I believe the reason he names the hellhound “Dog” is because he is named after Adam, who gave name to all the beasts of the land, so ostensibly chose the name dog to begin with.
I enjoy that Dad gets all these references and then explains them. It slips my mind that some might not get the references, though it's good that they're still funny regardless
Saan, and everyone: I must admit I am honored by the number of positive responses to this post. It is my hope that I will continue to earn your respect. And grateful to my kid for allowing me to join him!
I may or may not have been desperately searching youtube for Good Omens reactions recently. So glad to see you two reacting to it! It's been one of my favourite books for years, and I'm glad to have an adaptation that does it justice. And your dad mentioned Douglas Adams, which is fun because the original book is written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, both authors, particularly Gaiman, who bear a lot of similarities in their comedic writing to Adams.
Fun fact: Gaiman wrote a novel about Douglas Adams and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy called "Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion".
As others have said, the entirety of the show isn't an exact parody of The Omen, it's a tv show adaptation of a book from the 90's. There might be some references to The Omen (although I think this first ep is really gonna be the sum of that), but that's about it, the rest of the show isn't about that :)
Terry Pratchett is to fantasy what Douglas Adams is to science fiction. Love both of them! This is based on a book, Good Omens, co-authored by Gaiman and Pratchett. You don’t really have to read The Omen to get ANYTHING in this show. Now, a few things. The Angel is named Azeraphale. He is adorable. :) Dog is a terrier (of no particular breed) which is a very common type of dog classically used for rat catching and hunting. About the same size as the Jack Russell terrier in Frasier. Before losing it’s hell-hound appearance, it looked a lot like a Great Dane with severe dental issues... The show is completely awesome, and I loved every minute of it. Both times. Enjoy!
If you dont know Terry Pratchett, hes the Douglas Adams of Fantasy, but about ten times as prolific. If you dont know Neil Gaiman, super accomplished writer, look out for his name on Doctor Who eventually. The detailed preoccupation with mythology and historical detail is probably his, as hes written books on Norse Mythology, as well as American Gods.
Actually, I believe, what you SHOULD read is not "The Omen" but "Good Omens" because the origins of this series is the last one, written by Niel Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. It has it similarities with "The Omen" but mostly in it's start, since it was started as parody, but evolved in something different. AND IF you will read it, you'll see just how much this series follow the spirit of the book. It's almost unbeliavable, if you ask me.
Astounding show. Gaiman really did Pratchett proud, and he should be extremely happy. Keep your ears and eyes open for some Doctor Who Easter eggs (because there are a few ;D)
When the book came out, most readers were of the opinion that Gaiman wrote the supernatural elements and Pratchett wrote the jokes. This, according to Gaiman and Pratchett in separate statements (see Wikipedia), is incorrect, and there was a huge amount of back-and-forth collaboration, with perhaps the bulk of the plot from Pratchett. I have not seen the TV series (I do not have a subscription), but I hear dialogue and prose from the book in just about every bit of audio you played (or quoted), so Gaiman's adaptation sounds like it is, as the brits say, spot on. In the book, the other baby ends up raising prize-winning tropical fish. A plausible quick statement of the theme of the book is that it is a celebration of the ordinary, of human beings who are not, on the whole, either metaphysically Good or Evil, but just… people.
The one thing I’m sure about when it comes to who wrote what - Terry had to have been responsible for the names “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery Pulsifer” and People Covered In Fish. His naming shenanigans were peak
In the book (although [spoilers] not in the show [/spoilers]) there is a throwaway reference to a local bully Adam and "Them" oppose who also shares Adam's birthday and loves his Tropical Fish, but he doesn't appear and has no bearing on the story . . .
YES!! God I love that you guys are watching this... have been waiting for someone I follow to react to it. Most of what you see in the TV show is all from the book: like the Chattering Order of St. Beryl (“[they are] under a vow to [speak what’s on their mind], except on Tuesday afternoons for half an hour, when the nuns are permitted to shut up, and, if they wish, to play table tennis.”), the Flaming Sword and the narration. The narration was a very big part in the book with a lot of footnotes.
OMG. I LOVE that Richard GETS all of the nuances of the story. His reactions were my absolute favorite!!! I am totally going to be binging all of your reactions to the series tonight.
Your Dad really needs to read the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett. The dialogue and references are just as deep and hilarious as they are here. Particularly books like Soul Music that take off aspects of modern life.
First, amazing reaction! As a historian with a master in language studies, reading a review such as yours is refreshing. I haven’t watched/read Omen yet, but I will. Neil Gaiman is a brilliant writer. I read a lot of things he wrote and am still to find something that isn’t at least great. This show is actually an adaptation of a novel Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (a big English writer) wrote together and published in 1990. I love when you guys discussed Prometheus and the story where he gave people fire against the Gods' wishes and got punished by it. The fact that Aziraphale gave Adam and Eve a flaming sword called my attention as well. First, I think that is the kind of reference Gaiman would do. He is a master storyteller and has proven over and over again he knows his mythology. Among his works, there are American Gods (mixing up myths and Gods from all over), Anansi Boys (referencing a Ghanaian folktale character), and Norse Mythology (which is a retelling of the Norse myths). Anyway, the theft of the fire isn't only present in the Greek myths. I was researching it before and there are a number of other references. Polynesian mythology tells us how the demigod Maui stole the fire from the Gods. Interestingly enough, birds are also said by many cultures to be the ones who gave humanity the gift of fire. In European tradition, there are references to both the robin redbreast and the fire-crested wren as fire bringers. While the Aztecs believed Huitzilopochtli, who is often associated with the hummingbird, was the one who gave the fire to mankind. Finally, I also found a reference to the Jewish story described in the Book of Enoch, in which the fallen angel Azazel taught the humans how to use the fire to build tools. "And Azâzêl taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all colouring tinctures." Sorry, I got a bit carried away but your reaction was amazing and I am looking forward to seeing what you guys will think about the next episodes.
