#aziraphale is kind

[erraticopeninghours]

Gabriel Appears in Soho Scene

Thoughts on 1.04: Gabriel appears in Soho 

I feel like Nina putting her foot in her mouth (re:receiving a record as a gift) sort of parallels Aziraphale not being the most tactful shortly after meeting Crowley (re: mentioning that everything is going to be destroyed about 6000 years later, even Crowley is clearly very excited at the time and possibly having a moment.) 

However, I also like how Nina’s little gaffe helps to set her up as a Crowley mirror.  Like, when we very first see Crowley in Season 1, he’s a dangerous looking serpent who’s slithering up to Eve and clearly Up To No Good.  But then, we quickly learn that he’s actually quite a good (if not nice) being who’s in a bad situation (with Hell.) And similarly, Nina’s in a not-so-good or healthy relationship with Lauren which definitely seems to contribute to her standoffish response to Maggie. 

During my first watch, I thought that Soho’s response to a naked Gabriel, while comedic, was very unrealistic.  I live in a small town, and I don’t think a naked person would draw so much attention, especially since people are busy living their lives.  As a Watsonian explanation, however, I suppose that Gabriel’s ethereal-ness (which is technically in the box/fly) might be drawing attention, especially since he might not have the consciousness to deflect attention. (Which angels and demons do seem to be able to do, given Aziraphale and Crowley’s abduction at the park in Season 1 as well as their exit from Tadfield manor/conference center.) 

I am very happy for Aziraphale that he had a chance to tell Gabriel “no” and have that boundary respected and treated as valid.  In hindsight, this is also foreshadowing the “embassy” bit, but regardless, I like to think that it was cathartic for Aziraphale. 

At the same time, however, I knew Aziraphale was very much the type of being who would not turn Gabriel away when he has nowhere else to go.  Admittedly, I could be certain because of promotional materials, but I also felt certain because choosing kindness is such a core trait of Aziraphale.  If he was willing to give his flaming sword away (and lie to God about it) and shelter a demon before spending 6000 years on Earth with humans and an annoying friendly demon to push his moral development along, it only makes sense to me that he would be willing to shelter an amnesiac angel / sort-of-human. (And honestly, even Crowley knows this about him, given that the “May we meet on a better occasion” line that he delivered to Gabriel while posing as Aziraphale during his execution! Aziraphale chooses to be soft and is committed to helping people when it really matters.) 

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[fiendtalks]

I agree that Aziraphale was in the right to take in Gabriel, it's definitely just part of who he is to want to be kind (especially where Heaven would be judging) and it shows his growth that he could choose that and not fret if it was the right thing to do.

However I feel like he totally mismanaged how he introduced the situation to Crowley, like letting Crowley be jumpscared by Gabriel was only ever going to cause stress and trigger a negative response, and I definitely don't feel like his ultimatum that essentially kicked Crowley out until he agreed with him was fair - it was a very invalidating response and falls into old patterns of pushing Crowley away.

And we see just how much it frustrated Crowley with the lightning tantrum, and how emotionally defeated he seemed at the Bentley before Beelzebub's summons. I don't think Aziraphale is aware, I don't think he thinks about how much his behaviour impacts Crowley.

I didn't really think Aziraphale's smug assurance of "I want a proper apology, with the little dance" was particularly warranted, but I understand it's also part of old patterns they both do to move on from things without discussing them. And Crowley is as guilty for going along with the pattern rather than clearing the air.

Amongst the Aziraphale appreciation posts I see, there's a big thing that I think is often missed and deserves pointing out!

(I'm not sure if this is an unpopular opinion or if it's something so obvious that it goes without saying, and thus hasn't been said; so I am either throwing myself to the wolves here or to the crickets. Here I go!)

In short, I think sheltering Gabriel in S2E1 was undeniably the right thing to do, and I admire Aziraphale for it. The ensuing fight with Crowley might distract some people from seeing this.

