There is something that has always deeply bothered me about the confession scene, and I haven't seen many people talk about it (no, this is not about how Dean should've rescued Cas or about how Dean was the homophobic version of this 🧍 emote the entire time). This opinion has been peer-reviewed by my friends who get all their supernatural information from me so I'm obviously correct.
Anyway. Cas should not have been taken by the Empty in s15e18 "Despair" and I will die on this hill.
For those of you havent watched Supernatural and only get information force-fed to you by me, the Empty is a supernatural entity that rules the afterlife where angels and demons go after they die. The Empty and Castiel have a very antagonist relationship, tracing back to at least season 13. Basically, Castiel died and annoyed the Empty into letting him come back to life.
Fast forwarding to season 14 (specifically s14e08, "Byzantium"), Jack (Castiel's adopted half-angel son) dies and the Winchesters attempt to revive him. Cas goes to Heaven to find Jack, but the Empty is looking for Jack, too. Cas attempts to trade his soul for Jack's, allowing Jack to be revived by the Winchester's spell with Castiel being taken to the Empty immediately. However, the Empty says this:
Deal. Oh, but not now. No, no, no, no, no. No, you see, I-I meant what I said. I-I want you to suffer. I want you to go back to-- to your normal life and-- and then forget about this and forget about me. And-- And then, when you finally give yourself permission to be happy and let the sun shine on your face, that's when I'll come. That's when I'll come to drag you to nothing.
When Castiel cashes in on this deal during s15e18, he tells Dean that the Empty will take him in his happiest moment, which Cas believes to be him confessing his love for Dean. Because he believes Dean will never reciprocate, this confession is Castiel's happiest moment, and he is giving himself permission to be happy when he finally tells Dean about his feelings.
But "happiest moment" isn't actually one of the conditions of the deal. Looking at the text, the Empty presents two conditions for when it will take Cas:
Cas needs to forget about this deal with the Empty
And then, Cas needs to allow himself to be happy
Like I said, the confession as it stands does fulfill the second condition. But Castiel never fulfilled the first condition of the deal. He never forgot about his deal with the Empty-- in fact, he starts his confession with an explanation of the deal he made.
Ergo, Castiel's love confession did not fulfill the terms the Empty laid out for the deal, and Castiel should not have been taken.
There is obviously a case to be made for following the letter vs spirit of the law (if you want to be really pedantic, Cas was in a windowless room with no sun to shine on his face), but it goes against the spirit of the deal for the Empty to take Cas when it did.
If you haven't seen the episode (s15e18 Despair), Dean lands a near-fatal hit on Billie (aka Death). Billie chases after Dean and Cas, and they hide out in the dungeon. Billie attempts to break down the door while Dean and Cas weigh how they can get out of this. Dean says that there is no way to stop Billie, and Cas comes up with the idea to summon the Empty (by experiencing his happiest moment, aka confessing his love); the Empty also hates Billie and would therefore snatch her up too when it took Cas.
The Empty states very explicitly that its whole purpose for the terms of the deal is that it wants Cas to suffer. Snatching Cas's happiness away from him when he thought he would be free causes Cas more suffering than the Empty taking him the minute Jack was revived. There is no suffering in Cas dying knowing that Dean a) knows how Cas feels and b) will be saved because of Cas's actions. There is, however, suffering in Cas dying without any way of saving Dean's life-- which is what would've happened if the Empty hadn't shown up.
Ergo, Cas's speech did not fulfill the terms of the Empty's deal, and even if it had, it would have been more in-character and in line with the spirit of the deal if the Empty had stayed out of it and let Dean die.
Ergo, Castiel should not have been taken by the Empty.
Thank you for coming to my TedTalk.
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"Impertinent brat!" He was sent crashing to the floor with a heavy thud. His cheek ached where the emperor had struck him, and though the salty tang of blood coated his tongue, it was worth it to see the handsome man's face twisted with rage.
The Emperor of Tengmen sneered. "Disobedient even now. You must think your spite an amusing show of rebellion. What, is it meant to be your own bit of vengeance for your parents?" A hand fisted in the prince's curls, eliciting a hiss as the emperor harshly yanked his head upwards to bring the prince's gaze to his glowering eyes. "Your life hangs in my hands, and yet you continue to push at me. Clearly, I've grown too lax with you."
Zhaohui didn't respond. Instead, he spat and a globule of blood and spittle landed right against the emperor's perfect cheek. The man reared back in disgust, and Zhaohui grinned. The next blow that landed was well worth it.
