an actual quote from the book "Many people, meeting Aziraphale for the first time, formed three impressions: that he was English, that he was intelligent, and that he was gayer than a treeful of monkeys on nitrous oxide."
Interesting to see this quote in English. In Russian, we use "blue" when talking about gay men, so the quote goes like this: "...and that he was so blue (gay) that any tropical island would hire him to light up the sky at the peak of the tourist season."
I've seen a theory/headcanon that Crowley doesn't actually destroy the plants he removes, he just runs the loud disposal to scare the plants he keeps. So what happens to the plants he removes, then? Well, he plants them somewhere else outside with "You're Fallen now, enjoy!" as his parting words.
@@alexjewett7455 True. But I do believe it's due to his own trauma. He at least wants his plants to be better and any that seem to fail, he merely plants them someplace else in hopes that perhaps they can do better than they were under Crowley's care. It's all tied to his own trauma and his relationship with God.
29:00 My favorite part of the book: [Anathema gathered her things together and stepped out as haughtily as possible. She was quite sure neither of the two men had gone around to the back of the car, but the bike was unstrapped and leaning against the gate. There was definitely something very weird about them, she decided. Aziraphale bowed again. "So glad to have been of assistance", he said. "Thank you," said Anathema, icily. "Can we get on?" said Crowley. "Goodnight, miss. Get in, angel." Ah. Well, that explained it. She had been perfectly safe after all.] A lot of people (me included) think that she supposed that they were a gay couple. Because "angel" sound like a pet name. And it's not mentionned that she might have thought Azi was an actual angel.
I was about to come write this same part from the book.😂 Yes, at first she was a little scared that they might do something to her and told them "I have a bread knife!" And Aziraphale was horrified that she thought they might assault her. But after she heard Crowley call him "angel"... Oh, a gay couple. I was perfectly safe.
The four horsemen of the apocalypse are four biblical figures who appear in the Book of Revelation. They are revealed by the unsealing of the first four of the seven seals. since you didn't know who the horsemen are here! Each of the horsemen represents a different facet of the apocalypse: conquest, war, famine, and death. Although in this show instead of conquest/glory we have pollution! The redhead women we see is basically the manifestation of the concept of war
@@karouakiva1714 the seven seals of revelation are : the white horse, red horse, black horse and pale horse then comes after; souls crying out (martyrs and dead if I'm correct), the sky and heavens descending, sun moon and stars, quakes and finally silence in heaven
the reason for a lot of Queen in the show (not mentioned in the show): any CD left in Crowley's car for longer than a fortnight turns into The Best Of Queen
In the book, it's not just Crowley's car, it's any car. “Crowley was currently doing 110 mph somewhere east of Slough. Nothing about him looked particularly demonic, at least by classical standards. No horns, no wings. Admittedly he was listening to a Best of Queen tape, but no conclusions should be drawn from this because all tapes left in a car for more than about a fortnight metamorphose into Best of Queen albums.”
29:02 in the book Anathema was scared when she had to get in the car with them but when she heard Crowley calling Aziraphale "angel" she realized she's been safe the whole time because she thought they were dating
@@Lucy-uv4hv That's a popular theory, but it's not confirmed. To me all the angels and most devils in this series are asexual beings. Crowley and Aziraphale have just been best friends for so long, especially with most angels and demons not even having friends, that they know each other as well as one can. Although they definitely care more for each other than their respective sides.
As a kid i absolutely knew about the Spanish inquisition, I remember we played like a witch hunt game or something, I got "burned at the stake" for being too lucky.
I don't know about the education system in the USA, but in most places in the world we learn about the Spanish Inquisition in History classes, and usually when we are about Adam's age.
@@NankitaBRAs best I remember those years (they're a good stretch behind me, so even if I do remember them accurately, things might have changed since then), we really only learn American history before junior high.
