Is there an asexual relationship in Good Omens? | Slice of Ace

[@fareth7950]

Thank you for the video! I'm so glad that you see their relationship the exact same way I do! I'm 300% convinced that they're in a queerplatonic relationship, even though most of the internet seems to disagree. Us aroaces need some representation in media, and this relationship is written perfectly for an interpretation as queerplatonic. May I add, Neil Gaiman replied to a tweet where he was being asked if Crowley and Aziraphale are gay with "I wouldn't exclude the ideas that they are ace, or aromantic, or trans. They are an angel and a demon, not as make humans, per the book. Occult/Ethereal beings don't have sexes, something we tried to reflect in the casting. Whatever Crowley and Aziraphale are, it's a love story." I think the ideas that we have of sex and romance are constructed by society, and since both Crowley and Aziraphale are far older than these concepts, even if they're being called out for having become too human, they wouldn't really have been affected by these concepts. What they definitely have is love, in no specific form, that due to their 6000 year history with each other probably transcends what humans can comprehend. And, on an even more personal note, I read a lot of fanfic. The idea of those two being in a romantic relationship with each other feels so wrong to me that I literally cannot read any stories where their relationship is romantic because it gives me really bad anxiety. Ok I'm done rambling, hope you have a great day!!

[@SliceOfAce]

You have a great day too, and thanks for the comment 😆

[@RumpleGold]

See it upsets me that they’re considered Aro ace because of what Neil said , they’re an angel and a demon , they don’t have a sexuality or gender . I feel like the whole internet is missing the point and it hurts that as someone whose trying to find my humanity with my inability to love , an angel and a demon being called representation doesn’t help me prove we’re human

[@SliceOfAce]

@@RumpleGold I'm sorry you feel that by people considering the characters aro ace, they are implying that aros aren't human, but I'm certain that isn't their intention. It certainly isn't mine, because aros are awesome and I have a bunch of aro ace friends! I think people like the characters and are happy that they can find representation in them. At least that's how I see it

[@fareth7950]

@@RumpleGold Hi there! A few points, just to underline and/or explain what I said. First of all, I'm very sorry to hear that you're struggling with your identity, and I hope you'll find a way to accept yourself! Now, I (and many other people) don't see them as aroace because of what Neil said, but because it makes sense. The vibes, so to say, are just right. Yes, they have neither a gender nor a sex, as has been stated by Neil and the novel. However, that does not mean we're not allowed to try describing them and their experiences in human terms. And in my personal headcanon, they are aroace. I'm not saying that's how you have to see it. As for the representation part, they're representation for whatever you want them to be, because canon has given us enough room for interpretation. Throughout the series, they're repeatedly criticized by others for being too human, so I wouldn't necessarily say they're bad representation because they're not human. To me, they are pretty human. Lastly, you don't have to prove anything to anyone, and your humanity has nothing to do with who or how you love. And in case that right now you feel like you don't have any love in you, I'm sending a whole lot of it your way :D

[@boybreakdowns]

3:05 When I read the book, I thought that meant physically. Like, they have a gender but no male or female chromosomes, and they just identify as male, female, or other.

[@bacul165]

There is this scene where Aziraphal says "you're a demon, Crowley!" and he answers - quite agitated "What else would I be? An AARDVARK?" Then I googled that the aardvark can be a kind of mascot for aromantics. I don't know what to make of that...

[@daffy8995]

In the book it says "Angels are sexless unless they specifically make an effort."

[@SliceOfAce]

Interesting...

[@daffy8995]

@@SliceOfAce I don't know if you removed it or if youtube did, but I linked an article that discusses why Neil Gaiman has refused to label them as "gay." I thought it was a good article and interview.

[@SliceOfAce]

@@daffy8995 Oh no, it wasn't me! I guess that must have been an automated KZbin thing then...

[@sabrinusglaucomys]

As a sex-neutral person I really enjoy the phrase "sexless unless they specifically make an effort" even though I know it's probably referring to anatomy lol.

[@MadameQuackers]

I love the headcanon that these two are asexual homoromantic! Season 2 just really digs into it

[@boybreakdowns]

So I have read the book (& pretty much memorized it lol) but I haven't watched the series. IDK if this is mentioned in the show, but in the book, it says that most people assume Aziraphale is "gayer than a treeful of monkeys on nitrous oxide". Also, someone calls him the f-slur at one point. I just wanted to mention those parts of the book as possible clue-ins to Aziraphale's sexuality.

[@51stcenturygirl]

I think that is the same paragraph that contains to say that angels are sexless unless they make an effort, tho.

[@OmegaRed9]

I really enjoyed the video. I think the question that naturally follows is, "even if we conclude that characters in a series are Ace-spec or Aro-spec but are not explicitly stated as so, should we give the show credit for representation?"

