After years of setbacks and false starts, a live action adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Sandman is finally on its way to the screen courtesy of Netflix. The release date is still unknown, but fans of Gaiman's work could stand to see another brilliant adaptation of his work which he was directly responsible for.
When asked on Twitter what level of influence he had on the upcoming Sandman series, Neil Gaiman stated that he would be more involved than in American Gods, but less involved than he was in Good Omens. American Gods is a troubled series with mixed reception overall, but Gaiman cared so greatly about Good Omens, he saw to it himself.
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch is a comedy novel written in collaboration between Neil Gaiman and beloved fantasy author Terry Pratchett. The two had been friends for some time, Gaiman was inspired to write his first novel by Pratchett's work. The hallmarks of both of their unique styles are intrinsic to the novel, in interviews the pair have gone back and forth on who wrote what, but it's clear that the pair is what makes it special.
The story is set in the immediate lead-up to the apocalypse, dealing with the spawn of Satan growing up in an idyllic cottage neighborhood. As the boy gains his hellish powers, events and cosmic forces conspire to march humanity towards the end of all things. The main characters are the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley, deifying their roles by sabotaging the apocalypse and by forging a millennia-long friendship. The novel was released in 1990, was very well received, and won several awards.
Much like The Sandman, Good Omens underwent multiple attempts at adaptation before the one that finally landed. In 2002, Monty Python mainstay Terry Gilliam was set to direct a live-action film adaptation of the novel, with Johnny Depp and Robin Williams rumored to star as Crowley and Aziraphale respectively. Tragically, the film failed to attract the initial funding to begin filming. Over several years, Gilliam repeatedly discussed his enthusiasm for the project, but it was not to be. In 2011, another attempt at adapting the novel, this time into a series, was announced, but quickly shelved with little information made public.
The biggest tragedy of the tale came in 2015, when Sir Terry Pratchett passed away. Shortly before his death, Pratchett made a request of his friend, he asked Gaiman to personally adapt their novel to the screen. With that, Gaiman announced in 2016 that he was writing the script, then in 2017 the show was picked up by Amazon where he would serve as showrunner. So, with the work in the capable hands of its coauthor, produced in part by Pratchett's daughter's company, Good Omens was finally on its way.
Good Omens premiered as a six-part series released to Amazon Prime Video in 2019. It featured Michael Sheen and David Tennant as Aziraphale and Crowley. The series is equal parts apocalyptic Christian power struggle and irreverent comedy. The narrative bounces from the distant past to the present day, from the depths of Hell to the highest Heavens. The show's epic scale sees the world fall to ruin, beautiful depictions of world rending natural disasters alongside touching emotional exchanges between lovable weirdos.
Reception for the show has been generally positive, critics and audiences alike enjoyed the unique style of comedy, the epic portrayal of the end of days and the touching friendship between the main characters. The weirdest aspect of the show's reception came in the form of a misguided petition for removal by a Christian group. Hilariously, the group petitioned the wrong streaming service to demand the show's removal. Despite some protest, the show depicts religious themes in a fascinating and sympathetic way.
At six episodes, the show's biggest weakness is that there is not enough of it. It leaves the audience wanting more, but its story is beautifully wrapped up by its conclusion. The scant changes from the novel were obviously overseen by Gaiman, including introducing some concepts from the unreleased sequel. With that in mind, the show is one of the best adaptations of a novel in TV history. A combination of faithful adherence to the spirit of the source material and clever upgrades to accommodate the near two decades in the interim create a beautiful and timeless story that should be seen by all.
Good Omens and The Sandman are two works that seem diametrically opposed in tone and presentation. Good Omens is hilarious and quirky, bright even in the face of the apocalypse. The Sandman is grim and hunting, centered around the darkest corners of creation. Despite the difference in tone, the works are more similar than they seem. Gaiman's hallmarks of mystical language, creative solutions to conflicts, and characters that are living representatives of metaphysical concepts are key to both works. The spirit of his magical style is present in everything he writes, when Sandman makes it to the screen, it will not be fully created by Gaiman, but it should take heed of Good Omen's example.
Good Omens is a charming and fun series inspired by the inspired collaboration of two of this generations greatest talents. Fans eagerly awaiting Sandman can treat themselves to a true delving into Gaiman's work with Good Omens, currently available on Amazon Prime Video with a second season possibly on the way.