Incredible! This Literally Empty Face, These "cracked" Words. Stained Glass Style Nailed Immaculately

Every time I hear Lola I cannot but be astonished that BBC executives went batshit over the usage of the Coca-Cola brand name but didn't bat an eyelid (sorry, it's practically impossible to resist a pun there!) at the whole "I'm not the world's most masculine man/But I know what I am and I'm glad I'm a man/And so is Lola" steadily progressing through the storyline.  

Just... HOW on earth?! Incredible.  Maybe it was well off their scale of comprehensibility, and yet...

Look at how fast David Tennant throws himself down those stairs.

This is from the Doctor Who Confidential episode “Stage Fright” (which accompanied The Shakespeare Code)

You can see that the three of them (the Doctor, Martha, and Shakespeare) start together at the top of the stairs.  David runs down at breakneck speed - taking the steps at least two at a time - leaving Martha and Shakespeare far behind (Freema and Dean are running more like normal people - being careful to not to kill themselves on the old and probably rather uneven steps).  

I don’t think he can even stand up straight on those stairs - he’s crouching down because the ceiling/covering is too low for him.  He somehow even manages to make it look graceful.  Amazing!

Russel you bastard man

Don't do this to us again

Christmas Invasion Decided to do a series of seasonal themed Doctor Who illustrations as a fun project. This first special has always held a place in my heart because it was one of my earliest experiences watching doctor who.

Ninth doctor: I’ve gone through hell, but I’m trying to find joy in living again. I’ve been inexorably changed, but I’m trying to learn how to cope.

Tenth doctor: i’m normal i’m normal i’m normal i’m normal (<— lying)

Oh, I remember how that phrase made me stop and do a double take. What?! Aziraphale never calls Crowley just to… talk? We thought they'd moved on in the time since S1, but instead they're stuck in some sort of suspended limbo. It was jarring, but I let it pass (although I shouldn't have, because it turned out to be so revealing).

I was discussing this with some friends and thought I would share with you guys.

Sure, that final episode was probably the saddest thing since the creation of the all-denim look back in the late 90's ( and I don't mean sad as it being bad but as it being sad sad). But I think it really paints a great journey for the next season for a lot of reasons but the one I'm gonna be talking is:

Aziraphale takes Crowley for granted.

Now, I don't mean this in a bad way. I think most of us have also taken the people we love the most for granted. I see that happen mostly with families: we argue a lot, we can be so cruel to them sometimes, but we feel more comfortable doing that to them than with other people because we believe they'll love us and be there no matter what.

Now, throughout both seasons we've seen innumerous moments from Aziraphale that show us precisely that.

Crowley has rescued Aziraphale too many times to count. Aziraphale himself has revealed that, in a way, he lets him rescue him because "it makes him so happy." This season Crowley has also said to Aziraphale during the whole demon attack, before he came out of the bookshop, something along the lines of "I'll come back, I'm not leaving you on your own." and when he takes Maggie and Nina out of the bookshop later he asks "Can you handle this?".

Then there's also their disagreements. I get the feeling that, because they've had so many throughout the ages and everything ends up alright in the end, Aziraphale knows Crowley will come back to him eventually after they argue.

At the scene in the coffee shop, Crowley tells Aziraphale that he calls either because he's bored, he did something clever he wants to share before he pops, or something's wrong (which in a way also shows that Crowley can't believe that Aziraphale does that simply because he matters so much to him, but I digress). Aziraphale knows that no matter the reason, Crowley is always gonna answer his calls, he's always gonna be there to listen to him.

On the other hand, Crowley has become increasingly dependent on Aziraphale. He is miserable when they are angry at each other, he's happier when he's with Aziraphale and he has come to a point where he can't say no to the angel. And this only fuels Aziraphale's behaviour and vice versa.

In the last episode we see Crowley saying no. Aziraphale seems to not really take it that seriously and keeps on talking about it and trying to convince him of coming with him. Crowley keeps saying no. Aziraphale sort of behaves like he knows that eventually Crowley will say yes. Crowley keeps saying no. Now Aziraphale is getting frustrated because this isn't how things usually go. And then Crowley says his final no and goes away.

This isn't how it usually goes. I mean, yes, they have gone their own separate ways before and Crowley always comes back but Aziraphale knows this time is final. It feels final.

That being said, they need to grow. They need to grow on their own so they can then grow together.

Both of these lovely idiots who I hold very dearly to my heart need to learn about all this on their own so then, when they get back together, and yes they will, but I'm sure it will be way more meaningful this time, they can love each other better.

I'm seeing some confusion out and about over the title A Companion to Owls (generally along the lines of 'what have owls got to do with it???'), so I'd like to offer my interpretation (with a general disclaimer that the Bible and particularly the Old Testament are damn complicated and I'm not able to address every nuance in a fandom tumblr post, okay? Okay):

It's a phrase taken from the Book of Job. Here's the quote in full (King James version):

When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness. My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me. I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation. I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. --(Job 30:29)

Job is describing the depths of his grief, but also, with that last line, his position in the web of providence.

Throughout the Old Testament, owls are a recurring symbol of spiritual devastation. Deuteronomy 4:17 - Isaiah 34:11 - Psalm 102: 3 - Jeremiah 50: 39...just to name a few (there's more). The general shape of the metaphor is this: owls are solitary, night-stalking creatures, that let out either mournful cries or terrible shrieks, that inhabit the desolate places of the world...and (this is important) they are unclean.

They represent a despair that is to be shunned, not pitied, because their condition is self-inflicted. You defied God (so the owl signifies), and your punishment is...separation. From God, from others, from the world itself. To call and call and never, ever receive an answer.

Your punishment is terrible, tormenting loneliness.

