Aziraphale, and angel with an infectious enthusiasm for worldly things, is also facing his own struggles. In this video, we’ll explore his character in depth; centered around his need to express forgiveness.
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00:00 – Gird Your Loins
00:20 – Forgiveness is One of His Favorite Things
02:08 – May God Forgive You
04:25 – May You Be Forgiven
06:34 – I Forgive You
12:02 – Conclusion
13:42 – Predictions
16:44 – Random Thought
#goodomens2 #goodomens #theory #fantheory #crowley #aziraphale #davidtennant #neilgaiman #michaelsheen #romantic #romance #ineffablehusbands #analysis #tv #amazon #review
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Thank you everyone for the compassionate responses to this lovely, ineffable Angel. It was brought to my attention that the subtitles were not in good order, so I've fixed that in this video, and will fix all previous videos immediately. I hope the improvement helps!
What a beautiful, eloquent and moving analysis. All of my fanfic writing is Azi-centric and this was very helpful and thought-provoking. <3
Loving these videos, the analyses are great and thought provoking. Thanks for sharing!
What an incredible video and analysis, thank you so much for this 💛 Also the "weaponized pedantry" made me laugh out loud, that's so accurate 😂
1000% crowley is the more relatable character for me. Hes even kinda helping me understand some things about myself, oddly enough.
Azi, I get it, deconstructing and deprogramming is really hard. (Been there) but hes been staring into the face of hypocrisy for thousands of years now. It's just willful ignorance. But again, I get it. I'm close to someone whose always done this, I'll never stop loving them ( I'll also never stop trying to plant them seeds either😅)
Unfortunately, I do also agree that it's going to take something big and awful to finally make him see and I smell it by way of that fishy ass coffee/ job offer! In heavens eyes hes a defector. He was just caught harboring another defector. But they're just gonna ask him to come run things!? And oh, bring ur demon bestie with u! YEAH RIGHT! I dont think hes walking into wut he thinks hes walking into, and I think crowley knows it. The scapegoat analogy is heartbreaking but feels truely on point for me
One thing that has bothered me since my first watch of S2 and so far I haven't seen any discussion of it. It's the line where Crowley says "…the peaceful, fragile existence that I have carved out for myself," and Aziraphale says, "I thought we carved it out for ourselfs." Crowley's reaction of "SO DID I!" and then staring him down. What's up with that? I know that the Good Omens Lockdown video had some interesting tidbits, but this one phrase still hasn't been explained, at least that I have seen.
I have a feeling in S3, if we ever see the backstory about Crowley's fall. It may be when Aziraphale will see a document in heaven documenting the occurrences before it happened. Like what Crowley saw with Gabriel when he went to heaven to investigate. Maybe Aziraphale will see a document about Crowley's last talk with God or other Angels before he fell. And this will just be enough of an awakening to make him realize, heaven is not as pure or as good as he thought it to be.
Although no matter what will happen in S3, it will definitely heartbreaking to see both of them handling the separation. Especially Aziraphale, not only he is heartbroken but he has a great responsibility upstairs to try and "fix" everything. Can't even imagine how the other Angels will treat him ｡:ﾟ(;´∩`;)ﾟ:｡
Your videos really help me cope with the ending. I recently stumbled upon Good Omens and the unexpected heartbreak I witnessed at the end really broke my heart and sanity. I can't even imagine the heartbreak other fans experienced being longer in the fandom. 🥲
Your videos is such an insightful thing to watch and listen. I love that you point out the little details that made the show more interesting and support that it's such a beautiful masterpiece. Thanks! 💙💛
Brilliant analysis, such a great food for our brains and souls. ❤
I have one question for Sendarya and the community. Are you sure, that it was Crowley who let the craws bleat as goats to provoke Aziraphales Reaktion? I mean from the timing and also from Crowleys lurking it’s possible. But if you watch the scene, there is no magical sound in the background as usual when someone does a miracle. But you hear one, when Aziraphale miricals the craws back to goats. Could it be, that the craws bleat by chance and Crowleys look means he’s cheated? Maybe I missed something. What do you think?
through the whole season flashbacks appear not for the viewer's pleasure, it's to understand more each character and why they don't communicate as they should. the human factor of the girl couple is key
This video and what you mentioned about syllogism can also be used to explain why Aziraphale would say something like "of course you said no to Hell, you're the bad guys." That line makes so much more sense when you understand that Aziraphale doesn't personally believe Crowley is evil himself but more so believes that if Heaven is good and there's goodness in Crowley then Hell is bad and Crowley should come with him to Heaven (and be restored as an angel). Thank you for this analysis video! great work as always!!
