Does Aziraphale love Crowley in “Good Omens?”

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The relationship between the angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley in Amazon's 'Good Omens' has captivated audiences since its inception, generating myriad questions around its nature and depth. Perhaps the most pervasive and all-encompassing question centers on the angelic half of the pair, Aziraphale, and whether he genuinely harbors love for his demonic counterpart, Crowley. To delve into this, let's take a Socratic approach, posing and answering questions while critically examining the evidence.

Does Aziraphale Love Crowley? Evidence and Inference:

The question itself presupposes the concept of love being translatable to celestial beings such as Aziraphale and Crowley. Given their human-like behaviors and emotions in the series, it seems reasonable to infer that they can indeed experience love or its celestial equivalent.

Throughout the series, particularly in season 2, Aziraphale frequently exhibits concern for Crowley's wellbeing. When Gabriel loses his memory and Heaven and Hell threaten anyone found aiding the archangel, Aziraphale risks it all to hide Gabriel and safeguard Crowley. He also actively seeks to discover what happened to Gabriel, largely to protect Crowley from potential danger. These actions underscore Aziraphale's deep-rooted care for Crowley.

Can Care and Friendship Translate to Love?

This prompts us to question if care and friendship can transition into love. While love can exist without friendship, friendship is often the bedrock upon which love thrives. Throughout 'Good Omens,' Aziraphale and Crowley's deep and enduring friendship is evident. They navigate countless temporal and spatial terrains together, disagreeing but always finding common ground, showing a profound mutual respect and understanding.

This understanding is further demonstrated when Crowley reveals his feelings for Aziraphale in the final episode of season 2, to which Aziraphale responds, "I forgive you." While seemingly ambivalent, this declaration, in essence, signifies Aziraphale acknowledging and accepting Crowley's feelings, even if he does not explicitly reciprocate them. Could this acceptance be a form of love, even if not overtly romantic?

Is Love Synonymous with Sacrifice?

Is love synonymous with sacrifice? If yes, Aziraphale's offer to Crowley of rejoining Heaven - a sacrifice of Aziraphale's personal desire for the supposed betterment of Crowley - could be viewed as an act of love. Although Crowley vehemently declines this offer, Aziraphale’s intent could be interpreted as an act of love, demonstrating his willingness to put Crowley’s needs above his own.

What is the Nature of Love?

To make a conclusive argument, we must also interrogate the nature of love itself. Is it simply an intense affection, or does it need to be reciprocated to be deemed valid? Aziraphale's actions throughout 'Good Omens' exhibit an intense affection for Crowley, from protecting him to engaging in countless adventures together, indicating a form of love. Despite the romantic feelings not being explicitly reciprocated by Aziraphale, his actions paint a compelling picture of deep-seated love.

After examining the evidence and challenging our assumptions, we can hypothesize that Aziraphale does indeed love Crowley, though perhaps not in the explicit romantic sense that many audiences might anticipate. His actions underscore a profound affection, friendship, understanding, and willingness to sacrifice for Crowley – all facets of love. Although the nature of this love may not be categorically romantic, it remains nonetheless potent and essential to their dynamic relationship. As the series continues, only time will tell how this nuanced love between an angel and a demon will further unfold and evolve.