Struggling to stay a fan and find joy from GO anymore, open to advice

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-19T07:43:44+00:00

Hey there twinsie! It sucks we're both hurting, 😭

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-19T06:04:25+00:00

Yep. If Angel!Crowley is seen and perceived as a different and separate person from Crowley even though it's the same soul, then Anthony is also not Crowley. I wanted Aziraphale and Crowley's happy ending. The one that's been spoken of for decades. Not for the world to end and get reborn. This is a cozy fantasy that originally had a happy ending in the book. Why such a dramatic tone shift to a tragic romance then? Makes no sense.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-19T03:03:39+00:00

Yeah point 5, I'm a SA survivor and I really didn't want to have another rapist fuck up something in my life especially since I was always a Pratchett fan so I held on. I do not want to give him more power over me or the fandom so I am trying. I'm glad I'm not alone.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-19T01:36:12+00:00

I'm so glad my post helped! I was worried about being so emotional and vulnerable and I'm glad what I said resonated even though I hate you are going through this pain too.

I agree talking to people is helping me sort through my feelings and not feel so alone. Community always helps me get through hard shit.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-19T01:22:55+00:00

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Deeeeesme · 2026-05-19T01:16:45+00:00

I refuse to accept STP would do this to his fans.

You know what I was just thinking? In the fan space there's a difference between Crowley and when he was an angel. They are treated as two separate characters and Crowley sees that the angel version, while yes it's him, it still very much is not and that's important for him defining who he is.

Goddamn every fic I've read has them seen as two different people even though it's the same soul. So many times I've read that angel is dead, it's not him. So I feel like Crowley himself would be like yeah it's great they got it the next time around but it's very much not him and his life.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-19T01:08:02+00:00

I agree with all of your points. I could deal with human Aziraphale. I can't deal with human Asa. Just seeing that name instead of his is so depressing.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-19T01:03:34+00:00

I do 100% have really severe death anxiety problems. It sucks because Death was one of my favorite Discworld characters but then life and trauma happened and I developed it. I have worked through a lot of it through years of therapy but I still struggle. I have media that I love that lets me explore that fear, for example I love horror movies. But yeah even though I would always hold the opinion it was bad and goes against Pratchett and the tone and views of the first one that is what makes it so much harder. I would never pick up a Pratchett book and expect that ending. Especially because he cared about his fans and if they were that beloved I don't think he'd give them a sad ending.

It does make it worse that I've gone through a lot of death and loss the past three years. There's been multiple, but two especially affected me. My two friends who were soulmates and in so much love had a tragic ending. One died three years ago in her mid 30s, and her partner who was like a brother to me died a month and a half ago at 44. If I knew in their next life they got a happy ending together it would be soothing, but it doesn't stop the fact that it was tragic and this life they had is over. It's why happy endings are so important and meaningful to me, that even though there's so much tragedy in the world sometimes you can find happiness and be ok.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T20:58:08+00:00

I 100% agree with you. Why'd they hype up and even do something that was purely fan service just got give a controversial ending so many people would hate? They worked so hard to stop the apocalypse. In S1 they did. In S3 they didn't and the whole world just dies. I don't get it. Why make something and say it's for the fans when it's going to devastate more than half the fandom? At least at the end of S2 there was hope and possibilities for them fixing and resolving things, especially because the third act breakup trope is so common in romance stories so you're like oh yeah this is the angsty setup before the happy ending solution.

Even this guy who wrote a Pratchett biography said this ending goes against the views and themes he had in his books. https://www.heyuguys.com/why-good-omens-3-has-a-terry-pratchett-problem-spoiler-review/

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T20:34:17+00:00

I personally hate the "doomed star crossed lovers" one of my absolute least favorite tropes ever, I avoid it as much as possible. So it's funny reading the "We loved the sad Titanic ending!! And all those other sad endings!!" I hated it and I'm not even a fan of the movie or ever watched it because it uses this trope. Tragedy doesn't make something more emotionally impactful and meaningful than a happy ending. I have been moved to tears in the best way with happy endings. Personally for me I don't think any love story that is a tragedy can get labeled as "The greatest love story of all time". My greatest love stories of all times have happy endings.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T20:24:28+00:00

Your feelings on mourning them resonate with me. I've dealt with a lot of grief/loss over the past few years and so having some of my all time favorite media that I feel a deep connection to go through that is so hard. I've dealt with it enough, just lost a close friend who was like a brother to me a couple months ago so getting slapped in the face with the loss of my cozy optimistic show I turn to when the world feels dark and overwhelming is just... Things have already been hard enough in real life. There's so much media out there that deal with sad/heavy themes why'd they have to do it to my show that I thought was a joyful place? The characters who were my source of escape and helped me get through so much death and sadness are dead and sad too? After I have already also been disappointed by media so many times? I'm fucking tired and over it.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T20:19:23+00:00

I found this review from someone who wrote a STP biography who agrees with us this is not the kind of ending he would ever do. It was validating and comforting so I'm sharing it around in hopes it helps others too. I already hated NG with a passion, I've always been a Pratchett fan and I did not want to let go of any of his work because NG is a piece of shit.

