queens-webhead

[queens-webhead]

One of the saddest things about Syndrome in the Incredibles is that he is genuinely talented in his own area of expertise. And he could have used that for good! He could have easily been the Edna Mode of superhero gadgets, because superheroes "need" (or at least use) cool gadgets all the time! He could have been loved and respected for his own brilliance! And ironically, that would have made him more like a real superhero, because what makes a Real Superhero is someone who is motivated to use their extraordinary gifts to help others. But Syndrome didn't really care about helping others; what he wanted was the Fame, the Glory, the Adoration of being the center of attention, so he never would have been content with a "power behind the throne" kind of position. But he COULD have been loved and respected for who he already was, and that's part of the tragedy of it.

[queens-webhead]

it is so important that Ed wanted to live before he heard Stede's voice. It is so, so, so important that Ed had to be pushed instead of jump, that Ed struggled with the ropes, that Ed found his own desire to live even before he heard Stede's voice, because Stede gave Ed the strength to make it back, but Ed wanted to live, and Ed saved himself, and valued himself.

You can't live solely for other people and it is so important that they made sure we know that it's not just that Stede wants Ed to live, it's that Ed wants Ed to live.

[queens-webhead]

i still don't think I've fully processed the implications of the Crowley-as-an-angel scene and how it shows that he's been trying to prevent armageddon since before time even began. he heard that 6000-year universal age limit and immediately knew what it meant. it was the first thing he did "wrong", the cause of his first and oldest and deepest wound, it's "you can't kill kids", it's his deeply held belief that it's not acceptable to create just to destroy. he tries to stop it before it even begins and he Falls, he tries again after the first 6000 years & temporarily succeeds. he says let's run away but he hasn't yet, and it's hard to imagine he actually will.

[queens-webhead]

their argument over Gabriel and how they "resolved" it set up the Final Fifteen of ep6 and is a microcosm of their relationship issues

The fight between Aziraphale and Crowley about Gabriel goes like this:

Aziraphale believes that it's Safest for them to deal with the gabriel situation by being involved and solving it together.

Crowley believes that it's Safest for them to get as far away from the Gabriel situation as possible, either by removing gabriel from them or themselves from him.

Aziraphale also believes that it's Right to help Gabriel, because Aziraphale believes in the innate goodness of everyone and everything.

Crowley believes that it's Right to not help Gabriel or frankly to care about him at all, because Gabriel hurt Aziraphale repeatedly over millennia and then tried to destroy him.

They approach this issue with such a difference in their core beliefs and values that they have to disagree, it's inevitable. And that would be fine. Except that the way they resolve this argument is utter bullshit.

First off, Aziraphale responds to Crowley with an ultimatum: do it my way or leave. (Which, hello, trauma from being cast out of heaven? Wtf Aziraphale. )

Crowley responds by telling Aziraphale he'll have to do this alone, and then predictably leaving.

Crowley only changes his mind and returns because he learns that Aziraphale is in real existential peril. Then they do a series of Things, none of which actually revolve their big disagreement.

Crowley offers a sort-of apology ("can we take it as stated?") but doesn't say what he's apologizing for. He doesn't tell Aziraphale what he thinks he got wrong (spoiler: because he absolutely doesn't think he Was wrong, and his belief is reinforced by the threat of destruction hanging over Aziraphale's head). It's "I'm sorry for whatever I said, get in the car" all over again.

Aziraphale doesn't even apologize lmao, and why should he? He must be right, because Crowley's back! And Crowley's doing their ritualistic "apology" dance that they use in place of actual fucking conversation. So Aziraphale doesnt need to acknowledge anything about his line of reasoning or his belief system, they can just carry on.

Especially because, crucially, Aziraphale doesn't know that Crowley was actually right! And helping Gabriel will put them both in extreme danger! And he doesn't know this, because Crowley didn't tell him!

Crowley didnt tell Aziraphale about the Book of Life punishment because he believes Aziraphale is Safest not worrying about that, and that it's Right for him to protect Aziraphale from that hurtful, harmful knowledge.

They literally do. not. discuss this issue ever again. They have no idea, or none that we're textually shown anyway, why the other reacted the way they did to Gabriel. They simply move forward with the problem, without even an iota of enlightenment about each other's points of view. They think they already know each other perfectly, right? They've been talking for millions of years, Crowley loves rescuing Aziraphale, etc.

So then we get to ep6. And it's really the same fundamental disagreement:

Aziraphale believes they will be Safest with their hands in the game.

Aziraphale believes it's Right to force Heaven, through what he has been manipulated into thinking is his new authority, to do Good (actual moral good, like he and Crowley do).

Crowley believes it's Safest for them both to stay as far away from the machinations of heaven, and by extension hell, as possible.

Crowley believes it's Right for him to reject Heaven as they once rejected him, to reject their whole dichotomous system in fact. He believes it's Right for Aziraphale to reject Heaven too, because Heaven tried to destroy Aziraphale.

And once again, Crowley doesn't tell Aziraphale of the danger they're in - Armageddon the Sequel, plus Archangels being demoted and having their memory wiped.

They still do not and cannot understand one another's motives and beliefs here. Because they have never had this freedom of choice before these last few years, and in that time they have never talked about this openly. Weirdly, Gabriel's arrival gave them a chance to hash all this out. In another world, maybe they knew exactly what the other wanted, and could therefore choose each other at this critical juncture.

