#no analysis... no fan creations.... not even other pairings just those two guys

[fiomeras]

Being interested in a media whose fanbase is only focused on a single pairing and that pairing alone

[ineffable-endearments]

Okay. Now I'm going to submit some theories about how I think Crowley and Aziraphale specifically are going to go in the future of Good Omens.

Again, this post is not really...specific theorizing about plot events. It's big-picture stuff.

With that said, this post will get a bit heavy at times, in the sense that it will contain opinions that not everyone will like. It drifted into rambling about queerbaiting and all that stuff. I'm not going to spam anyone's dashboard with drama over it, but it's very possible someone else might try. It's also not really a negative post, depending on what you want to hear, I suppose. But if you're only in the mood to read fluff today, you'll probably want to pass it up.

Oh! Also it's very long, and sexuality is discussed in a vague way that doesn't involve any story elements or body parts.

For starters, I don't think Good Omens 2 - or even 3, if that comes about - is going to have anything explicitly sexual or romantic between the two of them, where "explicit" is things like the characters giving outright definitions of their relationship or outright discussing exactly what goes on between them, either on or off-screen. I also don't think there's going to be kissing or "hooking up" (come on...that person on Twitter shouldn't have even asked). Those actions are too blatant for what Neil has already said about the series. While they technically leave some room for interpretation, they probably don't leave enough.

I DO think it's quite possible other characters will continue to define the relationship FOR them and Crowley and Aziraphale will continue to not deny it.

As far as the queerbaiting debate, "is Good Omens queerbaiting"...it's gonna depend how you define it. I always learned that queerbaiting was basically where the creators intentionally make it look like a character is gay or otherwise queer but then swap that character development out for a cis identity and hetero relationship at the end. The point is that the "bait" leads to queer audiences being actively hurt. That's the behavior that seems awful to me, and I don't see Neil and company doing that.

However, I think it's far and away the most likely option that it will be left up to interpretation whether Crowley and Aziraphale are, you know, a buddy duo or a romantic couple or some sort of ineffable queerness all their own off-screen. So if your definition of queerbaiting is "the characters seem gay to us, but homophobes can tell themselves they're not," then yes, I think that debate will follow us to our graves if we let it.

I am a cisgender, possibly straight (?? demi/bi? I might never find out) woman. There is absolutely no way I could ever tell anybody, ESPECIALLY not gay guys and nonbinary people - the people Crowley and Aziraphale tend to resemble the most - how to feel about their treatment in the story. All I can offer is that I'm one flawed individual and there are things I have the emotional capacity to handle and things I don't. Crowley and Aziraphale as both a canon construct and a fandom pairing mean an absurd amount to me, and I can't hang around in spaces where people are constantly talking about how my own interpretations of them are not enough, or how the story is written with ill intentions. I don't want to stop anybody from venting about it, but I am going to be removing myself from those situations.

I like to imagine 1990 NeilandTerry, or TerryandNeil, as a sort of two-headed God who came up with Crowley and Aziraphale, set them loose on Creation, and now are watching them get up to way more ridiculous stuff in the brains of their fans than they'd ever imagined in the first place. I like to imagine them watching, amused and bemused, as their creations fall in love in thousands of universes, and saying, "Well, we didn't specifically Plan for this, but we did promise free will."

This is psychoanalytical toward a public figure and is therefore a bit dangerous, so please take it with an entire mountain of salt, but I sometimes think perhaps Neil sees some of his and Terry's friendship in Crowley and Aziraphale, and suspect that he wants to reserve the possibility that they could be platonic because he and Terry were platonic, while at the same time leaving room for the fans to have their own interpretations, too. Because if there's one thing that comes up really frequently with Neil, it's his belief in imagination and how much stories matter to people. He can have his little corner of the universe where A and C reflect himself and Terry, and we can have...literally anything we want, as long as we're willing to extrapolate just a little bit from canon. It's not even that much extrapolation! It's just "Yes, they love each other, so what exactly does love mean to you?" and if love means kissing, well then, if we can think it, we can have it.