Ok, I hope you don't mind yet another one of my suggestions. It's just that the depth you bring to your analyses is so amazing. I'd like to know how Maggie and Nina's interactions reflect/mirror/symbolize everything that Aziraphale and Crowley are going through. Are they direct mirrors? If so, I lean towards Maggie being like Crowley, especially since during the defense of the bookshop she's the one who loudly confronts demons (accidentally gets them to come inside), but also formulates plans to defeat them. And that's around the time Aziraphale said how much rescueing him makes Crowley so happy. Nina is slightly obsessed with work, performing to people's expectations, very much in an abusive relationship where she gets no space to be herself, and makes the comments to Crowley about them being together long, sensing love. But I'm certain there's heaps more! I was wondering if you like this idea too.
Thank you! Now I really understand Aziraphale better and really sympathize with him and Crowley. I'm looking forward to season 3 and your new videos reflecting on Good Omens.
It’s not that crowley doesn’t want forgiveness but that Aziraphale doesn’t actually forgive in these instances. He puts himself above the pain.
the amount of detail that went into this show is insane… awesome analysis!
You deserve some kind of an award for these videos. Each one is an absolute masterpiece. Your dedication to these characters and your understanding of them is truly profound, and I thank you for sharing this gift with us.💜
Oh my goodness, so we know that Crowley changed his name at least slightly in the early stages of trying to figure himself out, and (as he never introduces himself by name before his fall) he may have even changed it more significantly from whatever it was when he was an angel. I think it would be really cute if, when Aziraphale finally rediscovers himself and accepts his new identity, he finally becomes Raphael (the angel of healing), changing his name to suit his new identity. (I loved your video about Raphael not being in Good Omens and what that could mean).
I thought like you. Crowley is very hurt, but he accepts his feelings, knows what he wants and adapts well to change. Aziraphele on the other hand… he has a very, very tough path ahead, my poor angel. I feel such pain for both. This again has been a very hard video to watch, and I'm crying again… I though I would be done by now, but guess not! Thank you so much, as always Sendarya. You are wonderful
I’d really like to hear the thoughts/analysis of what Being Forgiven could mean for Crowley. As an angel, I feel like he truly asked or even begged for Gods forgiveness before being cast down and that contradiction of “God forgives” is what causes his pain around Aziraphale saying he forgives Crowley. He was lied to and betrayed by God because from the very beginning, God saw a reason/decided not to forgive Crowley for asking too many questions (or whatever the actual reason for his falling was)
There was a moment that was extremely poignant in the last scene, when Aziraphale realised what Crowley was saying, where he said in an imploring and desperate tone if i recall correctly 'but i need you', that broke my heart. Even more than the rest of all the desperate and miscommunicated conversation that they were having. Thanks for your video, always a joy to get a better understanding of all this . I admit to getting a bit confused by some of the complex emotional scenes, this cleared a lot. Xo
There is nothing better after a long day than listening to a Good Omens analysis video.
Now I wonder so many things. I mean, what happened to Crowley after he saved the young girl? Aziraphale said he didn't see him in a while. Was he punished? Cuz' next time we see them together is when Crowley asks for holy water. He probably was scared/knew other demons would go after him sooner or later, for he was not planing to leave Aziraphale.
'Sides, the "I don't think you understand what I'm offering" thing… I mean, even there, Aziraphale couldn't be totally honest. Like "We can be together… as angels" or "Crowley, come back!.. To… Heaven." He kept it like it was just the offer to be an angel again. WHY?? PLEASE, OUR SWEET ANGEL, just give him your favorite Jane Austen quote and acept that love, for heaven and hell's sake!! At least Crowley, on his own "I would like to… Ahem…" style was trying to be honest with his offer, only to go back to material things when he sees Azi is not willing to acept.
