| Good Omens | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Fantasy comedy |
| Created by | Neil Gaiman |
| Based on | |
| Showrunner | Neil Gaiman |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | Douglas Mackinnon (series 1–2) |
| Starring |
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| Music by | David Arnold |
| Country of origin | United States United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Cinematography | Gavin Finney |
| Running time | 45–58 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network |
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| Release | 31 May 2019 (2019-05-31) – present |
Good Omens is afantasy comedy television series created byNeil Gaiman based on his andTerry Pratchett's1990 novel. A co-production betweenAmazon MGM Studios andBBC Studios, the series was directed byDouglas Mackinnon, with Gaiman also serving asshowrunner.Michael Sheen andDavid Tennant lead a largeensemble cast that also includesJon Hamm,Miranda Richardson,Michael McKean,Derek Jacobi,Brian Cox,Benedict Cumberbatch, andFrances McDormand as the voice ofGod, whonarrates the series.
Like the novel,Good Omens features variousChristian themes and figures and follows various characters all trying to either encourage or prevent an imminentArmageddon, seen through the eyes of theangel Aziraphale and thedemon Crowley.
All episodes of the first series were released onAmazon Prime Video on 31 May 2019, and aired weekly onBBC Two in the UK between 15 January and 19 February 2020. Although the show's first series was conceived and marketed as alimited series, it was renewed for a second series in June 2021; Sheen and Tennant returned, along with most of the cast and crew. The second series was released in its entirety on Amazon Prime Video on 28 July 2023.Good Omens was renewed for its third and final series in December 2023. Production of the third series was paused in September 2024 following multiple sexual assault allegations against Gaiman. In October 2024, it was announced that Gaiman would be leaving the production and the third series would be reduced to a single 90-minute episode.
Since its release, the series has been well received among critics, with praise for Sheen and Tennant's performances, faithfulness to its source material, andDavid Arnold's musical score, earning him twoPrimetime Emmy Awards nominations forOutstanding Music Composition andOriginal Main Title Theme.
The first series follows the demon Crowley (David Tennant) and the angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen), longtime acquaintances who have grown accustomed to each other's company, and to a pleasant life on Earth in the present day as representatives ofHeaven andHell, and who have agreed not to let the conflict between their sides prevent their friendship. When told thatArmageddon is about to happen – the final battle between Heaven and Hell – they team up to prevent the coming of theAntichrist and the end of the pleasant existence they enjoy on Earth.[1]
The second series concerns theArchangel Gabriel arriving without his memories to Aziraphale's bookshop. Aziraphale and Crowley attempt to find out what happened to Gabriel and to also hide him from Heaven and Hell, both of which are eager to find him.[2]
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Actors credited in the opening titles of episodes in which they play a significant role.
In series 1,Jonathan Aris appears as the Quartermaster Angel: an angel who gears up the angels for Armageddon. Adam Bond portraysJesus, whose crucifixion is witnessed by Crowley and Aziraphale.Sanjeev Bhaskar portrays Giles Baddicombe, a lawyer.Steve Oram plays Horace, a motorist on the M25 hypnotised and burned alive by Crowley'ssigil.Paul Kaye and Ben Crowe make vocal cameos: Kaye as a spokesman for an electricity board (impersonating the voice of Terry Pratchett) and Crowe asFreddie Mercury.Jayde Adams andJenny Galloway play participants at Madame Tracy's seance.Dan Starkey plays a passerby comforting Aziraphale. Alistair Findlay andJim Meskimen cameo asGeorge W. Bush with Findlay physically portraying Bush and Meskimen voicing him.Kirsty Wark,Paul Gambaccini andKonnie Huq cameo as TV presenters.James Naughtie cameos as a radio presenter.Neil Gaiman cameos as a sleeping man in the cinema.Terry Pratchett's iconic hat and scarf appear in Aziraphale's bookshop.
In series 2,Tracy Wiles provides the voice of the elevator that goes to Heaven and Hell.Alex Norton plays Tulloch, a Scotsman who encounters Aziraphale.
