#Neil Gaiman appreciation post

[shiplessoceans]

Good Omens 2 appreciation post for that moment after Nina has just rocked Crowley's world with the revelation that no, he isn't slick and yes, it is glaringly obvious to everyone just how head over heels in love with Aziraphale he is.

Crowley takes himself off to the french restaurant and is drowning his sorrows in a bottle of wine while having the realisation that he's been following the angel around like a lovesick puppy all day with no other possible agenda other than to be around him.

And then he sees Aziraphale and whistles him over but the angel is too busy to join him for a wine in the middle of the day and Crowley tries to divert questions by complaining that he's scared Gabriel/Jim is gonna smite him and he'll be well and truly smote, no, smoted? Smited? What's the word he's looking for?

And the angel gives him a knowing look and says:

"Smitten, I believe."

PERFECTION.

GRAMMATICAL CORRECTION AND DIAGNOSIS IN A SENTENCE.

AZIRAPHALE JUST READ HIM LIKE A HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE BOOK AND DOESN'T EVEN REALISE HE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

This is my new favourite double entendre.

Smitten as the past tense of Smite. And the exact reason Crowley is drinking in the middle of the day.

He's realising he's smitten, your honour.

I hope Neil closed the laptop with a dramatic flourish after writing that line. Hell if I'd written a moment that perfect I'd take a victory lap of the kitchen and then call someone to tell them how clever I'd been before I pop.

[yourtranscousin]

as much as I shit on Neil Gaiman, I have to admit that I love him. The man's an amazing artist and I love what he does. I loved Coraline since I was too young to read, and when I did read the book I loved it more. When I first heard good omens I was in the car, the audiobook going in one ear and out the other, my dad loves that book so I read it and I love it so much. It was all I would talk about for weeks and then, as with all hyperfixations, I got over it. I didn't want to watch the show because it looked bad (I thought Crowley's eyes were scary, I was also upset about his red hair. "WHAT PART OF DARK HAIR DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!?!!" -me) but once I gave it a watch I immediately fell in love and my obsession came back full force. I was pleasantly surprised that the show was good, as film versions of books tend to suck, but it is just so good!! This book will forever have a special place in my heart

[youryurigoddess]

“There isn’t actually any difference between doing something nice for someone because you are naturally saintly and perfect, and doing something nice for someone because you are secretly demonic and trying to cover it up. It’s still an act of kindness either way, and you still made their lives better. (…) What really matters is what you do, not what you are.”

Dear Neil, I am a horrible person. How to be kinder, please?

Sometimes I suspect we are all horrible people. Or at least, we are human people. Same thing. We are impatient, judgmental, irritating and irritated, grumpy, easily offended and the rest of it.

So how to be kinder if it doesn’t come naturally? 

Fake it. 

Fake it a little bit at a time. 

Because there isn’t actually any difference between doing something nice for someone because you are naturally saintly and perfect, and doing something nice for someone because you are secretly demonic and trying to cover it up. It’s still an act of kindness either way, and you still made their lives better.

Smile at people. Say hullo. Ask about their lives. Remember what they’ve told you about their lives. Do small things to try and help them. (They will not know you are horrible, do not worry. They will just perceive that you are helping.)

Give people the benefit of the doubt. Remember that it’s more often stupidity to blame than evil, that everyone can screw up (including you) and what’s important is learning from that.

Think “What would an actually kind person do now?” – and do that. Don’t beat yourself up when you fail. Just be as kind to yourself as you will be to others – even if you have to fake that.

And good luck.

[myauntspen]

Good Omens is twice as good as it needs to be. Genuinely.

If it were written by a good, experienced TV writer who could move a story along but didn’t have the nuance and world building skill of Neil Gaiman. If the leads were played by a couple of good actors with perfectly decent chemistry, but not the incredible character depth, decades of film and theatre experience, and on-screen electricity of Michael Sheen and David Tennant. If it were art directed, designed, scored and costumed by competent professionals who were good at what they do but not extraordinarily dedicated to perfection. If all of that were true, it would be a good show, fun to watch and entertaining.

But it wouldn’t have broken my heart into a thousand pieces. It wouldn’t have millions of fans wondering how they’re going to wait literally years for the conclusion. It wouldn’t have spawned tens of thousands of works of fan fiction and art. It wouldn’t occupy the thoughts and hearts of so many people daily months and months after being released.