That was often not something we learned from school, just something we knew about, idk how, just a part of culture I guess. I mean not like we knew any details just that witches used to be burned and the Spanish inquisition used to do it. Same as everyone knew about 4 horsemen of the apocalypse. Also not with details or even all of their names but that they are those four figures that bring on the apocalypse. I was shocked somebody white did not know about them. Also, the painting was Mona Lisa :D
Funnily enough, "to draw a vail" is NOT sexual at all XD It's a common phrase for dabbling with the supernatural which is one of Madame Tracy's jobs, as you'll see soon enough. It's a sheer coincidence that her other job is a sex worker. P.S. The picture behind Crowley is a sketch of the Mona Lisa :D
Yeah, my understanding is that people speak of a metaphorical "veil" which separates the physical and spiritual realms. So, for example, a medium would "pierce the veil" to contact spirits.
15:14 fun fact Neil Gaiman said that Crowley never actually kills the plants he takes them for a walk and gives them to the old lady downstairs and then turns on the disposal to intimidate the other plants 💀
Another thing about this story is that the book was written in the 80s, during the Cold War. So it was very-much intended as a commentary on the NATO and Soviet policies of Mutually Assured Destruction. Also, during the Cold War, you would hear stories of operatives for either side spying on each other so regularly that they would develop a working familiarity and friendship. That's the idea behind Crowley and Aziraphale.
I don't think Pepper's mother was in a cult, just a massive hippy. Lucifer and some angels rebelling against heaven is a thing from the bible, not just Hazbin Hotel.
Yes, normal hippy. It gets a bit lost because the timeline doesn't match up with the TV series set in the present day. It's already a bit wonky with the book, as it was published in 1990.
First off, so glad you're getting into this! Second, some answers for you. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are from the Book of Revelation and they sort of...bring the end of days with them. It's why they're characters in Good Omens...the end of days literally can't come without them, and it's why they're being summoned now that the Antichrist is coming into power. Also, no worries, everything does eventually tie in pretty neatly :) Oh! Also, the prophecy about the cocoa was profound because she was talking directly TO Aziraphale and it startled him. (Telling an Angel to pay attention because his cocoa was getting cold) And hey, if you're having trouble with Aziraphale's name, you can always call him "Angel" like Crowley does.
From what I remember he opened it to a random page to test it (expecting probably the usual vague "prophesies" you get in these kind of books) and then realises she's written directly to HIM so yeah, pretty chilling.
@@lea9759yours is a valid headcanon! Doesn't even contradict the other version, it was bound to be a weird (and wildly homoerotic) friendship with those two :D
It's not a surprise that the kids know about the Spanish Inquisition when an iconic moment of British comedy is someone opening the door of a modern (for the time) house to find a group of men in historical dress standing outside, the leader of whom proceeds to shout "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" The more likely explanation is the show Horrible Histories though
Fun Easter egg from the book, the painting of who you thought may be Mary in Crowleys flat? An early rendering of what would be the Mona Lisa that Crowley collected 😂
He was Thou-Shalt-Not-Commit-Adultery Pulsifer. You'll notice he gets pretty testy when the first part is omitted (except with Agnes, when he's just taken aback). The actress who plays Agnes in this also played the part in the radio adaptation.
3:24 The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are typically listed as War, Famine, Pestilence, and Death. (In this series, Pestilence had actually retired, and was replaced by Pollution) 3:51 This woman is the first Horseman summoned. Her name is War. That’s what Sandalphon’s little comment in Aziraphale’s bookshop meant. “You can’t have a war, without War.” The second “war” is a name. 😊
Do we get an explanation for Pestilence straight up retiring? Did they just get frustrated humans got good at curing diseases and was like “screw it, Pollution, this is your problem now!”