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "In the Beginning" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman | 31 May 2019 (2019-05-31) | |
The angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley meet at theGarden of Eden, asAdam and Eve are expelled after Crowley tempted them with anapple. Fast forward to 11 years beforeArmageddon. Crowley delivers theAntichrist to a satanic convent, where the baby is to be given to an American diplomat and his family. However, a mix-up occurs and the Antichrist ends up with a middle-class English family, the Youngs. Crowley and Aziraphale meet to discuss the coming apocalypse. Aziraphale reluctantly agrees to work with Crowley. They decide that if each works to influence the boy Warlock, whom they believe to be the Antichrist, he will be neither good nor evil, just normal. In the present day, Crowley and Aziraphale attend his 11th birthday party but realize they have the wrong boy when ahellhound fails to appear. Meanwhile, the hellhound has found his master, Adam Young. Adam names him "Dog", unknowingly initiating Armageddon. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Book" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman | 31 May 2019 (2019-05-31) | |
Aziraphale assures his superiors Gabriel andSandalphon all is well with the Antichrist. A parcel delivery man is sent to gather theFour Horsemen of the Apocalypse; War, in the form of a war correspondent, receives an ancient sword. In 1656, the prophetess Agnes Nutter is burned at the stake by Witchfinder Thou-Shalt-Not-Commit-Adultery Pulsifer; Agnes causes an explosion, killing everyone present. Her book,The Nice and Accurate Prophecies ofAgnes Nutter, Witch, is left to her family and passed through the generations. Agnes' descendant, American occultist Anathema Device, studies the prophecies to find the Antichrist and save the world. Pulsifer's descendant, Newt, meets Shadwell, a modern-day witchfinder. Invited to join his crusade, Newt meets Shadwell's landlady, Madame Tracy, a part-timeescort and faux medium. Visiting the former convent, now a corporate management retreat, Aziraphale and Crowley learn that all records were destroyed in a fire. Drawn to Tadfield, Anathema meets Adam and his friends. Aziraphale and Crowley collide with Anathema on the road and give her a lift home. She mislays her book in Crowley's car and Aziraphale reads it, realizing he holds the key to finding the Antichrist. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Hard Times" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman | 31 May 2019 (2019-05-31) | |
A series of historical events illustrates Aziraphale and Crowley's growing relationship, ranging fromNoah's Ark and theCrucifixion of Jesus through to 1960sSoho. They cross paths inAncient Rome,Medieval England,Shakespeare'sGlobe Theatre,Revolutionary France, and London during theBlitz. During their time together they come to an arrangement that lets each do some of the other's work, saving time and travel. In the present day, at Jasmine Cottage, Adam and Dog find Anathema, upset at losing her book. Inviting them inside, she discusses environmental issues, which fascinate Adam. He leaves with a stack of magazines. Aziraphale and Crowley separately contract Shadwell to locate the Antichrist. Newt, the sole member of the "army", is sent to investigate the village of Tadfield. The second Horseman, Famine, in the form of Dr. Raven Sable, receives his package, a set of scales. Crowley and Aziraphale meet to discuss progress on finding the Antichrist. Aziraphale sidesteps the question of knowing his whereabouts. They argue and Aziraphale ends their "arrangement". That night, Adam falls asleep after poring over the magazines. His latent powers cause a nuclear reactor'score to vanish and be replaced with a sherbet lemon. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Saturday Morning Funtime" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman | 31 May 2019 (2019-05-31) | |
Adam's dreams bring several magazine articles to life, includingAtlantis and theKraken. His controlling behavior worries his friends. Aziraphale fails to convince Gabriel to stop Armageddon, while his superiors question Aziraphale's loyalty after seeing proof of his meetings with Crowley. Crowley tries to talk Aziraphale into leaving Earth together. The last two Horsemen, Pollution and Death, are summoned. Driving to Tadfield, Newton crashes his car, and Adam and his friends take him to Anathema's cottage. Warlock's family arrives inMegiddo. There is no hellhound, and Hastur realizes Crowley lied about the Antichrist. Hastur and Ligur confront Crowley at his apartment, where Ligur is destroyed byholy water. Aziraphale phones Crowley admitting he's found the Antichrist, but Crowley is preoccupied with Hastur and hangs up. Hastur becomes trapped in Crowley's answering machine while Crowley grabs his keys and runs out. On the street, the angels Michael, Sandalphon, and Uriel physically confront Aziraphale, accusing him of "consorting with the enemy". At his bookshop, Aziraphale contacts God to try to stop Armageddon. Shadwell watches through the letterbox and, believing he is a demon, enters and confronts Aziraphale, who accidentally steps into the open portal and is transported to Heaven. As Shadwell leaves, he slams the door, knocking over a candle which ignites the bookshop. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Doomsday Option" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman | 31 May 2019 (2019-05-31) | |
