Good Omens series premiere recap: The beginning of the end

Good Omens is finally here and we couldn’t be more excited. Here’s a rundown of the events from the series premiere, bringing us the beginning of the end.

It’s the end of the world and it all starts right now on Good Omens. Who will win, Heaven or Hell? The series premiere opens to the tale of the impending apocalypse and why an angel and a demon have decided they want to stop it.

One thing you quickly realize when you tune into Good Omens is that it’s nothing like a normal TV series. And that’s a good thing. There are long, drawn-out side stories and explanations, which wouldn’t usually work for a miniseries. But then, this isn’t any normal miniseries. It’s following the book’s storyline and isn’t that all we can ask for?

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It all opens with God, voiced by Frances McDormand, who agreed to do the part because she wanted to use Neil Gaiman’s house for her Scotland vacation. Yes, really. Well, according to Bustle. But, I digress.

We open with God explaining the world (and various human theories) — and she pops up frequently to tell the tale. Of course, this had to be a story told by God Herself.

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Meeting Crowley and Aziraphale

The series quickly gives us the Garden of Eden, with Crowley and Aziraphale looking over them. They are sent by their counterparts to watch out for humans — tempt or guide them to evil or goodness depending on where they stand.

We find out who they are and the roles they had to play in the “fall” of humanity. Crowley (played by David Tennant) was the one to tempt Eve with the forbidden fruit and he doesn’t understand why God is so mad about it. Aziraphale (played by Michael Sheen) has given the humans a flaming sword — yes, it comes back up again.

All in all, the opening makes one thing clear. This is not a series to take seriously. Go into it ready to laugh.

Eleven years before the apocalypse

After that, we jump centuries forward to 11 years before the apocalypse. We soon find out that Crowley and Aziraphale have settled into human life, despite their supervisors not really understanding why.

However, the more important element is the fact that the Antichrist is being born. An American diplomat is heading to the Satanic Church of Chattering Nuns, who have been charged with switching out their baby for the son of the Devil. Simple, right?

If only. There’s another couple on the way, who also give birth on the same day. They weren’t meant to be there, and it’s not surprising to find out that Satan’s child is switched with that baby. So, while we know where the Antichrist is, nobody realizes that he’s with the wrong family — and his name is Adam of all names!

Before anyone can find out the wrong child has been switched, Crowley turns to Aziraphale to prevent the apocalypse from happening. He doesn’t want to lose everything that he loves about Earth. Hell is bad. There’s a reason he doesn’t want to be there.

Aziraphale doesn’t want to stop the apocalypse knowing it’s part of the plan. But then, he doesn’t want it to go ahead either. The two can’t work together, so they agree to working “against” each other. With Aziraphale as the gardener and Crowley as a Mrs. Doubtfire-like nanny, the two attempt to twist and coerce Warlock (the presumed Antichrist) while also trying to prevent him from turning evil.

The Antichrist comes into his powers

On the boys’ 11th birthdays, it’s clear that this is the moment. The Hellhound is going to be released at 3 p.m. and this is when Warlock is going to come into his powers.

Well, that’s what is supposed to happen. Only, the Hellhound doesn’t turn up. Hell released it, of course, but it’s not there. That can only mean one thing: Crowley and Aziraphale have lost the Antichrist.

Where is he? He’s only in a town close to where the Chattering Order once was (it burned down after the birth of the baby). The Hellhound, who turns into a small dog and is called Dog for the boy, appears and allows Adam to come into his powers.

The beginning of the end has officially started.

What did you think of Good Omens Season 1, Episode 1? What were your thoughts moving forward into the series? Did you think it stuck to the books enough? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Good Omens is now available to stream in full on Amazon Prime Video.