While this episode is plenty entertaining, the plot is a bit odd. It manages to give the impression of a lot happening in the present-day storyline, but with very little in the way of true forward momentum. Despite that, it is very genuinely fun to watch, and like episode 2, its extended flashback “minisode” takes pride of place.
Aziraphale is bound and determined to go on a fact-finding mission to Edinburgh, because a pub jukebox there is the one lead on his Buddy Holly clue from the last episode. Having cajoled Crowley into minding the bookshop, Gabriel, and the pair of humans who are meant to be falling in love, Aziraphale sets off in search of answers. The flashback also takes place in Edinburgh, where Crowley and Aziraphale come upon a young 19th-century grave robber.
As I said, despite a lot of flutter in the present day—including undercover angels, a cross-country road trip, and a demonically created rainstorm—we don’t actually get much closer to learning about what’s going on with Gabriel or how our ineffable duo can solve it before all the forces of Heaven and Hell come crashing down on them.
But these scenes do feature some positively delightful bits. My favorite is the scene where the angel Muriel comes to Earth to investigate Aziraphale’s supposed falling-in-love miracle. Dressed in a celestial white constable uniform, they cheerfully attempt to pose as a police offer but are 1) so clueless about Earth/humans and 2) so delightfully innocent and trusting that their efforts are pretty laughable. Aziraphale’s interactions with Muriel are so sweet, gently coaching them as they try to investigate him. When they show up on his doorstep declaring, “I’m a human police officer,” Aziraphale indulgently answers, “I thought you probably were.” As which point, Muriel breaks into a beatific smile and asks, “Did you, really?” It’s utterly cute, and I love it.
Of course, Aziraphale’s one to talk. When he goes to Edinburgh, he himself poses as a “newspaper man,” complete with a silly outfit, notepad, and hackneyed slang. When he asks if he’s arrived at the pub he’s looking for, standing in front of its name printed in huge letters, the bartender drawls, “You’re one of those investigative reporters, no doubt?” And Aziraphale is every bit as pleased as Muriel when he answers back, “I am!”
The flashbacks concern Mr. Dalrymple, a surgeon who pays the poor for fresh cadavers he can use to study human anatomy. When Aziraphale and Crowley happen upon young Elspeth disturbing a fresh grave to do just that, Aziraphale endeavors to teach her the error of her ways in the hopes that she’ll choose the right path.
What’s interesting about Crowley in the flashbacks is seeing how little interest he has in tempting the humans. He’s not indifferent to them—when Dalrymple notes that the only cadavers he can get without stealing them are hanged murderers, Crowley responds with relish, “Excellent idea. More murders! I’ll drink to that”—but he’s far more interested in getting Aziraphale to view the situation in grayer terms. When Aziraphale argues that all humans have the same “choice” to be good or wicked, Crowley counters, “That only works if you start everybody off equally.” Throughout these sequences, his chief focus is on shaking the angel’s unwavering belief in absolute right or wrong.
Meanwhile, David Tennant is plenty of fun in the present-day scenes. While Aziraphale quietly encourages Muriel in their police officer disguise, Crowley goes along with the charade in a more overtly mocking way. He plays on Muriel’s ignorance of humans and enjoys watching them flail when he causally asks, “First visit to Earth, by any chance?” I also love seeing Crowley stuck at the bookshop while Aziraphale drives his precious Bentley to Edinburgh. Not once, but twice, he throws an enormous stack of books he’s holding aside when something else catches his interest—it’s such a cartoony action, but Tennant’s physical performance keeps it from feeling fake. Finally, he has an excellent phone exchange with Aziraphale where the angel worries that Crowley might actually be selling books to people (Aziraphale loves having a bookshop, but he hates the thought of parting with his books too much to actually run it.) Even when they’re in separate settings and just talking to each other on the phone, Tennant and Michael Sheen’s chemistry is impeccable.
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