Good observation Dad: Everyone was taking directions, but not watching what was going on around them. The reason no one checked for 11 years, is that the Angel Gabriel (Jon Hamm) is a smug bureaucrat!
Indeed, Troughton was superb as the haunted Father Brennan. The photographer in _The Omen_ was David Warner, who was once considered for the part of the Doctor, but Tom Baker got the gig instead. Warner did go on to appear in Doctor Who ("Cold War") and in several Big Finish stories, where he has also played the part of the Doctor... in audio, of course.
Remember: We're in the American heartland (Oklahoma). Although I lived in the U.K. from 1963-66, there are the occasional word differences that make us pause... ~Dad : )
yeah, the writing is stellar. If you like the Prometheus allusions with the flaming sword, I think you will like where it ends up, because although it's not specifically stated, it circles back to the conversation Aziraphale and Crowley had at the beginning whether they did the right (or wrong) thing in the garden. They never talk about it, but it's left up to the viewer come to their own conclusion. I really enjoyed that.
The show is awesome and up to date, but the book ‘Good Omens’ from 1990 was published in 1990 by Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett - and the book is LEGENDARY. Highly recommend, if you like the show
In addition to The Omen, the character of Adam Young is also partly a parody of the Just William books, about a mischievous boy and his gang of friends.
Yeeeeah I'm so glad people are reacting to this now. The novel is my favourite and I was very pleasantly surprised by the adaptation. I hope you guys enjoy it too!
The quality of writing IS great, ofc it is. Neil Gaiman wrote it, and it was his dear friend Terry Pratchett (he co-wrote the book with him) dying wish to make it into a tv-show. So he wanted to make Terry proud.
"Not since Douglas Adams" - does that mean you weren't familiar with Terry Pratchett's works before this? In which case congratulations, you've got a fantastic ride ahead of you
I've been wondering if your dad's a teacher! I'm so glad that you're reacting to this, thanks. We often miss Spring and/or Fall here in Denmark.:( Summers are often unbearably humid. I could handle the California valley heat because it was dry when I lived with dad.
Well welcome to the End Times! Terry Pritchett was a fantastic fantasy novelist in his own right, team up with Neil Gaiman to write the book was the best thing ever. I adore the book and LOVE this adaptation! Thank you for reacting to it. Fun Facts: 1# The book Good Omens was first published in 1990 2# Patrick Troughton stared in the film version of the Omen as the Priest. (A nice little tie back to Doctor Who)
Excellent book. Great movie. I loved the Omen. I saw the movie first when I was a kid (I’m 46 now😉), however I prefer the book, too. That creeping evil is SO much scarier in the book. It’s ever present. Plus it goes into the dad’s struggle so much more. Both worth checking out.
So glad I wasn’t the only one who thought of Prometheus when Aziraphale gave Adam the flaming sword! It was also cool to find out that there’s actually meant to be an angel guarding Eden with a flaming sword in the Biblical canon. And it was cool to learn that the start of Good Omens satirizes The Omen, since I’d never seen or read The Omen before.
Also, this is kind of late but his name is Adam and wasn't it said that the original Adam was the one who named all the animals? So the Antichrist Adam naming the dog, Dog, may kind of also be taken from that. Just a thought
I definitely caught the antichrist Damien bit. Second Doctor Patrick Troughton (who played the priest who got shish kebabed with the church steeple) arguably got referenced yet again with the SIDRAT license plate (reference to 1969's The War Games in which they were Time Lord technology transports), which is not just TARDIS backwards, but itself a DW reference. Good Omens is LOADED with them! I've been told it's also in the book (unlike the vast plethora of added DW jokes at David Tennant's expense and some very familiar faces popping up), but Alpha Centauri also seems suspiciously like a DW reference to the Jon Pertwee-era character who most recently turned up in a Peter Capaldi episode (penned by Mark Gatiss, no less, who is also in Good Omens). Gallifrey was also on one of the planet pages that floats up behind Crowley's head. Michael Sheen was actually the voice of House in the Neil Gaiman-written The Doctor's Wife.
You know, the funny thing is, I actually started watching this show because of Michael Sheen. I've heard that Michael loved playing Aro from Twilight and that's how Neil Gaiman got him to play Aziraphale. And that's not all. I've never heard of David Tennant before Good Omens (shocking, I know). So, I really thank this show for introducing me to him
Oh, you should listen to the outro music. It's great and it's different each time. Ep. 3 is especially good. Episode 3 is my favorite, in general. The book started out as a parody of Richmal Crompton's "Just William" books and Neil Gaiman originally called it "William the Antichrist." It sort of morphed over time into what it became after Terry Pratchett came on board. They do assume that people have a basic grasp of biblical stories. I don't think seeing The Omen is all that necessary. It's not really a straightforward parody of that movie. But it's a great movie, in any event. Keep an eye out for Doctor Who Easter eggs. Did you recognize Sister Mary Loquacious from Fear Her? There are a ton of literary and pop culture references. It's easy to miss them on first viewing.
I wonder if the fact that the children are 11 was in reference to Jesus's approximate age when he visited the temple and realized who he was, also sort of a coming of age/ bar mitzvah.