[@tieflingcorpse9817]

Keith Derrick I think that depends on why they didn't make it as explicit and only implied it. Is it because the director didn't want to do that or is it cus the platform didn't want the director to do that (like how the director of adventure time wanted marceline and bubblegum to be gay for each other but cartoon network said no) if it's the ladder then give credit to the director but not the platform if it's the former than give neither credit

[@chlo_xo333]

Well there's still potential for another season so I think we should wait we should have least give credit to Michael and David

[@radiationshepherd]

I was totally thinking of this very thing when watching that show.

[@Nuriawall555]

I think you completely missed the meaning of "angels are 'sexless'". I think it means something along the lines of agender. Angels in media, especially anime(go watch Black Butler, it's great), are usually portrayed as androgynous, not being male or female but being able to appear as either if so desired.

[@ieahleen678]

the show runner said they specifically wrote the story as a romantic story

[@stephanieking4444]

I really love the book and series. the fact that a very meaningful, strong, friendship is at the very centre of the story is very important to me. I value friendship, it's poorly defined and misrepresented by society. What most people refer to as 'having friends' is actually just having good acquaintances. A friend is so much more than an acquaintance. A friend is not less important or prominent than a partner. Friendship is just a different kind of love. Don't label it 'platonic relationship'. A 'platonic relationship' involves only two people and is based on the same exclusive model as the traditional couple notion. Friendship can involve many. All of equal importance.

[@51stcenturygirl]

This! It's mental how people devaluate friendships.😢

[@valeriearmegedon9040]

Hey there! I have a question. Is there any other show that you'd like to cover for ace representation? Or, could anybody recommend one? Because, one show that is somewhat Similar is Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. They have somewhat the same style and humor. And, it feels like the main character, Dirk Gently, sounds like he could be Asexual. At least, to me.

[@SliceOfAce]

Yeah, of course I take recommendations. Hmm, I have watched Dirk Gently, and I can see what you're getting at, but I don't think that it was explicit enough for it to be a clear cut case of ace representation

[@valeriearmegedon9040]

@@SliceOfAce Okay! I understand!

[@lady8303]

Since they're not humans, I never feel right judging them by human logics. I love the idea of an platonic friendship, you don't need to have romance or sex to love someone, and for me they love each other as much as they love the world. Of course, I felt really connected to them because the type of friendship they have is literally my ideal relationship. I don't mind people romanticizing them, but when you have someone like Aziraphale and Crowley have each other, they become family. It's kinda beyond our understanding as beings that live around 80 or 90 years and all this time for them maybe it will look like seconds. On top of that, humanity changes so fast for them, Aziraphale barely can deal with all the fast changes. When he said to Crowley " you go too fast" I felt it's kinda this the meaning. He wasn't ready to change, to defy everything he knows, he tried to have faith in the angels until it was almost too late. And because Crowley know him so well, even when he was rejected he still came back everytime cuz they only have each other to share the world. And this is more than enough.

[@phyllismartin674]

Thank you for your unique perspective

[@hcstubbs3290]

I think what Gaiman means by sexless is biologically sexless - great video though

[@51stcenturygirl]

Thank you for this video. I always saw them as really close friendship and I was so happy that it got so much weight in fiction that is not aimed at children. But of course, allosexuals have to turn everything sexual🙄

[@susannah3982]

In my opinion, I think that's just a human thing. We can only see the world through our own perspectives, and I've definitely caught myself interpreting several characters as asexual that might not have been - likely because that's what I hope they are. I picture allosexuals doing the same thing. Not sexualizing characters just for the sake of it, but because through their lens, that's what they want to see. Basically, I think we often mold characters according to our own worldviews so we can relate to them better. And since allosexuals are the majority of humans, sex becomes extremely prevalent and pervasive in media and its interpretations. Personally, I interpreted the relationship between Aziraphale and Crowley as a QPR watching the series, but as friends in the book.

[@ArtistAtPlay]

Correct me if I'm wrong, it's been a while since I read it, but didn't the book specifically say Aziraphal was asexual?

[@annakobuk3618]

I've never understand fandoms and their urge to ship everyone.

[@Ranahi_Itma]

I dont consider them as romantic, Because for me, unless the author/writer says so, just because you "ship" two people, in other words, fantasize about them being together does not make it canon. I think what the author was doing is that they were portraying these two beings that are completely opposite from each other have a meaningful friendship. I work with children, and when I see Crowley and Aziraphale worry and mostly bicker at each other, they remind me of a sibling relationship. It's kinda funny, though. When I was a kid and I see two very attractive (straight) characters do something nice like holding a door for them or bringing them food. I would always say: yeah... Those two will end up together. (And when they do) yep. Called it. Because it's the norm for two main characters to end up in a romantic relationship and in more mature circumstances, a highly sexual one. Nowadays since people are rooting for more gay/lesbian representation. Now they think: She's hot and she's hot. He's hot and he's hot. They have to end up together!~ (And when they do) Yep. Called it. Just goes to show how hypersexualized the media is.

[@hanaronato4477]

I know one of the main things is that they can pee but their genitals cannot be aroused? According to a Pastor I asked once! 😅😂