#being a stark

[inhonoredglory]

Aziraphale’s Choice, the Job Connection, and Michael Sheen’s Morality

Update: Michael Sheen liked this post on Twitter, so I'm fairly certain there is a lot of validity to it.

I’ve had time to process Aziraphale’s choice at the end of Season 2. And I think only blaming the religious trauma misses something important in Aziraphale’s character. I think what happened was also Aziraphale’s own conscious choice––as a growth from his trauma, in fact. Hear me out.

Since November 2022 I’ve been haunted by something Michael Sheen said at the MCM London Comic Con. At the Q&A, someone asked him about which fantasy creature he enjoyed playing most and Michael (bless him, truly) veered on a tangent about angels and goodness and how, specifically,

We as a society tend to sort of undervalue goodness. It’s sort of seen as sort of somehow weak and a bit nimby and “oh it’s nice.” And I think to be good takes enormous reserves of courage and stamina. I mean, you have to look the dark in the face to be truly good and to be truly of the light…. The idea that goodness is somehow lesser and less interesting and not as kind of muscular and as passionate and as fierce as evil somehow and darkness, I think is nonsense. The idea of being able to portray an angel, a being of love. I love seeing the things people have put online about angels being ferocious creatures, and I love that. I think that’s a really good representation of what goodness can be, what it should be, I suppose.

I was looking forward to BAMF!Aziraphale all season long, and I think that’s what we got in the end. Remember Neil said that the Job minisode was important for Aziraphale’s story. Remember how Aziraphale sat on that rock and reconciled to himself that he MUST go to Hell, because he lied and thwarted the will of God. He believed that––truly, honestly, with the faith of a child, but the bravery of a soldier.

Aziraphale, a being of love with more goodness than all of Heaven combined, believed he needed to walk through the Gates of Hell because it was the Right Thing to do. (Like Job, he didn’t understand his sin but believed he needed to sacrifice his happiness to do the Right Thing.)

That’s why we saw Aziraphale as a soldier this season: the bookshop battle, the halo. But yes, the ending as well.

Because Aziraphale never wanted to go to Heaven, and he never wanted to go there without Crowley.

But it was Crowley who taught him that he could, even SHOULD, act when his moral heart told him something was wrong. While Crowley was willing to run away and let the world burn, it was Aziraphale (in that bandstand at the end of the world) who stood his ground and said No. We can make a difference. We can save everyone.

And Aziraphale knew he could not give up the ace up his sleeve (his position as an angel) to talk to God and make them see the truth in his heart.

I was messed up by Ineffable Bureaucracy (Boxfly) getting their happy ending when our Ineffable Husbands didn’t, but I see now that them running away served to prove something to Aziraphale. (And I am fully convinced that Gabriel and Beelzebub saw the example of the Ineffables at the Not-pocalypse and took inspiration from them for choosing to ditch their respective sides)

But my point is that Aziraphale saw them, and in some ways, they looked like him and Crowley. And he saw how Gabriel, the biggest bully in Heaven, was also like him in a way (a being capable of love) and also just a child when he wasn’t influenced by the poison of Heaven. Muriel, too, wasn’t a bad person. The Metatron also seemed to have grown more flexible with his morality (from Aziraphale's perspective). Like Earth, Heaven was shades of (light?) gray.

Aziraphale is too good an angel not to believe in hope. Or forgiveness (something he’s very good at it).

Aziraphale has been scarred by Heaven all his life. But with the cracks in Heaven’s armor (cracks he and Crowley helped create), Aziraphale is seeing something else. A chance to change them. They did terrible things to him, but he is better than them, and because of Crowley, he feels ready to face them.

(Will it work? Can Heaven change, institutionally? Probably not, but I can't blame Aziraphale for trying.)

At the cafe, the Metatron said something big was coming in the Great Plan. Aziraphale knows how trapped he had felt when he didn’t have God’s ear the first time something huge happened in the Big Plan. He can’t take a chance again to risk the world by not having a foot in the door of Heaven. That’s why we saw individual human deaths (or the threat of death) so much more this season: Elspeth, Wee Morag, Job’s children, the 1940s magician. Aziraphale almost killed a child when he couldn’t get through to God, and he’s not going through that again.

“We could make a difference.” We could save everyone.

