#method acting by falling in love with david tennant
Michael Sheen didn’t make Aziraphale the gayest character of all time just for y'all to claim there is no queer representation in Good Omens.
Signed, sealed, and notarized, 100%. And this…
I alluded to this somewhat in the tags on my GO/OFMD discourse postthe other day, but honestly I am flummoxed at how little credit Michael seems to be getting for making Aziraphale and GO incredibly, unbelievably, Cher-performing-on-Fire-Island levels of gay. Every look, every gesture, every glance he gave Crowley/David was beyondintentional.
And it goes so much further than Michael just playing a role, because time and again he has said how there is a part of him in every role he plays, so it’s hard not to see a parallel between the queerness in Good Omens and Michael’s personal journey with his own sexuality. He’s talkedfrequentlyabout his attractions to men growing up, and about not being sure of where the line is between him and Aziraphale, as well as how his entire characterization of Aziraphale was and is tied to David being there as Crowley.
It’s that relationship and that connection that enabled Michael to bring Aziraphale to life the way he did, and is a vital part of why his portrayal is so unique and makes GO as special as it is. As much as I enjoyed OFMD–and by no means am I shading the queer rep we got there–for me, the kiss between Ed and Stede didn’t have nearly the same passion and intensity found in just a single look that Aziraphale gave to Crowley. It’s because there was not an overt physical expression of affection between them in the first season that Michael had to put every scrap of longing, every ounce of love, desire, uncertainty, affection, and passion into his expressions and gestures, and he did so with uncontrollable aplomb. And I think maybe he did it because some part of him understood and related to that from his own life.
It’s also the difference between acting and being, in pulling out a piece of your soul and sharing it on screen for everyone to see, revealing a part of yourself that you’ve always kept hidden, or had no other way to express. And that is what I think Michael has done with the role of Aziraphale (well, with all the queer roles he’s played, but especiallyAziraphale): He is telling us not just who this character is, but also telling us who he is.
So yes, that queer representation is absolutelyin Good Omens, and Michael’s depiction of Aziraphale is a completely massive part of that and deserves far more recognition than it seems to currently be getting. And, I for one, cannot wait to see what he will be doing in season 2…
