Apocalypse wow in devilish delight
A quintessentially British Armageddon
Good Omens Amazon Prime Video ●●●●● David Tennant and Michael Sheen have a devilishly good time in this take on Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s novel.
The pair star as demon Crowley and angel Aziraphale respectively, longtime friends who are Earth’s best hope at avoiding impending Armageddon following the birth of the Anti-christ.
Don’t expect Omen-style horror and darkness, though; this apocalypse is full of more gaffes than Donald Trump’s Twitter timeline.
Good Omens is a quintessentially British show, with the majority of the cast hailing from these shores and Queen dominating the fist-pumping soundtrack.
And never mind tumbling skyscrapers or preventative astronaut-led missions to outer space, this Armageddon plays out in the small village of Tadfield.
Tennant and Sheen have an almost flirtatious bond and it’s a joy watching them bumble their way through proceedings — rarely with anything resembling a plan.
New Yorker Michael Mckean (Shadwell) takes a good stab at a Scottish accent, Jon Hamm’s Archangel Gabriel is a perfect blend of charm and coiled threat and even a surprisingly low key Jack Whitehall (Newton) is bearable.
A creative new take on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse results in brilliant visuals – although some of the other CGI leaves a lot to be desired.
Gaiman oversees the six-episode run – being inspired to do so by a posthumous letter from Pratchett after initially refusing to work on the project alone – with veteran TV helmer Douglas Mackinnon on directing duties.
They strike a good balance between Crowley and Aziraphale’s history and the approaching doom, and give everyone plenty to do; early episodes feature non-linear timelines before the urgency increases as the main players come together for a fiery finale.
●What are your thoughts on Good Omens? Have you read the novel? If so, how does the show compare?
Pop me an email at ian.bunting@ reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments — and any movie or TV show recommendations you have — to your fellow readers.
Raymond Bell recommended: “The Rook, which I am currently watching on Amazon Prime Video.
“It’s about a woman who wakes up and her memory is erased, starring Joely Richardson. It’s really good.”