HE DOES!!!! He's Greasy Johnson of the Johnsonites! The book even says so somewhere near the end. I also love that because Crowley is super not into the job he's been given because of what it signified for him and his friend and earth, he rushes through doing it, asking the wrong dad to be which room and telling the wrong nun to take him to said wrong room and then the pair of them work on raising the wrong kid for 11 years and then finding out that the antichrist is out there somewhere with a 'hell hound' and the pair of them are under the impression that without their hand in the upbringing the antichrist is evil incarnate and armageddon is days away when actually because they haven't at all been involved in Adams upbringing, he's just a normal kid who just happens to have god-like powers. He will realise that he has them but because he was raised to be just a normal kid, he will just try to fix things and make the world better. I think that's fantastic writing! I loved reading about Crowley and Azirapheles interactions, I loved seeing the demons of hell like hasted and liger and Dagon, I loved reading about Adam and the Them. This book was impossible to put down and now it has temporarily replaced Dr Who as my favourite show ever. For hells sake Johnny Vagus is in this, as is that lady who plays Rita Sketer in Harry Potter, the mad who plays Mr Young, he's in an episode of Dr Who playing a dad called Alex, the Metatron who we meet in episode three is professor yana, in the dr who episode utopia, Michael Sheen was the voice of the sentient astroid House in the Dr Who episode The Doctors Wife, In the third episode we briefly see the guy who played Danny pink, Jack Whitehall is wearing a tie the same cooler as the fourth doctors tie, Bryan references the Daleks when he says exterminate! I love how Crowley treats his house plants that was one of the funniest scenes for me. The way he terrifies them into growing nicely. I love how upset and desperate Crowley gets when he searches for Aziraphale in the burning bookshop, the way he gets snarky when he's called nice, or kind. I love the way he sets foot on shred ground just to stop his best friend from being shot and how he acts when he sees the unguarded font full of holy water. I love how lost for words Crowley gets when Aziraphale brings him the holy water. I love how he deals with hasted and liger when they come to his flat. Tennant was the reason I picked up the book and he is the reason I was ok with having the trailers for this series shoved down my throat every time I was on youtube. I love Aziraphale and Crowley's relationship. Might I also say that I think the name Aziraphale is fucking amazing, I would call my son Aziraphale and I don't even care that its probably a biblical name. I love how the series and the book treat haven and hell like bureaucratic agencies either Crowley or Aziraphale are keen ok working for. I love how they are the only one of their respective sides with an ounce of compassion, imagination or actual kindness at all. I love how they play each other in the end when they are on trial for treason, Crowley playing Aziraphale with bravery and kindness and a cool detachment, and Aziraphale playing Crowley all suave and cool and sexy, taking the piss out of the situation. That when you know this, the look Aziraphale and Crowley has on his face when he sees the Bentleigh undamaged. I love how Crowleys imagination is what gets him through the fiery road in his burning car, I love how Aziraphale swaying is made such a big deal of in the book and the series. I actually laughed so hard coffee came out my nose when I read that part. When I read the run scene too, I was laughing out loud.
I think the long title for the Anti-Christ is a callback to the main character from Sir Terry Pratchett's Pyramids. In a part his full title which is: "His Greatness the King Pteppicymon XXVIII, Lord of the Heavens, Charioteer of the Wagon of the Sun, Steersman of the Barque of the Sun, Guardian of the Secret Knowledge, Lord of the Horizon, Keeper of the Way, the Flail of Mercy, the High Born One, the Never Dying King" I do believe they repeat this three or four times. Was some time ago I read it. :P
I loved hearing your thoughts on this series. I read the book, Good Omens, and I highly recommend it if you're a fan of Douglas Adams. I hope you make video for the next episode. :)
Just finished watching this ,and I really thought it was brilliant,two of the best British acting talents we have,it's funny dark in places,and just a joy to watch..
Also,Damien in the original films was played by a Brit as a child and a teenager(No,they didn`t bother to sound American at all.also they were both natural blonds who were miserable as their hair was dyed dark on set each shooting night )and a Kiwi as an adult(Who sometimes sounded American when he remembered).In the remake,he was played by an Irish-American kid from New York.
Mama Voudou: As someone pointed out in the comments below, it was a snarky reference to Henry Drummond cross-examining Matthew Harrison Brady in the play "Inherit the Wind." I was privileged to play Drummond back in the early 1990s.
Michael Sheen was Lucian the Lycan(Or werewolf) leader and ex-slave of the vampires who fell in love with and almost had a child with his master`s daughter,a crime for which he was whipped and she was executed by sunlight exposure in the first three "Underworld" films.Ironically,he also played the flamboyant vampire Aro in "The Twilight Saga" as well as Zuse/Castor,the flamboyant ISO nightclub owner in "Tron Legacy" .He`s Welsh although he often Anglicizes his accent in American films.
After Pratchett and Gaiman's original book came out I think there was a desire to write a sequel, to be called "668: The Neighbour of the Beast". Sadly, it never happened.
oh hey, you guys are just too go..sa..whatever sweet. Love the Combo! lovely little tidbits here and there from your dad (I REALLY love his lil' "hrhr" and his big "HAHAHAHAhaaa" of a laugh by the way) I'd be interested to know whether he ever saw Crowley and Aziraphale as more than "just friends" in "his time", whether he sees it differently now (have you talked to him about things like "toxic masculinity" etc? he seems SUPER woke) oh and your dad's accent when he's trying to do a British accent is SO endearing (and actually not THAT bad, so ...yeah)
GoblinQueen: It didn’t occur to me that they were anything more than kindred spirits. That said, it wouldn’t affect my appreciation of the production if they were. Regarding my “accent,” I lived in the UK (East Anglia) from 1963-66, where I picked up a bit of the local color. ~Dad
In the book this series is based off we sort of meet the 3rd baby. He's the leader of the opposing gang to the Them. The Them are the Antichrist(Adam) and his 3 friends
I think you’d really love Terry’s Discworld if you’re enjoying the dialogue and narration. You could check out the adaptation of Hogfather for a taste. Basic premise: Someone has taken a hit out on Fantasy Santa
Have you read the novel Good Omens? Because you're constantly mentioning The Omen and that it's a parody on that, but it's based on a novel with the same title. Did you know and did I miss something, or...?