But that's not what happened.

(cue my "the irony of the serpent of Eden protecting someone he loves from knowledge" tag).

Edit to say, I have Thoughts about Why they communicate like this, which I'm trying to gather for another post.

[queens-webhead]

good omens s2 e3 deleted scene (i saw it happen trust me i was the walking dead)

[queens-webhead]

crowley visibly cringes and rejects aziraphale when aziraphale calls him good, calls him nice. he doesn’t want to be considered good or nice by (what he thinks is) aziraphale’s (heaven’s) definition of good or nice. not just bc he’s scared of hell’s retribution, but because he knows heaven’s definition of good and nice is wrong, is black and white.

when mrs sandwich calls him good, he doesn’t cringe. his rejection of “i’m not, actually,” is half-assed and cheeky at best, is his automatic response.

but then he says “thank you.”

crowley appreciates being called good by a human. he knows that humanity’s definition of good is nuanced and complicated. when a human calls him good, he sees it for what it is–a genuine compliment to his character and his actions, but not a divine declaration about his being as a whole. he reveres the morals of humanity more than he’s ever revered the morals of heaven and hell.

[queens-webhead]

so i finally watched good omens after years of putting it off. . .

this is how i cope with most things

[queens-webhead]

about the nature of the kiss. I don’t read much anger there, if any at all.

after Crowley gets in the last word, could have been us, he fully intends to walk away. probably expects Aziraphale’s usual measured denial, his righteous superiority. yet another one of his rejections. but this time it’s different because instead of dismissal Aziraphale turns away and… cries.

it’s the first time Crowley’s ever done that—made his angel cry—so he goes to him, reflexively. a rescue or an apology. there's hope there too, because in the moment after no nightingales Aziraphale just stands there, vulnerable, unable to summon a composed smile or defensive laugh. because he knows. their code's been laid bare and there’s no more hiding. Aziraphale crying means that his heart is breaking too, which means that there’s love there to wound. and Crowley’s reaction is to try to fix that hurt in a rush of love and dismay.

so. I don’t think he means for the kiss to be part of the argument at all. no strategy, no antagonism, no temptation intended. though when they break apart it’s clear that Aziraphale has received it that way. because anything is better than feeling what he's about to lose.

(had been wondering why the nightingales line hits Aziraphale so hard then I read this post about the significance of nightingales singing and I couldn't stop thinking about all the times they veil their meaning. also thanks to @justhereforthemeta for commiserating with me about this particular thought ♡)

[queens-webhead]

david tennant really does own the word "well" he's always out there saying "well" no one else says "WELL..." quite like he can

[queens-webhead]

mum said it's my turn to do the good omens + text posts meme

[queens-webhead]

The more I think about the last minutes the more I’m sure Crowley was saying goodbye from the minute Aziraphale told him he’d said yes to Heaven. He doesn’t confess his love like he’s hopeful, he confesses it like a eulogy. He doesn’t kiss him to make a beginning, he kisses him to seal the end. He watches him go like it’s the last time.

Crowley knows Heaven. He knows they’ll either make Aziraphale just like them, or they’ll destroy him. Either way I think he is sure he’s seen his angel for the last time.

[queens-webhead]

Crowley + his glasses, inside the bookshop - Good Omens season 2

[queens-webhead]

good omens crack → 2/?

[queens-webhead]

The sweetest demon 🤲🐐

[queens-webhead]

You astonish me.

[queens-webhead]

crowley and aziraphale are both the worst guy in your intro to philosophy class but for different reasons

[queens-webhead]

Nina offering Aziraphale eccles cakes to calm him down instead of the WAY more obvious option of *a cup of tea* is hilarious given the history of eccles cakes...

Nina: What'll you have?

Crowley: Six shots of symbolic liberty in a big cup.

Nina: Ok. And you, Mr. Fell?

Aziraphale: What do you have that calms people down?

Nina: I sell like, I don't know, seventeen different varieties of tea here in my shop that is based in London, including several decaf and herbal varieties, and it's not just implied but is canon later on in the scene where Maggie orders some but instead of saying the most obvious thing possible to you here, which would be that I'd be happy to fetch who I believe to be an older, English gentleman a nice cup of decaf tea, I say...

Nina, cont.: And why do I say this? Well, we're in a show obsessed with food symbolism so naturally my Soho-set shop-- named after the famous rallying cry of an anti-monarchist American revolutionary as he fought to break away from the English empire whilst still being, at that moment, stuck under its thumb-- recommends, for calming purposes, the delicious little round mini-turnover bits of pastry butter and topped with sugar and filled with currants or lemon things... eccles cakes... which were banned in England in 1650 when Oliver Cromwell took over and got all puritanical and claimed they were pagan. You're stressed, Aziraphale, so instead of offering you THE MOST LOGICAL POSSIBLE THING IN THIS SHOP to calm you down-- that is, a cup of tea lol-- I will, instead, offer you the sweet treats that the crazy Nazis of history think are so good they're sweets of the devil.

Aziraphale:

Bonus hilarity related to this:

The Angel got himself locked up for eating Satan's baked goods in 1650 and made Crowley come rescue him, didn't he?