I love them so much. I need more of this series.
(Ps. Excuse my english, not my first language)
The first thing i realized when i watched the finale (re-watched, actually, i was about to fall asleep the first time) was that Aziraphale didn't have an actual choice: Michael wanted to cancel him from the Book of Life, then Mettatron stepped in and yk, drama. If Azi didn't accept the offert and Michael or Uriel became the new Supreme Archangel he would be deleted, or maybe not if Mettatron said "i have a plan" or smth like this. Mettatron would have tried to take Aziraphale with him anyways, even if he ran off with Crowley. And of course, he wants to do good. He wants to make Heaven better, he wants to fix everything. So he leaves, not knowing why Crowley, the demon he loves, refused to go with him, and Azi is really hurt by that.
On the other hand, Crowley made a good choice. He knows that Heaven manipulate angels and cast them out for being actually 'good'. Crowley knows that Azi may be in danger. If he went with the Angel, it would be over. Nobody could possibly save them from brainwashing and manipulation, but with Crowley out if it, refusing to go, there's still a chance that je will save Aziraphale and finally be together, not caring about Heaven and Hell and being happy.
Random thought: a thing that makes me sad is that, if s1 takes place in 2019 (when it got out) and the s2 in 2023 (again, when it got out), s3 will takes place around 2026, three years after the divorce and both Crowley and Aziraphale being depressed (expecially Crowley cuz Azi will either try to forget him or repeting to himself that he made the roght choice). :']
Oh yeah last thing! I wanted to thank you because you speak so clearly in your videos and even w/o subtitles i can understand everything, i'm italian so my english is not perfect and i have some problems with listening<3
This was so great and put all my Aziraphale defender thoughts in a much more eloquent way than I ever could. Also, I actually screeched when you shared your random thought about how Crowley was a scapegoat but instead of destroying that goat part of himself at Job’s, he changed, turning himself into crow…ley ❤️🩹
this is such a nice analysis for him! i've seen so many people say he left because he doesn't care about crowley or was being selfish, so this was a very empathetic perspective!
Ok now I have a lump in my throat again 😢
Ohhh, this got me so excited for Aziraphale's journey in season 3!
I think I always say this, but I love these videos so much. I love this show and these characters. These analysis videos are thoughtful, and beautiful. Thanks so much for your continued hard work! Also: I’m not crying you are crying lol.
Wow. This has been one of the best analyses I have heard about Aziraphale and the final scene! And – in preparation for writing a song about him exploring his feelings and trauma – I basically spent the last two months doing little else but trying to get into his head and reading metas about him. There were still a few details I hadn’t noticed, so thanks for that!
Your analyses are fantastic! I sincerely hope you won’t stop any time soon!
I don't remember if you've mentioned it in another video but what you said about the way Crowley uses food (and more generally things Aziraphale likes on Earth) to get Aziraphale back on their side made me think of the last episode of season 2 because it can be paralleled with the Metatron offering coffee to Aziraphale: is the Metatron offering a human drink to Aziraphale because he has been watching them for the past few years and kinda understood food can help to get a point across when talking to Aziraphale? But at the same time he is giving him a drink (Aziraphale enjoys solid food more) and on top of that a coffee (which is something I think we never see him drink in any episode) which is really weird… By doing that is it a way of saying: Heaven is ready to take you back even with your uncanny liking of human things (and everything that symbolism implies) but we will not fully embrace it and you'll have to accomodate with what we offer? And also Aziraphale would have been very happy with any drinks really so why offer coffee? It's like wanting to say: we have been watching you, we are very aware of what you like and how you work but we are precisely gonna give you something you don't like, which is pretty threatening actually
Ok well while writing this I realized there is a loooooot to say about the parallel between Crowley offering food to Aziraphale and the Metatron handing him coffee but I don't have the strength to write everything down hahaha but I think it is an interesting perspective to consider
I never realized Crowley was allowing the crows to make goat noises.