Good Omens has been my favourite book since the first time I read it around 15 years ago. In fact, I tend to present it to every new friend I make and if they don't like it, it is a deal breaker XD (it hasn't happened yet, mind you.) You should read it, it is absolutely amazing, if you think the writing is rich for the tv show, you should see the depth in book form.
I have watched this show 8 times now and i REALLY wanted to watch it again with you guys in the background. I loooove dads reactions. But sadly BBC has blocked it :'(
What do you mean? The video has no viewing restrictions. Do you mean Full Length? If so, then try this link: drive.google.com/file/d/15pVP9Q6ILY7VMsS79XTZpSMREhb97my2/view?usp=drivesdk
Just wanted to offer a quick thanks for directing me to the song Ave Satani. I'd never heard it before, but could hear exactly what you meant about it becoming the iconic "bad thing" music - it was so familiar even though I'd never heard it before. Excellent stuff :)
For the record: I've played Max Detweiler in the stage version of The Sound of Music and I've directed Guys and Dolls. If I had to be stuck eternally with one, it would be the latter. And I understand (and find it amusing) that TSofM isn't popular in Germany... ~ Dad
Watch the FULL LENGTH Reaction Here: www.patreon.com/posts/27445972
I believe the reason he names the hellhound “Dog” is because he is named after Adam, who gave name to all the beasts of the land, so ostensibly chose the name dog to begin with.
Oh that’s genius I never realized that
Also Adam means Man in Hebrew so they both have very literal names lmao
I enjoy that Dad gets all these references and then explains them. It slips my mind that some might not get the references, though it's good that they're still funny regardless
Saan, and everyone: I must admit I am honored by the number of positive responses to this post. It is my hope that I will continue to earn your respect. And grateful to my kid for allowing me to join him!
The third baby did come back in the novel as cameo, and won prizes for his tropical fish!
Which is particularly great because when that possibility is first mentioned in the book, it very much sounds like they actually killed the child. ^^
he was also the leader of the contrary gang of kids, rivals to Adam's, symbolizing heaven and hell's childish rivalry
Oh yeah I almost forgot
And it's heavily implied that he grows up to be a successful American football player.
Good for him
I may or may not have been desperately searching youtube for Good Omens reactions recently. So glad to see you two reacting to it! It's been one of my favourite books for years, and I'm glad to have an adaptation that does it justice. And your dad mentioned Douglas Adams, which is fun because the original book is written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, both authors, particularly Gaiman, who bear a lot of similarities in their comedic writing to Adams.
Fun fact: Gaiman wrote a novel about Douglas Adams and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy called "Don't Panic: The Official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Companion".
JojoInSpace same XD
JojoInSpace I agree it’s a great book and this was done well
Arthur G. Menezes another fun fact Andy Hamilton who played hells Usher wrote and performed in a radio comedy show about hell called old Harry’s game
As others have said, the entirety of the show isn't an exact parody of The Omen, it's a tv show adaptation of a book from the 90's. There might be some references to The Omen (although I think this first ep is really gonna be the sum of that), but that's about it, the rest of the show isn't about that :)
It's a parody of The Omen; it's also a parody of the Just William books by Richmal Crompton. And it's its own thing, too.
@@qwertyTRiG And a parody of Cold War spy tropes!
Terry Pratchett is to fantasy what Douglas Adams is to science fiction. Love both of them!
This is based on a book, Good Omens, co-authored by Gaiman and Pratchett. You don’t really have to read The Omen to get ANYTHING in this show.
Now, a few things.
The Angel is named Azeraphale. He is adorable. :)
Dog is a terrier (of no particular breed) which is a very common type of dog classically used for rat catching and hunting. About the same size as the Jack Russell terrier in Frasier. Before losing it’s hell-hound appearance, it looked a lot like a Great Dane with severe dental issues...
The show is completely awesome, and I loved every minute of it. Both times. Enjoy!
You should read Christopher Moore if you like Pratchett and Adams.
If you dont know Terry Pratchett, hes the Douglas Adams of Fantasy, but about ten times as prolific. If you dont know Neil Gaiman, super accomplished writer, look out for his name on Doctor Who eventually. The detailed preoccupation with mythology and historical detail is probably his, as hes written books on Norse Mythology, as well as American Gods.
Actually... Terry is the only one out of the three that hasn't written for Doctor Who... Douglas Adams was involved in the Tom Baker years...
Michael Sheen plays Aro the leader of the Volturi in the Twilight movies. He also played Former Prime Minister Tony Blair in The Queen
Actually, I believe, what you SHOULD read is not "The Omen" but "Good Omens" because the origins of this series is the last one, written by Niel Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. It has it similarities with "The Omen" but mostly in it's start, since it was started as parody, but evolved in something different. AND IF you will read it, you'll see just how much this series follow the spirit of the book. It's almost unbeliavable, if you ask me.
