The Amazon Prime Video show, “Good Omens”, is a fantasy fiction based off of a novel by the same name written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. The show stars Michael Sheen as the angel Aziraphale, and David Tennant as the demon Crowley, as they team up to prevent the Biblical event of Armageddon.
Armageddon is a prophesied event in which Jesus will lead God’s heavenly army to crush all of God’s enemies before the final judgement of mankind. Aziraphale and Crowley are determined to prevent the End of Times, as they have become quite accustomed to living on Earth as the representatives of Heaven and Hell. Alongside the story’s two male protagonists, there is a female God acting as narrator for the adventures undertaken by the characters.
Those who have read the novel are happy that the book was transitioned into a series rather than a film, as this format fits better with the story’s progression. If the story was turned into a film, it would have had a different outcome once it gets released to the public. The adventures of the main and supporting characters accumulate in more questions of what will happen later in the series. I have enjoyed watching this show and barely have any negative comments; it is something new when it comes to fantasy shows.
As the show progresses, viewers get to learn more about Aziraphale and Crowley, other than the fact that they are an angel and demon who assisted Adam and Eve in their escape from the Garden of Eden. Not only are their conversations quite comedic, but what they are discussing can get them in a lot of trouble amongst their peers. The main point the two characters emphasize is that everything that happens to humans is not truly their fault, but rather just the turn of time, the rivalry between Hell and Heaven, and the actions towards the Divine Plan of God that both sides follow.
Growing accustomed to living amongst humans has allowed Aziraphale and Crowley to enjoy more than they expected, and they realize that the idea of Armageddon is unnecessary. The show also presents a type of comedy that most people probably are not accustomed to. I can say there is more thinking involved than laughing, but you will still giggle throughout a whole episode whenever the comedy starts to come into play.
The supporting characters in the story also play a major role in how the series progresses. In the show, Adam Young is the antichrist whose main job is to kickstart Armageddon by summoning the four horsemen of the apocalypse – war, famine, pollution, and death. What really throws viewers off is that Adam was the total opposite of what would typically be expected of the antichrist. Later in the series, however, he starts revealing what his powers can do. The character building for Adam was intriguing, as you start to hate him as he begins generating more power from his hate and the idea of recreating the world from his perspective. In the end, he comes to his senses, realizing that he is not Adam, son of Satan, but Adam Young, son to a human father. The acting and character building throughout the series for each character really shows how much was put into the making of the show. The show is full of many positives that would gain the approval of the audience, including those who have read the novel.
“Good Omens” presents a new perspective, differing from how fantasies shows are normally presented, and it is a good example of how not every book series should be adapted into a film. The many adventures that Aziraphale and Crowley go through in their attempt to save the world from the actions of Heaven and Hell are remarkable to watch. Being an angel and demon, they are superior to humans, but they have managed to live along with them and call the world their home, bringing humor and intrigue to the story and leaving both readers of the original novel and new viewers content.