"I see." Panting, the emperor straightened. "Fine then. Guards!"
-----
He didn't know what the emperor was planning as the guards drug him through the halls. Titters and chatter followed from courtesans and nobles alike despite the late hour, and he was certain he made quite the image-- the fallen prince being dragged through the halls, dressed in nothing but his sleepwear like a common criminal. He thought he saw the gaze of the imperial prince from a doorway as he passed, but the visage was there and gone before he could be certain.
He was brought to an empty chamber and thrown to the ground, before the guards retreated towards the doorway. The emperor had disappeared at some point during his shameful parade. The room was a meeting room by the looks of it, the furniture lacquered and wooden, and ornate decorations in the space. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as the prince's eyes darted around the room, and he nearly jumped to his feet when the door on the far side of the slid open to reveal the emperor and head of his council. They both stepped into the room, the emperor's fervent gaze fixed on his, his advisor's eyes downcast.
Zhaohui didn't know what this could possibly be about, until he saw the golden shackles held in the emperor's grasp. Did the man truly mean to shackle him like a common prisoner? A show of ownership? Before he could say or do anything, the older man's commanding voice rang out.
"Guards, hold the ill-mannered whelp still!"
Movement approached from behind, and heavy weights suddenly grasped at his limbs, pinning them to the ground. Zhaohui thrashed violently in their grasp, snarling and snapping back at the ones restraining them. The emperor drew closer, and Zhaohui, even in his rage, could better make out the shackles. They were were almost insulting thin and made of gold. Four each, with disconnected chains that dangled from each one.
The guards grasped one wrist and held it out in place along the ground as the prince screamed in rage. The first shackle clicked into place with a metallic tink. Then the second. Then third. And finally fourth. Zhaohui continued to kick and struggle until even the last shackle, and the glare that fixed itself on the emperor was venomous. He wanted to shackle him? Fine. The emperor should hope that he had a stockpile of these pathetically weak shackles, because he would find a way to remove them time and time again if he must--
"Jianhuren. Now." The emperor's commands cut through his thoughts, and Zhaohui froze. Red eyes traveled to the advisor, who had been standing several paces back throughout the entire ordeal, completely silent. Gaze still lowered, they slowly stepped forward until they had drawn close enough, and, after another beat of hesitation, they murmured a few words under their breath. Zhaohui's confusion was soon answered when the emperor, with a triumphant grin, wrapped his fingers around the shackle circling one of Zhaohui's wrists and tugged as if he were going to remove it.
Sharp, unimaginable pain lanced through the prince, and a tortured scream ripped itself from his throat. The agony made him want to claw at his skin, claw at his eyes, anything anything to ease it. The prince's body spasmed against the cool floor, curling in on itself to ward off a pain that had come from within. The guards had retreated at this point and harsh fingers gripped at his chin and yanked his gaze upwards. Delirious, his vision swam in and out of focus as the emperor pulled again and watched in glee as the prince let out another cry, muscles seizing helplessly. The emperor moved to pull a third time, at which Zhaohui was certain his mind would fracture if the man did, when another voice broke through the mania.
"Your Majesty."
At the cool reminder, the emperor looked back at his advisor, though Zhaohui couldn't make sense of their expressions nor what the emperor might have said in response. His vision was going dark, and as his consciousness faded as the emperor returned his attention, only the man's next words managed to pierce through as unconsciousness began to take hold.
"Let this be a lesson in the dangers of defying me."
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Good Omens filming locations masterpost! ❤ 🐍😊 Part 2
(here to part 1 :))
Here to the map :)
Others in England (cont):
Tadfield Manor (S01E01, S01E02) - Bulstrode, Gerrards Cross
Scene: The Tadfield Manor where the satanic nuns run the hospital in the first episode and Aziraphale and Crowley visit in the second episode
Availability (as of 2024): The manor has been in private hands since 2016 - in 2023 sold again, I didn't find on the internet that it would be available to visit in any form, the manor is not visitble from the public road.