Astounding show. Gaiman really did Pratchett proud, and he should be extremely happy. Keep your ears and eyes open for some Doctor Who Easter eggs (because there are a few ;D)
I loved it when that guy said: "I think we were getting on with it, doctor"
I mean, the Doctor is finally a ginger I guess?
@@AlbanianGamer313when was this? i think i missed it
@@oliviasanchez2416 when Crowley arrives at the nunnery and speaks to the father outside.
I'm so glad to finally find a reaction from someone who is familiar with The Omen, and therefore understood the parody aspect of this series.
Good Reaction: I love the "We lost the Antichrist." Great Comedy!
When the book came out, most readers were of the opinion that Gaiman wrote the supernatural elements and Pratchett wrote the jokes. This, according to Gaiman and Pratchett in separate statements (see Wikipedia), is incorrect, and there was a huge amount of back-and-forth collaboration, with perhaps the bulk of the plot from Pratchett. I have not seen the TV series (I do not have a subscription), but I hear dialogue and prose from the book in just about every bit of audio you played (or quoted), so Gaiman's adaptation sounds like it is, as the brits say, spot on.
In the book, the other baby ends up raising prize-winning tropical fish.
A plausible quick statement of the theme of the book is that it is a celebration of the ordinary, of human beings who are not, on the whole, either metaphysically Good or Evil, but just… people.
The one thing I’m sure about when it comes to who wrote what - Terry had to have been responsible for the names “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery Pulsifer” and People Covered In Fish. His naming shenanigans were peak
In the book (although [spoilers] not in the show [/spoilers]) there is a throwaway reference to a local bully Adam and "Them" oppose who also shares Adam's birthday and loves his Tropical Fish, but he doesn't appear and has no bearing on the story . . .
YES!! God I love that you guys are watching this... have been waiting for someone I follow to react to it.
Most of what you see in the TV show is all from the book: like the Chattering Order of St. Beryl (“[they are] under a vow to [speak what’s on their mind], except on Tuesday afternoons for half an hour, when the nuns are permitted to shut up, and, if they wish, to play table tennis.”), the Flaming Sword and the narration. The narration was a very big part in the book with a lot of footnotes.
Terry loves footnotes, in footnotes xD
Oh and for a six degrees of separation thing, one of the supporting actors in The Omen movie is Patrick Troughton, the 2nd Doctor.
OMG. I LOVE that Richard GETS all of the nuances of the story. His reactions were my absolute favorite!!! I am totally going to be binging all of your reactions to the series tonight.
Your Dad really needs to read the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett. The dialogue and references are just as deep and hilarious as they are here. Particularly books like Soul Music that take off aspects of modern life.
In the book the third baby is a leader of another "gang" in the village... he wins prices for tropical fish...
Alex you really need to read Terry Pratchett's books as they are brilliant
Hands up who wants to live on the Disc? 🤚
@@ListerDavid AM or Lankre?
Ank-Morpork. Although that would be my choice as I’d want to go to UU.
Actually dealers choice, you can live where ever you want on the Disc. Even the Counter Weight Continent.
Hogfather is my favorite book to read around Christmas!
Dog the hellhound has the incredible power of being a good boy
Between them, Pratchett and Gaiman leave no gaps in their Omen Armageddon take: it’s wholly un-holey.
First, amazing reaction! As a historian with a master in language studies, reading a review such as yours is refreshing. I haven’t watched/read Omen yet, but I will.
Neil Gaiman is a brilliant writer. I read a lot of things he wrote and am still to find something that isn’t at least great. This show is actually an adaptation of a novel Gaiman and Terry Pratchett (a big English writer) wrote together and published in 1990.
I love when you guys discussed Prometheus and the story where he gave people fire against the Gods' wishes and got punished by it. The fact that Aziraphale gave Adam and Eve a flaming sword called my attention as well.
First, I think that is the kind of reference Gaiman would do. He is a master storyteller and has proven over and over again he knows his mythology. Among his works, there are American Gods (mixing up myths and Gods from all over), Anansi Boys (referencing a Ghanaian folktale character), and Norse Mythology (which is a retelling of the Norse myths).
Anyway, the theft of the fire isn't only present in the Greek myths. I was researching it before and there are a number of other references. Polynesian mythology tells us how the demigod Maui stole the fire from the Gods.
Interestingly enough, birds are also said by many cultures to be the ones who gave humanity the gift of fire. In European tradition, there are references to both the robin redbreast and the fire-crested wren as fire bringers. While the Aztecs believed Huitzilopochtli, who is often associated with the hummingbird, was the one who gave the fire to mankind.
Finally, I also found a reference to the Jewish story described in the Book of Enoch, in which the fallen angel Azazel taught the humans how to use the fire to build tools. "And Azâzêl taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all colouring tinctures."
Sorry, I got a bit carried away but your reaction was amazing and I am looking forward to seeing what you guys will think about the next episodes.
Rare to find someone with more or less the same education as myself, high five! ... That was all I wanted to say XD
One of my favourite books, classic Pratchett with a bit of Gaiman. Really loving Jon Hamm as an angel.
lawrencegough the man who plays hells usher was behind the radio show old Harry’s game
Good observation Dad: Everyone was taking directions, but not watching what was going on around them. The reason no one checked for 11 years, is that the Angel Gabriel (Jon Hamm) is a smug bureaucrat!
parkviewmo The #ineffablebureaucracies
Dad is a delight
Don't remember much about "The Omen", except that dour, glum, tragic figure of a priest. He was played by Patrick Troughton. Not kidding.
