Season 1 - 13 episodes (2016-17)
Season 2 - 12 episodes (2017-18)
Season 3 - 12 episodes (2018-19)
Season 4 - 13 episodes (2019-20)
Rent The Good Place on Amazon Video (paid link)
Created by: Michael Schur
Starring: Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, DArcy Carden, Manny Jacinto
Rated: TV-PG
Watch the trailer
Plot
Four people and their otherworldly guide struggle in the afterlife to define what it means to be good.
Verdict
Few comedies can remain so broad while tackling ethical questions of what it means to be a good person. The basis for this show is a thoughtful question packaged in a comedy. It's a smart and endearing show that doesn't settle. Each season changes the premise slightly and further explores ethical questions. The show is a plea for humans to be nice, but it's not an admonishment. Few shows strive to do what this does, and even fewer do it so well. I generally favor realistic dramas, but with each season this builds on the previous. I appreciated the first season, but wasn't sure it was worth recommending, but the whole of the show is greater than each season. The ends really well, providing a really touching sendoff and answers the questions it first posed in season one.
Watch it.
Review
This is such a great concept for a show. Eleanor finds herself in "the good place" a non-denominational stand in for heaven. The only catch is that she doesn't belong. From there the show ponders ethical consequences. What does it mean to be good, can humans overcome their selfish nature? It's no easy task to make a broad comedy that tackles philosophy.
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| Kristen Bell, Jameela Jamil play Eleanor, Tahani |
Kristin Bell does a great job of being likable despite playing a despicable character. Eleanor is terrible, but in such a ridiculous way that it's comedic and the show plays that for laughs. This is an inherently funny premise and Eleanor tries to overcome her natural reactions to stay in the good place.
Eleanor is aided at first by Chidi (William Jackson Harper) as they try to conceal Eleanor's secret from Michael (Ted Danson) and his assistant Janet (D'Arcy Carden). Chidi teachers her how to be 'good.' The principal cast soon expands to include Tahani (Jameela Jamil) and Jason (Manny Jacinto).
I appreciate that this isn't one off episodes of Eleanor's adventures in the good place. The plot evolves throughout the season, as the ensemble cast grows. They are still trying to determine how one becomes good. I'm not typically a fan of broad comedies, but this is an easy watch. If this were more drama and less comedy it might be too dark to even enjoy.
It's difficult to discuss succeeding seasons without spoiling the evolving plot. Each season changes he concept while still pondering the central question. This is a show where you need to watch the previous season to understand whats happening as this naturally progresses. This show easily could become boring if the show tried to remain stuck in the initial premise. This show ends each season really well as it wraps up the current story and provides a preview of what's to come. While each episodes is labeled a chapter, each season functions as a book.
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| Ted Danson, D'Arcy Carden, William Jackson Harper play Michael, Janet, Chidi |
Season two is still considering the same ethical questions while introducing the unpredictable of humans and the ability to change. It uses the same ideas, but really changes the premise. To say more would reveal too much. The season manages to evolve the characters and the story.
The premise change from the second to third season is a bigger leap than after the first season. This season examines what humans, through these characters, can do on Earth to live a meaningful life. The core concept remains the same, but the season examines a different aspect of the question. In the last half of the season the show asks if anyone can be good. As light as the mood of this show is, it asks deep questions. With how advanced society is, there's no way to avoid morally gray areas. Many things we consume and buy are made by a company or subcontractor that does something ethically dubious. This started out in season one with Eleanor wanting to be good. This season takes a trip to analyze a man who is completely selfless and the rules this show has provided indicates it doesn't matter. That insinuation forces the characters to further action. Living a selfless life has to mean something.
Season four looks at how to influence humans while also considering the ideal 'good place.' The writers had planned for four seasons, and that's apparent. This show feels like exactly the right length. This concludes by answering the question of what it means to be human. This is a question the show has been considering since the beginning. This certainly in the conversation for one of the great endings for just how competent it is. With each season this show got bigger, but never lost sight of the initial question.
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