Crowley races through London to find the bookshop in flames, with no sign of Aziraphale. In Heaven, Aziraphale refuses to join the war and, determined to stop Armageddon, leaves without a body. Crowley is getting drunk in a pub when Aziraphale's apparition appears. He learns his bookshop has burned down, but Crowley saved Agnes Nutter's book, with which Aziraphale worked out who and where the Antichrist is. They arrange to meet at Tadfield Airbase after Aziraphale finds a body to inhabit. He chooses Madame Tracy's body during a seance and convinces her and Shadwell to help stop Armageddon. Crowley is stuck on theM25 as a ring of fire surrounds London. Hastur, having escaped from the answering machine, appears next to him. Crowley drives theBentley through the flames, using his imagination to believe the car is not on fire, while Hastur, not having any imagination, is discorporated and returned to Hell. Adam comes fully into his powers, scaring away his friends and Dog. This rejection returns Adam to his "human self". Anathema and Newt arrive at the air base, joining Shadwell, Aziraphale/Madame Tracy, Adam, and his friends. The Four Horsemen arrive and take over the base's global communications hub. Crowley arrives in his flaming Bentley as Adam declares: "I'M HERE." | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Very Last Day of the Rest of Their Lives" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman | 31 May 2019 (2019-05-31) | |
Adam restores Aziraphale's human vessel, and his friends confront and defeat War, Pollution, and Famine, after which Death takes his leave. Lord Beelzebub and Gabriel appear to ensure Adam re-starts Armageddon according to God's Great Plan, but he refuses.Satan emerges, but Adam, encouraged by Aziraphale and Crowley, renounces him, and restores the world to the state it was prior to the failed Armageddon. Found guilty of treason by their respective superiors, Aziraphale is ordered to be destroyed by hellfire, and Crowley is forced to enter a tub of holy water. To everyone's shock, both survive unharmed. Afraid of what the pair have become, Heaven and Hell agree to leave them alone on Earth. They switch back to their original bodies – Agnes Nutter's final prophecy had given them the key to surviving their executions. Life returns to normal for everyone. Madame Tracy and Shadwell decide to retire together in a cottage outside of London. The season ends with Aziraphale and Crowley enjoying lunch at the Ritz, making a toast "to the world". | ||||||
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "The Arrival" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman andJohn Finnemore | 28 July 2023 (2023-07-28) | |
Before the Beginning, the angel Crowley creates anebula, but grows deeply disappointed when the angel Aziraphale informs him that his creation is intended merely for the entertainment of humans, and will be destroyed in 6,000 years. In modern times, Gabriel has disappeared from Heaven, and both Heaven and Hell are eager to find him. Gabriel arrives at Aziraphale's bookshop, without any memories, and carrying only a large box with a fly inside. Aziraphale and Crowley act to hide Gabriel from Heaven and Hell, but accidentally attract the angels' attention to the powerful miracle they performed, leading them to believe Gabriel is hiding in Aziraphale's bookshop. | ||||||
| 8 | 2 | "The Clue" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman and John Finnemore | 28 July 2023 (2023-07-28) | |
In 2500 BC, God grants Hell – in the form of Crowley – permission to visit horrific disasters onJob to test his faith. Aziraphale is horrified by the prospect of destroying Job's children, and he and Crowley (disguised asBildad) trick the angels into thinking that Job's children are dead by hiding them in the form of lizards, then restoring them, claiming they are the new children promised to Job by God. Aziraphale feels great guilt for thwarting the will of Heaven, and wonders if he did the right thing. In the present, Aziraphale is visited by Michael, Uriel, and Saraqael, who traced the miracle Aziraphale and Crowley performed to the bookshop, but the miracle prevents them from recognising Gabriel. They leave, still suspicious of Aziraphale, and promise to audit his miracle, which he claims was to make cafe owner Nina fall in love with his tenant, record shop owner Maggie. Beelzebub offers to drop the hostility towards Crowley in exchange for the information on where Gabriel is. | ||||||
| 9 | 3 | "I Know Where I'm Going" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman and John Finnemore | 28 July 2023 (2023-07-28) | |
Heaven sends junior angel Muriel to spy on Aziraphale and audit the miracle. Muriel is clueless about life on Earth and is easily misdirected. In 19th centuryEdinburgh, Crowley and Aziraphale chance upon a poor girl, Elspeth, whorobs graves and sells the corpses to doctors to support herself and her friend Morag. Aziraphale considers her deeds to be wrong and sabotages her sale, but after the doctor explains the corpses help medical science understand how to treat living people, he changes his mind about Elspeth's deeds. Elspeth, Morag, Crowley and Aziraphale try to dig up another corpse, but Morag is killed by a trap protecting the grave. Elspeth sells Morag's corpse to the doctor, then tries to die by poison, but Crowley prevents her from doing so; he forces Aziraphale to give her enough money to escape poverty and live a better life. | ||||||
| 10 | 4 | "The Hitchhiker" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman and John Finnemore | 28 July 2023 (2023-07-28) | |
