A group of actors including David Tennant and Michael Sheen sat down at a panel discussion about Good Omens

Liv Thomson

Four years after its initial release, Good Omens (2019-) has returned to Amazon Prime for its second season. Based on Neil Gaiman and Sir Terry Pratchett’s novel of the same name, this fantasy-comedy series continues to enrapture audiences.

As an Amazon Prime member, I was able to view the first two episodes of the new season prior to its official release on July 28th. I watched it in the way any great content ought to be watched: on a 70-foot cinema screen. 

Good Omens Season 2: Overview

The second season of Good Omens departs from the original plot of the book. Following the events of the first season, we pick up shortly after where we left off. Having escaped from their respective head offices in Heaven and Hell, the kindhearted angel Aziraphale and unpredictable demon Crowley are living quietly under the radar in a post-Armageddon Earth.

“At its core, Good Omens is a love story”

This all changes, however, when an unexpected, unwanted visitor shows up at Aziraphale’s bookshop, quickly putting their “quiet, fragile existence” at risk.

A Match Made in Heaven (and Hell)

Episodes one and two promised fun from the off, with a bold premise that had everyone in the theatre laughing. Nothing was clearer than the natural chemistry between David Tennant and Michael Sheen. They’ve got it by the bucketful. Aziraphale and Crowley seem closer and more at ease than we’ve previously seen them.

Where season one laid the groundwork, season two offers a more nuanced and insightful look into their 6,000 year long relationship. This in turn allows for Tennant and Sheen’s performances to be even more comical, meaningful, and most importantly, natural.

Both Aziraphale and Crowley have some notably hilarious moments throughout this season, even more so than in the show’s first. From apology dances and magic shows to an overly thick Scottish accent brought upon by a visit to Edinburgh, gladly embraced by Tennant’s Crowley, the fantastical quirkiness of the show has undoubtedly stepped up.

The comical and satirical elements are, however, dutifully balanced out with scenes that seek to demonstrate Crowley’s protective instincts over his angelic counterpart, and vice versa. This adds yet another endearing layer to their relationship.

A Hell of an Introduction

Along with the return of many familiar faces, this season introduces us to some new characters. These include Maggie (Maggie Service), owner of the record shop next door to Aziraphale’s bookshop, and Nina (Nina Sosonya), owner of the coffee shop across the road. It isn’t long before Maggie and Nina become embroiled in the chaos surrounding Aziraphale and Crowley.

“The music serves both as an exercise in ingenious comedic timing“

What becomes clear throughout this season is that, at its core, Good Omens is a love story. This fact, while it has always been true, is crucial to season two. With the introduction of Maggie and Nina, the viewers can see the parallels between the girls’ and the boys’ — or otherworldly genderfluid beings’ —relationships. This focus is at the forefront of the plot of season two.

Tuning into Good Omens Season 2

The soundtrack of season one was a masterful fusion of fantasy and comedy. In this respect, the second instalment lives up to expectations. With the continued inclusion of Crowley’s love of the musical stylings of Queen — a direct juxtaposition to Aziraphale’s own love of vinyl records and classical music — the music serves both as a powerful addition to poignant scenes and an exercise in ingenious comedic timing.

Buddy Holly’s 1957 track ‘Everyday’ is heavily featured throughout the season, to the extent that it becomes its own plot point.

Divine Approval

Season 2 of Good Omens was received well by critics and fans alike, debuting with a 95 per cent audience rating out of over 1000 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. However, there has been no news on when fans can expect the next instalment.

Gaiman took to social media to assure worried fans that, in the event that its stellar viewing figures are not enough to secure a third and final season renewal, he would write a novel to appropriately conclude the Good Omens series. He also recognises the impact of the Writers Guild strike upon commencing season three.

So, one way or another, Aziraphale and Crowley will be back. I, for one, cannot wait.

Good Omens season 2 is available to stream now on Amazon Prime.

READ NEXT:

Featured image courtesy of Rhododendrites on Wikimedia Commons. No changes have been made to this image. Image licence found here.

Just another argumentative antithetical dream girl trying her best to make her sentences pretty. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a Master's in broadcast journalism.

1 Comment

  1. This review definitely makes me want to watch the show! Well written, insightful and captivating.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *