Good Omens is Amazon Prime’s latest TV show, based on the novel of the same name. I just finished watching the series and absolutely loved it, so much so that I am here to offer up six good things you should know about Good Omens, or six reasons those of you with Amazon Prime memberships should watch it.
1. David Tennant and Michael Sheen.
The show, and story, is about an angel and a demon living on earth. Tennant plays the demon, Crowley, and Sheen plays the angel, Aziraphale. They both give stellar performances, deserved of a tie for first place. With Tennant as the suave, black-leather-pants-wearing, snake-eyed Crowley, and Sheen as the proper, good-natured, sushi-loving Aziraphale, you are sure to fall in love with these characters and their unlikely friendship, as well as all of the humor, emotion and miracles that go along with it.
2. The Cast
Aside from the main leads, this show also touts a varied ensemble of entertaining characters and excellent supporting cast. You have Frances McDormand as the voice of God, Jon Hamm as the angel Gabriel, a talented young actor by the name of Sam Taylor Buck as the Antichrist Adam and many more. There were even some great guest appearances: Nick Offerman, David Morrissey, Mark Gatiss, Jonathan Aris, Derek Jacobi, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
3. The Music
A soundtrack can often elevate a show or movie and add an extra bit of oomf, and this show does not disappoint with it’s soundtrack. Queen. Yes, the British rock band, formerly headed by Freddie Mercury. You get some great classics like Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust, Bicycle Race, You’re My Best Friend, and more, all thanks to our demon Crowley and his love of rock and roll. The music of Queen is the perfect companion to a story with a very British flair, set in (you guessed it) England.
4. 6 Episodes
The show is only six episodes long, that’s right, practically a mini-series! So you really don’t have the excuse that you’re too busy to watch it, because it should take you no time at all to binge six episodes. It will pull you in and you will be through it and begging for more before you even realize it.
5. Neil Gaiman
The screenplay for Good Omens was written by showrunner Neil Gaiman. If you don’t know who that is, go look him up and I’ll wait for you here. Yes, the British author of books, screenplays, and comic books alike, such as: Stardust, American Gods, The Sandman, Coraline. He even did the English adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke. In addition to Gaiman, a creator credit for the series also goes to Terry Pratchett, posthumously, Pratchett having passed away in 2015.
6. The Book
The book was written by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett and published in 1990, it’s full title “Good Omens:The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch”. The novel, much like the show, is considered a horror, fantasy, comedy novel nominated for the World Fantasy award. I own the book, but have yet to read it as I wanted to wait until after having seen the series, keep an eye out for my review of the novel soon. So once you have watched the series, go out and get the book, because with adaptations the book is usually better and with the TV series being this fantastic, I can hardly wait to read the book.
There you have it, six good reasons to watch Good Omens. And here is a prophecy of my own: You will find yourself watching Amazon Prime in the very near future.
