Telling Crowley "If you kill him [Adam], then the world gets a reprieve and Heaven does not have blood on its hands" in the bandstand argument was objectively shitty from Aziraphale's side*, I'm not going to pretend it wasn't mean and sanctimoniously.

However, I think, it's should be noticed more that after saying that Aziraphale:

Was anything of it good ideas? Of course, no (but it's not like there were any really good choices of what to do at all; even killing Adam wasn't actually that great of an idea). But I think this is a very interesting example of "what Aziraphale says VS what does he really do".

It might be an unpopular opinion...

...But I think we might not see Aziraphale and Crowley actively interacting in present in the first few episodes of S3 (i.e first two or even three episodes). There might be some flashbacks, some ways for them to check on each other (probably without the other knowing), and them both visibly reflecting on what was done and said in the Final Fifteen, so it won't be a complete absence of aziracrow content - but there won't be an actual interaction.

Iirc, Neil Gaiman said that the third season wouldn't be that aziracrow-focused as the second season was. So it wouldn't be just a story about their little divorce.

And I don't think they were separated just for the sake of the drama of the Final Fifteen. They both have plot-related things to do on their own - Aziraphale in Heaven and probably in America (as we know from a little information we have about the sequel), and Crowley...probably in London (because the bookshop is still there and we still have Whickber Street decorations intact) and in Devil's Dyke (I just have a feeling that South Downs thing won't be just a last-episode "oh, let's move in a cottage" and will actually have some plot significance)?

It was like that in the original book too - we had them mostly separated and acting on their own from the moment of Aziraphale finding Agnes' book and until the airbase reunion. TV show changed it, including a 30-minute flashback, all the bandstand/"I forgive you-1" drama, and the pub talk - this was necessary to flesh out TV versions of the characters and their conflict. But would it be necessary in S3, with us knowing these characters and what their problem is? Especially if aziracrow would be in a very different places due to the plot (unlike book/S1, where, prior to Aziraphale's discorporation, they both still were in London)? I'm not sure.

Crowley's POV, Part II

(the first part is here)

The first post was made mostly as an observation - about how Aziraphale's distressed face after he heard about the Second Coming was visible to Crowley in all details, and how we can see it from the shots made from Crowley's point of view. This part, though, is more of the speculations - I tried to make a guess what other moments where we see things by Crowley's eyes might mean in a bigger picture.

I also know that this particular director's decision might actually mean nothing, but it is still something that is fun to speculate to me.

A little warning - this post is tied to the idea (theory?) "The Metatron might have watched in the window in the Final Fifteen, or at least Aziraphale assumes so". I made (maybe a little self-confident) post about it back in October, but since then a lot of people expressed this idea a lot better than me back then, so you probably know it already.

Anyway.

The first one for today is from S2E3. Crowley is explaining Jim his vavoom plans. Do you notice there are window frames in a shot, to show us we are looking from Crowley's POV once again?

Is it possible that we'll see the bookshop opening scene in season three?

So, I was reminded about this ask that Neil Gaiman answered last June:

And the specific mention of the cut scene about bookshop opening day is..interesting, at least for me.

It might be (and probably is) a coincidence - Neil just needed an example of a deleted scene, and it was the first scene that came to his mind. And at that point he wasn't working on the script due to strikes anyway (though iirc he wrote the first draft of S3E1 by that point).

But it also might be something more - we saw Gaiman giving us hidden spoilers in a form of weirdly specific information before (37th degree scrivener):

But one thing that I do find interesting is that in its current form (which, of course, will be changed if this scene is in S3, but we'll work with what we have) the cut scene about bookshop opening day from S1 script book seems to have some parallels with the Final Fifteen?

A little touch of Miles in the night

Do you think about this Michael Sheen post as often as I do?

Cause...you can see what he meant here, right? Comparing Aziraphale (especially this Aziraphale, with this boa) to Miles Maitland. Comparing two Sheens with twenty years between them.

And it's not just a boa. They are so...them. Gayer than a treeful of monkeys on nitrous oxide. Dramatic. Flamboyant. You can see this similarity in their energy in these particular moments.

And yet...is it all? Or there is something else?

Spoilers for "Bright Young Things" under the cut. tw:homophobia, just in case.

something something sequel and S2/S3 connection

(This is another mostly Ctrl-C Ctrl-V of my speculations from another place, because I don't have enough brains to rephrase it; and I want it to be here in case I make a post concerning my speculations about Archangel Michael and their role in S3)

We know S3 is based on the drafts of the unwritten sequel of the book!GO. We also know S2 is a "bridge" between S1 and S3, kinda tying in one knot the ending of S1 and the beginning of the sequel book. We can assume from Neil's recent post that most (if not all) important things that should have happened in the sequel, will happen in S3 and didn't happen in S2 yet.

So what can we assume based on this information?

