killed for their insolence, which might have worked except for a bit of advice from Agnes Nutter's book.
There is a lot of action and excitement in this episode, even a few unexpected plot twists. Each of Adam's friends almost casually confronts beings that should have terrified them. Even Dog refuses to cooperate with the end of the world.
The Tracey/Aziraphale character is quite well done, with Aziraphale taking the lead and Tracey butting in at just the right time.
Aziraphale and Crowley may be safe for the moment, their respective managements believing they are invincible. But I doubt it will last, especially after their last ominous thoughts.
There are still a couple of questions. What will become of Adam? He seems like a normal kid, but he still has his powers. And there is another season. What do you do for an encore after preventing Armageddon and defeating both heaven and hell?
True to the previous episodes, the last episode continues to challenge common perceptions of heaven, hell, angels, demons, and even good and evil. It is easy to assume that demons would be evil, happy to kill even one of their own, but angels? They may wear white and look clean, but they don't seem any kinder or less violent.
Reviewed by Romana Drew April 30, 2023.
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