Sending you a big hug on your healing journey! ❤️🩹 Thank you for pulling through a devastating healing crisis to put together a great video. Religious Trauma Syndrome is absolutely real. You are not alone. There are a lot of us and I think a lot of us are drawn to Good Omens because it speaks to us on a deeper level. We see you and appreciate you. I was raised in a cult led by a charismatic leader (that was my Mom's choice, not mine) and it's really hard to write about it. I'm happy to say that I'm much better (mentally, financially etc) since I walked away and I get to make my own choices now. Hang in there. It gets better. @paolanicollalzurucastillo4627 a big hug to you too.
Thank you again Sendarya for spelling it out in a way I never even knew I actually understood. I agree with others, that these two actors have given us the nuances of each character as if they are them and only come to earth as David and Michael when needed.
I like your take on Aziraphale being the sacrificial goat and how he's finding his own identity separate from Heaven. Once Aziraphale finds redefines his own identity, values, and beliefs separate from the angel he is, I believe this will have ultimate consequences (seeing how this is a theme in Good Omens), especially now that Aziraphale is to become one of the highest authorities in Heaven. Instead of the literal "death" or erasure from the book of Heaven, IF THE NEXT SEASON WERE TO BE THE LAST SEASON, I have a theory that the ultimate punishment God or the rest of Heaven may bestow to Aziraphale…. would be turning him to human.
I think this could be a very real possibility since love "for the world" and "humanity" is a certain theme common to Crowley and Aziraphale. And if Crowley follows and chases Azi, then the ending would be the both of them turning to the entities they love most… human.
I agree with you completely. I had a hard time understanding this “I forgive you” and this feels spot on. I literally screamed the first time I watched because it felt so cruel, but this helped me understand where he’s coming from.
Crowley has trauma but he knows himself and he works to make a place in the world that he’s comfortable occupying. Aziraphale does not know himself in the same way, he lies to himself all the time about his place in the world and heaven. He has Crowley to protect him, like you say.
Also, I think you’re the only person I’ve seen say Crowley let Aziraphale know about the goats on purpose, I keep seeing people refer to it as a mistake. It always seemed very deliberate to me too.
Anyway, great video!
Wow! Very deep and very helpful. Thank you, Sendarya
Your video made me think that ultimately accepting that you are, for the lack of a better word, “kinder” than hell is more difficult than accepting that you are kinder the heaven. It’s a difficult journey for our anger but hopefully he’s ready for it.
It would be so nice to discuss this live! Can’t wait for the next video!! 18:33
Az said no to the heavenly position, until changing Crowley into an Angel was offered.
The only reason they can’t be together, as far is as Az is concerned, is that Crowley is a Demon.
This is the obvious fix for him, they can finally be together, and he’s crushed that Crowley won’t take it to be with him.
I love your views on these two. I relate to both Aziraphale and Crowley with their respective trauma, Crowley who is so scared of emotions and letting him self be vulnerable that he is constantly masking and avoiding emotional intimacy and is unable to vocalize his true feelings. And Aziraphale who is so scared of rejection, whether than be by falling or being abandoned by God and the cult of heaven, that it has really made him a people pleaser to protect himself from the pain that comes with rejection and emotional conflict. He is so scared of doing any "wrong" that he has almost lost the ability to think for himself and take actions based on his own feelings leading to the cognitive dissonance. He knows what he wants to do, but he is acting from the mindset of "what does heaven/God want me to do", but he doesn't what they are both up to which makes him feel more insecure.
