Good Omens: So Good, People Want it Off “Netflix”

So, I just finished watching Good Omens on Amazon and was about to sit down and write a review for the series, and we’ll get to that, but first, this little bit of news from the Guardian:

More than 20,000 Christians have signed a petition calling for the cancellation of Good Omens, the television series adapted from Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s 1990 fantasy novel – unfortunately addressing their petition to Netflix when the series is made by Amazon Prime.

That’s right, another petition to remove a show, but unlike the angry Game of Thrones fans, the US Foundation for a Christian Civilisation’s Return to Order campaign didn’t even know what streaming service the program they hated so much was on. So now, 20,000 Christians are flooding Netflix with angry letters about how Good Omens is “another step to make satanism appear normal, light and acceptable”, and “mocks God’s wisdom.”

And, of course, since it exists, they have to watch Good Omens, right?

Good Omens Boycott Responses

Of course, Neil Gaiman himself weighed in:

And Amazon got in on the fun too:

Hey @netflix, we’ll cancel Stranger Things if you cancel Good Omens. 😉 https://t.co/EJPmi9rL7g

— Amazon Prime Video US (@PrimeVideo) June 20, 2019

But also, Christians who don’t sin-to-sin about the Good Omens complaints:

Theologically conservative pastor here…I LOVE GOOD OMENS! Amazing adaptation. Gave my current copy of the book to one of our pastoral interns. I apologize for my ignorant brothers and sisters. Jesus said it best: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”

— Jason P. Franklin (@haronniin) June 20, 2019

Another christian here. God is love, Pratchett is love, and Good Omen is LOVE. Thanks, Neil for a great job on your own and making master Terry back. Just crying of pure happiness with the end

— Rafa del Río (@Rafa_SK1) June 20, 2019

And my personal favorite:

Speaking as a Longtime Christian Minister – I’m sorry that so many “Christians” are turds. Carry on.

— Wendy Fambro (@Wendydabbles) June 20, 2019

It’s Just a Story

Not only that, Good Omens is a fantasy, and as some of the people above not only see that, but praise what the book and show do offer. But this is what many Christians do—they pick and choose. They do it with the Bible, but also with pop culture of any era. So while Lord of the Rings is okay because JRR Tolkien was a Catholic (even though he clarified numerous times his books were not), Good Omens is evil because…reasons? The two texts, as different as they are, are remarkably similar. Both pieces are about the importance of friendship. Saying Good Omens promotes Satanism is like saying Lord of the Rings promotes Orc Culture.

Reviewing Good Omens

Like I said before, I was about to review the show before I stumbled across this bit of news. So, here’s the review.

Good Omens is a damned fine show. See why I did there? Damned fine? Oh, we have fun here.

Roman Colombo finished his MFA in 2010 and now teaches writing and graphic novel literature at various Philadelphia colleges. His first novel, Trading Saints for Sinners, was published in 2014. He's currently working on his next novel and hoping to find an agent soon.