@@dragonstouch1042 Yes, that’s basically the explanation. 😄 Pestilence isn’t mentioned in any detail, but in the book, they explain that Pestilence retired in 1936 “muttering something about penicillin”, and Pollution took over from there. lol
@@dragonstouch1042 Yup! 😆 It’s a one-sentence throwaway joke that they give to explain why Pollution is there instead of Pestilence, but that is the explanation for his retirement. lol
There's the shot where Aziraphale picks up the Velvet Underground CD, and now when I see that, I just think, "Oh, Crowley must not have had that for very long, because it hasn't turned into Queen yet."😁
15:44 I mean… yes she is, but that’s not what she was referring to. 😅 “Drawing aside the veil” is in reference to her speaking to the spirits of those who have passed on. Performing seances and whatnot. Madam Tracy works both as a psychic, and also a sex worker, depending on the day. 😊
me and my friends were absolutely like that as kids lol (except we were more focused on ancient mythology) especially in the book versions they're some of the most realistically written kids I have seen
I knew about the Spanish Inquisition when I was 11, and not only from Monty Python ("No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!"). Then again, I also listened to a lot of what was said in Sunday school (I was also raised Catholic), read A LOT of books, enjoyed learning history, and watched an eclectic variety of TV shows. A few years later I read Good Omens as well and caught most of the references (but I'm also born early 1980s). Oh and Piper's mother was a hippy not a member of a cult--although she could have been both I suppose.
If you like Crowley's sassiness, you'll definitely like these next few episodes. He's a lovely, sassy demon. (He's not at all very evil, but don't ever say that in front of him). 😂
Back during Covid, I believe it was on Facebook they posted an audio clip of Tennant and Sheen in character of Crowley and Az having a phoencall about the current events of Covid and what not, but one part that stuck out for me was the last line, Crowley ending the call with 'Goodnight... My Angel' 🥰
Due to Monty Python, children of that time period (roughly 1990 was when the book came out) would know of the Spanish Inquisition. If only as a group of 3 men in red robes and wide brimmed hats who "nobody expects". And it's easy to look them up in a local library. Or the internet, even if it was not quite as widely available back then.
@@Inkwellington 😂tell me about it I'm honestly surpised none of us where caught, I was terrible at disposing of evidence back then but not anymore, the trick is grind the bones down to a fine powder and snort it. Joking aside though, yeah kids say some pretty fucked up shit, some of the stuff I hear my neighbours kids say is down right disturbing
In the original book, it's actually implied that Crowley never really kills the plants that grow spots. He just replants it outside and puts the pot back for the other plants to "see"
So the 4 horseman of apocalyspe are not demons or angels, they are heralds of the end of times, if i am not mistake you have differente versions, but the main one is Death, War, Pestilence and Famine, other version have Conquest and Strife. if i remember right the horseman are not supose to be good or evil, more like forces of nature trigering the end of times
Oh yes, there are things hidden in Good Omen's but it best to watch through it first then go back. The next Episode is my favorite and I look forward to see more of your reaction. I've been obsessed with this show since it aired back in 2019.
Omg, I can't wait to see your reaction to episode 3! Side note: the reason there's so much Queen in the soundtrack is because in the book, it is said that any cassette (It was written in that era) that was left in a car for more than two weeks would mysteriously turn into a Best of Queen album, no matter what it actually said on the label.
In the books, one of the jokes is the cosmic force that makes any tape(when cars had tape players) left in the glove compartment of any car to slowly turn into a copy of "queen greatest hits" indifferently from what it originally was. So yes, all queen music in the car. And yes, the bicycle song is a track by queen called "bicycle race".
7:44 Burning alive or burning to death can be extremely painful, especially at the beginning of the process before the flames burn the nerves, after which the skin does not hurt as much. However, many victims die quickly from suffocation caused by hot gases damaging the respiratory tract. Survivors may die within days from pulmonary edema, which occurs when fluid fills the lungs' alveoli.
"Suspicion slides off him like... whatever it is water slides off of" (One hour later) "Ducks! That's what water slides off of." The most relatable moment I've ever experienced.
YIPPEE!! So glad you like the show, your reactions are PRECIOUS ❤️🤣 Also super happy to see you like the Crowley and Aziraphale duo, welcome to the rabbit hole😎
I really hope this reactor is reading all the comments. thank you all for providing all the history, popular culture, religion, art, literature, music, science, and general life references this poster has not yet encountered in their young life. still always good to have new fans and I wish I was still as young.