It’s such a good example of why good enough is fine sometimes but great is something truly to be strived for, appreciated, and treasured.

[sherryfortheoldlady]

I don't think I've ever loved a fandom more than I've loved this one.

I've been in quite a few fandoms, and they all, in one way or another, had a negative emotional impact on me, until I got into the Good Omens fandom.

Being in this fandom is like being in a safe and cozy bubble, where no harm can get to you, and you feel secure and happy and reassured that the bubble will never pop, and you feel like everything is okay, you're okay, you're happy, you belong.

I love so many things about this fandom. I love how everyone is always nice and respectful towards other fans and actors and writers and just everyone. I love how almost every fan has a different theory/headcanon for a certain thing, yet they're so accepting and encouraging of other peoples' headcanons and loving of it even if it's completely different from the one they have.

I love how a Good Omens fan is the #1 supporter of another Good Omens fan, and yet they're also their #1 enemy.

I love how everyone always says that Good Omens fans have one goal in life and that is to make other Good Omens fans miserable, and yet everyone knows it's just a joke and they actually love every single bit of art and writing and poetry and eat that angst up happily because it's somehow the most beautiful thing ever.

I love how Neil Gaiman takes time to answer our questions and never makes us feel silly for asking them. Moreover, I love how he doesn't always make everything canon, even when fans ask if something is canon or not, and leaves space for our imagination to make theories and headcanons and enjoy setting endless possibilities.

I love how both him and Michael Sheen interact with fans online. I love how Michael replies to pieces of fanwork and fans' stories and tweets and how he's always so supportive and enthusiastic about it all.

I love how Michael and David (mostly Michael) jump at every opportunity to talk about how Aziraphale and Crowley are in love, how much they mean to each other, how much they care, how they're the Yin to each others' Yang.

I love how Michael, David, and Neil are always so so so nice when interacting with fans (both online and irl) and how they always make us feel appreciated and loved. I love how they 100% support all fanwork and fan fictions and never spoke horribly about people who make them but instead encouraged them because it just shows how much people love the show and how much it actually means to them.

This fandom is the one place where I've felt safe to share my thoughts online without the fear of being attacked by other people for having different views than them, and I was anxious with my first post, but now I'm always excited to post something or just see what's new, knowing that I've found a place where I won't be criticised or judged for what I enjoy. A place I feel safe.

I genuinely love this fandom and everyone involved in it so so much. Please never change you all are amazing<3

[paperclipninja]

When I tell you that nothing brings me delight in a show quite like a recurring gag, Crowley's duck references are up there as an absolutely fave

And the general duck-related pondering just gets me

It's not only the absolute joy that the randomness of it being ducks brings, it's the way it's part of a delayed thought process

That throughout whatever conversations Crowley's been engaged in, their brain has been mulling and searching for the epiphany that eventually comes and it's completely out of context for whoever Crowley's talking to

And while not strictly Crowley, gotta admit this was a pretty darn delightful touch:

SO. MUCH. DELIGHT

EDIT: I've just seen that there was another duck appreciation post that is put together much more nicely here and is the source of some of the fab duck gifs

[embracing-the-ineffable]

Neil's hashtag when he reblogged that: #I'm always so happy when you all do

I just can't even with him, I adore him so much

After having the conversation multiple times about how many people (myself included) had stopped writing for years until the Sandman on Netflix came along and grabbed us by the neck.

And after watching the screaming reactions to Good Omens season 2, (and all the meta and analysis and thoughts about plot structure, and suggestions for what makes sense for season 3.)

I have decided that Neil Gaiman's secret agenda is not the screaming or the angst.

I think his secret agenda is to make us all WRITE.

[shiplessoceans]

Neil Gaiman is such a dear sweet man.

Honestly, like what other author would be reassuring readers and fans of his work that his characters will be okay? Who else would spend their time here engaging with us in his own free time? He could make money on any other social media platform and he comes here.

I just. What an angel of a human.

[taohun]

so funny that the people most snobbishly posting about the good omens whatever are supernatural fans. i support you but i saw episodes of that show. it’s bad 

[embracing-the-ineffable]

"this beautiful, messy, adorable, excruciating, wonderful, heartbreaking, ethereal, down-to-earth tale" - so full of diversity and representation and just utter, messy, perfection. I love it and everything that went into it SO MUCH.