Initially it was a snap decision whose rationale was probably along the lines of "Ohshit, this is insane, everyone is staring, this situation has to stop right now, just get in and I'll get rid of you later."

But then it becomes clear to Aziraphale that Gabriel is a person who needs help. This is a special situation in which his antagonist is currently helpless. If he turns Gabriel away, it's only a matter of time before the other angels find him (granted, Azi doesn't have all the information yet here, but it's not a huge leap for him to suspect heaven being part of the threat), and in the meantime he could be hurt or even be discorporated by humans or by accident, and presumably end up back in heaven where Something Terrible awaits.

To articulate what I think the thought process might be in this situation, I'll borrow a quote from Miss Level from A Hat Full of Sky: "You can't not help people just because they're stupid or forgetful or unpleasant. Everyone's poor round here. If I don't help them, who will?" He's able to set aside his feelings and risk his own comfort and possibly his safety to help someone clearly in need, despite their past. The reason this is admirable is because this is difficult to do.

I understand why Aziraphale was upset with Crowley (and acted a bit pissy) during their blow-up. Not only is it not unreasonable to be upset about being bailed on in a high stress situation, it's also disappointing that Crowley's proposed solution was to dump Gabriel somewhere to fend for himself - Aziraphale knows and we know that Crowley is usually kind and moral, not to mention rational (and we even see him being kind to Jim/Gabriel later). It's also worth noting that Aziraphale never implies that he thinks Crowley is a bad person for not helping; he asks for help, is upset to not get it, and suggests Crowley leaves because they're obviously at an impasse.

I see Crowley's side too, because it's also not unreasonable to get upset when your partner springs an unexpected stressful situation on you, and it was wise to leave when it was clear that they were both too emotional to work on a proper solution.

We all want to enjoy our precious, fragile existence on earth and not have to deal with curveballs, but I see this problem as the "worse" part of "for better or for worse". I might have seen things differently if Aziraphale was sheltering someone like Hastur, but he's helping his own antagonist, not Crowley's. I for one like to think that Crowley would have returned to help anyway after processing his emotions, even without the threat to Aziraphale's existence. And when he does return I like that he maintains an attitude of "I'll help but I don't have to like it!"

(Side note, it's also hilarious how irritated Aziraphale is by Jim later while Crowley is so patient - another case of doing the right thing but not necessarily liking it).

TLDR: I see their fight as emotional reactions to stress, that can be summed up along the lines of "I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at the situation!" Aziraphale's a BAMF in my book for doing what he believes was right.

[camilleflyingrotten]

[nipuni]

A heaven of their own 😊

A step by step process of this will be available at my Patreon on october 1st

[hoarart]

ah, poor demon

he is not responsible for his actions

[cuntbrow]

there is not a single thought in that halo that did not go south i can tell you that much

[lesbianballofgender]

Happy 55th birthday to our feral, light and fluffy, serious actor and truly just the nicest person: Michael Sheen!!

[gleafer]

This isn’t my headcanon, this is my RELIGION: The Garden of Eden is like The Sandbox in Team Fortress 2.

A giant, no holds barred, free for all!

Like my brand of nonsense?

Like saucy art?

Join my Patreon and join my pigeons! Come on in, the water’s FIIIIINE!

https://www.patreon.com/Gleafer?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

[magicomens]

Hellooo I'm back sooner than expected! I had a drawing marathon bc I want to post part 7 in two weeks for cruel irony purposes (Merlin fans might have an idea)

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[cesiscribbles]

Yay, my first Good Omens comic~

I‘m still in that experimental phase where I am trying to figure out how to draw Crowley and Azira and how the hell comics work in general

[bobowbeau]

“I’m a human police officer!”

Final painting after 24 hours!

[wistfulnightingale]

The Night That Changed an Angel (or, why does Aziraphale still wear that shabby vest?)