5:43 Bruno Madrigal pretty much XD also when Crowley brought up the ducks I instantly knew what he was talking about because I, too, continue conversations from actual days ago like I was still in the middle of them
i don't think i've ever heard someone say they're not familiar with the four horsemen of the apocalypse... i can't imagine how confusing those parts of the episode were to you lol.
If I had a nickel for ever time ive watched a show with a fallen angel obsessed with ducks I would have 2 nickels, it’s not al lot but it’s weird that it happened twice (hazbin and good omens)
"The veil" is usually what you'd say when you talk about spirituality, or "the veil between life and death". And idk about other people but I'm Swedish and my dad introduced me to Monty Python when I was a kid and they have a skit about the spanish inquicision, so I'm not surprised these kids know those words too.
IM SO HAPPY you love this show as much as I do. After watching your Hazbin and Heartstopper reaction, I’ve become a huge fan of the channel. This video definitely cheered me up! ❤
I knew of the Spanish inquisition at their age, but much of it comes from Wensleydale, who is very bookish, and Pepper who gets all sorts of weird information from her mother. And the. It is all filtered through Adam, so anything that sounds even vaguely interesting isn’t forgotten.
There is a lot of hidden stuff in Good Omens. Stuff, a lot of people miss watching the first time. For example there is a visual representation of each of the 4 horsemen when we first meet the Them (Adam and his friends) the intro has a lot of stuff and then there are also loads of easter eggs. All of the demons and angels named are actual demons and angels (Crowley and Aziraphale are the exception). All of the nuns' names have something to do with talking, and Anathama means something not liked. Every single thing in this show has layers and layers of meaning to it. And the prophecies are worth rewatching once you have seen the whole first season. Because they will make a lot more sense once you have seen the whole thing.
34:20 The portrait Crowley has is actually the original sketch for the Mona Lisa! Crowley and Aziraphale knew Leonardo DaVinci when he was working on the Mona Lisa, and he gifted them his sketch
Actually, no, the sergant's not the desendant of Adultery Pulsifer. Newton Pulsifer, the guy in glasses, is the great great sth grandson of that man. If you watch closely you can see that they're played by the same actor
21:03 It may sound pompous of Zira to say this, but we actually see it happen to Crowley, like in episode 1, where he'd taken down all of the London cell networks and then he couldn't call Zira from the car and there's at least one more example I can think of off the top of my head, but I dont wanna spoil anything 😅 P.s. The paintball scene is even more ridiculous in the book, I recommend anyone who hasn't read it to look it up 🤣
The band of kids, called The Them, Adam and Pepper and the two guys, are based on the Just William novels by Richmal Crompton, possibly the funniest woman and human being ever. The adventures of William, Ginger, Douglas, Henry, and wonder dog Jumble have to be some of my happiest memories.
The picture in Crowley's room's background is actually a cartoon version of Mona Lisa, according to the original book. He was said to have been friends with Da Vinci and even Da VInci himself told him that he prefered the cartoon version over his own original
If you re-watch the scene when Crowley meets the demons in episode 1, the line being played in Bohemian Rhapsody is: "Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me". So the song is mirroring the situation; devils are put aside for Crowley.
I work with elementary school kids for a living and let me tell you the Tadfield kids are perfectly accurate. Kids will say the wildest things, and you'd be surprised how much and how fast they pick things up.
British comedy shows sometimes make reference to the Spanish Inquisition, like Horrible Histories which is aimed at kids, and Monty Python and Blackadder that their parents might have let them watch. So yes, I believe British kids might sometimes play Spanish Inquisition. :)
im not spoiling anything, but there is a particular episode to look out for, its incredibly funny cuz David just goes full SCOTLAAAANND FOOORREEVVVEERRR
Really pay attention to how Crowley and Aziraphale interact and even look at each other. There’s one very big and obvious thing that you haven’t noticed.
Almost all demons have some kind of animal they're associated with or that appears on them somehow. With Hastur it's a toad, with Beelzebub it's flies and so on. Crowley's animal is a snake obviously, but he's a bit unusual in that he doesn't have one stuck to his head (he just has a tattoo of one under his right sideburn). Probably why he gets a lot of assignments interacting with humans (because he doesn't freak them out) (as much). :-D
Wow, this is the first time I've come across a Good Omens reactor whose videos aren't all 4 years ago or something like that. I actually have to WAIT for the next one instead of just popping immediately on.