Given that Neil has written LGBT+ characters before, I think he has non-bigoted reasons for wanting Aziraphale and Crowley to remain undefined, and given even the small chance that those reasons may involve the grieving process for a dead friend, I believe it is unkind to argue with him about it or hold his reputation hostage over it.

With that said, do I want canon kissing/hooking up/all that stuff we put in fics? Listen, I can't deny that I do! Personally, I'd be over the moon. I'd probably be so happy I'd have to go to the hospital to get sorted out. Even the thought of it makes me giddy and light-headed, because that physicality is a part of my own experience of love.

However, there are a lot of people who would feel left behind if that happened. Ace and aro people in the fandom whose love for their friends and partners is just as strong as mine, but who are sex-repulsed or just don't want to see kissing on-screen. The loss of Crowley and Aziraphale as a pairing who are extremely easy to interpret as queerplatonic would be hurtful to them, and I do not want to see them hurt like that. I don't think Neil does, either.

So, once again, the "best for everyone" option becomes a really strong canon relationship based in both narrative function and profound affection, which has genuinely thoughtful queer undertones and leaves open the logical possibility for romantic or sexual encounters but does not insist that they must happen. People, especially fans who are super invested, tend to have an easier time imagining scenarios that take place off-screen (e.g. kissing, sex) than they have erasing scenarios that they've already seen in canon (e.g., if someone wished they could continue viewing it as an ace relationship but they were shown "hooking up"). Also, while relationships are super emotional and extremely subjective, I'd argue that in a long-term adult partnership, the non-sexual connection is more important than the sexual one. As a fan, I'd prefer to extrapolate "they love each other so maybe they'd have sex" rather than "they're sexually attracted to each other so maybe they'll intertwine their whole existences together."

It probably isn't necessary to add, but I will anyway: I'm aware that Good Omens is sort of sacrificing social leverage - the ability to whack homophobes over the head with canon if they try to deny the show's queerness - and is thus not really contributing to making specifically gay relationships more widely seen and accepted. However, I don't think all stories have to invest heavily in every social issue they touch on for them to still be meaningful. I also do think Good Omens is an excellent example of a relationship that is extremely profound without being heteronormative.

I don't think the next season is going to be a rom-com. It will likely not even be a "love story," where the definition of "love story" is "a story that follows the development of a relationship and employs certain plot beats to make its point." Remember that conflicts and breakups are key to love stories, so if it IS a love story, then we're going to have to watch the relationship get challenged in ways some of us might have thought were already resolved in season 1! And while that could be thrilling and ultimately very good, it would also be likely to undercut some of the careful headcanoning and analysis we've already done. Any sequel is going to do that to some degree, but a second love story would probably do it a lot, with interpretations that people are even more protective of.

I'm sort of thinking the next season is likely to be a fantasy-heavy mystery, only because those are the two concepts Neil's introduction led with - an angel with amnesia who presents Crowley and Aziraphale with a mystery. Crowley and Aziraphale's connection to each other can still absolutely be a major theme! It can still be the thread stitching the plot together! It just probably, in my opinion, won't escalate and escalate and escalate like it did in season 1. And it will probably be woven in there among a lot of other plot threads that are, in many moments, louder. Still, I'd love to be left with the impression of these two existences, the light and the dark, subtly becoming more intimate, subtly growing more comfortable in this shared place they've chosen in the universe, gradually starting to behave like they know they aren't alone in the world anymore, all while other things happen to and around them.

Nonsexual physical intimacy - a really great hug, or leaning together on the sofa, or a forehead touch, or something like those, something that could happen in a lot of different kinds of relationships but is undoubtedly based in deep trust and affection and a desire to be close...that's the dream, for me. Oh, how lovely it would be.