Indeed, Troughton was superb as the haunted Father Brennan. The photographer in _The Omen_ was David Warner, who was once considered for the part of the Doctor, but Tom Baker got the gig instead. Warner did go on to appear in Doctor Who ("Cold War") and in several Big Finish stories, where he has also played the part of the Doctor... in audio, of course.
The show actually sticks really close to the book, but I would really recommend reading the book as well.
Emily: I did, shortly after watching the miniseries. ~Dad
Since neither of you have read the book, you are both in for a real treat!
Them both fondly remembering The Rein of Terror is extra funny after episode 3!
The best part of this was watching them stumble over the British words. "Biscuits is the British version of cookies."
Remember: We're in the American heartland (Oklahoma). Although I lived in the U.K. from 1963-66, there are the occasional word differences that make us pause... ~Dad : )
This is actually based on the book Good Omens written in 1990. But they probably got inspiration from The Omen for that book. Great reaction!
yeah, the writing is stellar. If you like the Prometheus allusions with the flaming sword, I think you will like where it ends up, because although it's not specifically stated, it circles back to the conversation Aziraphale and Crowley had at the beginning whether they did the right (or wrong) thing in the garden. They never talk about it, but it's left up to the viewer come to their own conclusion. I really enjoyed that.
Your dad looks like Terry
The show is awesome and up to date, but the book ‘Good Omens’ from 1990 was published in 1990 by Neil Gaiman and the late Terry Pratchett - and the book is LEGENDARY. Highly recommend, if you like the show
I love the man on the right droppinf random facts lol
The 3rd child doesn't appear in the series, but the book does tell you what happened to him.
Well the late Sir Terry Pratchett knows his history. For sure, lol.
OMG I didn't know you were gonna be reacting to this! So Excited. I binged the whole 6 eps in one night (LOL). LOVED it =DD
keandric 2 - I’ve done it twice... One time alone and once with company (that hadn’t seen it before). It’s so EPIC.
In addition to The Omen, the character of Adam Young is also partly a parody of the Just William books, about a mischievous boy and his gang of friends.
Greasy Johnson and the Johnsonites are a direct reference.
The working title of the novel was William the Antichrist.
And the dog Jumble.
Regarding the nuns, they belong to the "Chattering order of St. Beril." Sainted after she was put to death for the crime of never shutting up...
Yeeeeah I'm so glad people are reacting to this now. The novel is my favourite and I was very pleasantly surprised by the adaptation. I hope you guys enjoy it too!
This has been so nice to watch, I really hope you both come back for at least 2 more episodes!
We're doing the whole season. Episode 2 goes live today at 12 PM CT.
The quality of writing IS great, ofc it is. Neil Gaiman wrote it, and it was his dear friend Terry Pratchett (he co-wrote the book with him) dying wish to make it into a tv-show. So he wanted to make Terry proud.
"Not since Douglas Adams" - does that mean you weren't familiar with Terry Pratchett's works before this? In which case congratulations, you've got a fantastic ride ahead of you
I've been wondering if your dad's a teacher! I'm so glad that you're reacting to this, thanks. We often miss Spring and/or Fall here in Denmark.:( Summers are often unbearably humid. I could handle the California valley heat because it was dry when I lived with dad.
Dad here. I've taught World History for 17 years and Oklahoma History (where we live) for 7 years.
Well welcome to the End Times!
Terry Pritchett was a fantastic fantasy novelist in his own right, team up with Neil Gaiman to write the book was the best thing ever.
I adore the book and LOVE this adaptation! Thank you for reacting to it.
Fun Facts:
1# The book Good Omens was first published in 1990
2# Patrick Troughton stared in the film version of the Omen as the Priest. (A nice little tie back to Doctor Who)
It is so nice to see you two enjoying this episode so much.
Excellent book. Great movie. I loved the Omen. I saw the movie first when I was a kid (I’m 46 now😉), however I prefer the book, too. That creeping evil is SO much scarier in the book. It’s ever present. Plus it goes into the dad’s struggle so much more. Both worth checking out.
I really love this little history deep dive into the first episode, I had no idea about where most of the religious references originated from
The name Crowley is proberbly a reference to Alister Crowley who lived I think in the 1920,s as a self promoted Warlock.
So glad I wasn’t the only one who thought of Prometheus when Aziraphale gave Adam the flaming sword! It was also cool to find out that there’s actually meant to be an angel guarding Eden with a flaming sword in the Biblical canon. And it was cool to learn that the start of Good Omens satirizes The Omen, since I’d never seen or read The Omen before.
Also, this is kind of late but his name is Adam and wasn't it said that the original Adam was the one who named all the animals?
So the Antichrist Adam naming the dog, Dog, may kind of also be taken from that.
Just a thought
I wouldn't have known The Omen reference! I'll be waiting for the next episode's reaction.
I definitely caught the antichrist Damien bit.
Second Doctor Patrick Troughton (who played the priest who got shish kebabed with the church steeple) arguably got referenced yet again with the SIDRAT license plate (reference to 1969's The War Games in which they were Time Lord technology transports), which is not just TARDIS backwards, but itself a DW reference. Good Omens is LOADED with them!
I've been told it's also in the book (unlike the vast plethora of added DW jokes at David Tennant's expense and some very familiar faces popping up), but Alpha Centauri also seems suspiciously like a DW reference to the Jon Pertwee-era character who most recently turned up in a Peter Capaldi episode (penned by Mark Gatiss, no less, who is also in Good Omens). Gallifrey was also on one of the planet pages that floats up behind Crowley's head.
Michael Sheen was actually the voice of House in the Neil Gaiman-written The Doctor's Wife.
