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so 6000 years of queer defiance, quite literally in the face of god, now never existed. erasure has never been more literal. crowley and aziraphale didn’t just die, they never existed. their love story never existed. death you can grieve, you can commemorate what was lost; love transcends death. at the very least, they deserved that.

where was that love story, by the way? where was the romance? legitimately i felt more love between them during the final 15 than in the entirety of that 90 minutes. at least then it felt like they mattered to each other. fuck.

and aziraphale still works for the metatron?? are you fucking kidding me??? that is a wild message to be sending. even in some idealized world where they fall in love with free will, aziraphale still cannot escape the one that kept them apart. queer love still has to be allowed and endorsed and encouraged by the oppressor. fuck you actually.

Jim didn’t love Beelzebub. Gabriel did. He needed his memories for a reason. Anthony doesn’t know or love Aziraphale. He loves a completely different guy. Which is nice and all. But I wanted to see Aziraphale and Crowley happy. Safe. Free. I wanted them to stay in my universe. I thought we shared it!

I get what people mean about their dear ones when they lose memories. I care what people say about their own lost memories. I'd never say they were replaced by another person. But that's not at all what we are talking about here. It's a new universe with brand new people. (Which if determinism is not true and god is gone should not look like the old ones?)

And I am glad if you found comfort and happiness in S3! I wish I did too.

And I realized something else (yes, I’m very insightful today, ok?). They stole my fantasy.

I was happily hiding myself from the horrors of the world (very real horrible horrors we are currently living in this dystopian world) in my lovely fantasy world with angels and demons who could fall in love, with kids who could stop Armageddon, with witches who predicted the future and witchfinders who fell in love with them.

But they (those horrible cishet men) took that fantasy world and erased it and made it to never have existed at all. And replaced it with you know what? The horrible dystopian world of horrors we live in.

They (those horrible cishet men) must feel very smug thinking they are very clever, but if I wanted to see a story about the fucking real universe, the one where there’s no magic, I wouldn’t be watching and reading fucking fantasy, you know? They missed their target audience.

I know I like to put here some nice gif of the boys but... I just want to watch everything burn rn.

Would it have been so hard to give us something like this? Give them this one, small moment to express their love for each other?

Don’t get me wrong, I kind of grew fond of the hand kiss gesture. But in the Bookshop Garden, when they had privacy - probably for the first time ever - I really grieve a heartfelt conversation; about the things they did wrong, about their affection, about their options. About the reasons why they decided to choose humanity over their own happiness *sigh*

half agony, half hope by depraveddame

A Good Omens 3 Fix-It/Scene Rewrite: The Alley, or: Aziraphale helps Crowley up off of the ground instead of walking away from him.

Aziraphale doesn't know what to expect when he returns to Earth after three years, and he's shaken to his core when he finds Crowley lying in a filthy alleyway, shattered and alone. There is much he wants to say and even more he wants to fix, but the first step is helping a stubborn demon up off of the ground.

| tags |

season 3 fix-it, scene rewrite, protective, caring, anxious Aziraphale, depressed Crowley, references to alcohol use, emotional, light angst, holding hands, hopeful ending

| excerpt |

The inside of Aziraphale’s nose tingles as it recognises the faint but unmistakable— familiar, second nature— scent of the last electrically-charged moment before a sudden rainstorm splits the sky—

I know what you smell like.

— but that sharp, crackling shower of sparks is deadened by something far more overpowering, something heavy and oppressive and bleak that chokes the atmospheric fragrance: despair.

"There's got to be another way."

Crowley wants to run away from it all and Aziraphale turns away to cry.

They died, along with their entire universe and everything they ever fought for. They never got to properly talk through their creation long existence together of an undefined relationship, they never got to talk out their grievances, or religious guilt, and they never got to directly choose each other over anything else.

They never got to be an 'Us.' they never got to experience that raw unfiltered, unafraid of the consequences love we've been teased with because they were too focused on trying to hold the world together and God appearing and just fucking shit up.

This isn't just about a kiss, this is about them not getting to communicate after establishing in the other seasons that they need to be more direct with each other. This is about how after 6,000 years and before the creation of time they have been drawn towards each other and will never get to truly settle down.

This whole alternate reincarnation thing is bullshit. That's not them. They are lookalikes who have lived an entirely different history from inception. No ethical struggles, no fall, no falling in love with humanity, no existential crisis, they will have a mother and a father, possibly even siblings, they presumably have a sex and gender now that's not the same as a non human entity- fundamentally they are different beings raised as different people.