I really think this has to be my favorite video you've made!!…and it's one of the few analyzes I've seen of this character, I really think you hit the nail on the head,…and we We understand who Crowley is and the trauma the character has gone through….but Aziraphale… Aziraphale is difficult to read, he constantly contradicts himself, he has a constant fight between what he has to do and what he wants to do, and It's how you explain all that, it's killing him inside, that's why he also transmits that nervous energy in those moments when he has to make a decision… and since he's so complex, he's a character that I really like, because you have to pay a lot of attention to him. to understand it, and I think Michael Sheen does a wonderful job of showing all those contradictory emotions that cross his face!…and despite the bittersweet ending of this season, the separation of both was necessary because as you said all this time, Crowley He has been protecting Aziraphale's innocence, and now it is up to him to discover what he really wants, to understand the ground he is walking on and that will be important for his maturation as a character, these two are so human in that sense!!… I'm glad because everything was ready for the third season!! I really appreciate your analysis dear, I will look forward to more! …thank you for existing!!!💞💞💞💞💞💞💞😇😇😇😇😇😇
dude, i love your vidoes. They always help me see more of the story <33
this video was soo good I'm so in love with the psychological aspects of how these characters are portrayed because this is one of those shows where every little thing actually is important to understanding the characters, plot and motivation. These videos are so cool, thank you for making them
i can never understand all the hate that Aziraphale got at the end by some fans. like how could you blame him for just being who he is?? seriously, S3 can't come soon enough!!! 😭😭😭😭 thank you again for your thorough and eye opening videos!!
I like how you pointed out that Aziraphale always accepted Crowley's changes in identity without question. Like, despite always insisting on good and evil and Crowley being a demon, he never actually treats him as such. I like to believe (even though we don't know) that Aziraphale was the only one who just accepted Crowley's name change. In the book it's said that he still has to sign the hellish contract with his "real name", and I can just imagine all of Hell calling him Crawly for centuries until at some point they basically just forgot that he used to be called something else. Heaven mostly probably doesn't know his name.
Sorry for the ramble, just had to share my brainrot.
I think we will find in season 3 that Aziraphale's ability to forgive does in fact have limits. Even if Aziraphale is able to enact changes in heaven that make things better (and that's a big IF), one thing that cannot ever be fixed no matter how much good he does is the fact that Crowley is not and will not ever be welcome in heaven (even if he wanted to be there). The Metatron offered Aziraphale everything he's ever wanted, but what he got in reality was a distant second choice that didn't even remotely resemble what he wanted at all. When heaven used Crowley as bait to get to Aziraphale, it planted the seeds of it's own demise (as you like to say). Aziraphale will never recover from the heartbreak of not being able to share heaven with the person he loves, and as such, he will never give 100% of his loyalty to heaven. A part of him will always be loyal to Crowley. I predict that this will be a deal-breaker for him at some point. I think we will see a moment where Aziraphale is unable to easily forgive and forget because the cost of doing so will be too high, and there are some things that simply just cannot be forgiven no matter how much you value the act of forgiving.
Really love this. I appreciate when people can take a nuanced view of Aziraphale.
The thing about forgiveness is that, in order for it to really be effective, you have to both understand and value the reasons WHY you're forgiving someone. Forgiveness is a complex process, and I don't think that Aziraphale really understands or respects that. Even with Maggie, who appreciated the act, he really only forgave her because he wanted/needed something from her, and he didn't value the rent she owed him. I'm not saying he was wrong to forgive her, but his forgiving her did have an emptiness to it. It is the same with Crowley later. Aziraphale feels the need to forgive him (often for things he isn't even guilty of) without really thinking about WHY he feels the need to default to forgiving him when things get hard between them. It's an empty forgiveness that means nothing, and Crowley knows it, which is why he finds it so offensive. That being said, I do think that we will see in season 3 that Aziraphale's ability to forgive does have limits. There is no amount of doing good that will make up for his not being able to share heaven with the person he loves. Even if he does manage to change things and make it better (and that's a big IF), the fact that Crowley isn't and can't ever be there is unfixable. When heaven used Crowley as bait to get to Aziraphale, they unknowingly planted the seed that will probably end up being a deal-breaker for Aziraphale. Aziraphale will never be 100% loyal to them as long as he fosters a love for Crowley, and he will never get over the heart break of having to leave Crowley behind. I predict that there will be a moment where Aziraphale will not be able to easily forgive and forget because the cost of doing so will be too high. I also think that he has yet to learn that some things simply are not forgivable, especially when you have a habit of just forgiving people without thought or value. Not everything can be forgiven that way, no matter how much you value the act of forgiving.