Of course, I could be just absolutely, embarrassingly wrong about all this. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[theinquisitivej]

SteamHeart Thoughts & Reactions: Ep.07 - The Subtle Engineer, Ep.08 - The Starlit Eyes, and Ep.09 - The Shadow in the South

Strap in ladies and gents - ‘SteamHeart’s engine has warmed up, and it’s ready to take off! The three most recent episodes have finally given us a taste of the character interactions we were anticipating. Much like all those little moments in ‘Avengers Assemble’ which become that much bigger given our investment in each member of the group, who have all established themselves as A-listers worthy of starring in their own story, these episodes make the simple exchanges between characters rich and satisfying for the audience to delight in.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Ep.07 - The Subtle Engineer

          We have returned to the present day, as an adult James and Abigail make their way to meet the Arlingtons and impart their vital information. Upon their arrival, they are greeted by Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. Their meeting sets the tone for the episode; everyone present is not the same as they once were when they all first met, and there is an unspoken understanding that they have all lost something, or at least seen loss since their last meeting. But in spite of, or maybe because of this, they find some happiness in being able to meet again, strengthening the connection between these two pairs.

          We move onto the hangar bay, but not before Abigail is informed of Karl’s death, and we are given a chance to see how this affects her, and the key moments that exemplify how she, and the audience, shall remember him; someone we were initially cautious of, but who ultimately proved himself to be a friend and ally. In the hangar, we see Edison and Tesla engaged in their usual arguments, before Abigail and James are introduced to Harry and our titular landcraft, SteamHeart. The moment SteamHeart is ignited is warm, magical, and an inviting introduction to this mobile safe haven. Despite the dangers of the American wilderness, as well as those closer to home in Washington, this is a brief moment where our characters feel safe, and the music does a great job marking it as such.

          My favourite part of this episode was James’ observations of Harry’s character. I get the impression that Harry is fast becoming one of the cast’s favourite characters, and I wouldn’t blame them for a second if this is the case. Laureta Sela gives Harry a sweetly tender voice that can still come alive with a spark of passion and enthusiastic energy. You initially want to shield her from the dangers of this world, before realising that she is capable of engaging with the world, and perhaps even making it a better place through her inventions. Both James and Harry’s minds operate in a way that is difficult for outside observers to comprehend, so James’ insight on the way she conducts herself was fascinating, as well as genuinely sweet to listen to his admiration of Harry as he gained a deeper understanding of her. The way his observations alternated with Harry’s explanation of SteamHeart and the way it operates was a fantastic way of solidifying the connection between this engineer and her creation. Even before the development in two episodes time, you know that there is no way the two could be separated from one another.

          An episode about our characters having a quiet moment before a dramatic meeting that’s played perfectly to deliver a touch of tenderness and warmth to these characters and their new mobile home.

Ep.08 - The Starlit Eyes

          Abigail, James, Butler, Annie, and Harry make their way to meet with Thomas and Sarah Arlington, the Director and Co-Director of the National Intelligence Agency, and the two main figures of ‘Arlington’, my favourite story in ‘New Century’ so far. With some of the series’ most influential and important characters all in one room for the first time, this episode was always going to feel like a big deal, but this more than delivered. I love the way the first exchange is bumbling and awkward on Abigail’s part. It makes it that much more human and real, avoiding that feeling of a film that feels overly ‘Hollywood’, and has serious characters meet and say exactly what they need to say with perfect and emotionless delivery. It’s a small touch, but it goes far. 

          Following this up with the short conversation about drinks was a work of genius. Having a cast of characters each express what unique drink they would like, with the occasional reactionary remark made by one of the other characters, is a wonderful way of cementing the fact that this is a diverse cocktail of people, each with their own distinct flavour. It sets the stage for this episode being all about people with strong personalities mixing and blending with one another as they discuss matters, and it’s one of my favourite things to experience in fiction - strong characters being placed in a situation, and the natural chemistry that emerges as a result.