Remember what Michael Sheen said about courage and doing good––and having to “look the dark in the face to be truly good.” That’s what happened when Aziraphale was willing to go to Hell for his actions. That’s what happened when he decided he had to go to Heaven, where he had been abused and belittled and made to feel small. He decided to willingly go into the Lion’s Den, to face his abusers and his anxiety, to make them better so that they would not try to destroy the world again.

Him, just one angel. He needed Crowley to be there with him, to help him be brave, to ask the questions that Heaven needed to hear, to tell them God was wrong. Crowley is the inspiration that drives Aziraphale’s change, Crowley is the engine that fuels Aziraphale’s courage.

But then Crowley tells him that going to Heaven is stupid. That they don’t need Heaven. And he’s right. Aziraphale knows he’s right.

Aziraphale doesn’t need Heaven; Heaven needs him. They just don’t know how much they need him, or how much humanity needs him there, too. (If everyone who ran for office was corrupt, how can the system change?)

Terry Pratchett (in the Discworld book, Small Gods) is scathing of God, organized religion, and the corrupt people religion empowers, but he is sympathetic to the individual who has real, pure faith and a good heart. In fact, the everyman protagonist of Small Gods is a better person than the god he serves, and in the end, he ends up changing the church to be better, more open-minded, and more humanist than god could ever do alone.

Aziraphale is willing to go to the darkest places to do the Right Thing, and Heaven is no exception. When Crowley says that Heaven is toxic, that’s exactly why Aziraphale knows he needs to go there. “You’re exactly is different from my exactly.”

____

In the aftermath of Trump's election in the US, Brexit happened in 2018. Michael Sheen felt compelled to figure out what was going on in his country after this shock. But he was living in Los Angeles with Sarah Silverman at the time, and she also wanted to become more politically active in the US.

Sheen: “I felt a responsibility to do something, but it [meant] coming back [to Britain] – which was difficult for us, because we were very important to each other. But we both acknowledge that each of us had to do what we needed to do.” In the end, they split up and Michael moved back to the UK.

Sometimes doing the Right Thing means sacrificing your own happiness. Sometimes it means going to Hell. Sometimes it means going to Heaven. Sometimes it means losing a relationship.

And that’s why what happened in the end was so difficult for Aziraphale. Because he loves Crowley desperately. He wants to be together. He wanted that kiss for thousands of years. He knows that taking command of Heaven means they would never again have to bow to the demands of a God they couldn’t understand, or run from a Hell who still came after them. They could change the rules of the game.

And he’s still going to do that. But it hurts him that he has to do that alone.

#good omens #good omens 2 #ineffable husbands #it's kinda like capt america: civil war #with Azi as Tony Stark: traumatized and trying to do the right thing #and Crowley being Steve Rogers: fuck the establishment let's go rogue #gos2spoilers #good omens meta #good omens 2 meta #go s2 #michael sheen #go s2 meta #go meta #*mine #*mymeta #ineffables husbands #ineffable soulmates #*mybest

[911-on-abc]

absolutely insane how Tommy makes Buck, an objectively brick shithouse of a man, look normal sized in comparison. Lou Ferrigno Jr the man that you are

#my post #tommy kinard #evan buckley #lou ferrigno jr #evan buck buckley #oliver stark #just thinking about buck realizing that he can really let go in bed because Tommy can take it #because he can over power him #and how freeing it must be to give up that control #thinking about Tommy holding him down and being able to keep him there #yeah... #bucktommy #how they have BEWITCHED me #911 #911 abc #911 show

[sunglassesmish]

oliver just. gets it

#911 #911 spoilers #i love this man so much #thank you for being you!!!! #oliver stark

[captain-flint]

Tommy, what a bitch 💖 - Lou Ferrigno Jr.

#tommy kinard #911 #911edit #bucktommy #911 abc #lou ferrigno jr #oliver stark #aisha hinds #hen wilson #evan buckley #i love him so much oh my god #especially when he's being a little shit (affectionate) #i know there's more scenes like this in s2 #but that's tommy being a little shit (derogatory) #don't know her #my stuff

[stevenrogered]

She's expecting me to come home. Which you do have to do at some point.

