Written by contributor Marley B
Published in 1990, Good Omens, written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, was a cult classic of the fantasy genre. Packed with dry British humour, this odd yet delightful read follows two unlikely long-time friends, the demon Crowley and angel Aziraphale as they attempt to stop the Apocalypse against the wishes of Heaven and Hell.
The massive success of the book, including over five million books sold worldwide, meant that expectations were very, very high for this screen adaptation. With Neil Gaiman on the creative team, it was clear that Amazon Studios, the studio behind the show, was serious about this adaptation and wanted to explore its full potential.
How Did It Change?
There were two major aspects of this adaptation that required change: elements that work well in book format but not on screen, and the dated feel of the book.
To address the former, something which ends up being the make-or-break of an adaptation, the showrunners did several things. The most notable of these was the voice-over commentary from God – much of the charm of the original novel came from the style of narration, something which is very hard to transfer over. The voice-over managed to preserve the tone of the book, while not overshadowing the actors, perhaps one of the best parts of the adaptation.
Because of when it was published, Good Omens shows its age through cultural references and general out-of-date technology. Your average teenager is likely to know what voicemail is, but the very specific Ansaphone references are likely to go over their heads. However, the age is again one of the things that add to the charm of this classic, so the show traps you in a little bubble where you’re so busy thinking about the Apocalypse that it really doesn’t matter how dated the technology is.
What plot deviation there is helps build the story up very well. This deviation occurs in two main parts of the plot: the introduction of Aziraphale and Crowley, and the ending. In the original novel, the story begins with the birth of the Anti-Christ, the signal that the Apocalypse was coming; the adaptation instead starts at the very beginning, with the meeting of Aziraphale and Crowley. We see a lot more of the development of their friendship, and their bond has a stronger foundation throughout the rest of the show. This lends itself well to the ending, which was satisfyingly different to the book, and leaves the show on a different yet very enjoyable note.
Was It Done Well?
Good Omens was undeniably a successful adaptation; it’s been nominated for several awards including a Hugo, and garnered many thousands of viewers. There’s even the potential for a second season, and Neil Gaiman revealed that he and co-author Terry Pratchett plotted a second novel that never got written. But does this shows success mean that it was a good adaptation?
Perhaps because one of the original authors was involved, it remain remarkably faithful in terms of plot to the source material towards the beginning, with deviation mainly towards the end of the six-episode series. This had both its pros and cons: seeing a good book brought to life by talented actors is always a fantastic thing, and David Tennant dancing on a pin is the scene we never knew we needed, but some fans have said that the show is a little too similar, so there’s not quite enough excitement.
Good Omens is undeniably one of the better book adaptations in terms of faithfulness, and can definitely be called successful due to the acclaim it has received. Original fans and newbies alike can watch the show and enjoy it for the comedic moments, the heartfelt scenes and the general lovable chaos. It’s got longevity too, with an influx of content-creating and consuming fans on platforms such as Tumblr and Twitter, so overall it can definitely be concluded to be a solid adaptation of a solid book.
I really loved the adaption. It was along time coming, but I think they fully delivered.