You know, the funny thing is, I actually started watching this show because of Michael Sheen. I've heard that Michael loved playing Aro from Twilight and that's how Neil Gaiman got him to play Aziraphale.
And that's not all. I've never heard of David Tennant before Good Omens (shocking, I know). So, I really thank this show for introducing me to him
Oh, you should listen to the outro music. It's great and it's different each time. Ep. 3 is especially good.
Episode 3 is my favorite, in general.
The book started out as a parody of Richmal Crompton's "Just William" books and Neil Gaiman originally called it "William the Antichrist." It sort of morphed over time into what it became after Terry Pratchett came on board.
They do assume that people have a basic grasp of biblical stories.
I don't think seeing The Omen is all that necessary. It's not really a straightforward parody of that movie. But it's a great movie, in any event.
Keep an eye out for Doctor Who Easter eggs. Did you recognize Sister Mary Loquacious from Fear Her?
There are a ton of literary and pop culture references. It's easy to miss them on first viewing.
ep 3 is Great! That first half is just a MASTERCLASS
I wonder if the fact that the children are 11 was in reference to Jesus's approximate age when he visited the temple and realized who he was, also sort of a coming of age/ bar mitzvah.
I watched this with my dad and we both loved it it's really funny.
Your dad is such a sweetheart! You guys are great, loving your reactions so far.
Cookies are what Americans call biscuits not the other way round
Apologies. The Mother Country, of course, was first. ~ Dad
HE DOES!!!! He's Greasy Johnson of the Johnsonites! The book even says so somewhere near the end. I also love that because Crowley is super not into the job he's been given because of what it signified for him and his friend and earth, he rushes through doing it, asking the wrong dad to be which room and telling the wrong nun to take him to said wrong room and then the pair of them work on raising the wrong kid for 11 years and then finding out that the antichrist is out there somewhere with a 'hell hound' and the pair of them are under the impression that without their hand in the upbringing the antichrist is evil incarnate and armageddon is days away when actually because they haven't at all been involved in Adams upbringing, he's just a normal kid who just happens to have god-like powers. He will realise that he has them but because he was raised to be just a normal kid, he will just try to fix things and make the world better. I think that's fantastic writing! I loved reading about Crowley and Azirapheles interactions, I loved seeing the demons of hell like hasted and liger and Dagon, I loved reading about Adam and the Them. This book was impossible to put down and now it has temporarily replaced Dr Who as my favourite show ever. For hells sake Johnny Vagus is in this, as is that lady who plays Rita Sketer in Harry Potter, the mad who plays Mr Young, he's in an episode of Dr Who playing a dad called Alex, the Metatron who we meet in episode three is professor yana, in the dr who episode utopia, Michael Sheen was the voice of the sentient astroid House in the Dr Who episode The Doctors Wife, In the third episode we briefly see the guy who played Danny pink, Jack Whitehall is wearing a tie the same cooler as the fourth doctors tie, Bryan references the Daleks when he says exterminate! I love how Crowley treats his house plants that was one of the funniest scenes for me. The way he terrifies them into growing nicely. I love how upset and desperate Crowley gets when he searches for Aziraphale in the burning bookshop, the way he gets snarky when he's called nice, or kind. I love the way he sets foot on shred ground just to stop his best friend from being shot and how he acts when he sees the unguarded font full of holy water. I love how lost for words Crowley gets when Aziraphale brings him the holy water. I love how he deals with hasted and liger when they come to his flat. Tennant was the reason I picked up the book and he is the reason I was ok with having the trailers for this series shoved down my throat every time I was on youtube. I love Aziraphale and Crowley's relationship. Might I also say that I think the name Aziraphale is fucking amazing, I would call my son Aziraphale and I don't even care that its probably a biblical name. I love how the series and the book treat haven and hell like bureaucratic agencies either Crowley or Aziraphale are keen ok working for. I love how they are the only one of their respective sides with an ounce of compassion, imagination or actual kindness at all. I love how they play each other in the end when they are on trial for treason, Crowley playing Aziraphale with bravery and kindness and a cool detachment, and Aziraphale playing Crowley all suave and cool and sexy, taking the piss out of the situation. That when you know this, the look Aziraphale and Crowley has on his face when he sees the Bentleigh undamaged. I love how Crowleys imagination is what gets him through the fiery road in his burning car, I love how Aziraphale swaying is made such a big deal of in the book and the series. I actually laughed so hard coffee came out my nose when I read that part. When I read the run scene too, I was laughing out loud.
Watching your reactions from Australia , hilarious show... great reactions. Thanks
Yay! I’m glad you brought up the Prometheus connection!
I think the long title for the Anti-Christ is a callback to the main character from Sir Terry Pratchett's Pyramids. In a part his full title which is: "His Greatness the King Pteppicymon XXVIII, Lord of the Heavens, Charioteer of the Wagon of the Sun, Steersman of the Barque of the Sun, Guardian of the Secret Knowledge, Lord of the Horizon, Keeper of the Way, the Flail of Mercy, the High Born One, the Never Dying King"
I do believe they repeat this three or four times. Was some time ago I read it. :P
Hope that you two have taken up reading Terry Pratchett.
Sekmand: I read the book the series is based on; will eventually get around to others. ~Dad
This is my favourite book! I love the series. Really hope you like it!
I loved hearing your thoughts on this series. I read the book, Good Omens, and I highly recommend it if you're a fan of Douglas Adams. I hope you make video for the next episode. :)
Yes. The next episode goes up Thursday.
Neil Gaiman wrote the book good sir. He along with Terry Pratchett created this classic. Read it after.