I'm processing a lot of emotions tonight and I keep being drawn back to Good Omens--not just because it's the new hyperfixation or because it's so good. That's what I thought it was, at first.

But this year--hell, the last 3 or 4 months especially, I finally started taking steps to accepting and being myself. I'm rapidly approaching middle age and I'm only just now beginning to feel like I'm allowed to be me. I came out to the people in my household, a few select friends, and a few select family members--most of whom were wholly supportive. I started testosterone injections. I stopped trying to be someone I'm not. I stopped hiding who I am and who I love.

What does this have to do with Good Omens? Nothing. But also... Everything.

So much queer representation is in characters vastly younger than me--and that's good! I want queer kids to feel safe and loved and accepted in ways I never did. They deserve better than we had. And it gives me hope for their futures. I bawled like a baby when I watched The Owl House with my son and he was totally unphazed by the queerness. It's just how people are to him.

But when something like Good Omens comes along and not only grabs every opportunity to show average, everyday old(er) queer representation... It just. I've never felt more seen. More accepted. More hope for all our futures. And season 2 just knocked that out of the fucking park. And the nonbinary, genderfluid, and genderqueer rep? My God.

And it's not subtext, it's not it's own separate plotline where they're fighting for acceptance or dealing with hateful bigotry... It's just... Accepted. It's normal. No one questions it. No one even comments on it.

It's people of any age (even millions of years old) being unapologetically themselves and loving who they love openly and fully (with one notable uncommunicative group of two ineffable idiots, but they'll get there).

I just.

I can't express how grateful I am to see older queer rep at this time in my life. It's been a rough year, and I expect it'll get rougher before it gets better. But I've never been happier in my own skin, and it means the absolute world to see my literary and media heroes like Neil Gaiman, David Tennant, and Michael Sheen (and Terry Pratchett and everyone who worked on Good Omens, honestly) making this beautiful, messy, adorable, excruciating, wonderful, heartbreaking, ethereal, down-to-earth tale.

There aren't enough words in all the languages of the world to express how I'm feeling. "Thank you" just feels... Insufficient.

I just hope they know how much it means to people like me, especially after a lifetime of buried subtext and overt queerbaiting and media ridicule and general lack of acceptance, to experience this story with them.

[damiengravehill]

There seems to be a lack of Silas fanart

Which means I shall draw more Silas fanart

[effable-husbands]

Good Omens s3 estimated release in 2025 - for me, this means I'll be having to stay alive for at least 2 more years. Which I am not pleased about.

So congrats Neil, you've very likely postponed my ending quite a bit.

[ms-anthrope-cellaneous]

muriel is the cutest character in the entire universe.

[shakibone]

I hate AI voice replicators

See, I like musical genre remixes. Things where a popular song is done in the style of another artist, or another era. The Baseballs understood this, with their cover of Rihanna’s Umbrella:

I’m about to go off, so more under the cut!

Neil Gaiman once said (here on Tumblr, which I'll have to paraphrase due to an unfortunate inability to find the source):

“I enjoy songs. Sometimes I enjoy them too much and they grow tired. A good cover allows me to enjoy them again for the first time.” -Neil Gaiman, heavily paraphrased

Scott Bradlee understands the power of these covers, stylistic remixes, enough to launch multiple careers off of it. Such as with his own remix (featuring Casey Abrams & The Sole Sisters) of the afore-featured Umbrella by Rihanna:

Or one of my own personal favourites, Sugar, We’re Going Down originally by Fall Out Boy:

But!

These era-adjacent (or era-divorced) covers need not be wholly original performances to have value. Let’s return to Sugar, We’re Going Down by Fall Out Boy. While Scott Bradlee and singer Joey Cook reworked it in their own way, YouTube user Johann Olsson made his own era-divorced remix, this time transplanting them Boys what Fall Out to the 80′s using the original singer’s (Patrick Stump) vocal recording re-interpreted to an entirely different genre, rythm, and style:

Listen to both covers listed here and then the original and tell me they don’t each reveal something different about the subject, that they don’t highlight new facets of the same material. This is why I love covers that work on the premise of transplanting a song to a completely different style/genre. And it’s not just divided by era! Here’s what you get when you take John Denver’s classic anthem to pastoral paradise and nature’s magnificence and run it through it’s philosophical antithesis. This is Melodicka Bros rendition, which (to my reading) seeks to find that same beauty in an industrial world stripped of it:

You can hear the singers (identified only as Joe and Dave) yearning for that beauty which John Denver knew but they will never be afforded. Or at least...