THEN you factor in the fact that their love that transcends time, their long history of trust and learning to choose to protect each other in the face of powers greater than their own, a love that is unfathomable in depth, is just FORGOTTEN.

No Bastille, no War Raid, no Flood, no wall of Eden, no Shakespeare, no Knights, no Bildad the Shoeite and Aziraphale becoming a hedonist, no powering beyond their circumstances- None of what we knew about them is at play. None of what we've grown to love about them is relevant to characters from a DIFFERENT UNIVERSE.

And that's the thing, it's a different universe. They fucking gave up and let the Earth they fought so hard for just be erased. Just like that? That's insanely out of character. What about all the poor mortals doomed to fail that Crowley sympathizes so much with? What about the history and culture written down in Aziraphale's books that they've seen built over the centuries? That's their world. Y'know: "To the world."

How could they be okay with their world, and each other dying, for the sake of people that didn't exist yet? You had the book in your hands, you could've written anything!!!

There were plenty of things they could have asked to be written differently. There were plenty of ways this story could have not put them on that situation to begin with. Sorry not sorry, but I'm not just taking handouts and saying 'yes thank you' just because they gave me content. Call me ungrateful, but I expected the narrative to at least give a singular fuck about the story and characters thus far and give us a decent execution.

I don't believe that just because something is officially released that it has to have merit, because it's still a piece of fiction written by flawed people with their own opinions and constraints on giving a shit. This was a cop out- it was a way to take the story as they were struggling to resolve, and throw it in the trash in front of its fan base for having the audacity to ask they don't leave us on a massive angry kiss cliff hanger.

Also, reading comprehension and analysis isn't just taking the slop that's force fed to you- (like wow, no shit they put some set up for the agenda they're pushing in there, congrats picking up on the obvious---) It's being able to critically think about what's happening, how it fits, whether you like it, the execution, and allowing yourself to question the author and their agenda. Writers, especially teams of writers, do stupid shit all the time

So no, I don't consider this canon; I consider it a slap in the face to the world and character dynamics we fell in love with. I see it as an insult to think I should be complacent with this half assed AU substitute billions of years after the characters I actually grew to love fucking OBLITERATED themselves when all I've been wanting since the start of the series was for them to find a resolution to their challenges- not roll over and decide 'fuck it, just start from scratch.' Canon is a suggestion, and one that I'm stepping on and ignoring fully because it contradicts the core of what's appealing about a series I started for demon/angel shenanigans. I didn't come for a wattpad fic.

Screw Jesus, who knows why he was there. Fuck Mrs.Sandwhich, best of luck in the next life. Sorry for the existential crisis' Crowley and Aziraphale, turns out you're just God's soap opera and she's decided she's bored all of a sudden because Michael threw a hissy fit from being underappreciated.

Sorry I wanted a resolution to the ride or die couple we've been following, and I was hoping they wouldn't pick DIE. Sorry that a five minute meet cute with them sporting the world's worst haircuts isn't doing it for me, especially when they don't remember shit and will only get to be together for maybe 20-30 years before dying with the presumably confirmed absence of an afterlife after watching their angel and demon selves struggle for over SIX THOUSAND YEARS!!!!

Like yeah! Haha! It's Tartan! That thing Aziraphale likes! Tartan is stylish! So funny! But…. Liking tartan always seemed like one of Aziraphale’s silly earthly human traits! Something that symbolized his quirky individual personality! Humans created that pattern and he just thought it was so cool and nifty he stuck with it long after it went ‘out of style’!

That why it was so notable that none of his ‘Heavenly’ outfits had Tartan on them, because it was a feature that made him of Earth.

And now it’s been apparently recontextualized as totally being a Heaven Thing all along! Angels had Tartan before humans and Aziraphale is essentially wearing his old war colors… He's wearing a reminder period of his life he clearly dislikes and actually does his best to distance himself from in every other possible way…..

(in no particular order, no spoilers)

I want to preface this by saying that despite everything and even though I didn't like the finale ending personally, I did love everything else about it and I love good omens 3 in general. All these are fics that purely read as a season 3 that I absolutely adore and take comfort in. They're all complete and horrendously long I'd say, and of course a guaranteed happy ending. Story and character focused recommendations.