Link on the map
Four Horsemen meeting (S01E05) – Old School Cafe, Longcross Road B386
Scene: The cafe where Four Horsemen meet
Availability (as of 2024): street all day, the cafe Mon-Fri 7:30-15:00, Sat-Sun 8:30-15:00
Link on the map
Heaven middle floors (S01E01, S01E03, S01E04, S01E05) - Weybridge Business Park, Addlestone
Scene: The Heaven middle floors scenes in season 1 were filmed here
Availability (as of 2024): The places can be sort of seen from the street but I don't think that visiting is possible
Link on the map
Pollution by the river (S01E04) – River Wey Navigation, Guildford
Scene: The International Express Man delivers the package to Pollution
(fun fact: this one was the harderst one to pin down the exact location, I only knew bc of an article that the schooting took place by "Wey Navigation" which is a river long 32km (miles), I tried to find a better mention or through google maps comparing place for a long time but couldn't, finally I wrote to the River Way Navigation organization on facebook but they had no record of the shooting. Finally, in one of the photos I noticed that in the background there is a footbridge that I saw a photo of a similar footbridge while searching on a history of Wey Navigation river on the UK National Trust page and fortunately the previous mentioned facebook page knew where it was, WAHOO! :))
Availability (as of 2024): all day
Link on the map
Hogback Wood (S01E01, S01E02, S01E04, S01E05) - Painshill Park, Cobham
Scene: The Hogback Wood where The Them play, seen in several episodes.
Availability (as of 2024): The entrance to the park is paid (£11 with prebooking online on https://painshill.co.uk/visit-us/ticket-prices-booking/) They open at 10 and close at 16-18 depending on the season. The World Word II crater they shot the main scene at should be in the west-south tip of the park. The whole path there and back is 4km (2,5 miles).
Link on the map
International Express Man's house (S01E04) - Shetland Close, Guildford
Scene: The International Express Man leaves the house to make deliveries
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
Agnes Nutter's village (S01E02) - Weald & Downland Living Museum, Chichester
Scene: The Agnes Nutter's village in episode two. In the map I highlighted which part we see the villagers and Witchfinder Major Pulsifer to through in the show.
Availability (as of 2024): The entrance fee is paid (£15.50 for an adult ticket prebooked online https://www.wealddown.co.uk/), it opens at 10 and closes at 16-17 depending on the month.
Link on the map
Tadfield Air Base (S01E05, S01E06) - RAF Upper Heyford, Bicester
Scene: For the shooting of the Tadfield Air Base the former RAF Upper Heyford was used, by the examining the google maps and screenshots from the series I think that the area labeled as 'Shelter 9' was used.
Availability (as of 2024): The place is no longer used by RAF purposes, there are several companies that use certain areas it but it is not available for public. The Upper Heyford Heritage though organizes (paid - £25.00) tours through the airbase: http://www.upperheyfordheritage.co.uk/home-page/tour-booking/
Link on the map
Soho (S1) – Bovingdon Airfield Studios
Scene: The Aziraphale's bookshop and Soho in season one were built at Bovingdon Airfield Studios
Availability (as of 2024): The studios can be rented but I don't think they are publicly available – the Soho is not there anymore though, it is now build in studios in Scotland.
Link on the map
The motorway on fire (S01E05) - M96 Training Motorway at Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh
Scene: The motorway on fire when Crowley is heading for Tadfield was filmed at M95 Training Motorway at Fire Service College that is usually used for training emergency service professionals
Availability (as of 2024): Not publicly available.
Link on the map
South Africa:
The 1941 church (S01E03) - St. Saviour's Church, Claremont, Cape Town
Scene: The scene in Season 1 where Aziraphale is outsmarted by the Nazis and is saved by Crowley
Availability (as of 2024): Their facebook says Always open
Link on the map
Famine at a fancy restaurant (S01E03) - Mutual Heights building, Cape Town
Scene: The restaurant where we meet Famine for the first time
Availability (as of 2024): It is a building with flats, offices and a reception, not available to public.