That’s my interpretation.

These stylistically remixed covers afford such great exploration of the original work alongside what the covering artist bring to the material, that it inspires awe in me. I adore this genre of remixes and covers.

And now

AND NOW.

YouTube reccomends me garbage AI covers. I’m served up the digital ghost of Frank Sinatra singing Poker Face, Spongebob (which is to say Tom Kenny, the actor who gosh darn voices him) singing Gangsta’s Paradise or some nonsense, and the entire Team Fortress 2 cast (Nathan Vetterlein, Rick May, Dennis Bateman, Gary Schwartz, Grant Goodeve, Robin Atkin Downes, John Patrick Lowrie, and Ellen McLain) singing Bohemian Rhapsody or whatever. Stolen voices twisted to shallow purposes, with no regard to the artists whose voices are taken and their wishes regarding such uses:

https://catnippackets.tumblr.com/post/722596290851176448/catnippackets-listen-i-say-this-with-patience-bc

The use of these human beings voices to speak words they did not utter is horrifying, but on a personaly level it fill my algorythmically generated feed with utter tripe.

I don’t want to end on a downer, so here’s a final example of the types of stylistic remixes I adore. Presenting Brady Love with a beutiful rendition in the style of Luciano Pavarotti of Apple Bottom Jeans (Originally by Flo Rida):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIZz2PMnEDM

This one is without preview due to Tumblr’s limitations. Perhaps we can find a metaphor in that.

[embracing-the-ineffable]

Did you all know that long ago, Neil's fans posted photos from the bath?

Welcome to Tumblr, 2012. Just as adorable and quirky as Tumblr of today, and with just as much Neil Gaiman appreciation, but with fewer fans to fuel the fads:

[link] [link]

(I went looking for Good Omens clues in the time capsule that is the internet, and Tumblr decided that it knew best and instead sent me down this rabbit hole from which I may never recover. 1 point to Tumblr; please send help)

Why were people doing this?? I think it's because there's a poem, Bathing with Gaiman, by Zenobia Frost @zenfrost

And it inspired a dedicated blog, @bathbookneil-blog, featuring an entire collection of fan photos reading his books… in the bath.

Neil encouraged fans to read their books "in the bath naked, fully dressed, they can be of any gender or all, masked, alone, or in groups of as many of them as can fit into a bath." He also suggested trying to read while showering, a feat he said he's attempted, unsuccessfully.

When asked, Neil agreed to share a photo of himself reading in the bath if the donations for the free Audible release of Click-Clack the Rattle Bag reached 100,000 downloads/dollars.

He promised fans a "proper nakedy bath" with some discreet bubbles.

Alas!

I'm not about to reveal a long-lost photo of Neil in the bath.

The donations didn't reach the goal, and the bath-photo-sharing trend quietly wound down.

But maybe he gave us this glorious moment with David Tennant-as-Aziraphale-as-Crowley, to make up for it:

[gif credits @tenthrees, @ferndaphnia, and @bringthekaos]

[colleendoran]

Quiet

I got a very kind note asking why I don't respond to asks on Tumblr anymore, yet they see me chatting on other social media.

I closed down my asks here because they became overwhelming. While I do respond to snippets now and then on Twitter, I sometimes really don't say much for days. In fact, my Twitter settings don't even let me see most of the incoming material. Something I posted went viral the other day and I don't think I saw more than 25 comments on it.

I have a lot left to do on Good Omens and am getting past a long illness. I don't have the energy I need, and am still 1000 emails behind as well.

I wish I could be as entertaining as Neil Gaiman is here, and I don't know where he gets the juice.

Magic man.

I do appreciate all the interest and enthusiasm from everyone, and think it's best if I put my focus on the art and less on talking about it. Talking about it too much drains the power I need to get the art out.

Anyway, I don't think I ever posted this early model sheet of Crowley here. He's so much fun to draw.

Later, I added glasses on the central figure for some promotion art.