(and that exact phrase, "tormenting loneliness," doesn't come from me...I'm pulling it from actual debate/academia on this exact topic. The owls, and what they are an omen for. Oof.)

To call yourself a 'companion to owls,' then, is to count yourself alongside perhaps the saddest of the damned --not the ones who defy God out of wickedness or ignorance, and in exile take up diabolical ends readily enough...but the ones who know enough to mourn what they have lost.

So, that's how the title relates to Job: directly. Of course, all that is just context. The titular "companion to owls," in this case, isn't Job at all.

Because this story is about Aziraphale.

The thing is that Job never actually defied God at all, but Aziraphale does, and he does so fully believing that he will fall.

He does so fully believing that he's giving in to a temptation.

He's wrong about that, but still...he's realized something terrifying. Which is that doing God's will and doing what's right are sometimes mutually exclusive. Even more terrifying: it turns out that, given the choice between the two...he chooses what's right.

And he's seemingly the only angel who does. He's seemingly the only angel who can even see what's wrong.

Fallen or not, that's the kind of knowledge that...separates you.

(Whoooo-eeeeee, tormenting loneliness!!!)

Aziraphale is the companion.

...I don't think I need to wax poetic about Aziraphale's loneliness and grappling with devotion --I think we all, like, get it, and other people have likely said it better anyway. So, one last thing before I stop rambling:

Check out Crowley's glasses.

(screenshots from @seedsofwinter)

Crowley is the owl.

Crowley is the goddamn owl.

Crowley kissing Aziraphale in this moment of pain and betrayal is so telling as to how hurt he really is and how unsalvageable he thinks their relationship is. Because Crowley has always respected Aziraphale’s boundaries, always followed the pace Aziraphale set. Crowley has always slowed down for him. This time he didn’t.

Oh fuck, oh shit, oh goodness me, I’m irrevocably atheist, but... please??

do you imagine if a season 3 were to be produced that it would come out faster than season 2? could we be expecting any type of closure before 2027?

If it wasn't for strikes I'd have most of it written by now. As it is, a first draft of Episode 1 and the final fifteen pages of Episode 6 (in case I get hit by a bus) are written, and the rest of it has to wait until the strike is done and we can pick up our pens. When the strike was called I took the post-it notes with the Season 3 episode breakdowns off the walls and put them sadly away.

If we shot it in 2024 it would probably be released in early '26. (We started shooting S2 in October 2021. It's about a year in post-production from wrap to release.)

Oh, I love this! And somehow "They always build a snowman when it snows" is the sweetest little detail of them all.

So what if

Jesus decides he’d rather drink in the pub with Crowley instead of judging anyone.

Zombies get too busy dancing in Michael Jackson’s thriller and so find their new purpose that makes them happy.

God doesn’t even know what’s going on, too busy having dumbass fights with Satan.

Aziraphale comes back to Earth because he gets fired, Crowley wants to know why, and Aziraphale pretends it’s because he tried to thwart the big plan, but actually, it’s because he spent all his time drawing Crowley instead of doing boring paperwork. They also found him with his mouth full of cake.

Crowley knows. He laughs inside.

Metatron tries to start Armageddon but literally nobody is interested because they were invited to Beelzebub&Gabriel wedding and the preparations make Angels and Demons busy.

Aziraphale and Crowley are too busy bidding on a cottage. They don’t tell each other. So they’re bidding on the same one. So when Aziraphale wins he has to sell all the buildings he owns in Soho because Crowley bid so high, and Aziraphale failed to give up, that the cottage was sold for 10 times what it was worth.

Crowley bursts out laughing when Aziraphale takes him to see the surprise. When he explains he was the other bidder, they finally promise each other to not hide things from each other again.

They go to Beelzebub&Gabriel wedding. Angels and Demons dance together. Nobody cares. Everyone is happy. Metatron sits in the corner.

Crowley is there for alcohol. Aziraphale is there for cake. They finally recreate their dance.

Aziraphale watches Crowley who’s tipsy enough to start dancing with Beelzebub. Demons can dance. Crowley is really hot.

They take a walk outside to cool down, for different reasons, and when they sit by the lake, stars shining above them, Aziraphale pops the question.

Crowley grins. He says of course. Not in a bloody church though.

Not in a church, they agree.

God and Satan and Jesus are invited to their wedding. They get absolutely shitfaced. It’s the funniest and most loveable wedding the world has ever seen.

Honeymoon in Alpha Centauri. Also Maldives. Also everywhere where they’ve met over the 6 thousand years. This time not needing to hide or worry or pretend.

They celebrate everything.

They renovate their cottage and Aziraphale discovers Crowley is very DIY and he doesn’t mind at all seeing him dirty and sweaty without a T-shirt. Sometimes he breaks things on purpose.

Crowley knows.

Bentley has her garage. She’s very happy.

The cottage is yellow. Of course.

Christmas Tree has a star on top of it.

Their garden wins all the village awards.

Their baking is talked about by everyone.

Aziraphale has a huge library at home and he doesn’t need to worry about anyone taking his books anymore.

Crowley has plants all over the house and he doesn’t need to scream at them anymore because they’re growing beautifully from the pure love and happiness at home.

He takes care of the garden and Bentley. He buys another car and works on it as his hobby.

They join car shows.

They know all little cafes and restaurants everywhere.

Aziraphale writes his own novel. It’s really good. Crowley just ensures it definitely is talked about everywhere.

They visit Soho whenever they feel like shopping.

They always build a snowman when it snows.

And they spend evenings either on a date, on holiday, or in front of the cracking fire, within comfortable blankets and pillows, drinking, snacking, reading, watching movies and their favourite tv shows.

Everything is perfect.