Link on the map
Crowley in a cinema (S01E04) - Joseph Stone Auditorium, Cape Town
Scene: Crowley in a cinema (with Neil Gaiman cameo) watching animated rabbits when Hastur interrupts
Availability (as of 2024): Not publicly available as such but they there are presentations and and such happening there https://www.facebook.com/josephstone1968/
Link on the map
Aziraphale dancing gavotte (S01E04) - Casa Labia, Cape Town
Scene: Aziraphale dancing gavotte in a discreet gentlemen's club in Portland Place in the late 1880s was filmed at Casa Labia in Cape Town
Availability (as of 2024): Casa labia is hotel and a restaurant so it can be visited in that way https://www.casalabia.com/
Link on the map
Anathema's child home (S01E02) - Llandudno Rock Villa, Cape Town
Scene: The home which we see Anathema as a child with The Book (in the show it's Malibu, California)
Availability (as of 2024): street all day, the villa itself seems that it can be rented
Link on the map
Eden desert and ep6 time bubble desert (S01E01,S01E06) – Atlantis Dunes, Cape Town
Scene: The Eden desert scenes and the time bubble with Adam and AC were filmed in the Atlantis Dunes at the outskirts of Cape Town
Availability (as of 2024): The Atlantis Dunes – or Witzands Aquifer Conservation Area – is a protected natural area. Biking adventures can be booked through https://atlantisdunes.com/ or also other activities through https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/see-all-city-facilities/our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves/Witzands%20Aquifer%20Nature%20Reserve
Link on the map
The apple tree in the Garden of Eden (S01E01) - Waterfall Valley (formerly Cascade Country Manor), Paarl
Scene: The Eden apple tree with the waterfall in the background was filmed at the retreat Waterfall Valley (then Cascade Country Manor) (the tree was added by the film crew for the scene)
Availability (as of 2024): I am not sure if you can visit the waterfall like that or you have to be a guest in the restreat. The retreat is available for booking: https://www.waterfallvalley.online/
Link on the map
There were other scenes also filmed at South Africa (thought not specified exactly where): Hell was filmed in Cape Town in a former abattoir. The Noah’s Ark scene and the Crucifixion scene were filmed on a windswept plain just outside Cape Town. Also the Meggido scenes. The entire village used for the scene with War causing mayhem in an african village is in fact a set, built on scrubland over a sand mine just outside Cape Town. The French Revolution scene wa shot on a set that had been used twenty-four hours earlier for the scene in Ancient Rome. Famine visiting a burger place with Elvis was shot on a set in Cape Town. Also some scene's in Anathema's cottage with Anathema and Newt.
SEASON 2
Most of season 2 has been shot inside the film studio in Bathgate (f.e. the whole Soho has been built there), the Hell in S2 has been shot in an old disused factory (not specififed which one). The shots of the Edinburgh castle have been shot from the top of the The Caledonian hotel.
Edinburgh:
Crowley and Shax in St James's Park (S02E01) – Inverleith Park, Edinburgh
Scene: Crowley and Shax meet to discuss the news in St James's Park – the scene though was actually filmed in Scotland.
Availability (as of 2024): All day
Link on the map
The place where Crowley parks the Bentley (S02E01, S02E02) – Circus Lane, Edinburgh
Scene: The place Crowley goes to to park the Bentley and sleep there
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
AC and Elspeth in Edinburgh (S02E03) - Moray Place, Edinburgh
Scene: Aziraphale, Crowley and Elspeth are taking the first "pickled herring" to be sold, Aziraphale and Crowley are debating good and evil
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
Detective Aziraphale parks the Bentley (S02E03) – Victoria Street, Edinburgh
Scene: Aziraphale arrives in the Bentley and happily goes to investigate
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
The Resurrectionist (S02E03, S02E06) - Cask and Barrel, Edinburgh
Scene: Aziraphale goes to investigate to The Resurrectionist bar (also in Gabriel's memories with Beelzebub) – filmed in the Cask and Barrel bar
Availability (as of 2024): outside all day, inside 12-24, Fri-Sat 12-1
Link on the map
Stirling:
Edinburgh cementery (S02E03) - Old Town Cemetery, Stirling
Scene: The cemetery in episode 3 was filmed at the Stirling cemetery (grave, some gravestones, Gabriel's statue and the crypt has been added by the crew for the shooting)
Availability (as of 2024): all day
Link on the map
AC and Elspeth going through Edinburgh (S02E03) – Broad Street, Stirling
Scene: Aziraphale, Crowley and Elspeth going through Edinburgh while Aziraphale is trying to persuade her that she could do something else
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
Meeting Wee Morag (S02E03) - Mar's Wark, Stirling
Scene: The small corridor behind the gate where Wee Morag is staying
Availability (as of 2024): The front all day, the corridor if not through the gate then hopefully from the other side
Link on the map
Others in Scotland:
AC drinking whiskey with Mr Darlymple and the corridor to Mr Darlymple (S02E03) – Hopetoun House, Queensferry
Scene: Aziraphale and Crowley drinking whisky with Mr Darlymple while he explains why he needs fresh dead bodies also at the house has been filmed the corridor reading to Mr Darlymple
Availability (as of 2024): Hopetoun is visitable, Friday 29 March 2024 to Sunday 29 September 2024 Open 5 days per week (Thursday – Monday) from 11am to 5pm, £13.50 for an adult ticket for House and Grounds (to see both), or £13.50 for Grounds (to see the corridor)
Link on the map
The Windmill Theatre in 1941 (S02E04) - Hippodrome Cinema, Bo'ness
Scene: The theatre that Crowley delivered the broken alcohol to and Aziraphale performed the bullet catch
Availability (as of 2024): You can visit the cinema for a movie or an event https://www.hippodromecinema.co.uk/whats-on/
Link on the map
Soho and more (S2) - The Pyramids Studio, Bathgate
Scene: The S2 Soho has been built in the Bathgate studio, also there were built and shot many other scenes
Availability (as of 2024): It is not available to visit for public
Link on the map
London:
Possibly only streets were filmed and the Bentley was added with VFX.
