Metatron absolutely manipulated Aziraphale. He knew how much he had always desperately longed for Heaven's approval, and he likely guessed how Crowley would react to being an angel. I think he hated Crowley (vis a vis the glare he gave him) and wanted to break them up.
I may be completely off the mark but the look on Azi's face toward the end seemed to convey that he realized Metatron was manipulating him. But Aziraphale is smarter than the other angels so he must be at least a step ahead. That is why he got in the lift.
I am 99% sure he wanted them split up because of the strengt of the half miracle. How strong would they be if they gave their all? Metatron do not want them to stop the Second coming too. But yes there is clearly also a story between Metatron and Crowley. Maybe something Crowley can't even remember. The look is pure evil malice
Let's walk in Aziraphale's shoes for a second: the purpose of his existence--the reason God created him--was to alleviate human suffering and help humans. He sees a genuine opportunity (that won't be offered again) as head of all angels to alleviate the needless suffering and cruelty Heaven often inflicts on humans--and lower ranked angels. He is also given a chance to make Crowley as happy (he thinks) as he was as a star maker. His reaction makes sense in this context--angels were never meant to live for their own happiness and he feels it would be selfish to only live for Crowley, much as he loves him. He also feels he offered a chance for Crowley--he thinks--to not only be with him for eternity, but to do what made him joyful and content as an angel. Aziraphale feels Crowley abandoned HIM when he says no to this offer. The real problem is that they're both terrible communicators--they don't really listen to each other or have empathy for the other's feelings, and they both react in the moment out of very powerful emotions. They could have talked more about it at another time before deciding but they wrote each other off almost instantly.
Thank you for articulating this so well omg! This episode destroyed me, but it also made it very clear to me that this was, in a way, inevitable. If we want anything to work out between them they simply cannot go on like that, it would've just imploded over something else another time. They are so, so bad at communicating their thoughts and feelings to each other. They NEED this bubble to pop and learn to overcome the fallout. Neil's always promised a good, satisfying ending for them and I trust his plan. He hasn't let me down yet!
This is very true. Also, I'd add, Azi still fully believes that Heaven is good, despite Armageddon and all that. He doesn't realize that they're just as bad as Hell. He's functionally been brainwashed, and unfortunately his love for Crowley won't fully break that. I think it'll take at least until he's there, running everything, realizing how messed-up the whole system is, for him to realize that Crowley was right all along.
@@lilithreusch2614 But I also feel like the Metatron has a hand in all this, to separate Crowley and Aziraphale. The ominious music as he looked at Crowley really threw me off. And I feel like the offer to restore Crowley back to an angel wasn't genuine because I think he knew very well that Crowley wasn't going to accept that. Deep down Aziraphale knows it too, but I feel like he's being manipulated here. And he's desparate, he wants to be with Crowley so he begs Crowley to come with him anyway. Idk, something's up with the Metatron...
@@Kyubone you're definitely right. Something's up with Metatron, and I don't know what it is but I don't like it one bit. If I had to guess, I'd say he thinks their love is an abomination or something. I don't know if he knew that Crowley would reject the offer (it wouldn't surprise me, though) it could be more like he was doing everything the get Azi up to heaven, where he could have more control. Either way, you're right that Metatron has a part in this
@@lilithreusch2614 Crowley and Aziraphale are less of a threat if they aren't together. We saw the power of the miracle they performed without even trying that hard. They are dangerous if they are against you. They may be more powerful even separately than Heaven has reckoned with, however.
The fact that their miracle was so powerful the angels thought it had to have been the Archangel Gabriel is the reason Metatron offered that job to Azi. Please he knew Crowley would never agree to that, he also knew that he could still manipulate Azi. He forced them apart because together they were too powerful and could be a danger to heaven and all their plans.
Oddly, this has been a major ship in the fandom at least since season one. It makes sense, as they are the leads of the opposite teams. They call it Ineffable Bureaucracy. I've also seen (or invented) Brielzebub and Beelbriel. (Just a couple of others.)