The demon Shax hitches a lift with Aziraphale as he drives Crowley’s Bentley back from Edinburgh, and deduces that Gabriel is hiding in the bookshop. In the 1940s, three Nazi agents go to Hell after they were killed by a falling bomb (in “Hard Times”). When they mention Crowley and Aziraphale, the demon Furfur offers to spare them eternal damnation and resurrect them as zombies if they spy for him - in order to advance his rank in Hell, he hopes to get proof that the demon and angel are consorting. Aziraphale is invited to perform magic in the West End and plans to perform the potentially lethalBullet Catch trick which, with Crowley's aid, he performs successfully. Furfur takes a photo of the pair's cooperation. He goes to present the proof to the Hell Council, not knowing Aziraphale switched the photo with a West End poster. Back in the present, Shax, with the permission of Beelzebub, plans to storm the bookshop. | ||||||
| 11 | 5 | "The Ball" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman and John Finnemore | 28 July 2023 (2023-07-28) | |
Aziraphale uses a miracle to transform a shopkeepers’ meeting into a Regency-styleball, hoping theJane Austen-inspired atmosphere will get Maggie and Nina together. Shax requisitions a small number of demons (70, rather than a legion of 6,000) via Furfur and prepares to storm the bookshop, but cannot cross the threshold as they have not been invited in. Shax threatens to kill all the humans in the shop unless they surrender Gabriel. Gabriel surrenders himself, but Aziraphale and Crowley’s earlier miracle prevents the demons from recognizing him, and they continue to threaten the bookshop. Crowley stalls for time and evacuates most of the human guests, then forces Muriel to arrest him and bring him to Heaven. | ||||||
| 12 | 6 | "Every Day" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman and John Finnemore | 28 July 2023 (2023-07-28) | |
While Aziraphale, Nina and Maggie fend off the demons, Crowley discovers the reason for Gabriel's disappearance: he refused to support a second attempt at Armageddon, and was demoted from his position as an Archangel and wiped of all his memories. Crowley returns to the bookshop, where Aziraphale has successfully fended off the demons and accidentally declared war on Hell. Beelzebub appears, and reveals that Gabriel's memories were hidden in the fly inside the box that Gabriel had been carrying. Gabriel's memories – including those of him conducting a romance with Beelzebub – are restored. He and Beelzebub choose to abandon Heaven and Hell and leave together. TheMetatron arrives and offers Aziraphale Gabriel's former position and the ability to restore Crowley's status as an angel. Crowley prepares to confess his feelings to Aziraphale. Aziraphale informs Crowley that he plans to accept the Metatron's offer. Crowley asks Aziraphale to abandon Heaven and Hell with him, just as Gabriel and Beelzebub did. Aziraphale asks Crowley to instead return to Heaven as an angel and work with him. Crowley refuses and kisses him. Aziraphale leaves Earth (and Crowley) to go work for Heaven, where the Metatron informs him that his task will be to enact theSecond Coming. | ||||||
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Good Omens: Lockdown" | Douglas Mackinnon | Neil Gaiman | 1 May 2020 (2020-05-01) | |
Aziraphale and Crowley talk over the phone about how they’re dealing with the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. | |||||
| 2 | "A Companion to Owls" | Douglas Mackinnon | John Finnemore | 28 July 2023 (2023-07-28) | |
In 2500 BC, Crowley is sent to torment Job. Aziraphale discovers Crowley has permission from God, who is trying to settle a bet with Satan. Crowley and Aziraphale end up working together to save Job's children, leading to Aziraphale's first taste of earthly pleasures, and his first defiance of Heaven. Presented as part of "The Clue". | |||||
| 3 | "The Resurrectionists" | Douglas Mackinnon | Cat Clarke | 28 July 2023 (2023-07-28) | |
In 1827 Edinburgh, Aziraphale and Crowley encounter a poor grave robber and find the line between good and bad deeds on Earth isn't always clear. Presented as part of "I Know Where I'm Going". | |||||
| 4 | "Nazi Zombie Flesheaters" | Douglas Mackinnon | Jeremy Dyson andAndy Nyman | 28 July 2023 (2023-07-28) | |
In 1941 London, Crowley comes to Aziraphale's aid when his books and magic career are threatened by three Nazis resurrected by Hell as zombies. Presented as part of "The Hitchhiker". | |||||
Good Omens: Lockdown was released via YouTube close to the thirtieth anniversary of the original novel’s publication. Series 2's minisodes are not released separately, but incorporated into episodes two, three and four as extended flashbacks.
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Pratchett and Gaiman had planned to adaptGood Omens as a movie for years, with various directors and writers attached to the project along the way. In 2011, a television series, written byTerry Jones andGavin Scott, was first reported to be in the works but no further plans were announced.[7] After Pratchett's death, Gaiman refused to ever consider working on the adaptation alone but changed his mind when he received a letter from Pratchett, written to be sent after his death, urging him to finish the project.[8]
On 19 January 2017, it was announced thatAmazon Prime Video and theBBC had commissioned a television series adaptation of the novel to be produced in the United Kingdom by the BBC. Distribution of the series was licensed to Amazon, and handled byBBC Worldwide in territories where Amazon Prime Video doesn't operate.[9][10] Executive producers were set to include Gaiman, Caroline Skinner, Chris Sussman, Rob Wilkins, and Rod Brown. Gaiman was also set to adapt the novel for the screen and serve as showrunner for the series. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist ofBBC Studios, Narrativia, and The Blank Corporation.
