Month: July 2019
‘Good Omens’ Book vs TV
I watched ‘Good Omens’ on Amazon Prime almost 10 years after I last read Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s book ‘Good Omens’. I think I’ve read it twice. It’s stayed in my memory as hilarious, absurd yet insightful genius, and a book that I’ll read again.
The TV show is wonderful! It maintains most of the key elements of the book, skipping some detail that no doubt wouldn’t have translated to the screen and the current viewing audience’s expectations. It makes Crowley and Aziraphale (I’ve been mis-pronouncing his name all these years, therefore missing the meaning!) so much more real, vulnerable and lovable…just adorable!
Particularly if you’re a fan of David Tennant (Crowley) &/or Michael Sheen (Aziraphale), you’re in for a treat! There is consistently superb acting from all the cast, including young Sam Taylor Buck (Adam), and the production quality is marvellous. ‘Good Omens’ is a tribute to all involved, from Script-Writer and Showrunner Neil Gaiman himself, Director Douglas McKinnon, editing, effects, costumes, makeup, cinematography and everyone else!
From memory, the TV show leaves out some of the insights of the book, but still has strong, modern, worthwhile messages for us, the audience. To avoid spoilers, I can’t say what they are. I will say that girls and women, as well as people of several different ethnicities, are represented. Humans are both vilified and praised for being human. Characters think about which “side” they are really on, and maybe knowing the difference between good and evil isn’t such a bad thing… Maybe just watch it and see!
Watch the show for the whole roller-coaster of a story!
The book was first published in 1990, and well-received by fans around the world since. It has been made into a BBC radio play, and more than 10 years ago there were the beginnings of a movie with Terry Gilliam and the BBC.
Neil Gaiman has spent the last 5 years bringing the ‘Good Omens’ story to the screen, after co-author Terry Pratchett, in failing health in 2014, begged him to. A few years ago IDW was involved in the transition to a TV series. IDW has published some of Gaiman’s work and also owns the comedy/horror comic book series and TV show ‘Wynonna Earp‘, available on Netflix.
As Gaiman said in one interview, it took so long even though he “had a whole book, with a plot and lines and everything”! (Sadly, I can’t find the interview now to link it.) It’s clearly been a process, as it’s ended up as an Amazon Original, and what a faithful Original it is!
If, like me, you thought Amazon Prime/Video is expensive: it’s really not! It’s cheaper than some other streaming services, with additional benefits like music, ebooks and games included (I haven’t even explored all there is on offer yet!). As an added bonus, Amazon Prime is offering a 30 day free trial right now (July 2019) – grab it while you can!
While you’re at it, read the book ‘Good Omens’ for more surreal hilarity than the TV show, explanations of things like the meaning of “nice and accurate”, why “the omens are good”, and more detail of the two Witchfinders and their Witches. (Although Gaiman claimed in an interview that the TV show makes Newt better, I liked him better in the book because you get to know more of him.) Amazon has copies here.
Mentioning Newt reminds me of the legacy of influence that ‘Good Omens’ has. Newt on TV reminds me a little of JK Rowlings’ Newt Scamander, whether intentionally or not. Even more so, the first time I saw the demon Crowley in ‘Supernatural’ (SPN) I thought of ‘Good Omens’, and Eric Kripke, creator/writer of ‘Supernatural’ even acknowledged on Twitter that SPN Crowley was inspired by ‘Good Omens’ Crowley.
which includes Gaiman saying that this is why he likes Kripke!
Resources for fans of this show are in abundant supply! Here are just a few:
For those who like details, Radio Times has put together a summary of every character in the show.
There are now two new books ABOUT ‘Good Omens’!
Here are just some of the many interviews where Neil Gaiman talks about his Good Omens journey. I haven’t linked everything I’ve read because I read some of them before I thought of blogging about the show! A quick online search for ‘Good Omens TV’ will reveal interviews with Gaiman as well as with show stars Sheen & Tennant.
with stars Michael Sheen and David Tennant
Image by Corey Nickols/Getty Images
Click for interview with ‘Business Insider’
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/may/24/neil-gaiman-interview-good-omens
The bottom line: The book ‘Good Omens’ is hilarious, insightful, humour in the British tradition, and ‘Good Omens’ the TV show faithfully represents the characters, world and story of the book with an update for current world-wide audiences.
musingsofamiddleagedmother 