Honestly if it wasn't for those two the finale would've been too heartbreaking, at least when we feel sad for Aziraphale and Crowley we can just listen to Everyday
Yeah, that's a....unique take. Unless one thinks of it as "greedy" for power not for himself (which is what greedy implies) to experience control and force over others, but wanting power to eliminate a lot of the suffering heaven inflicts on humans and angels alike--but the word "greedy" doesn't make sense in that case.
Exactly, Aziraphale doesn't want the power for himself. He wants to fulfill his calling. And he wants to bring Crowley back "home". He doesn't understand that Heaven isn't a home for Crowley any longer.
@@Imaanyi But he'll get there. This is a great setup for a third season. Second-act curtain, the lovers separated, not by Heaven and Hell (not really), but by problems we've been seeing them avoid all season. Aziraphale can't undo what happened to Crowley even if he does make Heaven (and, by extension, Earth) better. Crowley can't be the innocent, bubbly starmaker again, but he can have a different happiness with Aziraphale.
The one thing I think is a mistake is Gabriel not knowing what music is when in the first season it's a running joke that 'the sound of music' is God's favourite film and the angels actually repeat some of the lyrics to Aziraphale in a conversation.
'Every Day' is the title of the Buddy Holly song that becomes the song for Ineffable Bureaucracy (Gabriel/Beelzebub) and so it is the one that all the records on the jukebox change into. 😀
But since it was EVERYWHERE in the 1950s, why is Aziraphael unfamiliar with it? I wasn’t a fan of the Beegees in the 1970s, but I knew ALL their top 40 hits. Impossible to escape them then!
@@NicoleM_radiantbaby There were three of them together in one scene with Hastur; he killed two of them, I think (but maybe all three). He killed one over an avocado joke.
I thought it's because she is Aziraphale's friend, she is welcome there, and in the "make yourself at home way" the bookshop becomes her home, too. Then again, who knows, maybe Aziraphale got a will noone knows about and she is to inherit the bookshop in case of his mysterious disappearance etc
Honestly, I'm more confused how the 'Dark Council' (Beelzebub, FurFur, etc) can appear so easily within the bookshop at the end, as they weren't ever DIRECTLY invited in. Maybe Maggie's invite extended to all demons?
Now that the bookshop isn’t a direct office of heaven I think the rules have gotten less strict. It’s like visiting an embassy vs actually crossing a border
@@NicoleM_radiantbaby Yeah--I have the feeling Beelzebub would have gone there the second they knew that's where Gabriel was (notice how they ask Shax whether she can get in the bookshop) if they weren't kept out somehow. Maybe Maggie, yeah. You know what you do, Maggie. (Of course, we have to keep Beelzebub away until the reveal only seeing their becoming increasingly frantic about finding Gabriel.)
The more I watch this finale the angrier I get towards Aziraphale. Crowley has proven over and over how much he loves Aziraphale and that they only need each other. Aziraphale and his notion of Heaven being the answer to everything is just frustrating at this point, especially now that we’ve seen them in action as well. When Crowley is standing by the car watching Aziraphale leave to ascend into Heaven just hurts my heart. I hope we get a season 3 and the biggest Aziraphale “you were right” dance ever! Enjoyed your reaction and commentary to this heartbreaking episode.
“… and his notion of Heaven being the answer to everything” - Riiight? The credits scene had me conspiring, especially the smile towards the end, how Aziraphale might turn/break bad in the next season. Exciting stuff!
Aziraphale did it for Crowley. The happiest Crowley had been was when they were angels together. Aziraphale was going to reject, but the offer to bring Crowley with him made him take the offer. But Crowley refused to come and he couldnt back out. The metatron did this maliciously to seperate them because theyre more powerful together :>
@@LuciusLucius It took me watching it a couple of times to realize that’s exactly what the Metatron was doing. His comment about Crowley always asking questions and the look he gave Crowley as he and Aziraphale left to go talk pretty much tells us that once again Heaven is being petty. You’re absolutely right about them being more powerful together. In every single way that matters they are more powerful together!
@@kellifranklin9872 its just a large manipulation tactic that sadly worked. Metatron made himself look kind and more understanding with buying him coffee, by leaving the bookshop to Muriel and making it seem like he saved Aziraphale from being erased. I bet that he doesnt even want Aziraphale as an archangel, it was all just to drag him back to heaven and keep Crowley away.