On 29 June 2021, the series was renewed for a second series consisting of six episodes.[11] In July 2023, Gaiman discussed the possibility of a third series, which was planned and would serve as the final series, though writing on it had been affected by the2023 Writers Guild of America strike.[12]
Gaiman's initial writing around the announcement of season two mentioned the proposed sequel toGood Omens devised by him andTerry Pratchett during theWorld Science Fiction Convention in Seattle in 1989, the year before the book was published.[13] In the lead-up to the second season's release, he clarified that this was not the basis of the second season's plot, as he "didn't feel that we could drive straight from season one into that". Series two is instead a new story, intended to act as a bridge between the original and the sequel, which will form the basis for a third series.[14]
The third and final six-episode series was announced in December 2023.[15][16] Mackinnon, who had served as co-showrunner, director, and producer for the first two series, was announced to not be returning for the final series.[17] Production of the third series was suspended in September 2024 after multiple women accused Gaiman of sexual assault.[18] Gaiman offered to step back from the third series as Amazon continued to hold crisis talks.[19] In October 2024, Gaiman exited the project and production of the third series was reduced from a full season order to a single 90-minute episode. Although Gaiman is credited with writing the series finale, he would no longer serve as show runner or executive producer.[20][21] In August 2025, executive producer Josh Cole said that post-production on the finale was nearing completion with an expected premiere date slated for 2026.[22]
On 14 August 2017, it was announced thatMichael Sheen andDavid Tennant had been cast in the lead roles of Aziraphale and Crowley, respectively.[23] On 14 September 2017, Gaiman revealed on Twitter thatNina Sosanya,Ned Dennehy, andAriyon Bakare had joined the main cast.[24] A day later,Jack Whitehall,Michael McKean,Miranda Richardson, andAdria Arjona were announced as series regulars.[25] A week after that, Sam Taylor Buck, Amma Ris, Ilan Galkoff, Alfie Taylor,Daniel Mays, andSiân Brooke were also cast.[26] In October 2017, it was reported thatJon Hamm,Anna Maxwell Martin,Mireille Enos, Lourdes Faberes, andYusuf Gatewood had joined the main cast.[27][28] In November 2017, it was reported thatReece Shearsmith andNicholas Parsons had also been cast.[29][30] On 15 December 2017 it was reported thatDerek Jacobi would voice the Metatron.[31]
On 9 February 2018 it was announced thatSteve Pemberton andMark Gatiss had joined the series.[32] On 6 March 2018, it was announced thatNick Offerman had been cast in a series regular role.[33] On 20 July 2018, it was announced during Amazon'sSan Diego Comic-Con panel thatFrances McDormand had been cast as the voice of God as well as the series' narrator.[34] On 13 February 2019, Neil Gaiman announced thatBenedict Cumberbatch would voice Satan, with the character itself being computer-generated imagery (CGI).[35]
The 109 days ofprincipal photography for the series took place over a six-month period beginning 18 September 2017 and ending in early March 2018.[36][37] Shooting began throughout the UK with subsequent filming taking place in and aroundCape Town,South Africa.[37] In October 2017, the production was spotted filming inSurrey.[38] The series also filmed inSt James's Park andTavistock Square inLondon andHambleden.[39] TheSoho area of London representing the street and Aziraphale's bookshop was created and shot inHertfordshire atBovingdon Airbase.[37] A vacant building inWeybridge, Surrey served as Heaven's corporate headquarters, and Hogback Wood, the location for Adam and his friends, was also filmed in Surrey.Bulstrode Park, just outsideGerrards Cross inBuckinghamshire, with its mansion and grounds, was used for the satanic convent/hospital and later the corporate training center. The American Army base was located and filmed inUpper Heyford, in Oxfordshire. TheWeald and Downland Living Museum inWest Sussex was used to film Agnes Nutter's burning at the stake. It was shot over a two-day period in October 2017.[36]
The car in the novel is a 1926 Bentley, but neither Gaiman nor Pratchett really knew what a 1926 model looked like when they wroteGood Omens. For the television series, a 1933 model which had more of the look Gaiman had in mind was used.[40] The Bentley used in filming is valued at £250,000.[36]
Filming for the second series took place between October 2021 and March 2022 inScotland.[41]
The final, feature-length episode of the series was filmed during a five-week shoot between January and February 2025.[42]
Good Omens' opening title sequence, created by the London-based Peter Anderson Studio, features music by David Arnold.[43] When Douglas Mackinnon approached Anderson about the title sequence, Mackinnon said that he wanted something "over the top". His idea was to communicate the coming of Armageddon while also showing the humor and "fantastical tone", Crowley and Aziraphale's friendship, and the idea that good and evil are in everyone.[44] The project was a new style of design by Anderson and his studio, and a unique design for a television series. Anderson described the result as "a totally bonkers mishmash of all animation styles in a way where they feel as if they belong together".[45][46]
The actual production used physical props, animation, illustration, 3D and some live-action motion, to depict the approaching apocalypse and clash between Heaven and Hell.[46] Studio employees were filmed in costume, ongreen screen; they were then cut out and animations were created.[46] Each of the characters has either Crowley's or Aziraphale's face.[44]
