Typically, the book is better than the movie.
That fact made the challenge Neil Gaiman tackled with a screen adaptation of the beloved book Good Omens daunting. Thank goodness
he was the showrunner and was fueled by his promise to Terry Pratchett. It was also good fortune that this adaptation was created during the golden age of streaming television. A two or three-hour movie could not capture the humor nor the themes within the novel. Especially the themes, which are more relevant today than when the book was written.
With the Amazon Prime, six-part streaming series, Good Omens was something we don’t see often. Although not as rich as the book, the show added elements that complimente the novel nicely. So, for this blog, I’ll talk about the pros and cons of the Good Omens series. If feels so f-ing good not have to kill another screen adaptation while sounding like a pretentious book lover.
I am a pretentious book lover, but with Good Omens I get to be a happy show watcher as well.
It seems I have an angel on one shoulder and a demon the other. This is only fitting; if this story teaches us one thing it is extremes in ANYTHING are not healthy.
Pros
The Expanded relationship between Crowley and Aziraphale
The chemistry between Tennant and Sheen was amazing and the acting was brilliant. Adding the historical scenes with these characters fill in blanks in the book. It built upon the novel’s premise that pure Good and Evil really don’t exist. Crowley’s observations regarding Christianity were some of the funniest dialog in the show. Terry Pratchett would be dancing in heaven….if he believed in heaven.
Hell & Heaven Incorporated
Anyone who has ever worked in the corporate world could identify with both places. Referring to the importance of paperwork over actual work was spot on. More importantly, the addition of middle management characters from both places emphasizes the premise that extremes don’t work. Its sad that this part of the movie was so relevant to our society. We live in a time of Us vs. Them and the dialog written for the angels and demons fit this narrative perfectly.
Can’t we just work things out? In the show and our world, it seems the answer is a resounding “NO!”
Punishing of Crowley and Aziraphale
I always wondered if heaven and hell got pissed off at these two. Gaiman’s continuation of their saga was appropriate and fun. Book geeks don’t always get a gift like this.
Thank You Neil!
Cons
Greasy Johnson…you were missed
In the novel, Greasy Johnson is the village bully of Lower Tadfield and the leader of a rival gang. Ultimately, Adam’s revelation of the importance of having balance in the world came from Greasy. This part of the book was replaced with the Hell vs. Heaven scenes, but I always wondered what Greasy would look like.
Adam’s awakening when his friends and dog run away didn’t sound true. Also, Dog couldn’t run away from Adam if he tried.
The Four Bikers of the Apocalypse
I understand why they were left out of the movie. Given that much of the Four Horsemen’s ride to the apocalypse was truncated, there was no place for them. However, having four bikers argue about their apocalyptic names, would have been fun to see on the screen. So, may “Grievous Bodily Harm, Cruelty to Animal, Thing not Working Properly Even After You’ve Given Them a Good Thumping and Really Cool People” (Good Omens – Page 284) live forever on paper.
You Can’t Footnote a TV Show
Good Omens was the first book I ever read which included humorous footnotes. They truly are one of my favorite parts of the book. God couldn’t keep interrupting the action, but so much humor was lost without these words from the book. I know this is really picky on my part, but if you’ve read the book your head is nodding as you read this.
Aziraphale’s Transcendental Search for a Human Body
I would have loved to our angel bopping from a Shaman to a Voodoo Priest to a Televangelist before settling into Madam Tracy. I’m American and televangelists do more damage than demons; seeing one lambasted would have been great. This part of the book was fun and spoke to a universality between all religions.
There were other little bits that lovers of the book would pick out. Pepper, Wensleydale and Brian all using the sword to defeat their doppelgangers didn’t make sense. In the book they created their own versions of the crown, sword and scales. I could write all day about these little things, but for the most part they didn’t take from the show. All 6 parts worked, and I had a huge smile on my face when the closing credits started rolling.
Overall the Good Omens screen adaptation was a great ride. Thank you to Neil and Terry for writing one of my favorite books. Congratulations to Neil and the team for bringing it to life.
If only all my favorite novels authors had the ability to act as their own showrunner.
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