# The Good Place \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 21, 2016, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545 "2016-09-21T23:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/502 "2018-01-10T15:20:38Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > I have a theory that Janet is God. Or at least, godlike in terms of the show’s cosmology. > > She exists everywhere and nowhere, can do anything, knows everything, etc. > > Has a “good side” and “evil side” as is sometimes suggested in popular depictions of divinity. > > My suspicion is that the whole thing was set up by Janet as a way for God to experience human-ish life, learning more and more with each “incarnation”. Janet is definitely more than she seems, and probably connected to whatever version of God exists on the show. But I think the one learning and growing is Michael though. He’s definitely not a normal demon as the others are depicted, or he would never have come up with the “Bad Place Lite” idea in the first place. He might be a bad person who has forgotten his earthly life, or perhaps some sort of fallen angel in need of rehabilitation. I’m still not entirely sure the torturous Bad Place is even real. I think he’s in some sort of purgatory and his learning to be a better person/demon/angel is the real goal of whatever “place” he’s in, and the humans are there to help him improve while at the same time improving themselves. They’re not good, exactly, but they’re better than Michael used to be. Together they’ll overcome their bad sides and become worthy of the real Good Place. Not sure what role the other demons are playing. I’m guessing Michael will get a surprise twist ending this season like the humans did last season. The demons are actually torturing Michael with the help of the humans, or they’re really in purgatory, not the bad place, acting as an opposing force for Michael’s struggle against evil or something. But Michael isn’t in control of things like he thinks he is. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/503 "2018-01-10T15:22:12Z")
Question: have we ever seen Shawn discussing anything out of earshot of both Michael and the humans? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/504 "2018-01-10T16:09:22Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Question: have we ever seen Shawn discussing anything out of earshot of both Michael and the humans? They were very careful to avoid that last season until the final episode where Michael was pitching the Good Place to Shawn (after the twist was revealed). There was one scene where the two of them were talking at the train station, but Chidi and Tahani were watching them. This year, we saw it when Shawn was in Michael’s office, but by then the audience knew the secret. There hasn’t been a scene where Shawn was shown where none of the others were present. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/505 "2018-01-10T16:54:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Question: have we ever seen Shawn discussing anything out of earshot of both Michael and the humans? I was going to ask, has there been a scene where anyone or anything is shown out of the perspective any of the four humans or Michael? But I remembered there was that last Medium Place scene with just Mindy, Derek and the duffel bags cocaine. I guess whatever tricks are being played on the humans and Michael, the Medium Place is real and isn’t playing a part. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/506 "2018-01-10T17:39:39Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > But I think the one learning and growing is Michael though. He’s definitely not a normal demon as the others are depicted, or he would never have come up with the “Bad Place Lite” idea in the first place. He might be a bad person who has forgotten his earthly life, or perhaps some sort of fallen angel in need of rehabilitation. I’m still not entirely sure the torturous Bad Place is even real. My daughter’s theory is that the payoff will be that this is all is Michael’s Bad Place. Like Sisyphus, he will forever be frustrated in his attempts to get that big promotion. No matter how carefully he plans and how foolproof the plan is, there will always be an Eleanor who figures it out, a Vicky who plots against him, and a Shawn who threatens him. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/507 "2018-01-10T21:25:46Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > My daughter’s theory is that the payoff will be that this is all is Michael’s Bad Place. Like Sisyphus, he will forever be frustrated in his attempts to get that big promotion. No matter how carefully he plans and how foolproof the plan is, there will always be an Eleanor who figures it out, a Vicky who plots against him, and a Shawn who threatens him. I’ve been thinking this for a while. Your daughter is very wise. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/508 "2018-01-10T21:49:47Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > My daughter’s theory is that the payoff will be that this is all is Michael’s Bad Place. Like Sisyphus, he will forever be frustrated in his attempts to get that big promotion. No matter how carefully he plans and how foolproof the plan is, there will always be an Eleanor who figures it out, a Vicky who plots against him, and a Shawn who threatens him. I can definitely see that, and it’s the _type_ of thing I think will happen. But I expect it to be a little more upbeat than that. He’s growing, he’s making a connection with the humans. He showed real emotion and called them his friends. That’s why I’m leaning towards some sort of purgatory with a payoff where they eventually all go to the real Good Place. Of course, that’s roughly what the characters thought they were doing this season, and this show likes to throw us curveballs. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/509 "2018-01-10T22:09:52Z")