Mini-Meta Musing (#4)

I've been brooding for a long time about, of all things, Aziraphale's worn velvet vest and the long cream jacket he's kept in "tip top condition for over 180 years now." I love the sweet familiarity, but this is the same angel who popped across the Channel and almost lost his fluffy-topped head in 1793 for dressing like an aristocrat.

"I have standards!"

He's the height of elegance, extravagance even. A dandy. We've seen the same at the Globe Theater 1601, Edinburgh 1827, and even as a Knight of the Round Table in 527 Essex, where he's wearing a glorious pelt across his shoulders! However, sometime after Edinburgh 1827, Aziraphale's stylish extravagance ends. He adopts the dress of distinguished but modest gentility. No seamstresses strain their eyes for days hand stitching ruffles and trims for him any longer. When we next see him in 1862, his clothing is refined, simple, and serviceable. It becomes his uniform, with only minor replacements. Why? What happened to change him?

Edinburgh 1827 happened. And his encounter with tragedy ran over his sensibilities like a locomotive.

Aziraphale had, we were told, saved his earnings over time and had bought land, invested wisely, and became quite well off. He used real money, not miracles, to build the bookshop, paying the builders well and taking care of bills honestly. He built himself up to a more than comfortable lifestyle, from nearly nothing. And his clothes are real, not miracled from nothingness like Crowley's. (source: original showrunner)

Aziraphale's wealth allows him to afford luxurious tailoring and fancy shoes and ruffles and trims. He'll certainly pay the cobblers and tailors and seamstresses well for their labors. It will be a substantial expense for the era. (The linked post gives a wonderful perspective on 1793 lifestyles and costs.)

https://agoodflyting.tumblr.com/post/753227014283083776/why-aziraphales-white-satin-pumps-are-ridiculous

The angel's Edinburgh multilayered and trimmed top coat, soft leather gloves, matching scarf, jacquard vest, silk cravat, etc., look entirely out of place in the back alleys where the poor huddle. Walking the clean, gas-lit avenues with Crowley and Elspeth, Aziraphale is oblivious to the privilege he has in this world.

As he strolls along in philosophical banter with Crowley about the "blessing" of poverty, the angel spouts trite pontifications created by the rich to justify poverty. He genuinely believes Elspeth has more opportunities for goodness.  After all, look at Wee Morag.  He respects her goodness tremendously.  It proves to him his “rightness.”  And so he sabotages Elspeth’s attempt to sell the body she dug up in her attempt to support Wee Morag.  Dalrymple gets no body, Elspeth gets no money, and Aziraphale believes he’s saving her soul.

It’s a poignant moment, though, when Aziraphale cradles the jar containing a tumor from a seven year old child who died because there wasn’t enough medical knowledge to save him.  Turning point number one.  It becomes Real, not a philosophical debate.  Selling stolen bodies puts good in the world.  He’s all for it now, and goes back to encourage Elspeth.  Good heavens, he’s even willing to help this time!

But, as we know, it all goes wrong.  Wee Morag is shot by a grave gun, and dies of her injuries.  Elspeth steals laudanum, and plans suicide.  Crowley drinks the laudanum, saves her in a compassionate Scottish frenzy, and is stolen away by hell because of his kindness.   And it is All. Aziriphale’s. Fault.

Turning point number two.  Another watershed moment where Aziraphale’s world changes again.

One of Crowley’s last earthly acts, before getting plunged into hell, is to have Aziraphale give Elspeth all of his pocket money.  What is pocket money to the angel is a fortune to her, one that can set her up for a better life.  I have no doubt that in the aftermath of the traumas of that night, missing and worrying about Crowley, Aziraphale thinks about all of this.  He considers all of the money he casually spends on fine clothing and expensive tailoring.  He wonders how many lives could change if that money was better spent on helping to relieve the poverty that surrounds him.  He wants to help, and to try to make amends for the harm he caused.  What would Crowley do, if he were free to be kind? And so Aziraphale changes.