The title sequence incorporates all the characters from the series as they move towards the Apocalypse.[45] Included are Crowley's Bentley in front of Aziraphale's bookshop, the Chattering Order of St. Beryl's nuns, Shadwell and Madame Tracy, the hellhound, flying saucers, the appearance of Death, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Crowley's work on London's M25 is featured in the parade, along with various towns and areas of the world.[47] In the end, characters fall from earth, landing either in Heaven or Hell,[45] leading into theGood Omens title artwork.[44] The entire sequence runs one minute and 40 seconds.[45]
Claire Anderson was thecostume designer forGood Omens.[48] She received a 2019 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes for Episode 3,Hard Times.[49] Early design centered on main characters Aziraphale and Crowley; Anderson worked closely with actors Michael Sheen and David Tennant to design their modern-day looks.[36] Once created, they were an important influence on their other attire throughout history.[48]
Crowley's look reflects his transformation into human form from a serpent. The costume is modern, black, almostgoth-like in style, including a "snake head" belt buckle. He often wears dark glasses to conceal his serpent eyes.[50] His outfits always have a hint of red, including red soles on his shoes or red lining on his gloves, representing his demon snake's red belly. His jackets had a red lining on the underside of the collar.[51] Aziraphale's outfits were the opposite of Crowley's, reflecting his ethereal nature.[50] His angel-inspired costumes included cuff-links, a signet ring, and a pocket watch, all containing angel wings.[51] His off-white colour palette and style maintained aVictorian Era look through modern times, with oversized lapels and shoulders representing his Angel wings.[51]
Other costume inspirations came from details described in the Pratchett/Gaiman 1990 book. The modern-day character, Anathema Device, distantly related to prophetess Agnes Nutter, wears a Victorian "witchy look." Actor Jack Whitehall, as would-be witch-hunter Newt Pulsifer, was dressed with coat badges and epaulets with the accent colour mustard, merging modern geeky Newt with his 17th-century ancestor.[36] He also wanted the "odd socks" from the book incorporated into his costume.[48] Claire Anderson's idea for Jon Hamm, as Angel Gabriel, was to look perfect. She found the material on Bond Street; it was "light, ethereal and ephemeral."[52] The suits were cashmere and made by Italian labelZegna. Hamm wore lilac contact lenses to emphasize the lilac in his "pearl gray" suit.[52] The Satanic Nuns of the Chattering Order's costumes were created to look like regular nun habits but with a demonic undertone. Anderson looked at nuns through the years and chose to use "peaky hats", which had a more witch-like feeling rather than an evil one.[36] The costumes included a luciferian pendant and symbolic watches.[51] The demons from Hell, Lord Beelzebub, Duke Hastur and Ligur, wore carefully blackened clothing with shredded hems to appear as if scorched in Hell.[36] Mr and Mrs. Young, the Antichrist Adam's parents, were dressed in a nostalgic, "timeless and comforting" 1950s look to represent their dependability. Anderson used her own parents' friends as inspiration.[36] Sergeant Shadwell is "grubby", wearing drab colours reflecting it. His defining look is a jacket with elements of a uniform to represent his Witchfinder Army role.[36] Madame Tracy wore costumes reflecting her dual jobs as psychic reader and sex worker. "Flowing gowns" and colours reflecting "kookiness" were used for her mystic persona, while an ostentatious kimono represented her "lady of the night" role.[36] Many costumes had visual effects, added later, which required small tape markers in the shape of green crosses on people's bodies.[53]
The cold opening, featuring a flashback through history in Episode 3, required costumes representing historical periods from the Garden of Eden in 4004 BC to Soho, London in 1967.[54] Anderson took inspiration from pre-Raphaelite paintings, and from hippie clothes from the movieSerpico.[54] Throughout the epochs, each costume reflected the period as well as the Angel/Demon aspect of the characters. The scene with Crowley and Aziraphale in armor has black throughout Crowley's armor while Aziraphale's is silvery and light.[51] A snakeskin-like texture is part of the robes and gowns Crowley wears in ancient times.[50]
London-based Milk VFX was chosen to create all the visual effects forGood Omens.[55] Jean-Claude Deguara, co-founder, began work in the pre-production, pre-script stage of the series. During pre-production, the six scripts were broken down to work out how thevisual effects (VFX) could interact effectively with the story in each episode.[56] Neil Gaiman was a constant source of help as he could quote from the book to help with creative decisions.[56] The goal was to use in-camera shots wherever possible.[36] TheNoah's Ark scene in Episode 3 used live-action elements wherever possible, including the smaller animals; larger animals were added in post-production.[57] Special effects were to be used as part of the scene and "grounded in reality", not to stand out on their own. Sixty visual-effect specialists, the most Milk had used on a single project, worked over a two-year period to create a wide range of effects;[57] 650 CGI shots were created for the six episodes.[58] Post-production time was five months.[56]