The kids knowing the Spanish Inquisition isn't that weird in UK, it's european history being taught in europe. The kids are also a bit well-versed in christian history, considering that a few are implied to have had a christian upbringing, and this book is mostly a fanfiction of christian mythology (and I use the word mythology here mostly because it also references a lot of non-biblical christian beliefs and traditions, like circles of hell from Dante's Inferno). Last but not least, the book was written in the late eighties and published in 1990, monthy pythons Spanish Inquisition bit kind of had the same vibe as some of the best known internet memes from 2000s do today. So.. yeah the kids know about the Spanish Inquisition, but also, they clearly don't know a lot.
Sorry if this has already been pointed out before, but since you don't have subtitles, the Narrator is God. I am looking forward to seeing your reaction to the rest of the show!
that's a sketch of mona lisa in the background in crowley's apartment, signed to 'anthony' by leonardo da vinci (they have been around since the beginning and met a lot of interesting people. *this is from memory and I didn't go check the exact wording
Loved your reaction, I hope you will enjoy the rest of the show !! Btw, idk if you know it now, but she (4:31) is one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse : she IS War.
Pro tip: the easiest way to pronounce his name is saying "a zero fell", but all in one word. a-ZERO-fell = Aziraphale It sounds pretty much exactly like it's spelled, I'm not sure why everyone ends up having so much trouble with it lmaoo 😭
@@Blazingstoke I figured "a zero fell" would be easier to remember, since a) humans call him Mr. Fell and b) the angels falling thing makes it hysterically ironic lmao
so SO glad you're checking out Good Omens. Crowley and Aziraphale have to be my favourite ship of all time. Beyond them, the rest of the cast and the writing of Pratchett and Gaiman is just glorious and witty and brilliant.
Not gonna say anything specific, for the sake of spoilers, but Crowley’s treatment of plants eventually becomes pretty important in understanding his character
2 things of interest: When Madam Tracy said:"Pulling back the veil" She actually meant a seance. WOman needs to pay her bills, she is doing it all. Also, since sexwork isn't illegal in england (Yes, you can make it legan without the country falling to bits, imagine that) There would be no need for her to be covert with the police
Yes, the song that plays in the scene where Anathema hits/is hit by Crowley's car is "Bicycle Race" by Queen. The video for that song is very, um... interesting if you can find it. (They put a lot of naked female models on bicycles and had them ride bikes around a bicycle racetrack. This was 1977 or thereabouts. (The song mentions Star Wars.) Yes, they were really naked, at least in one version.) No idea where to find it now.
Did you notice that when they were walking out of the paint ball place u can see all the people being arrested presumably for firing actual weapons in the place.
20:20 in the UK we have a pretty popular show called horrible histories, so The Them knowing about the Spanish inquisition ain't too unbelievable. Me and my friends used to act out stuff like that all the time. We once pretended to be ancient Egyptians mummifying eachother.
The 4 horsemen of the apocalypse are from the book of revelations - which is also what gives us "armageddon". They should be war, famine, pestilence(plague), and death...but in Good Omens pestilence retired with the invention of antibiotics and got replaced by pollution.
The sketch in Crowley's office is the rough sketch of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci, which suggests that they were close at some point at the end of the 16th century, or beginning of the 17th.
As far as not understanding the religious aspects, i wouldn't worry! Yes, there are a lot of references and themes, but it's all geared towards a general audience. You dont need to have prior religious knowledge to understand plot points, they do a really good job of explaining what needs to be explained when it needs to be explained. For example, there's a flashback to a story from the bible in season 2, but you don't have to have known the story before seeing it in order to enjoy it. I'm technically catholic, but I don't know the bible besides a few of the more popular stories here and there (and even that is mostly thanks to veggie tales lmao). Trust the process of this show; all will be explained and all will make sense, you just need to be patient with it.