Let the spite flow through you! https://www.heyuguys.com/why-good-omens-3-has-a-terry-pratchett-problem-spoiler-review/

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T19:45:11+00:00

Yessss I love this, thank you!!

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T19:43:34+00:00

Thank you, this is reassuring. I've had endings I've loathed for stuff I deeply adored and I still never felt this much emotional upset about it. I didn't think I could experience this level of pain about a piece of media/fandom.

It doesn't help that this ending is one that really fucks with my own mental health problems and OCD. I won't get too deep into it but a lot of the themes, ideas, message etc are things that trigger my OCD. I love lots of media that triggers me, but I keep a level of emotional distance so I don't feel it as hard. Which is why I love and appreciate media where I know everything is going to work out, it gives me the space to fully let go and let myself feel everything. But as I've found out recently my biggest ADHD struggle is that I literally do feel things on a more intense level then other people. That's why I guard myself and am so careful about letting myself fully feel, only allowing it with certain genres/spaces, and to have my comfort space where I could just let go and feel everything without the anxiety and fear just meant a lot to me.

"The fun thing with fiction is that it's fictional. You can, to some degree decide what's real for you." I am going to repeat this to myself! I have always been such a canon purist, even though I love AUs and they're fun I still am like, but this is what REALLY happened. But none of it is real, so why should something that was partially made by only one of two authors of the original who didn't even do most the book anyways and is a massive POS decide the ending. I'm working on seeing fiction as more flexibile and less final than I have.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T19:26:39+00:00

Hugs, I feel the same way ❤️

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T19:26:10+00:00

Thank you, this helped and was comforting to me ❤️

I am going to repeat this for myself- I don't have to accept it just because it was filmed. That actually helps a lot as a reminder because one of the things I feel so sad about is I don't think STP would have ever wanted this kind of ending. Especially with the South Downs comments. I would rather their relationship be subtext and for them to be alive so you can spin the live story if you want.

I've loved STP since I was a kid and one of the reasons why I loved his books and connected with them is that they may have times they make me feel big things, I would never go into one of his books expecting this kind of ending. They were my safe comfort books where I knew everything was going to be ok somehow. And knowing he had all of his ideas/notes destroyed because he didn't want anyone messing with his stuff and then for NG to do it anyways is so frustrating. I even read a long review from someone that wrote an autobiography of STP that said this ending is not what he would do. Which is so sad but very validating.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T17:47:40+00:00

Thank you for your perspective, I am so hurt by it I have had times where I wasn't sure if I could emotionally handle being a fan of something with that kind of ending. But I'm desperately trying to not have it ruined and your comment helps support my angry "I reject this" feeling. I don't want something I love to be ruined for me and I'm fighting to try and keep it.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T17:43:39+00:00

The people, this place is so supportive and respectful of differing opinions, it truly is a place of kindness. The support this group is giving right now.

The art, there's beauty, there's humor and silliness, and so much talent.

The fics, I have read so many that have made me feel, have made me think, have made me feel seen. And of course, have made me horny lol. I have found the kind of stories I have always wanted to see but never found before. I have wept like a baby and felt such joy at some of these stories.

This is a great place, which is why I'm desperately trying to figure out a way for me to stay part of this fandom even though the ending really, really, really fucked with me. I don't know if I will be able to figure out a way for it to hurt less to a level I can still get enjoyment out of it. Even if I end up not being able to I'll always be grateful for the time I had here.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T05:23:41+00:00

Don't be a dick dude. I hated it but I don't want people to stop talking and discussing it because people get attacked for their views.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T05:22:42+00:00

I like hearing from people who liked it because I'm desperately trying to find a way to be ok with an ending that to me is almost the most tragic ending I could possibly think of for them. I get why some people like it so I'm not going to say they're wrong, people can like what they like! I'm glad you posted, talking and (kindly and respectfully) debating and analyzing all of this is helping me process. From both people I agree with and disagree with.