Factory Settings by Anonymous (103k) - absolutely the fucking holy grail. i mean who hasn't read this masterpiece? amazing story, perfect characterisation of both aziraphale and crowley as well as an angelic version of crowley. it has banter, its well paced and my darling aziraphale. if you haven't read this, GO GO GO! [T rated]

The Ineffability of Gray by kitfornow (100k) - this one doesn't lose Aziraphale's determination and sense of responsibility he feels to do the right thing. Slow burn, angsty but the ending is gorgeous. [Not rated but no smut]

Three Is Not Enough by haleinedelail (93k) - this one is my absolute FAVOURITE. author basically wrote a season 3 complete with splitting the story into 'episodes' and including flashbacks. the characterisation is perfect and dare I say, the story is a lot more compelling than the actual finale (mostly because its 93k and not rushed 90min lmao). it has it all, hurt crowley, amnesiac aziraphale, cute muriel and the climax is very satisfying. [T rated]

Perennial Care and Keeping by cyankelpie (11k) @the-written-wyrm - I see this one more as an epilogue to season 3 exploring how their relationship is affected by years or pushing eachother away now that they finally have forever. [G rated]

The Angel You Were by cyankelpie (47k) @the-written-wyrm - what can I say I really love this author. this is less s3 plot focused and more focused on aziraphale and crowley's dynamic. it has amnesia, angel crowley, angst but its so so satisfying to read because it kind of puts our husbands at the backseat plotwise which is very reminiscent of s1. I just love this author and how they write aziracrow so I honestly recommend you read all their work but since this is s3 focused I'll put this here. [T rated]

Flaws by indigo (indigo_angels) (218k) - angst lovers this is for you. depressed and hurt crowley, aziraphale trying his best (i do think crowley is extremely hurt and it blames aziraphale a bit too much it makes sense purely on the context of the fic and I love angst shutup). BUT it has amazing writing and I've read this about 6 times already. despite the angst the ending is so sweet and sappy and well earned. [E rated]

Good Omens - Corner Office with a View (Broke My Wings so You Could Fly) by Noli_Timere031754 (84k) @nolitimere54 - genuinely the most pathetic wet cat crowley you'll ever read. love the characterisation of both the husbands and their interactions are phenomenal. also great for BAMF aziraphale. [M rated]

Synchronized With You by ayellowbentley (legends_saga) (38k) - part one with a part 2 epilogue with amazing ace aziraphale and crowley, miscommunication and reconciliation. [T rated]

scherzo in f-sharp minor, for orchestra by astrhae (23k) @astrhae - i know I've recommended some beasts but this is a shorter story which I think characterises aziraphale and crowley very well and resolves the conflict perfectly. slow burn but worth it. [M rated]

On the Side of the World by profdanglais (58k) @wistfulcynic - oh i absolutely love this one with aziracrow scheming and trying to save humanity together despite their differences plus I really liked the way they saved everything. [M rated]

I'll follow you down 'til the sound of my voice will haunt you by midnightdragons @midnights-dragon (66k) - angst lovers this is for you. complete with tortured crowley, bamf aziraphale and focus on the angst followed by softness and ofc we have our happy ending. [T rated]

We Can't Keep Meeting Like This by Ginger_Cat (65k) @gingiekittycat - this is porn with reluctant plot because surprisingly none of the fics here any of that BUT if you like pining while fucking, this is amazing. [E rated]

hurry back, please bring it back home to me by Percyjacksonfan3 (103k) - very angsty and somehow silly. cute jesus and love their mutual pining and slow burn in this one. [T rated]

I'm so grateful to all fans who:

do meta analysis and write informative essays to deepen my own understanding of GO

do research and dig up information about Good Omens things (like about the writers of the finale...)

draw, paint, and create fanart to delight my eyes

write and weave words together into fabulous fanfics of all sorts, including human au and s3 fix its! - I've read millions of your works by now and I want more!

read our fanfics and comment and leave kudos

comment and interact here and on other platforms and watch out for one another and take the time to send a hug and check in - I've needed that more than ever this past week.

