Body-swap theory!!
okay, just putting this all together for ease of access, since it's been spread out across several posts now--
The day after it aired I watched the ending like actually 30 times and I became fully 99.999999% certain they switched places. I was initially thinking during the kiss, cuz of how the camera angle changes, but after watching an additional 20 times a few days later, I'm personally leaning much more towards them stopping time in the instance after "no nightingales".
Before the kiss, Aziraphale is saying "nice" things about the Metatron, but his face and voice keep switching to broadcasting distress, and they make it a point to show in ep 1 that Crowley can read him just from tone of voice
As they're pulling away after the kiss, they lock eyes and "Aziraphale's" expression shifts in the teeniest tiniest way, like a confirmation glance, before they shift back (and Michael Sheen is a master, so no chance it's not on purpose)
---(Like really, go back and watch how Aziraphale's expression shifts literally *a second* before "I forgive you" cuz the change is SO minute, but entirely different emotionally.)
Also the way he moves his jaw right after he pulls his hand away from his lips, is a bit from MS's Crowley (you can see it in the very last two seconds of this vid- link)
Aziraphale's hands -stay by his sides- after that, he doesn't clasp them at all, and it's particularly noticeable while he's walking to the elevator with Metatron. The way he walks is very stiff and precise, similar to after the swap in S1.
We don't see the underside of Crowley's jacket collar after the kiss, at any point (it is for sure red at the beginning of the ep, you can see it right before he changes in Heaven)
The Bentley drives away SLOWLY, which is how Aziraphale drives, and we're specifically shown that it only plays other music for Aziraphale
the seats in the Bentley are black as it drives away. They're usually brown, and the only other time they're shown to be black is when Aziraphale drives (@picturesque-about-it broke down the times so you can see-link)
---extra pic for anyone saying it's "cuz Aziraphale is lighter"-- the seats are still brown behind Crowley when he wears white
there's people wearing yellow in -every- part of the scene showing the Bentley both before and while it drives away! (link for pics/credit)
Aziraphale's smile in the elevator looks more like MS's Crowley. It's very similar to the trial during S1, but also (link)
This also explains why they're on opposite sides than they're usually shown while the end credits roll
Extra points--
many good points made by other folks here, about cues and snakes in beehives and swap motifs throughout the season-- link
The clock! Someone mentioned how the scene is so quiet you can hear it ticking, so I watched the ending a further 50 times to double check----I need to preface this by stating, I don't think this is a working clock, mainly cuz the hands aren't 100% where they should be between the minutes and the hours, like -a person- moved them to that time manually
When they're talking, the clock is at approximately 9:25 (?, again the hour hand isn't precisely set), then they walk across the room, and kiss, and immediately after that the clock is set about 15-ish minutes later (link to timestamps)
thanks to these bts shots, we can see that the clock on the opposite side of the room registers the SAME time difference before and after the kiss (link)
the first time Aziraphale looks "towards the window", I'm petty sure he actually looks further back towards the clock, *focuses on it* as Metatron walks up to him, and then spends the ENTIRE REST OF THE EXCHANGE blocking the Metatron's view of the clock
we're shown earlier in the season that Crowley can localize his time-stopping to a certain extent, like when he stopped the doctor and the rest of the room kept going, so it is possible he only stopped everything -outside- of the bookshop
---I KNOW Neil said it's a continuity error, but he also fully said "No" about there being a season 2 just days before they announced it was already written and in production, so. Take him at his word if that's what you wanna do.
---also I DID go back and look it over, and the clock IS consistently specifically set the entire rest of the episode as far as I can see. From the shots when you have a clear view of the clock, the angels and demons enter the shop at around 6, Maggie and Nina leave at around 7, the Metatron comes in at 8-ish, Aziraphale comes back in at that approximately 9:25
(insight from someone who works in production- link)
the music right before the kiss scene is the same leitmotif (Life After Death) used when they originally started formulating the swap in season 1! (link)
the movie Stairway to Heaven (1946) is featured as a poster in both the opening credits and in Maggie's shop (link)
the climax of the film has one of the leads willing to "take the place" of the other in heaven
(they also used a time-stopping mechanic, and the chess book Gabriel tests gravity with also plays a key role in the film)
and one last mention, extra food for thought--- the season's focus on their trusting one another, their history of performing "death (and heaven/hell) defying" feats together, and how they always get the trick right when it truly counts the most
that's what I've got so far!