Let's walk in Aziraphale's shoes for a second: the purpose of his existence--the reason God created him--was to alleviate human suffering and help humans. He sees a genuine opportunity (that won't be offered again) as head of all angels to alleviate the needless suffering and cruelty Heaven often inflicts on humans--and lower ranked angels. He is also given a chance to make Crowley as happy (he thinks) as he was as a star maker. His reaction makes sense in this context--angels were never meant to live for their own happiness and he feels it would be selfish to only live for Crowley, much as he loves him. He also feels he offered a chance for Crowley--he thinks--to not only be with him for eternity, but to do what made him joyful and content as an angel. Aziraphale feels Crowley abandoned HIM when he says no to this offer. The real problem is that they're both terrible communicators--they don't really listen to each other or have empathy for the other's feelings, and they both react in the moment out of very powerful emotions. They could have talked more about it at another time before deciding but they wrote each other off almost instantly.
Metatron absolutely manipulated Aziraphale. He knew how much he had always desperately longed for Heaven's approval, and he likely guessed how Crowley would react to being an angel. I think he hated Crowley (vis a vis the glare he gave him) and wanted to break them up.
I may be completely off the mark but the look on Azi's face toward the end seemed to convey that he realized Metatron was manipulating him. But Aziraphale is smarter than the other angels so he must be at least a step ahead. That is why he got in the lift.
I am 99% sure he wanted them split up because of the strengt of the half miracle. How strong would they be if they gave their all? Metatron do not want them to stop the Second coming too. But yes there is clearly also a story between Metatron and Crowley. Maybe something Crowley can't even remember. The look is pure evil malice
Let's walk in Aziraphale's shoes for a second: the purpose of his existence--the reason God created him--was to alleviate human suffering and help humans. He sees a genuine opportunity (that won't be offered again) as head of all angels to alleviate the needless suffering and cruelty Heaven often inflicts on humans--and lower ranked angels. He is also given a chance to make Crowley as happy (he thinks) as he was as a star maker. His reaction makes sense in this context--angels were never meant to live for their own happiness and he feels it would be selfish to only live for Crowley, much as he loves him. He also feels he offered a chance for Crowley--he thinks--to not only be with him for eternity, but to do what made him joyful and content as an angel. Aziraphale feels Crowley abandoned HIM when he says no to this offer. The real problem is that they're both terrible communicators--they don't really listen to each other or have empathy for the other's feelings, and they both react in the moment out of very powerful emotions. They could have talked more about it at another time before deciding but they wrote each other off almost instantly.
Thank you for articulating this so well omg! This episode destroyed me, but it also made it very clear to me that this was, in a way, inevitable. If we want anything to work out between them they simply cannot go on like that, it would've just imploded over something else another time. They are so, so bad at communicating their thoughts and feelings to each other. They NEED this bubble to pop and learn to overcome the fallout. Neil's always promised a good, satisfying ending for them and I trust his plan. He hasn't let me down yet!
This is very true. Also, I'd add, Azi still fully believes that Heaven is good, despite Armageddon and all that. He doesn't realize that they're just as bad as Hell. He's functionally been brainwashed, and unfortunately his love for Crowley won't fully break that. I think it'll take at least until he's there, running everything, realizing how messed-up the whole system is, for him to realize that Crowley was right all along.
@@lilithreusch2614 But I also feel like the Metatron has a hand in all this, to separate Crowley and Aziraphale. The ominious music as he looked at Crowley really threw me off. And I feel like the offer to restore Crowley back to an angel wasn't genuine because I think he knew very well that Crowley wasn't going to accept that. Deep down Aziraphale knows it too, but I feel like he's being manipulated here. And he's desparate, he wants to be with Crowley so he begs Crowley to come with him anyway. Idk, something's up with the Metatron...
@@Kyubone you're definitely right. Something's up with Metatron, and I don't know what it is but I don't like it one bit.
If I had to guess, I'd say he thinks their love is an abomination or something. I don't know if he knew that Crowley would reject the offer (it wouldn't surprise me, though) it could be more like he was doing everything the get Azi up to heaven, where he could have more control.
