Warning! This article contains spoilers for the “Good Omens” finale.
The highly anticipated “Good Omens” finale hit our screens last week after three long years of waiting, and it has left the fandom in shambles. The final season was touch-and-go for a while due to the creator who shall not be named, but it finally entered production as a single ninety-minute episode. This was pretty devastating news for the fandom. Since then, we’ve all been anxiously waiting to see how this tiny final installment would possibly wrap everything up, and whether or not it would ruin our beloved characters.
The Arrival
Post-release, the fandom is completely divided. I’ve seen hundreds of people agree that the finale is out of character and that the characters deserved better writing. Many are arguing that Aziraphale and Crowley are two more victims in a long line of queer characters that were robbed of a happy ending. I’ve also seen long analysis posts defending the finale and its writers. A lot of people have been pulling the “everyone lacks media literacy nowadays” card, which then spirals into petty online debates.
In the Beginning
Honestly, though, I agree. The people hating on the finale aren’t thinking about it in the right way. For starters, we got so much content to be excited about. The episode quite literally opens with a Great War flashback, which fans have been speculating and creating content about for years. Crowley is absolutely, pathetically miserable – I know a lot of people were gunning for that, myself included. Jesus is an adorable, compassionate, cardigan-wearing, fish-story-loving dork who just wants to spread love. Bilal Hasna, a queer Palestinian actor, also plays him, which is just fantastic.
In terms of Aziraphale and Crowley’s relationship, there’s also a lot to celebrate. We got a clear and undeniable confirmation of Aziraphale’s requited love for Crowley – that’s a lot more than most queer characters in media can say. Not only that, but Aziraphale confirms it in the most beautiful and devastating way: “Why give me Crowley, why make me complete, then take it away?” It gets me every time. The biggest part of it all, though: they end up together… in some capacity. Yes, it’s as humans, and no, they don’t remember anything, but they’re together – in the South Downs cottage, no less. I genuinely was not expecting them to pull through with that.
On top of all that, true to God’s word in the very first episode, “It starts, as it will end, with a garden.” The final shot of the entire show is of the two of them in their very own garden, watching the stars together. If that’s not satisfying enough for you, I don’t know what is.
Hard Times
Listen, I’m not trying to tell fans who didn’t like the finale to just shut up and be grateful. Even with all the really amazing elements to the episode, the direction they took it in is one of the most controversial (but mostly hated) tropes in existence. Creating a universe without Heaven and Hell essentially erases the entire plot of the show up until this point – that’s seven years of content. Aziraphale and Crowley now have zero memory of any of the experiences we were so invested in, and it’s as if suddenly, the whole show doesn’t matter anymore. Obviously, there are a lot of incredibly valid frustrations with this, and in any other circumstance, I would absolutely despise this ending.
The Very Last Day of the Rest of Their Lives
Still, as it is, I don’t hate it. I’ve seen a lot of people say that making Aziraphale and Crowley human is a cop-out and out of character, but I wholeheartedly disagree. I mean, Asa Fell and Anthony Crowley are perfectly characterizations. You mean to say that Asa working at a used bookshop and Anthony being an astrophysics author doesn’t make sense? Anthony specifically is so similar to pre-fall Crowley that it makes me a little emotional, because yes, that is exactly what he would have been like if he was allowed to stay curious and enthusiastic about the universe. My one gripe with their human forms is Asa’s hair – R.I.P. to the angel curls.
Really, though, this is the happy ending. They get to live happily together without having to go through all the awful things Heaven and Hell put them through – and without the awful things they’ve done to each other. This way, they get to grow old together, free from cosmic worries hanging over their heads. Ultimately, they’re still them. It doesn’t matter that they’re human now – they’re still going out to dinner, still bickering, still Aziraphale and Crowley.
Their love for each other is messy and beautiful and fun to root for, and of course it’s a major component to their characters. In the grand scheme of things, however, it’s only been one of the driving forces leading their actions throughout the show.
Every Day
The biggest misconception people have about this show is that it’s “about” Aziraphale and Crowley’s romance. That’s what the fandom latches onto the most, understandably, but it’s not actually the main focus of “Good Omens” or their characters – and it never has been. The show’s overarching themes have always been about love for humanity and how the entire system of religion set them up for failure. Naturally, the show’s ending would lean that way rather than in favor of a romance.
Aziraphale and Crowley’s decision is actually incredibly in-character for them, as well, and anyone who is thinking about the show beyond just their relationship would know that. Their sacrifice showed a core principle of both of their characters: their love for humans. This love has fueled almost everything they’ve done throughout the show – it’s what motivated them to leave their respective sides and work together in the first place.
“Good Omens” has repeatedly shown that love is a powerful force that can influence things even on a cosmic level. That love isn’t exclusively romantic, though. The greatest force through all three seasons has always been Aziraphale and Crowley’s love for humanity. Still, the writers didn’t just leave it there. In making that sacrifice, Aziraphale and Crowley became what they adored so much: humans. It all comes full circle by the end.
The Finale
Obviously, I would have loved to get a full season three to wrap up Aziraphale and Crowley’s story. They deserved a complete ending, and I think we all will mourn that loss for a long time. As controversial as the finale has been, however, I’ve already seen quite a few people rethink their opinion after sitting with it. I understand being upset after everything that’s happened, but I hope that with time, we can all learn to appreciate the finale for what it is: a wild, emotional, ineffable adventure.
If you haven’t already, go watch the “Good Omens” finale on Prime Video!
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