So, as I see it, the sequel should have been revolved around an Apocalypse initiated by Heaven this time (the way in the first book it was initiated by Hell). Crowley had a task to deliver an Antichrist in GO1, so in a sequel Aziraphale was ordered to do something concerning Jesus. I guess he even was supposed to be promoted (maybe not for the Supreme Archangel position, but still promoted) in a sequel too – because of his knowledge of Earth he could genuinely seen as the best candidate to be used in the “Second Coming” project in a book version. There were probably some insights into the Heaven politics – we saw some demons in the book 1 after all.

(It also made me make some assumptions about Archangel Michael role in S1/sequel/S2, as there are some interesting patterns, especially if we look into the cut scene of the bookshop opening in S1 script…but that’s a theory for another day. It also ties them with Muriel, however strange it might sound without a context)

The problem of implementing this into TV series is that, as I pointed above, TV!Aziracrow post-S1 are known traitors and outlaws (that actually would make a lot more sense if S1 existed without any continuation – there is a big headscratcher in a book for me called “Was Ligur revived and did anyone care about his murder post-Armageddon’t?”, which S1 covered). You need to set up a whole story so Aziraphale could just go back to Heaven and do whatever he needed to do there for the plot. Crowley, on the other hand…we’ll see in S3, but I suspect his role in the sequel didn’t require him actively work for Hell, especially if he needed to be on Earth most of the plot; and whatever interactions that he needed to have with Downstairs can be covered in the TV series by him interacting with Shax.

So the main point of S2 in this case was mostly to set up Aziraphale going back to Heaven. And maybe to get rid of Gabriel – I suppose he had a role in the sequel too, but if his main role in its drafts was to just be an annoying and stupid boss (as he was in S1 and wasn’t in a book, as he wasn’t present there), he couldn’t continue to just be one in the series, pretending that saying “Shut your stupid mouth and die” to Crowley!Aziraphale never happened. And getting rid of him was probably seen as a better/simpler solution than trying to come up with a story where he, with his story with Aziraphale, still had the same functions as his book-sequel version.

And yeah, other archangels don't like and/or trust Aziraphale too (okay, I'm hesitant about Saraquel, but they are a dark horse anyway). But they very visibly didn't like Aziraphale in S1 too, even before his...accomplishments. So that might be the point of their characters? Maybe in the sequel archangels simply didn't like their new equal/boss, and in S3 their dislike will just have more basis? Especially in Michael's case.

.....one thing that bothers me, actually, is how much the "S3 is based on the sequel, S2 not so much" might affect our theories about S3? Like, 25 Lazari miracle. If it wasn't in the sequel drafts (and tbh I'm not sure it could even happen there - what for book!A&C would do the joint miracle? If it even happened, it should have been something minor enough that it could be replaced by hiding Gabriel definitely-not-in-the-sequel subplot...), how much should we rely on it in our theories? Can we even make it a main point of our assumptions?

Although, the sequel drafts were just this - drafts, not a finished story. We don't know how detailed they were, and how many plot points weren't really finished back then. Like, idk, there might be "Aziraphale and Crowley get out of [some trouble] - we will think how they can do it later" note, and back then "later" never happened. But now "how" can be resolved with the use of 25 Lazari Chekhov Gun, and it would be legit for the TV series universe...

The main thing that I like about "Aziraphale was threatened" theory - it actually doesn't require any additional pieces of "something was said/done off screen" aside from what Aziraphale's face looked like after "might be considered irregular" line. All that you need for it is looking at Aziraphale's and Metatron's shown expressions and words from another angle.

Aka:

And it doesn't actually remove their conflict. Aziraphale still choose the wrong words - and that's strongly tied to the centuries of him saying similar words with some level of sincerity. Crowley in this case didn't see anything that angel tried to say between the lines - and this can be both because of fearing Aziraphale was actually able to think so, and because of subconsciously perceiving angel as more helpless and naive than he actually is. They both were lying to each other and concealed the important information throughout the second season, because they both thought they Knew Better than the other - which made their sincere communication pretty much impossible. Not to talk about "talking in code" communication, as it is actually a step above of sincere communication. Both Aziraphale and Crowley are hurt in the result - and for a good reason.

And "religious trauma" stuff? You can also just perceive it from a different angle. Specifically - asking, whether Aziraphale actually showed sings of it remaining in the present of S2, outside of flashbacks (which happened even before S1, in which he dumped Heaven) and the final conversation (that isn't considered entirely sincere in this theory and is seriously influenced by Metatron watching it)? Or this is something he already had an arc of overcoming in S1 (again, with the very same Metatron being a catalyst for him to dump Heaven)? With Aziraphale in S2:

Yet he never actually talked it through with Crowley (as they never talk to each other about important stuff) - so Crowley could only guess whether angel's mind actually changed.

See? No additional information needed, no agency removed, no conflict denying. Only a different angle - and you can see an entirely different picture.