Or it all could be aliens, or future humans, giving our heroes a chance to advance ethically. Not that I’m pulling for such an outcome. But the show creator and writers have been very careful to avoid any and all “religious” elements. Ethics? Yes. Morals? Sure. But life-after-death as a reality designed by a Deity? Not so much. We have some ‘design’ by what we’re told are demons, but who’s in charge of the demons? Who created the demons and who set up the rules for a Good Place and a Bad Place? On these topics the show is silent. It’s possible that the final reveal will not just leave them unexplained, but make them entirely irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/510 "2018-01-12T09:12:46Z")
Episode “Best Self” Well most of that was pretty dull, I never thought Michael had a plan to get to TGP, so that wasn’t much of a surprise. The mission to go all the way through the real Bad Place is a nice twist. It’ll be fun watching D’arcy Carden playing Good Janet playing Bad Janet, (which I assume will be part of the plan.) ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/511 "2018-01-12T10:51:15Z")
It was a bit of a treading-water episode, but it was still funny and had some nice character development. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/512 "2018-01-12T12:44:47Z")
In what episode was bad Janet introduced? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/513 "2018-01-12T12:56:10Z")
Episode 8, the one where we find out more about “the bad place”, Trevor and “real Eleanor” Paraphrasing: Tahani: Why would such a Janet even be needed? Michael: Unclear. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/514 "2018-01-12T13:05:20Z")
I really liked the episode - seeing The Good Place all dissolve at the end was crazy. Wife and I had to pause the TV at the beginning - when Michael told Jason the vehicle wasn’t Optimus Prime, and Jason lets out a frustrated “awwwrrrr.” We just couldn’t stop laughing at that one! The texts from Shaun (soon vs soup) and Michael’s description of how disgusting kissing is had me rolling again. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/515 "2018-01-12T16:10:13Z")
I could watch Eleanor kidding-not-kidding insult Tahani all day long. This wasn’t one of the more riotously funny episodes, but it still had plenty of laughs, and was very touching. Was I the only one eagerly waiting for Michael to step on the magic balloon scales (before we knew they were totally fake)? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/516 "2018-01-12T16:34:33Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > Michael’s description of how disgusting kissing is had me rolling again. Interesting how _The Good Place_ and _Future Man_ have almost the same description of kissing–one describes it as putting food holes together, the other describes it as putting rat holes together (by people from a dystopian future where people eat rats.) Both were probably filmed at a similar time, though, so maybe coincidence. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/517 "2018-01-12T20:58:38Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > I really liked the episode - seeing The Good Place all dissolve at the end was crazy. … Yes, that CGI was well done. I’ll miss the set (‘Little Europe’ at Universal). But no doubt the Bad Place sets will be pretty amazing, so there’s that to look forward to. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/518 "2018-01-12T21:26:16Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > there will always be an Eleanor who figures it out And on one occasion, a Jason. That one really hurt. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2018, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/519 "2018-01-13T01:11:02Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > The texts from Shaun (soon vs soup) and Michael’s description of how disgusting kissing is had me rolling again. Jason’s “it was all a dream” was perfect. I love that character. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2018, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/520 "2018-01-13T02:05:22Z")
Maybe in the bad place, they won’t be able to resist alluding to Ted Danson’s former role on _Cheers_. The episode could be called _Sam and Janet Evening_. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2018, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545/521 "2018-01-13T02:10:25Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Maybe in the bad place, they won’t be able to resist alluding to Ted Danson’s former role on _Cheers_. > The episode could be called _Sam and Janet Evening_. If they’re going to delve into the performers’ actual bios, then surely the 1993 “blackface” incident (at a roast of Danson’s then-girlfriend Whoopi Goldberg) will take pride of place. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-good-place-edited-title/766545.md?page=27)