Sideblog

"Michael's betrayal came out of nowhere."

Did you sleep through all the parts where they kept clinging to whatever power they had in the absence of Gabriel in season two? Or conspired with Hell to get what they wanted in season one? They were an extremely logical villain.

"Jesus was useless."

Yes. He was also adorable, had very understandable reactions, and I really like the way he kept bringing up the theme of stories. I think there's a whole analysis to do around that but I want to keep this short enough. That is to say, sure, he didn't contribute to the plot much, but all of his scenes added something thematically.

"Metatron died when he was hinted to be the big villain at the end of season 2."

A pretty good twist if you ask me, but I understand that you'd be upset if you are a massive metatron fan.

"It makes no sense for Crowley to sacrifice himself and Aziraphale for the sake of humanity when he wanted to escape to Alpha Centauri for two seasons."

Aziraphale put it better than I can but Crowley is fundamentally selfless and just. That's the reason he fell, he questioned decisions he felt were wrong. He repeatedly defended, protected and guided people and showed contempt for things that caused death and suffering. He was in love with humanity, as was Aziraphale. Even when he was considering leaving, he couldn't actually bring himself to doing it, and I don't think it was only because of Aziraphale. And he knew, way before Aziraphale did, that the whole system was rigged and needed to be thrown away, or all their problems would start all over again. Yes, his decision was heartbreaking, but I do not think it was out of character at all.

"They did a 'bury your gays'."

They may be reborn, or reincarnations, or just different versions of themselves, but they are there. They exist. And they get to live happy lives together, in love, free and in peace. That's the opposite of bury your gays.

"They did a destiel."

They get to live happy lives together, in love, free and in peace. They are alive and married and living together for at least twenty years in a little cottage. That's the opposite of a destiel.

"Those characters at the end are strangers, they are not our Aziraphale and Crowley."

They are very heavily implied to be new versions of Aziraphale and Crowley. They have the same names, mannerisms, interests, and love for each other. Aziraphale and Crowley's story ended with the previous world and they chose it so. It's a gift that they got to have a new one. If you wanted them to stay the exact same forever, you can just stick with the ending of season one.

"They erased everything that happened before and ruined it."

A story does not stop existing because it's over. The 6000 years of love are still there. And now there's more.

"I hated it."

Obviously the show changes things around. Like you said, he considers leaving and then can't bring himself. Aziraphale is the selfish part of that, but he's only able to be selfish because humanity taught him to be and, ironically, saving humanity is the unselfish reason he REALLY can't make himself fuck off to space. If anything, this final choice seems like positive character growth.

If you are a socially anxious person, you have to socialize. Your panic/anxiety attacks will only get worse and trigger more frequently if you constantly avoid contact with The Public. Not saying that you need to be a social butterfly- but there is a genuine problem with not being able to order your own meal at a restaurant. And it cannot be solved by always having someone else do it for you.

and i didnt get blinded. so clearly lab safety isnt real and you should always risk it cus taking risks is awesome #gambling

stomach, genitals: idiot bitches who know exactly what they want and never shut up about it

A lot of people know about the very first piece he did when he left the post which was the The Problem We All Live With which depicts Ruby Bridges walking to school under federal protection.

But I don’t think enough people know about Murder in Mississippi which depicts three real civil rights activists who were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan and sherriffs. The magazine ran the sketch instead of the finished piece because they felt it had a more striking statement to accompany the article. Norman Rockwell would finish that version after publication which is here

Rockwell’s legacy is sanitized because he decided to maintain his job at the Post for so long despite his frustrations with not being able to express himself. The civil rights movement was just his final straw to change what he could with the little time he had left. Look magazine received a lot of hate for Rockwell painting these as well.

Another favorite piece of mine is The Right to Know which depicts an integrated populace questioning their government. In 1968, the year of Vietnam and the year the Fair Housing Act only just got signed in months prior:

But I think it’s important to include the caption Rockwell originally wrote for the piece as well. I think it represents how a 74 year old Rockwell felt about the America he believed in and the people in it:

Also for LOOK magazine, but leaning on his themes of youth and suburban life. Expressing both hope for the curiosity and open-mindedness of children, and the bitter recognition of the suspicion of adults towards racial integration (see the face peeking out of the window in background). It’s notable that this is what he wanted America to be, too. He hoped for a better future.