I’d love to know the story of how it all played out.  Did he sell his fine clothing and donate the proceeds?  Did he become involved in charitable foundations?  Did he buy the clothing of a simple gentleman and decide to preserve it, however worn it became, as a reminder to himself of his past blindness and vanity?  We see in Season 1 how important it is to him to preserve that coat. (Sure, it's also a fantastic opportunity to flirt and flutter those angelic eyelashes... But, nonetheless!)

By Season 2, the angel who took too long justifying a life-saving miracle for Wee Morag, and who hesitated to give Elspeth his 90 Guineas, willingly and freely gave Maggie forgiveness for thousands of pounds of debt. I'd love to know what else he's done over the last 180+ years!

Whatever happened, it began that night in a graveyard.

[camilleflyingrotten]

There's a universe where Aziraphale was the one who fell because he thought the suggestions box was a great idea and Lucifer encouraged him doing so... Angel!Crowley, seeing the cherub's fall, decided to never question God (at least not in front of her)

[irvinis]

Screen from @wolviestars Thanks for the news @ingravinoveritas

Ok, let me show you some magic, sir. Wish fulfillment.

[raggedy-spaceman]

S02E03 I Know Where I'm Going

This scene destroyed me. Physically and emotionally. Oh Aziraphale, you poor sweet angel...

[joycrispy]

I'm seeing some confusion out and about over the title A Companion to Owls (generally along the lines of 'what have owls got to do with it???'), so I'd like to offer my interpretation (with a general disclaimer that the Bible and particularly the Old Testament are damn complicated and I'm not able to address every nuance in a fandom tumblr post, okay? Okay):

It's a phrase taken from the Book of Job. Here's the quote in full (King James version):

When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me. I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. --(Job 30:29)

Job is describing the depths of his grief, but also, with that last line, his position in the web of providence.

Throughout the Old Testament, owls are a recurring symbol of spiritual devastation. Deuteronomy 4:17 - Isaiah 34:11 - Psalm 102: 3 - Jeremiah 50: 39...just to name a few (there's more). The general shape of the metaphor is this: owls are solitary, night-stalking creatures, that let out either mournful cries or terrible shrieks, that inhabit the desolate places of the world...and (this is important) they are unclean.

They represent a despair that is to be shunned, not pitied, because their condition is self-inflicted. You defied God (so the owl signifies), and your punishment is...separation. From God, from others, from the world itself. To call and call and never, ever receive an answer.

Your punishment is terrible, tormenting loneliness.

(and that exact phrase, "tormenting loneliness," doesn't come from me...I'm pulling it from actual debate/academia on this exact topic. The owls, and what they are an omen for. Oof.)

To call yourself a 'companion to owls,' then, is to count yourself alongside perhaps the most tragic of the damned --not the ones who defy God out of wickedness or ignorance, and in exile take up diabolical ends readily enough...but the ones who know enough to mourn what they have lost.

So, that's how the title relates to Job: directly. Of course, all that is just context. The titular "companion to owls," in this case, isn't Job at all.

Because this story is about Aziraphale.

The thing is that Job never actually defied God at all, but Aziraphale does, and he does so fully believing that he will fall.

He does so fully believing that he's giving in to a temptation.

He's wrong about that, but still...he's realized something terrifying. Which is that doing God's will and doing what's right are sometimes mutually exclusive. Even more terrifying: it turns out that, given the choice between the two...he chooses what's right.

And he's seemingly the only angel who does. He's seemingly the only angel who can even see what's wrong.

Fallen or not, that's the kind of knowledge that...separates you.

(Whoooo-eeeeee, tormenting loneliness!!!)

Aziraphale is the companion.

...I don't think I need to wax poetic about Aziraphale's loneliness and grappling with devotion --I think we all, like, get it, and other people have likely said it better anyway. So, one last thing before I stop rambling:

Check out Crowley's glasses.

(screenshots from @seedsofwinter)

Crowley is the owl.

Crowley is the goddamn owl.