Deguara and his crew created a wide range of effects including creatures, environments, and fire.[57] Among the environments created was a penthouse for Heaven with "ever-changing" views of the famous landmarks of the world.[36] The escalator to Hell was filmed in a modern office building in London using real-time cinematography as well as a green screen for special effects depicting Crowley's descent from the lobby.[36] The Soho site for Aziraphale's bookshop, built at Bovington Airfield, used a green screen to extend the streets in post-production. The site was used because Aziraphale's bookshop had to burn down with real fire, not just visual effects, which wasn't possible in Soho.[36] The opening scene of Episode 1 at the Garden of Eden, filmed in South Africa, included "many green screen and interactive VFX" to create a big visual effects scene.[59] Episode 4 featured a visual effect of Crowley (David Tennant) flying through the telephone system, chased by Hastur, the Duke of Hell (Ned Dennehy).[36] Tennant was in a rig that allowed him to "twist and roll at speed", while Dennehy used a wire. Digitally-created "glitch-type movements" were created to make Tennant's part look realistic and to hide the rig.[56]
Crowley's Bentley, prominently seen through the series, is often shown racing through London at speeds over 100 mph.[57] The car had to look authentic, but no real Bentley would have been able to go this fast.[40] The filming was one of the first effects Milk VFX learned about. After locating a real Bentley, CGI assets were created for the scenes on the street as well as inside the Bentley.[57] The car used is actually a combination of five different CGI, real, and built versions. The Bentley that blew up in Episode 6 is real; the interior was removed and the exterior blown up.[40] Rather than using digital effects to create the scenery as Crowley is driving, director of photographyGavin Finney used an older technique calledrear projection. Films are first made of passing scenery from all sides of a moving vehicle; then, on the set, the filmed scenes are projected onto a screen. Finney explained: "It means you see the footage as well as reflections on the glass or the driver's face, say as the vehicle goes under trees, while it also works as a lighting source."[36]
The model for the hellhound was aGreat Dane dog with similar colouring to the small dog used later.[57] Using ablue screen, the live dog was filmed, then partially enlarged in CGI to create the monstrous head and neck.[60] The effect was used for a couple of scenes, but the transformation to a small dog used a real dog.[57] The final episode features a confrontation between Adam Young, the child Antichrist, and Satan, his "father who is no longer in Heaven". The original concept of Satan was much more "hellish"; however, Neil Gaiman wanted a more human form of the 500-foot-tall creature, rather than including "hellfire" and over-the-top demonic action.[61] Certain effects were scaled back in the rise of Satan from Hell so that the focus became the more "human" interaction between a father and a rebellious son who rejects him.[62] Sound effects, such as body sounds, rocks, and moving earth, were used to emphasize Satan's size and power.[62] Other visual effects included a short demon named Usher, sacrificed to test holy water; a kraken rising in the sea; wings for Crowley and Aziraphale; and maggots overwhelming a call center when Hastur escapes after being trapped in Crowley's voicemail.[61] Crowley's snake eyes were created using contact lenses for the most part, but were digitally enhanced for close-ups.[57]
Good Omens features music written by Emmy winning composer David Arnold, along with quite a fewQueen songs throughout the series. Arnold received two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Main Title theme and for the episode "In the Beginning."[63] He said his work onGood Omens was unlike any he had done.[63] "It might be the hardest I've worked on anything."[63] He described the series as "a universe-sized show in need of a universe-sized score."[64] He called the opening theme "a kind of wicked, slightly, devilish, Mephistophelean waltz—it has a feeling of twirling, out-of-control-ness."[65] He rewrote the main theme for the end credits of each episode to reflect what happened in it.[66]
Arnold used unusual instrumentation to create themes for episodes and themes,[63] including lutes, lyres, bass brass and drums, and harps, depending on their imagery or emotion.[63] He wanted to combine "heavenly" and "satanic" elements so that when something sounded good, there was also an element of bad. He said, "Whenever there was a sweet violin, there would be its nasty brother lurking alongside it."[66] The use of Queen's music, reflecting a running gag of the novel where every tape Crowley put on his car stereo turned out to be of said band,[67] included abrass band arrangement of "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon". Arnold was a Queen fan as a teenager, studying how they created sounds,[64] and said the choirs and chorale sounds in certain parts of the series reflected this influence.[63]
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The six episodes of the first series were released on Amazon Prime Video on 31 May 2019,[68] and aired weekly on BBC Two between 15 January and 19 February 2020.[69][70]
David Tennant and Michael Sheen reprised their respective roles in voice-only form for a 3-minute short titled "Good Omens: Lockdown" which was released on YouTube on 1 May 2020. The short imagines how their characters might be doing in isolation during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[71]
The second series was released in its entirety on Amazon Prime Video on 28 July 2023.[72]
On 6 October 2018, the series held a panel at the annualNew York Comic Con inNew York City. It was moderated byWhoopi Goldberg and featured creatorNeil Gaiman, directorDouglas Mackinnon, and cast membersMichael Sheen,David Tennant,Jon Hamm andMiranda Richardson. During the panel, the series' first trailer was premiered and subsequently released online.[74][75]