          Once this group is joined by Truth Arlington, the White House Communications Director and daughter of Thomas and Sarah, as well as Jeremy Pines, one of the White House’s best and most excitable experts in paranormal elements, and his partner Donald McTavish, we have our full council. It all feels grand, and it is a monumental achievement for this fictional universe for us to get to this stage and be this invested, and for the audience to know and recognise each of the personalities in this busy group scene. It’s like watching the Rivendell Council scene in ‘Fellowship of the Ring’ after several repeat viewings of the trilogy, and you enjoy the powerful personalities of our main characters decide what is to be done. Except this time it’s enjoyably less formal (“Who’s telling the story right now?” “At the moment, everyone.”) , and arguably even better for not having a dozen other superfluous extras contribute nothing to the scene. Fans have been waiting for this scene for a long time, and it absolutely doesn’t disappoint.

          Anyway, by the end of this episode, we have covered the ground of what happened at Krieger’s manor at the end of ‘Secret Rooms’, cleared up some of the details and looming questions that some readers might have about the story after all this time, and have reminded everyone of James and Abigail’s mysterious new starlit eyes, and what significance they might possess in what is to be done next...

Ep.09 - The Shadow in the South

          The meeting continues, as our group decides on what is to be done. Much like how Ep.08 reminded us of the consequences and significance of ‘Secret Room’s finale, this episode does the same for ‘Arlington’ by having Thomas inform the room of his encounter with Seth, the imposing leader of the Wendigos, and master of the intimidating Manticore. 

          As Thomas explains the uncertain truce between himself and Seth, the implications of what could happen if our heroes embark on their journey to the Southern Wind-Door become clear. If they do this, they will be entering the territories that Seth has claimed for his people, and break the pact between him and Arlington. The consequences of incurring the wrath of such a powerful enemy could be catastrophic, but the benefits of closing the portal or finding a cure to the Wendigo’s plague and ensuring humanity’s survival are too great to ignore. It’s a compelling dilemma, and one that is written well enough to make an easy and clear solution seem impossible. It gives the quest real stakes, as the consequences seem believable. If there was some contrived doomsday event that threatened to immediately wipe out all human life, we know that wouldn’t happen. Alex Shaw plans to continue this series beyond ‘SteamHeart’, and he’s hardly likely to do that if everyone’s already dead, now is he? However, a world that was already in a bad situation when we were introduced to it being put in an even worse situation by being placed in a prolonged war with a dangerous opponent like Seth is more feasible. It’s not instant world-wide death, but rather the threat of an extended conflict which could slowly but surely eradicate us, and that is terrifyingly believable.

          The episode becomes even better when the idea emerges to make the team of characters going out on their mission into national heroes embarking on a widely publicised expedition. It makes James, Abigail, Annie, Butler, Harry, Pines, and Raven (*coughandHraoandMiguelcough*) being these well established characters with bold and distinctive personalities which the audience are familiar with into something that the actual text of the narrative is incorporating into the setting. Now it’s not just we the audience who will know and love the crew of SteamHeart and want to see them succeed, but the American population as well. I didn’t see it coming, and it makes a lot of sense as a political move within the narrative. It also gives ‘SteamHeart’ that same element of incorporating the meta-narrative into the themes of the story that MovieBob discusses in his excellent video analysis of ‘Avengers Assemble’. This is a wise move, but still incorporates this motif in a way that feels unique and fitting for this particular story. On that topic, I did like the possible ‘Ant-Man’ / ‘Civil War’ Easter egg with Thomas’ delivery of “I know a guy”.

          After riding the high of simply listening to these characters bounce off one another and talk about going off on this epic journey, we are promised a formal ball to celebrate their departure, which is a fun scenario I’m very curious to see unfold with these characters. On top of that, we end with some sweeping, grand music to get us pumped, before leaving us with the tease of a tiger’s growls, which can mean only one thing...

Hrao’s back, baby!