C on the way to A after A calls him (S02E01) - Wardour Street, London
Scene: Crowley on the way to Aziraphale after Aziraphale calls him (to tell him about Gabriel)
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
C rushing to A after Beelzebub's visit (S02E01) - Regent Street St James's, London
Scene: Crowley rushing to Aziraphale after Beelzebub told with that anyone who will be find helping Gabriel will be dealt with extreme sanctions
Availability (as of 2024): street all day
Link on the map
Whew! This masterpost took me several weeks, hope you enjoyed it and it might help you plan your trip to see the Good Omens places! :) ❤ 🐍😊 Wahoo! :)
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I bought Aziraphale's Bible so you don't have to.
Am I insane? Yes. Was it worth it? Maybe.
In most* of both season 1 and season 2 of GO, there's a very specific Bible on a bookstand next to Aziraphale's desk. It's a vintage illustrated plate book by Harold Copping, known as the Harold Copping Bible, published by the religious tract society in London in 1910. It features some of the most well known Old Testament stories, summarized and annotated by the Bishop of Durham at the time, and illustrated by Copping, who was freshly returned from a sojourn in the middle east. Ironically, It was meant as a lay-person's version of a comic book, short, exciting by use of exotic illustrations, and easy to read.
But my (expensive) gain is now your gain! As I've collected here every visible page in both seasons for your reading and viewing pleasure.
Season 1: All episodes
Adam & Eve
Genesis iii (1:3) / HCB page 10
Season 2: Episode 1
Joseph known to his brethren
Genesis xlv (1:45) / HCB Page 28
S2E1 14:21, S2E1 17:41, S2E1 39:45
Season 2: Episode 2
Jacob's vow
Genesis xxviii (1:28) / HCB Page 22
S2E2 5:49
Season 2: Episode 2
Joseph known to his brethren
Genesis xlv (1:45) / HCB Page 28
S2E2 13:38 (see S2E1 above)
Season 2: Episode 2
The Brazen Serpent
Numbers xxi (4:21) / HCB page 36
S2E2 16:12, 43:40
Season 2: Episode 2*
Bible on the desk, Magazine on the stand
Annuel L'art Pour Tous, Cover (1861-1880 most likely)
S2E2 22:10
The French L'art pour tous industrial design periodical will have to be a story for another post. For now, just enjoy this 1880 edition copperplate of cherubs discovering a microscope...
Season 2: Episode 2
Imaginary page from HCB, Job
KJV Job (18:1) / HCB N/A
S2E2 22:29, S2E2 40:05
Obviously, the plate illustrations and text look different here than in the real bible, because they were created for the show. But there are a few more particularities here. For one, this layout with the thin grid around the text, as well as the paragraph symbol next to the first title, indicate that this would have been a printer's proof copy, not a finished book. It shows you the layout grid and can be annotated for changes. Second, there seems to be a war going on between fonts. Where the "chapter" of Job begins, we get a font and a style similar to the original bible, which gets rudely interrupted by a dropped capital (from the real book) and a Gothic-style font/verse numbers like in the original King James version of the printed Bible.
Season 2: Episode 3
The Brazen Serpent
NUMBERS xxi (4:21) / HCB page 36
S2E3 1:18 (see episode 2)
Season 2: Episode 5
By the Rivers of Babylon
Pslam cxxxvii (19:137) / HCB page 52
S2E5 21:20
Season 2: Episode 6
Bible missing, L'art pour Tous on the stand
Annuel L'art Pour Tous, Cover (1861-1880 most likely)
S2E6 10:21, 17:21, 18:15, 34:28 (see episode 2)
Season 2: Episode 6
Closed HCB, L'art pour Tous on the stand behind
HCB page 0
S2E6 37:58, 44:20, 48:08
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