The Good Place [edited title]

Glad to see a thread on this show. In fact, I just discovered it. With no more “Twin Peaks”, I was looking for something off-beat to watch on Sunday nights and on a whim I checked this out. I couldn’t stop watching it! The show is different, off-beat, engaging, and rarity of rarity, laugh-out-loud funny.

I guessed the big twist of the finale about one episode before it actually occurred. Something about it made me think of that old “Twilight Zone” episode and I realized it was the same gimmick. But they still pulled it off brilliantly.

I’ve been rewatching this in anticipation of the new season (new season - yay!) and it’s really, really impressive how well everything still fits when you know the big twist at the end.

I saw a spoiler-free review of the first few episodes of the new season and it was very favorable. I’m looking forward to it.

Just a heads-up that season 2 starts tonight (at 10 PM, for some reason.)

I read an article that said that this version of the “Good Place” is gonna be slightly more diabolical - a fountain that oozes creamed corn and (horror of horrors!) all the pizza places only serve Hawaiian pizza.

Just started watching season 2. “Fire up the penis flattner”.

Drat, missed it. I even looked at the tv schedule. Obviously not well enough.

Brian

Ted Danson is the one being tortured tonight.

Indeed, he seems quite miserable. I wonder if it’s actually been his bad place all along!

Butthole spiders. Large butthole spiders.

Now that would be a twist.

Loved the variations in circumstances of each of the four, and how it changed their personalities, and how quickly they caught on to what was going on. I don’t think they are torturers assigned to Danson, because they were figuring things out when Danson wasn’t looking. I think.

They might not be in on it. Maybe Sean is manipulating everything behind the scenes.

I also found it interesting that the “actors” are causing problems and being rebellious. Maybe Ted is the one being tortured.

The punishment for philosophers is to be given a final exam in a course they’ve never taken.

While naked.

Of course, Ted isn’t exactly a reliable narrator.

Loved what they did with the narrative – and that they didn’t drag things out (which would have been very tedious). Eleanor figured out the situation quickly.

I also loved how Chidi was handled – first he was being forced to make a choice right off the bat, then they announce his soulmate is not the one he clearly had everything in common with. And Real Eleanor complaining that she had a bit part.

I also agree that Michael is being tortured here, too. He’s starting the lie to Sean, which puts him exactly in the position Eleanor was in the first season premiere: afraid the truth would be found out.

Can someone give a summary of what happened (within spoiler tags)? I was watching the show at the beginning, but forgot about it when they took a winter break.

Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason are all actually in the Bad Place, having been chosen specifically to torture one another. Everyone else in the village are demons playing a part to drive the four main characters into constant conflict.

Our heroes eventually figure this out, and confront Michael, who admits defeat. Then he erases their memories and resolves to do it better next time.

This show always goes by so quickly; it’s one of network television’s crown jewels.

I agree that the second season premiere was impressive and fun. Poor Tahani seemed to suffer most (though perhaps she’s discovered a ‘keeper’ in cargo pants).

It is available for free on the NBC web site. No sign-up or login required:

Agreed. I can see him doing this to Michael for his own amusement. Or maybe Michael’s already been retired.

I’m sure every TV showrunner ever can relate to him.