#911 #911edit #911 abc #911 on abc #911 on fox #911 fox #911 spoilers #buddie #buddieedit #evan buckley #eddie diaz #oliver stark #ryan guzman #tuserkaz #mystuff #this has no business being this funny lol #his delivery of that last line had me laughing for a good 5 minutes #1k

[pluto-rainstorm]

Guess what, good news!

You can ship both Buddie and BuckTommy!

I sure do and it's great!

#some of you need to lighten up #it's called being a multishipper and it's great #have fun and stop hating #I ship both and I'm having a great time! #buddie #bucktommy #911 abc #evan buckley #eddie diaz #tommy kinard #911 on abc #oliver stark

[5ummit]

You have the target in range. Shoot.

#bucky barnes #winter soldier #howard stark #what if #what if spoilers #masked!bucky #marvel #marveledit #my edit #tusermerc #tusershay #useraurore #usertammy #usersameera #userashe #mcufam #ignoring the issue of howard knowing this is bucky and seemingly not caring all that much #(let's not open THAT can of worms) #VERY here for karpov being referred to as the soldier's handler #and the soldier acknowledging that he's not a people #😌

[kingofmyborrowedheart]

I must say it’s very nice to see Taylor’s partner singing along to her songs, having a great time at her show, just being there to support her when she’s on and off the stage and not at all intimidated by the fact that he’s with the Taylor Swift.

#taylor swift #the eras tour #he’s not at all ashamed or afraid of being associated with her #like obviously she and Joe did things their own way but to see the stark difference between the types of public support is astounding

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

#ryan being a full on mood here #911 abc #i love them #buddie #buck x eddie #eddie x buck #evan buckley #eddie diaz #ryan guzman #oliver stark #love #the pink suit is so hot

[amber-laughs]

“Bring her home, Mance” but away from Winterfell, because the Starklings are each other’s home not some castle

#robb knew the problems that would come with releasing jon from his night’s watch vows BUT HE MISSED HIS BROTHER #arya wanting king’s landing to flood but changes her mind bc she’s needs sansa to survive #sansa being beaten for robb’s victories but praying for them anyway #bran wishing all the starklings could come be ravens with him #jon still thinking the war horns could be robb returning #crying into my pillow #asoiaf #jon snow #arya stark #starklings #valyrianscrolls #game of thrones #starks #house stark #mance rayder

[diazfox]

the funniest part about oliver saying that buck's intro to eddie could very possibly have been misplaced jealousy because he didn't properly understand his own feelings is the fact that the exact same thing has happened yet again in 7x01 with a shirtless eddie in the locker room, and in 7x04 with misplaced jealousy because he still doesn't properly understand his own feelings

#when i catch u evan buckley i'm going to shake you like a ragdoll and get some sense into u #i do think he picked up on some sense after being kissed by our lord and savior tommy #911 #911 on abc #evan buckley #buddie #911 abc #oliver stark #911 season 7

[knightingale]

The "Sansa reminds Sandor of his sister" motive that some people try to hitch to his character really just flies in the face of his actual attachments to her, doesn't it? Sansa reminds Sandor of himself. He sees the little boy who used to love knights in this girl who's been swept up by the same romanticism. He sees his abuser in her abusers, the much larger knight(s) beating on the helpless child. He sees how she is betrayed by every level of authority that should have saved her and remembers his father's neglect and Tywin and Robert's apathy for Gregor's crimes. He's protective of Sansa because he was Sansa.

And GRRM's design, that one of the strongest warriors in the series, a fearsome and cynical 6'8" guy who's "muscled like a bull" and has the face of death itself, sees himself in this soft and effeminate teen girl, and empathizes with her because he was an abuse victim too, is INFINITELY more compelling than "Oh yeah I bet she just reminds him of his sister," who he's never mentioned and who we know literally nothing about. Way to unnecessarily water down a character, you couldn't have ignored the black and white text more efficiently if you tried.

