Considering that Amazon Prime’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens covered most of the original (and only) book, had a conclusive ending, and was intended as a limited mini-series, many fans were surprised to hear that it was being prolonged for season 2. However, Gaiman revealed that there were aspects of the story left out of the first season, as well as some ideas that he and Pratchett had for the book’s sequel, but the question remains — will season 2 stay true to the original story, beloved by the fans, or will it deviate and become another “inspired by” type of series?
Good Omens, based on the 1990 novel by Neil Gaiman and late Terry Pratchett, follows the story of an unlikely friendship between a fussy and kindhearted angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and a fast-living, hedonistic demon Crowley (David Tennant), who got accustomed to living on Earth and decided to avert the scheduled Apocalypse and the rise of the Antichrist. The original book ended with their success and seemingly left little room for continuation. However, according to Gaiman, an executive producer of the show, he and Pratchett have previously discussed a possibility of a sequel — in fact, some of their ideas, like other angels and demons, were already incorporated in season 1.
On his website, Gaiman shared a story of him and Pratchett sharing a room at the World Fantasy Convention back in 1989 and, on one of the sleepless nights, discussing the plot of the possible Good Omens 2 that would have been titled 668: The Neighbor of the Beast. Unfortunately, it never came to be — Gaiman moved to the United States and started working on the widely successful graphic novel series The Sandman, and Pratchett devoted all his attention to the now-classic Discworld book series. However, some of the intended sequel elements still made it to the show, including the uptight and power-hungry angel Gabriel (Jon Hamm), as well as the tense relationship between Heaven and Hell. According to Gaiman, there are enough ideas that came from that night’s discussion for at least a part of season 2, so while it will likely go beyond the source material, fans can hope for the same level of humor and exciting plot twists that made season 1 such a success.
What Cast Will Return for Good Omens Season 2?
To the fans’ delight, season 2 will see David Tennant and Michael Sheen reprise their roles of Crowley and Aziraphale. Since Good Omens, the electric duo has collaborated on a hilarious lockdown series Staged and will, hopefully, bring the same energy to the show. Aside from the leads, the second season of Good Omens will feature several returning cast members, including Paul Adeyefa, Michael McKean, Gloria Obianyo, Miranda Richardson, and Jon Hamm as Archangel Gabriel and Frances McDormand as the voice of God.
What Will Season 2 of Good Omens Be About?
Describing the potential plot of season 2, Amazon Prime and Gaiman mentioned that it will take place in Soho and “all through time and space” and will follow the uncanny relationship between the angel and the demon as they return to their easy living amongst the mortals. They also hinted that the season will feature a certain angel wandering through London with no memory, as well as an unexpected messenger that will “present a surprising mystery.” While it sounds ominous, it will be intriguing to see the continuation of the pair’s journey and the escalated conflict between Heaven and Hell. After all, the prevented Apocalypse threw their plans up in the air and upset the balance.
On top of that, in the final episode of the season, Crowley and Aziraphale ended up avoiding their respective death sentences by swapping bodies — while that might have convinced their superiors of their enhanced supernatural powers, it is unlikely they will remain fooled for long.
Will Good Omens Season 2 Be Any Good?
While some fans worry that the second season will not match the brilliance of the first one or deviate too much from the set tone and the original story, there are several factors that can put their minds at ease. First of all, Gaiman confirmed that he wants to continue honoring the memory of Pratchett and will incorporate the elements of his original ideas into the sequel.
Secondly, season 1 has proven that the book source material can often benefit from the additional writing. Aside from angels that were only briefly mentioned in the book but played a significant part in the show, the entire first half of episode 3, “Hard Times,” was not featured in the original text but was instead added by the show’s writers. This section looked at the backstories of Crowley and Aziraphale and their unlikely but growing friendship through the centuries. Featuring their doubts and realizations about the fairness, logic, and kindness of the Almighty, the chapter helped add more emotional depth to the characters, establishing them as somewhat flawed, conflicted, and reflective — in other words, almost human. Despite its mixed structure, the episode has a natural flow and quickly became one of the fan favorites.
Considering that the second season of Good Omens will inevitably expand on the original story and introduce new elements and even entire plotlines, the stakes of it keeping the tone, the wit, and the electric chemistry of the first season while staying true to Pratchett’s legacy, are higher than ever. And while some fans might be critical of any new additions, with Gaiman at the writing helm and the excellent cast to perfectly embody the diverse characters, season 2 has all the chances to become a stunning success and win the hearts of even the most hardcore fans.