Either way, you're right that Metatron has a part in this
@@lilithreusch2614 Crowley and Aziraphale are less of a threat if they aren't together. We saw the power of the miracle they performed without even trying that hard. They are dangerous if they are against you. They may be more powerful even separately than Heaven has reckoned with, however.
Crowley was so brave.
I feel your pain and I watched this almost three weeks ago. Just. Gutted.
Same here friend.
I sat there quiet for a good minute. Lol
The fact that their miracle was so powerful the angels thought it had to have been the Archangel Gabriel is the reason Metatron offered that job to Azi. Please he knew Crowley would never agree to that, he also knew that he could still manipulate Azi. He forced them apart because together they were too powerful and could be a danger to heaven and all their plans.
A "chinwag" is a chat, a talk. 🙂
GaBeeriel shouldn't be so cute, but they ARE and it's the best thing ever this season.
They did end up pretty cute!
Oddly, this has been a major ship in the fandom at least since season one. It makes sense, as they are the leads of the opposite teams. They call it Ineffable Bureaucracy. I've also seen (or invented) Brielzebub and Beelbriel. (Just a couple of others.)
Honestly if it wasn't for those two the finale would've been too heartbreaking, at least when we feel sad for Aziraphale and Crowley we can just listen to Everyday
“Bro give me a months time or something” ITS BEEN 40 DAYS AND MY SANITY IS A DISTANT MEMORY
21:21 OMG I burst into tears.
Il WTF è stato detto anche in Italia e in tutti i paesi del mondo!
They can't renew it until after the actors/writers strike is settled.
TIME TO EXPERIENCE EMOTIONAL DAMAGE YET AGAIN ❤
I just met your channel with this video. Greetings from Spain.
Gabriel's face when the Metatron says he can remain an angel--oh, [bleep]!
I don't really see Aziraphale as greedy for power at all.
Yeah, at the moment that’s what I felt. But then I meant power as in Heaven/Heaven’s power as an end all be all
Yeah, that's a....unique take. Unless one thinks of it as "greedy" for power not for himself (which is what greedy implies) to experience control and force over others, but wanting power to eliminate a lot of the suffering heaven inflicts on humans and angels alike--but the word "greedy" doesn't make sense in that case.
Sorry, since English is my second language I might’ve used the wrong word there.
Exactly, Aziraphale doesn't want the power for himself. He wants to fulfill his calling. And he wants to bring Crowley back "home". He doesn't understand that Heaven isn't a home for Crowley any longer.
@@Imaanyi But he'll get there. This is a great setup for a third season. Second-act curtain, the lovers separated, not by Heaven and Hell (not really), but by problems we've been seeing them avoid all season.
Aziraphale can't undo what happened to Crowley even if he does make Heaven (and, by extension, Earth) better. Crowley can't be the innocent, bubbly starmaker again, but he can have a different happiness with Aziraphale.
The one thing I think is a mistake is Gabriel not knowing what music is when in the first season it's a running joke that 'the sound of music' is God's favourite film and the angels actually repeat some of the lyrics to Aziraphale in a conversation.
Maybe just this "modern" (Buddy Holly) music didn't seem like music to him at first if that's all he had to go by.
'Every Day' is the title of the Buddy Holly song that becomes the song for Ineffable Bureaucracy (Gabriel/Beelzebub) and so it is the one that all the records on the jukebox change into. 😀
But since it was EVERYWHERE in the 1950s, why is Aziraphael unfamiliar with it? I wasn’t a fan of the Beegees in the 1970s, but I knew ALL their top 40 hits. Impossible to escape them then!
Liked watching your reaction to the end-- your tears brought my tears back. It was sad--
There were three of these demons who keep getting killed in the first season.
Yep, 'Eric the Disposable Demon' -- that poor guy just keeps getting killed again and again and again! LOL
@@NicoleM_radiantbaby He/they need to be assigned to Earth and meet Muriel.
@@NicoleM_radiantbaby There were three of them together in one scene with Hastur; he killed two of them, I think (but maybe all three). He killed one over an avocado joke.
@@HuntingViolets Yes! Muriel and Eric would be so much fun!
I see the final will be release on July if nothing others happening.