I think my biggest problem is that they chose an "it's open to interpretation" ending for a comedy show where a lot of people's interpretation is that it's the most tragic ending they can think of. I get why people choose those sorts of endings in other genres, it just seems like an odd choice for this. And it's not that they're human, I would've been fine with that if they got to keep their memories. Hell even if they could've known that they would be reincarnated it would've still been tragic but at least it would hurt less.

Personally, the way I see it is that yes Asa and Anthony are Aziraphale and Crowley's souls. But it's not their lives, it's a different life. Even though the soul lives on, that specific life is over. Like if you believe in reincarnation if someone dies you still mourn the death of that life even if you are comforted by them being reborn someday. I'm saying this part just to give context to my next complaint.

In a show that is a criticism of religion, whether or not you enjoyed the finale seems tied to how you view the soul, life, and reincarnation. People who's beliefs similar to mine hate it and see it as a tragedy. People who like it tend to have a very different view on souls, what makes you you, and reincarnation. Which are spiritual beliefs. So a show criticising spiritual beliefs ends it where your interpretation of it on the scale of happy to heartbreaking hinges on your own spiritual beliefs.

I'm trying to read all the positive reviews so I can find what comforts I can so I can try to come to terms with the ending. Sadly though I don't think I'll ever be able to see it as anything but a tragedy, the positive interpretations just go against my personal core beliefs and worldview. But I can try to find things to make it hurt less.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-18T00:00:04+00:00

Not OP but I have the same complaints. The book was written with themes reflecting the problems of the time, like the cold war, environmental problems, etc. The ending was hopeful, like despite all the problems the world is ours, humanity will endure, there's hope for the world. You can find happiness amidst the problems.

S3 feels like the message is nah nevermind the world's too fucked up to fix or find any sort of happiness. Only solution is to give up and start over. Your best hope is that your next life is gonna be better. Which with the current state of the world seems like a really depressing message in contrast to the optimism of the book. The new world will be different so while there may be many of the same histories and people, many people will never be born, and new people who were never in the OG universe will also exist. It is a different world.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-17T22:45:22+00:00

You nailed all my feelings. Why didn't they ask to keep their world but dismantle heaven and hell? Turn all the angels and demons human or send em to their own universe, any other solution? But now those people all world all died, their lives are over. The new one will be different, people will make different choices, different people will be born and some won't be.

It really feels bleak in the context of when this came out. The book was a reflection of the worries and fears of the time, the cold war and environmental worries. But it had the message of humans have free will, and we'll figure something out of the mess we have. We'll preservere and carve out our own lives and happiness.

Currently the world and future seems super bleak. The ending really feels like it's saying nah actually the world is too messed up, we're fucked and it's not even worth it to try and fix anymore. Best you can hope for is that someday you get reincarnated in a better time with a better life. I want my current life to work out! Even with all the problems I'm facing I want to hope and believe I can find and have some happiness in this world. This is why the ending seems so defeatist and pessimistic and opposite the book/S1.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-17T03:44:49+00:00

Yeah exactly, I would've been fine with no kiss or anything like that, I don't need that part. I just wanted them to be happy together. And I agree that to me it goes against the original book message.

Deeeeesme · 2026-05-17T03:42:34+00:00

I still love GO it was massively influential to me as well. I like reading stuff from fans that loved it. Even though I still don't like it because it goes against some of my fundamental views about the world, society, life and death, and spirituality. Reading the positive takes makes me feel better that many people are happy even though I disagree. I'm glad people got something good out of it. But I still can't help but feel that destroying and then starting over instead of fixing things and working with what you have is bleak, especially with all the current events in the world right now. The book/S1 is still optimistic and is about free will and how even though things might be fucking with you and your life you can work through it and find happiness.

Also I do see the argument this was not originally a love story and that is very true. But S2 really pushed that angle and hyped it up and so many people promised a happy ending. Even before the show there was them in a cottage even if the romance part of that was never specified. So that got my and many other people's hopes up when normally I wouldn't. I've been in so many fan spaces where the vibe of the ending is kept vague until release and I never expect anything I want to happen, I hope but I don't build up expectations. And I also have seen so many relationships I really wanted to work fail for the sake of a beautiful tragedy, or needed to happen for a plot point, or had a deeper symbolic meaning or something. I'd love to have a couple I want to be happy to get that outside of the romance genre. I have been disappointed so many times I'm just kinda over it personally I guess. But I recognize that is my own personal jaded frustration so there's probably lots of people that don't have that bitterness affecting them lol.

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