I've decided to make a list of my favourite s3 fix it fics I've read from my favourite writers. Here are the first ones:

Glory In Tribulations by midnightdragons (who basically came out of GO writing retirement to give us this beautiful alternate ending!) https://archiveofourown.org/works/84930456

A Book of ... Whatever They Liked Best by elf_on_the_shelf https://archiveofourown.org/works/85035041

Again by HKBlack https://archiveofourown.org/works/84962906

Love Without End by HolRose https://archiveofourown.org/works/84869036

The End of the Story by @copperplatebeech https://archiveofourown.org/works/84915756

look at the stars, look how they shine for you by @meetmeatthecoda https://archiveofourown.org/works/85128321

Born of Starlight by @EstherMitchell_Author https://archiveofourown.org/works/52159429/chapters/131928235 or (NC-17 Version) https://archiveofourown.org/works/55699651/chapters/141391873

Dallas by @twilightcitysky https://archiveofourown.org/works/84894796

Adjacent Moments in Time and Space by @polymona https://archiveofourown.org/works/85033131

Transcendental by @Di_42 https://archiveofourown.org/works/85068941

A Snow Globe in a Garden by @mizmak https://archiveofourown.org/works/85018281

Where The Nightingales Should Be by @thebookshoparoundthecorner https://archiveofourown.org/works/81467691/chapters/214211771

The Bookshop At The End Of The Universe by @Di_42 https://archiveofourown.org/works/84689326

I could find you, darling, in any life by @spendeonswithyou https://archiveofourown.org/works/85289511

♥️ as long as we have brilliant, caring fans we will be ok, even through the hard times ♥️ Sending you all so much love!

If you have any other S3 fix it fic recommendations please send them my way!

Despite the fact that Gaiman didn't write the final script, it was based on 6 finished scripts he wrote, so it feels safe to assume the core ending was his idea. Former fans of his writing said the ending's nihilism felt like something he'd do. Various facts such as director Rachel Talalay saying there was no kiss in the script and she was told she couldn’t add one, Gaiman basically saying post-s2 about the kiss that he wanted a way to give fans what they wanted without giving them what they wanted, and David Tennant telling fans at a convention back in 2024 that the ending might not be what fans wanted, indicate that Gaiman never intended to give Aziraphale and Crowley the happy, romantic ending he chose to set up. 

The question is: why would a writer do this? In response to shippers back with the first season in 2019, Gaiman could’ve simply said, “I understand fans feel very passionately about their relationship, but Terry and I didn’t write it that way and I don’t want to rewrite their dynamic without him here.” But he didn’t do that. He played a fool by twisting himself into knots to say he wrote them secretly holding hands and would comment on fan posts “confirming” their headcanons, and then went out of his way to textually change the dynamic with an explicitly romantic kiss at the end of s2, but evidently, had zero intention to make them do it again, perhaps not despite fans wanting it, but due to fans clammoring for it. But let's emphasize this: no one made him do this! He could have capitalized on fan excitement and shipper feels, written two more seasons full of subtext, and never changed the nature of their relationship. The finale’s human marriage is cute, but he must have known it was not what fans wanted with the cottage. The lack of kiss and verbal love confession, along with him killing the audience's version of the characters, feel deliberate. You have to go out of your way to squander the s2 cliffhanger and not make them kiss again, kill the version of the characters everyone loved, and screw with the cottage ending

I saw great tags about this on a post that had reblogs disabled, so I assume the OP doesn't want attention and I won't mention their url here. But they were right: Neil Gaiman simply lied to the fandom. He lied about Good Omens always having been a love story, he lied about bringing Aziraphale and Crowley together romantically being Terry Pratchett's dying wish, and he lied about fans' headcanons being true. Obligatory disclaimer: what he did in real life to women is on a different level and cannot be compared to writing choices, but this lying is not unrelated to his sinister side. He was manipulative and calculated towards his fan base (and the tumblr fan base primarily consisted of women), and knew exactly what he was doing. He got off on fans worshipping him and seeking his validation, but had enough disdain for them to openly say he didn't want to give them what they wanted even though he knew how much it meant to them. Writers aren't obligated to give fans what they want, but again: he went out of his way to pander to fans at the end of s2. You can't do that, hang around fans on tumblr to drink up their praise, and turn around and say "nah, fuck the fans" after that, unless you're actually an asshole who enjoys toying with people. I don't believe he intentionally made the ending bad—I think he's enough of a hack that he thought the retcon would be a good plot twist—but I do think he intentionally fucked with fans when he rewrote the premise of the cottage and didn’t make them kiss. Can’t you picture a real-life abuser wanting to mindfuck a bunch of women, especially when he did literally abuse some fans? Keep in mind this is the same guy who wrote a gomens movie script in the 90s out of spite, too