Your dad NEED to have a channel
Jessica: Thanks, but I'm still a full-time teacher. I really enjoy the occasional duet with Alex!
Yaay! Reactions to Good Omens. Hope you do the rest of the series.
Richard's mentioning of the flaming sword connecting Paradise Lost and Prometheus Lost makes me begin to forgive him for not liking Kinda.:)
Thanks! ~ Dad
Just finished watching this ,and I really thought it was brilliant,two of the best British acting talents we have,it's funny dark in places,and just a joy to watch..
Also,Damien in the original films was played by a Brit as a child and a teenager(No,they didn`t bother to sound American at all.also they were both natural blonds who were miserable as their hair was dyed dark on set each shooting night )and a Kiwi as an adult(Who sometimes sounded American when he remembered).In the remake,he was played by an Irish-American kid from New York.
I'm sad you didn't get the biblical reference of Adam naming a dog Dog, because you know, the first Adam was supposed to name all the animals.
Thanks for explaining the references!!!!!
Good Omens is a book written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
The world did not have daylight savings time until modern days, Dad.
Mama Voudou: As someone pointed out in the comments below, it was a snarky reference to Henry Drummond cross-examining Matthew Harrison Brady in the play "Inherit the Wind." I was privileged to play Drummond back in the early 1990s.
I utterly love this! Thank you.
Michael Sheen was Lucian the Lycan(Or werewolf) leader and ex-slave of the vampires who fell in love with and almost had a child with his master`s daughter,a crime for which he was whipped and she was executed by sunlight exposure in the first three "Underworld" films.Ironically,he also played the flamboyant vampire Aro in "The Twilight Saga" as well as Zuse/Castor,the flamboyant ISO nightclub owner in "Tron Legacy" .He`s Welsh although he often Anglicizes his accent in American films.
After Pratchett and Gaiman's original book came out I think there was a desire to write a sequel, to be called "668: The Neighbour of the Beast". Sadly, it never happened.
oh hey, you guys are just too go..sa..whatever sweet.
Love the Combo!
lovely little tidbits here and there from your dad (I REALLY love his lil' "hrhr" and his big "HAHAHAHAhaaa" of a laugh by the way)
I'd be interested to know whether he ever saw Crowley and Aziraphale as more than "just friends" in "his time", whether he sees it differently now (have you talked to him about things like "toxic masculinity" etc? he seems SUPER woke)
oh and your dad's accent when he's trying to do a British accent is SO endearing (and actually not THAT bad, so ...yeah)
GoblinQueen: It didn’t occur to me that they were anything more than kindred spirits. That said, it wouldn’t affect my appreciation of the production if they were. Regarding my “accent,” I lived in the UK (East Anglia) from 1963-66, where I picked up a bit of the local color. ~Dad
In the book this series is based off we sort of meet the 3rd baby. He's the leader of the opposing gang to the Them. The Them are the Antichrist(Adam) and his 3 friends
I think you’d really love Terry’s Discworld if you’re enjoying the dialogue and narration. You could check out the adaptation of Hogfather for a taste. Basic premise: Someone has taken a hit out on Fantasy Santa
OMG I love your dad!
Your dad is delightful!
Have you read the novel Good Omens? Because you're constantly mentioning The Omen and that it's a parody on that, but it's based on a novel with the same title. Did you know and did I miss something, or...?
At this point, neither of us had read the book and only vaguely knew about it.
I'm waiting for another mix up and they end up giving him a Chihuahua hell hound 😂
Good Omens has been my favourite book since the first time I read it around 15 years ago. In fact, I tend to present it to every new friend I make and if they don't like it, it is a deal breaker XD (it hasn't happened yet, mind you.)
You should read it, it is absolutely amazing, if you think the writing is rich for the tv show, you should see the depth in book form.
It's one of my favourite books too! If you would try to put all the depth and jokes in the series it would be a 8 season TV show (I wouldn't mind!)
great reaction
I learn a lot from this video
Oh man im so excited for this. This show is absolutely amazing
SO GOOD :)
as a Christian i found it hilarious and i can point out all the religious jokes in it!
I have watched this show 8 times now and i REALLY wanted to watch it again with you guys in the background. I loooove dads reactions. But sadly BBC has blocked it :'(
What do you mean? The video has no viewing restrictions. Do you mean Full Length? If so, then try this link: drive.google.com/file/d/15pVP9Q6ILY7VMsS79XTZpSMREhb97my2/view?usp=drivesdk
Just wanted to offer a quick thanks for directing me to the song Ave Satani. I'd never heard it before, but could hear exactly what you meant about it becoming the iconic "bad thing" music - it was so familiar even though I'd never heard it before. Excellent stuff :)
Read more of Terry Pratchett's work. (Discworld serie) and watch the Hogfather, the Colour of Magic & Going Postal.
The Omen movie features the second Doctor, Patrick Troughton as the priest
Ehmm, Daylight Saving Time? How may times have you been involved in Inherit the Wind?
Good catch! I played Henry Drummond in a production in the early 90s! ~ Dad
You Two should read the book It's absolutely Hilarious !
It’s funny that they Change „the sound of music“ in „guys and dolls“ in the german Version, because the „tsom“ is not popular in germany
For the record: I've played Max Detweiler in the stage version of The Sound of Music and I've directed Guys and Dolls. If I had to be stuck eternally with one, it would be the latter. And I understand (and find it amusing) that TSofM isn't popular in Germany... ~ Dad
Advise to check IMDB after watching episode, to see who you missed. Such as Eastern Wind and Baby Brother.