‘Good Omens’ Streaming Series Review

Angels, demons, Armageddon, David Tennant, and Jon Hamm; all in a story by Neil Gaiman? Yes, please! Good Omens is an Amazon Original series based on the novel Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (1990) written by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen, Good Omens hits on all cylinders.

Tennant and Sheen as Crowley and Aziraphale

The story follows Aziraphale (Sheen) and Crowley (Tennant) as they work to subvert both heaven and hell to avoid the “End of Days.” The story takes place in England, and the comfortable lifestyle afforded to Aziraphale and Crowley on Earth is too much for them to give up. The chemistry between Sheen and Tennant carries a whimsical plot from a small satanic monastery to the downtown streets of London.

The six episodes run close to an hour each, and the characters, subplots, story, and pop culture references more than hold up throughout. By the end of the finale, you have proper character development, satisfying payoff, and plenty of questions that can be addressed going forward. This is definitely a show that needs another season (which is expected).

If you haven’t had the chance to check out the trailer, CLICK HERE.

Here is your warning. We will breakdown each episode below, so expect mild spoilers from here on out.

SPOILERS BELOW

Episode 1 – “In the Beginning”

What better way to kick off a series about the “End of Days” than with a satirical take on the story of Adam & Eve? Right from the beginning we see Eve listening to the serpent in the Garden of Eden, where she grabs an apple and takes a bite. The next shot is Adam & Eve leaving the garden of Eden, as the serpent transforms into the demon Crowley. Crowley meets Aziraphale, and away we go.

In present day, Crowley and Aziraphale choose to secretly disobey their respective leadership and do what is needed to help avoid the apocalypse. When the two realize there is an Antichrist mix up, things get interesting as they must now shoot from the hip as they attempt to keep their plans under wraps while fixing a pretty big mess.

Episode one is a fantastic introduction to the characters and the tone of the series. The CGI is well done for an Amazon series, and the distinct “good vs evil” meets “odd couple” vibe is clear. The episodes hook viewers by delivering laughs, conflict, dialog, setting, satire, and visuals that make hitting “play next episode” almost automatic. A solid start.

Episode 2 – “The Book”

Episode two tackles witch hunting, the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and how to lie to your boss. While we await the story of the Antichrist to progress, we meet a witch who follows insanely accurate prophecies, a delivery man who goes above and beyond to summon the four horsemen, a society of witch hunters (now down to two people), and Adam. Adam is the real Antichrist, though he is completely unaware.

The way each element is introduced in episode two keeps us entertained and interested. It is easy to lose the viewer in a myriad of backstory, but the humor and pacing of the episode keep our short attention spans in check. By the end of episode two, we have a better appreciation of Adam and his friends (and an adorable hellhound) and a vested interest in seeing our main protagonists succeed.

Adam (the Antichrist) and his friends.

Episode 3 – “Hard Times”

Aziraphale and Crowley have a friendship that has literally spanned all of creation. In the third episode, we get to see their friendship progress through the ages. Most of the episode follows the two through the events of Noah’s Ark before the flood, the Crucifixion of Jesus, the days of King Arthur, meeting William Shakespeare, the French Revolution, and dealing with Nazis seeking books of prophecies during World War II. To say that the two have a complex relationship is an understatement.

The main story arc progressions happen when the witch, Anathema arrives in the hometown of Adam, our young Antichrist. When Anathema and Adam interact with one another (both unaware of the power each holds), Adam obliviously begins to use his powers.

Episode three is the closest to a “filler” episode we get in the series. However, watching Tennant and Sheen traverse time is hilarity. The King Arthur and Black Knight segment will have you in stitches as it walks a line reminiscent of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Episode 4 – “Saturday Morning Funtime”

Crowley and Aziraphale continue on the path to prevent the “end of days,” but not without conflict. Their relationship and partnership are challenged when both are confronted by their respective bosses. While Aziraphale learns from the Angel Gabriel that Heaven is not really interested in preventing the apocalypse, Crowley is attacked by demons Ligur and Haster. The result of their quarrel is classic!

Adam, the young Antichrist, is coming into his powers and scaring his friends. They are beginning to think there is something wrong, and when they attempt to leave, Adam prevents them from being out of his sight.

Episode four is a slower, but more dynamic build up to the eventual conclusion. It is intentional with all of the pacing, making for an entertaining trek toward the final two episodes. If that’s not enough for you to stay interested, answer this, “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?”

Episode 5 – “The Doomsday Option”

At this point in the story, Aziraphale needs to find a new human body, Crowley believes his friend is dead, and Adam has gone almost full Antichrist. Thanks to the help of a hack fortune teller, Aziraphale is able to come back to Earth in order to help Crowley in any way possible to stave off doomsday.

Adam realizes his friends are right and comes out of full Antichrist mode. He and his friends head to the military installation because Adam believes he must stop something terrible. The Four Horsemen have also gathered at a military base in order to unleash a nuclear catastrophe aimed to end all life on Earth.

Here we are at the build-up episode. Everything and everyone we have met is headed to the same location for a final showdown. What a way to make us stay for a sixth and final hour.

Episode 6 – “The Very Last Day of the Rest of Their Lives”

The payoff is fantastic as Adam’s friends have a showdown with the Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse, angels and demons from heaven and hell try to convince Adam to go through with doomsday so they can go to war with one another, and we get to see Satan! At this point, Aziraphale and Crowley become spectators as the story concludes. This becomes yet another famous point in history the two share.

Good Omens is a quick and easy series to binge. With a fantastic cast and a new take on various old stories, it is a must-watch. While any series with David Tennant is more than worth your time, Good Omens brings more to the plate. Enjoy yourself as you work through the show in two days, and let us know what you think in the comments.

Fantastic
5

Summary

This fantasy series sees fussy angel Aziraphale and loose-living demon Crowley team up to form an unlikely duo.

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