#sorry for the rant i saw this sentiment in a yt video recently #sansa stark #sandor clegane #sansan #asoiaf #and this is only one facet of why he has so much affection for her too #these people act like his attachment to her is limited to projection and not also bc she treats him like he's an actual human being #or that they can be themselves when they're with each other -that he can openly show his weakness to her and be comforted and validated #or like even just the physical attraction aspect - which is so obvious that you'd have to be willfully ignorant to miss it #how do you read him trying to kiss her and come away thinking “he thinks of her as his sister” lmfao #things that make me feel like people dont actually read the books

[existential-queeer]

#im being so normal #im a liar #911 #evan buckley #tommy kinard #oliver stark #lou ferrigno jr #bucktommy #buck x tommy #tommy x buck #kinley

[stxar-pvnk]

Being around Tony stark can take a toll on you, some have to toughen up their skin to endure Tonys remarks, some just drift away from him, not wanting to deal with it.

But Peter?

No he's adapted.

Every snarky remark, and name Peter would be told, he just came back even stronger

"did you seriously forget to do your homework? Again? Don't you have enhanced..everything?"

"Mr stark, If we wanna talk irresponsible, let's talk about the time it seemingly crossed your mind to tell your loved ones you were dying because of the shrapnel in your chest." Peter snarked back

Tony stood frozen, his jaw dropped.

"well..fuck." Tony mumbled trying to contain l laughter at how sudden Peter came up with something like that.

Or another time.

"Peter, let me get you some new shoes." Tony pleaded

Peter sucked on his lollipop and squinted at Tony

"what? No why." Peter asked seemingly shocked

"because they're ratty. And old. And they look like they're gonna fall off or disintegrate at any given time." Tony answered crossing his arms

"why do you even keep them around?" The older one asked completely confused

"your ratty, old and likely to be on your death bed in a few years, why do we keep you around?" Peter snarked back raising an eyebrow.

Rhodey who was just passing through to grab some coffee was howling with laughter doubling over to clutch his stomach.

Sometimes it's not even directed at Tony.

"how do we even know we can trust the kid, he's unreliable" Sams eyes narrowed his voice harsh, but Steve nodded anyways

"I agree with Sam, recruiting a child would be very irresponsible."

Peter who was swinging on his chair, now paying attention in the meeting with the avengers turns to Steve and sam

"oh lord.." Tony muttered as rhodey tried to hide the smug, fond look on his face

"dude, you are 2 times my age, stop complaining and just admit that being an old man is getting to you, plus I can hear your knees snap like glow sticks when you crouch down. it's gross. Also who in this room has 1. A weird bird suit, and 2. Doesn't." Peter finished crossing his arms mirroring Tony. Alot.

"did I just get insulted by a toddler." Sam muttered

Peter is a sassy kid.

Peter is Tony's sassy kid.

#spiderman #tony stark #peter parker #irondad and spider son #iron man #mcu marvel avengers #irondad and spiderson #bamf peter parker #sassy peter parker #peter parker being sassy like his dad

[sunsetphantoms]

oliver: *being skeptic and making sure not to spoil anything in interviews*

lou: so yeah eddie is also gay and tommy was supposed to be with him but that fell through

ryan: so buck and eddie are in love and love each other to their cores and are gonna get even closer this season

abc pr team: *puts ryan on family feud with the 4 actors who play the canonically queer characters of 9-1-1*

everybody but oliver basically outting eddie including ryan himself is so funny to me

#put these men in pr jail #but also don’t because i’m loving hearing about this #oliver being the only one with pr training to not spoil the show is so funny to me #911 abc #911 spoilers #gay #lgbtqia #bisexual #josh russo #bryan safi #eddie diaz #ryan guzman #evan 'buck' buckley #oliver stark #karen wilson #tracie thoms #henrietta wilson #aisha hinds #tommy kinard #lou ferrigno jr

[i-will-say-what-i-believe]

Eddie suffered enough for 5 seasons🥺

NOW, its time for the tables to turn😁

And for karma to hit back😁

Eddie befriending people EASILY when he WANTS TO shouldn't come off as a surprise considering he:

1) Won over the entire 118 the moment he stepped into the firehouse 😏😎

2) Befriended Buck in a single day even when Buck was being territorial😏😎

3) Is well-known at the LAFD underground poker games😏😎

4) Befriended the entire 126😏😎

5) Made besties at the dispatch😏😎

6) Now, this😏😎

#911 on abc #buddie #eddie diaz #evan buckley #ryan guzman #oliver stark #ryliver #911 abc #911 buddie #buddie 911 #jealous buck #i love eddie happy #eddie being a social butterfly when he needs to shouldn't be a surprise considering he was famous at the LAFD underground poker game