25th August, 2023: An Introduction.
It’s official: it’s Friday.
And I’ve just turned down my chips.
Turned down the heat of the oven that’s cooking my chips, I should say!
At any rate, it’s Friday: and I’ve had a few weeks off.
At least from watching a TV show, then telling you about it.
The last series I caught? Was Star Trek Strange New Worlds’ very impressive second series: something that climaxed with the tenth episode, “Hegemony”.
The next series I’m planning to catch … ?
Is the second season of Good Omens.
It’s something I’m looking forward to.
With a certain amount of trepidation.
I’m a fan of Terry Pratchett: the original novel, by he and Neil Gaiman, is something I’m fond of.
As was the original series.
So? I’m looking forward to this second series: knowing it’s not based on a second book in the universe the pair worked on.
I’m looking forward to it … with some trepidation.
Frankly?
We’ll have to see what I make of this.
I will, as ever, have this first written review up on 26/8/2023: with the video version not long after.
26th August, 2023: “The Arrival”.
Episode 1 — “The Arrival” — opens not with a summary of series one, but with a brief scene before the beginning of the Earth.
Showing us Crowley (David Tennant) as an angel: happily creating stars, whilst chatting with Aziraphale (Michael Sheen).
But being left disappointed to find that what he calls a nebula … is only going to be around until the end of the world, in some six thousand years time.
The opening credits roll.
And, post titles?
We focus in on Aziraphale’s London book shop: where, before opening, Aziraphale has some minor book-keeping to do.
Accepting some vintage Shostakovich records from Maggie (Maggie Service), the woman who runs the record shop, next door, in lieu of rent.
She’s been struggling in the wake of the COVID 19 Lockdowns.
Meanwhile?
Crowley is reading the Tadfield Advertiser at Saint James Park: and fending off secret agents whilst waiting for Shax (Miranda Richardson), who’s Hell’s new representative on Earth.
Shax?
Has a little gossip for her predecessor. There’s something brewing upstairs.
Meanwhile … ?
Meanwhile, Maggie? Maggie is feeling celebratory: celebratory enough to buy herself a coffee from Nina (Nina Sosanya): the woman runs the coffee shop over the road.
Whilst they’re talking, trouble starts.
As a naked man, with a box … heads for Aziraphale’s bookshop.
What Aziraphale knows — but Maggie and Nina don’t — is that the jaywalking streaker is Aziraphale’s old boss, the Archangel Gabriel (John Hamm.)
Shax was right.
Things are going down …
~≈🪽≈~
Now … what did I make of this, then … ?
What did I make of “The Arrival”?
I have to admit, I’m a life long fan of Terry Pratchett’s: and thoroughly enjoyed the original series of Good Omens.
So … ?
Knowing there was a new series?
With no second Good Omens novel to build the story on, no Sir Terry around to provide plot help?
I was concerned.
Saying that?
The novel’s co-writer, Neil Gaiman, is one of the show’s producers: and has co-written the scripts with John Finnemore.
That really helps!
This first episode?
Is both well acted — what do you expect, with this cast — and well written.
And, from where I’m sitting?
Includes enough references to the original novel to keep me happy.
The novel has a few running gags, for example.
One that springs out to me?
Is that, in the novel, Aziraphale and Crowley met in Saint James Park, in London: because every secret agent in the city having a clandestine meeting with an opposite number, does exactly the same thing.
To the point the ducks in the Saint James Park ponds look up expectantly, when they see a possible spy go past.
So seeing Crowley telling a suspicious man with a beard that “… the Azerbaijani sector chief is over there” … ?
And seeing Shax him asking if the job* really was as easy as she was finding it?
Were very reassuring.
The plot this episode sets up? That Supreme Archangel Gabriel has;
- Fallen.
- Lost his memory.
- Wound up in a well known book shop.
Looks extremely promising, as well!
It’s giving a mystery, gives our heroes something to do, and hints at a conflict between Heaven and Hell that’s as big as Armageddon†.
Or possibly bigger.
Frankly?
Frankly, I loved this first episode!
Does that mean I’m going to be watching the next one?
Episode 2?
Yes.
I’ll be watching “The Clue” on Friday, 1st September: then posting my written, and video, reviews on the 2nd September.
I’ll see you then!
“The Arrival”.★★★★
* In the original novel? Crowley would set up an hideously evil plan to tempt humans in to incredible acts of evil. Only to find most of his potential victims had already come up with something far nastier.
† This first episode introduces us to several archangels: including one called Uriel. The name’s been around for a few thousand years, although I know it from Clive Barker’s Weaveworld: it’s demonic creature that persecutes the Seerkind, Weaveworld’s equivalent of fairies.
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