Directors: Douglas Mackinnon
Writers: Neil Gaiman, John Finnemore, Terry Pratchett
Cast: David Tennant, Michael Sheen, Maggie Service, Steven McNicoll, Miranda Richardson, Nina Sosanya, Jon Hamm, Doon Mackichan, Quelin Sepulveda, Gloria Obianyo, Liz Carr, Shelly Conn,
Episodes Watched: 5 of 6
It’s been four years since the first season of Good Omens. A series we had all assumed would be limited because a.) there’s only one book and b.) co-author Terry Pratchett passed away in 2015. However, Neil Gaiman has teamed up with John Finnemore to expand on his ideas with Pratchett and Good Omens now wholly feels like it’s building a (hopeful) multi-season story.
The second season takes a step back from the brisk pace of the first. But it kind of had to, given it was about the apocalypse; there’s nothing really up from that in the scheme of world-ending events. Instead, Good Omens spends its second season giving more time to the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley’s flirtatious relationship. Did Neil Gaiman read the fan ships and Tumblr posts after the first season? I don’t think he needed to; the chemistry is between the actors here.
Much like the first season, for all the wonders, jokes, and oddities of Good Omens, the pure enjoyment of this series comes down to seeing David Tennant play off Michael Sheen as Crowley and Aziraphale. Here both in the present day and in flash-backs which act as “minisodes” in three of six episodes. Getting to see more of the devil and angel working for, against and together throughout history was always an assumption given the events of the first season, but seeing how they’ve always been playing cat and mouse with The Devil and God himself just adds to the character’s charm.
This season’s main story centres on a naked and memory-less Archangel Gabriel rocking up on the doorstep of Aziraphale’s bookshop. Heaven wants to find him, hell too, and once again, it’s Aziraphale and Crowley working together for the best of humanity.
Unlike the pompous attitude of Gabriel seen in the first season, Jon Hamm is having the time of his life playing a Gabriel amused by the smallest of wonders on Earth. His discovery of gravity in one episode particularly tickled my funny bone.
Outside the doors of the bookshop, the street in London where Aziraphale’s bookshop is set up begins to feel like the set of a sitcom. That feeling where you know these are all fake stores, but you buy into watching the story, much like watching a stage play. I’m curious if it’s a purposeful choice, and I certainly didn’t mind it. It is an odd feeling that might turn some viewers off. The show has a very British feel (surprise, surprise), but it is an International product being aired on Prime Video.
Poking fun at some chapters of The Bible, our admissions for social media and more, there’s some light social and political commentary throughout Good Omens. However, this is a show focused primarily on delivering a fun time, and thanks to Tennant and Sheen, it’s hard for the showrunners to fail. I can easily watch the adventures of Crowley and Aziraphale for a few more seasons if they’re going to be as enjoyable as this. Even if it was like chewing on candy at times, I’m not ashamed to say I love it.
Good Omens: Season 2 is streaming on Prime Video from July 28th.
