Something Amazing Will Happen To You In May 2019.

So I watched the first episode of Lucifer today, and it really made me realize the lack of male gaze and objectifying women in Good Omens.

(Disclaimer: I’m not trying to get into arguments with Lucifer fans or say that Good Omens is a better show - I have no opinion on Lucifer as a show. I’m just trying to compare and contrast on this one thing based on one episode).

So, Lucifer lays heavily into the “let’s show he’s the devil by having him surrounded by strippers and sleeping with women all the time.” The camera itself does a lot of sexy shots of women. There’s also a number of plot points that focus on female sexuality (including the male main character teasing the serious female main character, who’s trying to be taken seriously as a detective, for having previously been a nude actress.)

In contrast, Good Omens never feels like it’s sexualizing women. Like, not once. Not even the female characters you might expect it of. Anathema literally has a sex scene, and it still doesn’t feel male gaze-y; the camera doesn’t pan down her body or zoom in on parts. She doesn’t strip her clothes off, and when she puts her clothes back on it’s very matter-of-fact. Madame Tracy is literally a sex worker and you don’t see it on screen. 

(It reminds me actually of Mad Max: Fury Road, and how it was notable that even though the plot was centered on sex slaves, there were no depictions of rape on screen, because the audience didn’t need to see it. Seeing that wouldn’t have empowered women. Seeing them escape and screw over the system *was* empowering).

We also don’t see Hell on screen using sex for their schemes. Hastur verbally recounts tempting a priest with lust, but we don’t see it. The absence of any sexual scenes involving Crowley is so notable that the Ineffable Husbands fans are left to wonder if he’s asexual.

Again, I’m not trying to put down Lucifer - it just made me realize how rare (and wonderful) it was to not have a sexualizing male gaze ever-present in Good Omens. 

I also want to link this great post about gender presentation in Good Omens, with a great bit at the bottom from Neil Gaiman himself. Thank you, Neil and everyone else who made this show. Thank you so much.

if you dont have me on facebook you are probably not missing out on any posts but the comment section is important too lmao

‘am I really about to start watching this show solely because of repeated exposure to gifs of two lovestruck assholes looking at each other’ is the core drive of my fandom experience

Couldn’t you just pause it

When someone says these days sexism and misogyny don’t exist anymore show them this.

@ferociouspompom 's hashtag!

Damn right!!

I don’t know how I didn’t figure this out but now that I have I don’t know what to do with this information

Krishna ~ Har ek roop mein teri leela nyari

I’ve seen a lot of wonderful analyses on how Aziraphale played up the part of Crowley, but I haven’t seen much on Crowley’s portrayal of Aziraphale. This is the angel he’s been in love with for millennia, the angel he’s watched and guarded and adored since before written history began, and finally in the very last episode we get to see what Aziraphale looks like through his eyes. 

Standing before the one thing in the universe that could actually destroy him, Crowley’s Aziraphale is resolute, unflinching, gracious to the very end. He talks about the greater good and how angels are meant to be the champions of that greater good even when it goes against how the Great Plan was written. He stands up and speaks his truth even in the face of total opposition. And when the Archangel Gabriel, the person Aziraphale has always tried to emulate, tried to impress, tells him in no uncertain terms that this is what heaven does to the people who fight for the right thing, Aziraphale straightens his shoulders and lifts his chin and says, “It’s been lovely knowing you all. May we meet on a better occasion.” And then he steps into the flames. 

We’ve seen other sides of Aziraphale. We’ve seen him be selfish, gluttonous, desperate, closed minded, we’ve seen him be just enough of a bastard to be worth knowing, but when Crowley is asked to take the part of Aziraphale this is who he chooses. This is who he really believes Aziraphale is deep down: kind, chivalrous, compassionate, brave, the sort of angel that heaven ought to be peopled with. The sort of angel who smiles even though he’s broken. The sort of angel who doesn’t mind dying as long as he did the right thing. 

Three holidays Krishna loves and one he hates (or vice versa)? - Really, I am so, so glad you're doing this again, Avani Di. I adored the prev. ones!

1. “Sometimes,” says Balarama, with what little dignity he can manage considering his ears are currently dyed bright green, “I think you only like this blasted festival because it gives you leave to cause as much trouble as you please.”

“Happy Holi, dau,” chirps Krishna in response, and salutes him with another handful of crimson powder to the face. 

2. To be certain, Yasodha thinks, her son seems to defer to the Great God, as much as he does anyone, but even that does not lessen her suspicion that he only piously parrots a desire to celebrate Sivaratri as the god intends to have an excuse to stay out as long as he pleases, indulging his wildness. 

3. Krishna does enjoy the Govardhana pujas that follow in place of Indra’s sacrifices, as the self-satisfied expression on his face suggests, but only Radha thinks to ask why.

“Because,” he says, and there is hope burning in the back of his eyes, “it tells me I can change what does not please me.”

&1. On the ninth day of Chaitra, the prince of the Vraj always wakes with a long-dead mother’s name on his lips, a lifetime of memories that hold no meaning for anyone but himself. 

It is only a day like another now. He has no reason to think it different than any other. He will not, ever again.