and that’s the thing. although the scenes from the trailer are thick with tension and hurt, they are also so… sincere. honest. something has changed between them, and goodness, they are talking about it! maggie said “you never really talk to each other” but now they are. they are! aziraphale seems to be saying do you want an apology? I was trying to do the right thing, we couldn’t leave those people there, please understand. I’ve come to help. crowley seems to be saying do you really want to help? I’m so hurt, because none of this had to happen, I asked you to come with me. we could’ve been happy. for once in their ineffable lives they are trying to be honest and desperately wanting to fix the fracture between them, however difficult that may be.

crowley:

good omens, instead, dreams of a secular world in which there are no sides, and human choices actually make a difference. we aren't in some rigged game of ineffable chess. we are the creators of our own destiny. we are the ones who get to choose how we live. aziraphale and crowley don't make their own universe. they simply ask for a world that isn't simply god's amusing experiment.

and god, in the original universe, is not good. I cannot help but feel horrified by her when I think of the fact that she said aziraphale and crowley's love made her smile, and then immediately, without emotion, was about to end them for good. this is a commentary on the irony of christianity. the show says, if there is a god, we are all simply pawns in her game. it is a sort of religious horror that lingers, to me, because the end of everything does not bother her in the slightest.

and the show would have always ended like this. it was forshadowed with job, who was abandoned and tortured for god's bet. and every other bible story - noah's ark, jesus being crucified - just adds to this view of a god who has no mercy, who is apathetic in every decision, who would let aziraphale and crowley create their own universe on a whim.

the real grace, the real miracle, the real magic and the real divinity - that's love. messy, human love. and that's why, in a godless universe, aziraphale and crowley still exist. their love surpasses any holiness or great plan. and if the show had ended in any other way, if things had been put neatly back in their place, that message would not have worked.

take their reunion, for example. from the very moment aziraphale realised crowley kept his bookshop safe for him, there was no argument to be had. he softens, you can see it in his face. he lets go of his pride and anger immediately, and after crowley’s admission, he just seems… sad.

and on the other side of that, aziraphale sneaks his way back into crowley’s heart so sweetly. he asks if crowley wants an apology and saves his bentley and tells saraquel when they’re in heaven that crowley is authorised to be there whether they like it or not. by the time they’ve left heaven crowley is back to his old tricks, tempting aziraphale with food and buying him dumplings even though he’s still incredibly hurt.

so I think the reason crowley stops aziraphale from doing the apology dance is because there is nothing left to forgive on both sides. crowley spits out “I forgive you” to relieve aziraphale of his guilt, not for his own benefit. that’s why he is so embarrassed when says, “come on, angel”, because he and aziraphale both know he is already forgiven.

so a huge romantic declaration or overblown apology would not work in terms of characterisation, because they know each other so intimately. the issue has never been love or forgiveness. by the time crowley has saved his books and aziraphale has given crowley holy water, they are well aware of what they mean to each other.

instead, it’s about choice. choosing to be together against the odds, or choosing to argue, or choosing to run away. the issue has always has been “how do we navigate this fucked up universe?” and they have conflict because they can’t agree on an answer.

but the thing is, beneath their disagreements they ultimately want the same thing, and that’s to be happy together on earth, and a fair universe where there are no angels or demons to intrude on their happiness. so of course, there is no need for an apology.