21:05 I wanted to hug you so bad😭😭😭😭
I still don't get how Maggie can invite supernatural entities into Aziraphale's bookshop.
I thought it's because she is Aziraphale's friend, she is welcome there, and in the "make yourself at home way" the bookshop becomes her home, too. Then again, who knows, maybe Aziraphale got a will noone knows about and she is to inherit the bookshop in case of his mysterious disappearance etc
@@kittenbraden9800 Oh, that's a good answer. Headcanon accepted. Someone in the comments always has a good answer! Thank you.
Honestly, I'm more confused how the 'Dark Council' (Beelzebub, FurFur, etc) can appear so easily within the bookshop at the end, as they weren't ever DIRECTLY invited in. Maybe Maggie's invite extended to all demons?
Now that the bookshop isn’t a direct office of heaven I think the rules have gotten less strict. It’s like visiting an embassy vs actually crossing a border
@@NicoleM_radiantbaby Yeah--I have the feeling Beelzebub would have gone there the second they knew that's where Gabriel was (notice how they ask Shax whether she can get in the bookshop) if they weren't kept out somehow. Maybe Maggie, yeah. You know what you do, Maggie. (Of course, we have to keep Beelzebub away until the reveal only seeing their becoming increasingly frantic about finding Gabriel.)
The more I watch this finale the angrier I get towards Aziraphale. Crowley has proven over and over how much he loves Aziraphale and that they only need each other. Aziraphale and his notion of Heaven being the answer to everything is just frustrating at this point, especially now that we’ve seen them in action as well. When Crowley is standing by the car watching Aziraphale leave to ascend into Heaven just hurts my heart. I hope we get a season 3 and the biggest Aziraphale “you were right” dance ever! Enjoyed your reaction and commentary to this heartbreaking episode.
“… and his notion of Heaven being the answer to everything” - Riiight? The credits scene had me conspiring, especially the smile towards the end, how Aziraphale might turn/break bad in the next season. Exciting stuff!
Aziraphale did it for Crowley.
The happiest Crowley had been was when they were angels together.
Aziraphale was going to reject, but the offer to bring Crowley with him made him take the offer. But Crowley refused to come and he couldnt back out.
The metatron did this maliciously to seperate them because theyre more powerful together :>
@@LuciusLucius It took me watching it a couple of times to realize that’s exactly what the Metatron was doing. His comment about Crowley always asking questions and the look he gave Crowley as he and Aziraphale left to go talk pretty much tells us that once again Heaven is being petty. You’re absolutely right about them being more powerful together. In every single way that matters they are more powerful together!
@@kellifranklin9872 its just a large manipulation tactic that sadly worked.
Metatron made himself look kind and more understanding with buying him coffee, by leaving the bookshop to Muriel and making it seem like he saved Aziraphale from being erased.
I bet that he doesnt even want Aziraphale as an archangel, it was all just to drag him back to heaven and keep Crowley away.
Let's walk in Aziraphale's shoes for a second: the purpose of his existence--the reason God created him--was to alleviate human suffering and help humans. He sees a genuine opportunity (that won't be offered again) as head of all angels to alleviate the needless suffering and cruelty Heaven often inflicts on humans--and lower ranked angels. He is also given a chance to make Crowley as happy (he thinks) as he was as a star maker. His reaction makes sense in this context--angels were never meant to live for their own happiness and he feels it would be selfish to only live for Crowley, much as he loves him. He also feels he offered a chance for Crowley--he thinks--to not only be with him for eternity, but to do what made him joyful and content as an angel. Aziraphale feels Crowley abandoned HIM when he says no to this offer. The real problem is that they're both terrible communicators--they don't really listen to each other or have empathy for the other's feelings, and they both react in the moment out of very powerful emotions. They could have talked more about it at another time before deciding but they wrote each other off almost instantly.
22:30 - 22:42 My honest reaction
I haven't seen Saraqael before this season, so I'm not sure what you've seen?
I am reminded of Murder Mysteries, the short story written by Neil Gaiman.
@@TheScreeningLady Oh, okay, I'll have to look for that. I think I've only really read "A Study in Emerald" of his short works.
Crowley should have known better than to accompany Metatron and Aziraphale.