Nicola Austin reviews the second season of Good Omens…
The first season of Amazon Studios and BBC Studios’ adaptation of the beloved Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett 1990 novel proved a wonderfully delightful and charming outing, perfectly wrapping up the apocalyptic tale of an unlikely friendship. Four years on and everyone’s favourite ineffable angel and demon besties are back and despite both being persona non grata, they find themselves once again wrapped up in heaven and hell’s hijinks.
Despite going beyond the source material, Gaiman and John Finnemore have crafted a more heartfelt and hilarious series based on the ideas Gaiman and Pratchett discussed before Pratchett’s passing in 2015.
Retired angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley’s (David Tennant) somewhat peaceful lives overseeing the resident shopkeepers of Berwick Street becomes disrupted when the amnesic Gabriel (Jon Hamm) winds up on the doorstep of their Soho bookshop, with chaos soon following.
Opening with a hallmark humour and heart-filled flashback to the beginning of the universe, Good Omens is back with a literal bang, instantly reminding us of the wonderful relationship at the heart of the tale. And without a grand overarching apocalyptic narrative spanning centuries to drive the action, season two is a more introspective affair focused predominantly on further developing Crowley and Aziraphale’s dynamic.
Michael Sheen and David Tennant’s central chemistry once again proves a real joy, with the pair harking back to the delightfully hilarious Staged along the way. Freed from the constraints of keeping their friendship on Earth hidden, the pair become even more of an “old married couple” as they finally spend more time with one another. The playful humour spotlighting their juxtaposing yin and yang dynamic also shines, with one particular standout sequence involving Aziraphale borrowing (and subsequently transforming) Crowley’s Bentley. Sheen expertly dials up the fretting and exasperation of Aziraphale (along with more of his magic tricks), while Tennant channels a more swagger-filled Bill Nighy-esque, crossed with the eccentric energy of the Doctor, for a more zany Crowley.
There’s also still the chaotic energy of the squabbling factions of heaven and hell to contend with, along with the duo’s cute pet project of encouraging the burgeoning romance between cafe owner Nina (Nina Sosanya) and record store keeper Maggie (Maggie Service). While the ensemble is more contained this time round, individual cast members are given more time to shine, particularly Jon Hamm’s hapless-yet-adorable Labrador-esque portrayal of “Jim” – making for a stark contrast to his take on Gabriel in season one. His shifting dynamic with both Aziraphale and Crowley certainly makes for a fascinating aspect, especially considering their shared history.
Much to the delight of fans, there’s also plenty more fun flashbacks to look forward to, with three ‘minisodes’ dedicated to delving into various eras of their friendship across history. It’s here where Pratchett and Gaiman’s playful take on the ridiculousness of heaven and hell’s bureaucracy once again comes to the forefront, explored throughout biblical times, the Victorian era and also the second world war (complete with zombies!) In result, this outing feels even more undeniably British; full of whimsy, wit and self-deprecating humour, with the minisodes imparting a distinctly Doctor Who vibe.
While the series doesn’t quite have the same cinematic look and feel as Gaiman’s The Sandman and American Gods, there’s something more distinctly charming and quirky about it. Whether that’s Aziraphale’s incredibly cosy looking bookshop, the impressive array of hilarious costumes used across the millennia or the delightfully deranged practical make-up and prosthetics used to bring the demons to life. There’s also plenty of fun Easter eggs for fans to keep their eyes peeled for, along with a standout makeover of the bookshop for a swoon worthy dance encounter.
While the size and scope of the series isn’t quite as grand as the first outing, Good Omens season 2 is still an immense amount of charming (and chaotic!) fun. With the spotlight fully on Crowley and Aziraphale’s touching relationship, Gaiman and Finnemore have crafted a tale of beautiful and treasured connection which has endured amidst the ridiculousness and against all the odds, and what a wonderful joy it is to watch.
Nicola Austin