If I'm right, they're apart now, but are actually more together then ever, and I find that terribly exciting. (And if I'm wrong, that's okay too! I'm just here to have fun.)
I'm not particularly concerned with very specific reasoning (that's for season 3 to tell us!), but I do think this theory is extra fun cuz pretty much any of the others could be the "why" driving it.
I'm not trying to convince anyone, or put down any of the other theories, so if you're not feeling it, that's okay! I'm just sharing what clues I'm seeing, so you can check if you see them too. 💕
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Anyway I know I'm putting way too much thought into an anime that is quite literally goofy, but I legit think that as long as Shirosaki is Momose's boss he would not want to abuse that position by doing anything that could be construed as putting moves on him. He knows Momose's history with his abusive boss and has been continually shown to be conscientious around anything that could make Momose uncomfortable.
And, like, that's not a bad thing. There's a reason why a lot of organisations have explicit rules around dating between bosses and those below them in the chain. It's rife for abuse. And the show itself draws the lines between toxic workplace relationships and toxic romantic relationships.
All that said, we also know that employees in the company move out between managers semi-regularly. That Shirosaki used to be directly under Aoyama. So, when Momose is able to work his way up enough the organisation such that Shirosaki's no longer his manager, well, the power abuse becomes much less of an issue.
However, even though Momose's doing well in his new job, it may still be a while before he's ready to try and progress in the company. After all, any new manager he gets may not be as understanding as Shirosaki and I could definitely see that being a hurdle for him.
Anyway, in terms of the apartment, Shirosaki will never ask Momose to stay despite wanting him to because he doesn't want to impose pressure as his boss and the owner of the apartment. And as long as he doesn't do that, Momose will continue to presume that he's imposing on Shirosaki by staying. They're at a standstill despite both wanting the same thing.
But for now, Momose gets the best of both worlds. He's close enough to see Shirosaki (and Hakutou) every day. But he has his own independence such that he doesn't feel like he owes Shirosaki anymore.
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ok leaked 2x01 clip observation post
(watch the clip here)
God. Izzy looks completely wrecked in this- hes scruffy and his hairs not slicked back properly he just looks. tired.
EVERYONE LOOKS SO COOL THOUGH
i want to know WHY he stutters there- what was he going to say instead?
for me, the way fang asks izzy how hes doing is not just a sign that things have gotten so bad, but it implies prior emotional connection. fang had to be the one to breach this conversation because he Knows Izzy (perhaps the others were too nervous to start because the situation is Obviously tense, but fang knows him) idk thats what i get from it.
'dont help me, dont help me' izzy sweetheart :( they are your friends.
the way jim says 'unhealthy relationship with blackbeard' sounds like they were coached, like they were repeating something someone else said. i love two unemotional assholes trying their best. unhealthy relationship is such a frenchieism to me i can just imagine jim noting it down in their journal like. 'good wording. practice saying it a few more times. toxic??????'
i believe theyre called archie and i love them so much. lesbianism hours.
rhino horn i assume is a drug? hm.