"He's too pure of a heart to be anybody's bit on the side" line is a little bit funnier if you consider that:

Of course, Aziraphale is not the one to judge in this situation - we all know Heaven are abusive to him, he never initially choose them, and it's kinda hard to just dump them (considering they are literally the most powerful beings in the world and can get you anywhere on Earth) etc. In Aziraphale's case it's not a bad thing at all. However, he still lied to someone for a very long time and did it deliberately and somewhat calculatedly, and that doesn't really go along with "too pure of heart".

So, from some point of view it's Crowley who was Aziraphale's bit on the side before the Armageddon't....

About the Ball, the safety of the angelic embassy and the importance of discussing plans

You know, I think there was actually one more reason for Aziraphale to have a ball in his bookshop. Not just for the sake of having a dance with Crowley or make Nina and Maggie fall in love – though, of course, the idea of it happening was present and pleasant for the angel.

I first thought about it few days ago while rewatching episode 5. Do you remember how insistent Aziraphale was on making everybody going to the meeting, stooping to direct temptation to achieve 100% attendance? Yes, yes, I know, it was for the ball where Aziraphale planned to dance with Crowley and (maybe) make a step further in their relationship. But if you think about it  - yeah, Doctor Who fan provided music, but why would Aziraphale need a magician and his partner for this meeting to present? Even if both magician and DW fan had declined, there still would have been Nina, Maggie, Mrs. Cheng and her husband, French restaurant owner, Mrs. Sandwich, Mr. Brown, some other people…it actually seems the whole street except for first two men agreed to come without any problem. It’s not like two random people would make any difference – neither for Crowley (he doesn’t even know or care about them!) nor for Nina and Maggie.

There also was that subtle face change, when Nina and Crowley couldn’t see Aziraphale – he’s suddenly a lot more serious than during his talk with Crowley, and even a bit concerned about something?

Now, we know (and  Crowley doesn’t) that Aziraphale is aware that Shax knows about Gabriel. It seems Aziraphale totally forgot about that danger focusing on the ball….or not?

You see, while the bookshop was a center of demons’ unwanted attention, it was also (paradoxically) the safest place for mortal to be in the Whickber Street at night in case demons attack (and it looks like they only attack at night). In theory, at least. We saw how demons followed unassuming Maggie while she was heading to the bookshop – hardly with good intentions. We also know the bookshop is technically an embassy and thus safe from demons – unless you go out the doorstep on your own like Mr. Brown or invite them like Maggie. Otherwise all demons could do was breaking the windows and shouting some nonsense from the street.

Actually, even Crowley agrees the bookshop is the safest place for Nina to be at that night:

So that’s can be why (I assume) Aziraphale was trying to invite everyone on the street – he knew there was a chance of Shax arriving, and had in mind people of Whickber Street would be safer inside. That’s why he  didn't bat an eye when Crowley told him about demons outside – he knew it might happen and actually took measures! He even explained it!

There is actually nothing to worry about! Humans will be too busy the whole night, dancing, talking Jane Austen style and trying to figure out which guest is the seamstress and which one is the seamstress – and wouldn’t even notice something unusual happening outside. In fact, Aziraphale and Crowley might even dance (while Shax helplessly looks at them from the window) and even kiss – what can Shax do, with them being inside an embassy? The whole London might be destroyed, but an embassy will remain safe – like at that concept picture:

….At least he thought so. You all know how it ended. Demons broke the window, Mr. Brown went outside and was taken by demons (so, ‘keeping humans safe’ idea failed), and only then Crowley bullshited their way out by convincing Shax ‘civilians’ should be evacuated.

You see, it wasn’t a bad idea, per se – using available props, like demon-proof building, or summoning/discorporating circle later. But it was a terrible plan, as it didn't take into account the various subtleties – would demons be able to draw attention to themselves even if they can’t enter? How humans might react if they notice something and how to keep them safe at this case? What to do in case demons stay – they definitely can wait for a long time – longer than humans will agree to stay for sure?

And you know what could have made this plan better? Discussing it!!!!! With Crowley!!! With Crowley actually discussing it, not just disregarding it, cause the idea is good, it just needs some revisions. That’s why there is such thing as peer-review, for God’s sake, to see errors caused by cognitive distortions!

(And then Crowley in his turn ignored Azirapjale’s attemption to suggest and discuss some plan – maybe about activating the circle? That actually wasn’t a bad idea too, but shouldn’t have been the whole plan)

But if they discussed the demon-proof embassy plan, Aziraphale would also have to mention that he had met with Shax, and he didn't want to talk about it - for whatever reason. Probably the same reason why Crowley kept silent about his meeting with Beelzebub, Shax’ threats, and Jim's "prophecy" of the tempest.

A severe case of miscommunication disease, the main villain of these series; The Metatron is no match for it.