ATSXSW 2019,Amazon Prime hosted aGood Omens "Garden of Eden" Party in Austin, Texas during the entire week of the festival. The party was hosted by performers dressed as angels and demons, with free food, hair and nail services, and a complimentary bar.David Tennant,Michael Sheen,Jon Hamm,Douglas Mackinnon andNeil Gaiman made guest appearances, and an episode of the series received an early screening at theZach Theatre. A party hosted at the Garden byEntertainment Weekly featured a fire-breather and aQueen cover band.Good Omens-branded umbrellas and tote bags were handed out at the pop-up experience, and the Garden featured a petting zoo full of local puppies called "Hell Hounds".[76]
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The first series ofGood Omens has received positive reviews from critics. OnRotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 84% with an average score of 7.3/10, based on 100 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "A smörgåsbord of heavenly imagery and irreverent hilarity,Good Omens works thanks to Michael Sheen and David Tennant's very-nearly-holy (or maybe unholy?) chemistry – though, at only six episodes long, it's a rare adaptation that may have benefited from being a little less faithful to the good book."[77] OnMetacritic, it has a score of 66 out of 100 based on 21 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[78]
The second series also received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 87% with an average score of 7.4/10, based on 61 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Boding well for the series' longevity,Good Omens' second season is even more splendid than the first."[79] On Metacritic, it has a score of 68 out of 100 based on 16 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[80]
An online petition requesting that the streaming service (misidentified asNetflix) cancelGood Omens reportedly received more than 20,000 signatures from people objecting to its content; it was actually onAmazon Prime. The petition, posted as part of a campaign by US religious organizationReturn to Order, criticized the show's irreverent treatment of topics relating to Satanism and the devil, and the use of a female voice for God. The original petition was removed from the site, corrected and reposted.[81][82]
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Golden Trailer Award | Best Comedy Poster for a TV/Streaming Series | Good Omens | Nominated | [83] |
| Saturn Awards | Best Streaming Science Fiction, Action, & Fantasy Series | Nominated | [84] | ||
| Best Actor in a Streaming Presentation | David Tennant | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Presentation | Michael Sheen | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes | Claire Anderson, Bobbie Edwards, Beth Lewis | Nominated | [85] | |
| Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score) | David Arnold | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music | Nominated | ||||
| Comedy.co.uk Awards | Best TV Comedy Drama | Good Omens | Won | [86] | |
| Best Comedy of the Year | Won | ||||
| Dragon Award | Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series | Won | [87] | ||
| Online Film & Television Association (OFTA) Television Award | Best Make-Up/Hairstyling in a Non-Series | Nominated | [88] | ||
| Best New Theme Song in a Series | Nominated | ||||
| National Television Award | Best Comedy | Nominated | [89] | ||
| C21 International Drama Award | Best English Language Drama (Series) | Nominated | [90] | ||
| TV Times Award | Favourite On-Demand Show | Won | [91] | ||
| Nebula Award | Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation | Neil Gaiman(Episode: "Hard Times") | Won | [92] | |
| 2020 | IFMCA Award | Best Original Score for a Television Series | David Arnold | Nominated | [93] |
| BSC Award | Best Cinematography in a Television Drama | Gavin Finney(Episode: "Hard Times") | Nominated | [94] | |
| Sandford St Martin Award | Radio Times Readers' Award | Good Omens | Won | [95] | |
| Tell-Tale TV Awards | Favorite Limited Series or TV Movie | Won | [96] | ||
| Favorite Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie | Frances McDormand | Won | |||
| Favorite Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie | David Tennant | Won | |||
| Michael Sheen | Nominated | ||||
| Hugo Award | Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form | Neil Gaiman,Douglas Mackinnon | Won | [97] | |
| Peabody Award | Entertainment | Good Omens | Nominated | [98] | |
| BAFTA TV Craft Award | Special, Visual & Graphic Effects | Milk Visual Effects, Gareth Spensley, Real SFX | Nominated | [99] | |
| Scottish Comedy Award | Best Actor | David Tennant | Won | [100] | |
| European Science Fiction Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation | Good Omens | Won | [101] | |
| 2023 | Saturn Awards | Best Fantasy Television Series | Nominated | [102] | |
| Comedy.co.uk Awards | Best TV Comedy Drama | Won | [103] | ||
| 2024 | GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Comedy Series | Nominated | [104] | |
| BAFTA TV Awards | Male Performance in a Comedy | David Tennant | Nominated | [105] | |
| BAFTA Television Craft Awards | Titles and Graphic Identity | Peter Anderson Studio | Nominated | ||
| Tell-Tale TV Awards | Favorite Sci-fi / Fantasy / Horror Series: | Good Omens | Won | [106] | |
| Favorite Performer in a Sci-fi / Fantasy / Horror Series: | Michael Sheen | Won | |||
| David Tennant | Nominated | ||||
| Astra Awards | Best Actor in a Streaming Comedy Series | Michael Sheen | Nominated | [107] | |
| David Tennant | Nominated |