'hes cut off at least two more of your toes, hasnt he?' HOLY SHIT
the way frenchie says that is like. it wasn't infection or an accident its purposeful. they KNOW something is happening. ed Took two more toes. at least, that they know of. how do they know??? are they listening? can they hear his screams? is he asking for medical help from them? rotating round them all so no one person knows just how bad it is? (but theyre talking. theyre talking to each other now. about him, theyre worried)
maybe his first really did heal fine and it was a later infection. maybe. maybe ed took the whole leg. on purpose. whats izzy been doing to 'make ed do this'- did ed even anything to justify it? was he protecting the crew? smuggling rations to lucius? at best he was disobeying orders, but given their reactions it obviously wasnt anything that endangered anyone- imo he would have been looking out for them (maybe that why he is instructing them to throw away loot. hes protested that one too many times)
the way he immediately starts crying at that too. its like. hes been thinking all these things for a while and didn't want to say it out loud, or was thinking it was all on him and that he deserved it- but then someone comments out loud its not a good situation and he just. thats his oh moment and he falls apart.
IZZY GETS A HUG
god a fang hug looks so good- even when hes obviously trying to respect izzy being uncomfortable it
the way he is desperately trying to hold back sobbing- like if he breaks apart now he knows its the end, he will never be able to put himself back together. he needs to remain strong remain put together, he will never survive otherwise. it doesnt even really feel like hes trying not to cry because its weakness, not appropriate of him anymore, its simply that he cant afford to.
also making unconscious noises when uncomfortable. me 🤝 izzy autistic bitches. (this is only to me)
JIM IS SO UNCOMFRTABLE ALSO (and archie?) god. i desperately want happy izzy & jim dynamics i think they would work SO good, neither of them want to touch an emotion with a ten foot pole wtf please get jim out of there and a knife in their hand.
god. god. theres so much here. the crew dynamics. izzy found family canon confirmed i love it so much. this is everything ive ever wanted izzys getting love! hes getting a good arc! hes making allies and friends and they care about him!!!! theyre worried about him!!!!!!
god. i was already so excited for season 2 but this is everything to me. i just know this is going to be so good. i have SO much faith
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Still seeing so many bad faith posts about the people upset with the finale. And once again, I’m seeing zero posts decrying the show or complaining about the specific things they’re being accused of complaining about.
I’m so ready to be over this discourse, but every time I open this app it’s just a queue of people bitching about people bitching.
Maybe stfu and stop stoking it, I guess? The only time I feel compelled to post about it is when I see someone making wild claims that we’re harassing the showrunners or that somehow WE’RE the media illiterate ones when we seem to be the only ones to actually deconstruct the season and WANT to think about it critically.
How long until the fog clears and some of you start admitting there were major problems with the season? Refraining from criticism doesn’t guarantee you a season 3. (And again…. this pocket of the internet is small and well-insulated. This isn’t Twitter. Do not act like posting here is the same thing as posting there.)
Disagree? Guess you should make a big post about how we’re mad that our favorite character died or we’re just dumb for liking Izzy at all and the show is about Ed and Stede. We’re mad at the purpose and identity of a character being muddled beyond recognition. He’s in love with Ed. He’s a father figure and mentor, actually. Your own guy has contradicted himself on both these points in interviews, now. We’re ALSO mad at how rushed Ed and Stede’s arcs were. That stuff was so forced. They deserved better. Believe it or not, some of us are first and foremost here for the main love story. We’re allowed to be frustrated with bad story-telling.
Grow up.
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1x2, izzy and fang: "captain says to follow that ship" "really, why?" "how should i know, the man's half insane. just do it." izzy grabs fang's beard and yanks him down to eye level and continues, "no one asked you to fuckin' think." as fang walks away, he complains to ivan, "i hate it when he does that, it really hurts!" ivan says he should say something and he says "oh, what's the point?"
2x1, izzy and fang (and the rest of the crew): izzy tells them that they need to dump the treasure so they can shed some weight to catch up to their next target. frenchie and jim immediately balk at this, and izzy says "it is not your place to tell me what does or does not make sense. it is your job to f--" izzy's voice breaks, but he continues, "to follow my fucking orders!" they all exchange glances and then fang comes over, puts a comforting hand on izzy's shoulder, and asks how he's doing. they try to talk it through as a crew, and when izzy gets emotional, fang hugs him, making sure to check that he's not crushing or hurting him.
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