Still feels like set-up, which is the usual MO with each season. They’re starting to explore how the main cast is struggling, like they’re the ones who are really being tortured again.
There’s so much emphasis being placed on the main cast’s personal growth that I’m a little worried they’ll go for a “psych, really we were just testing the main cast for salvation qualities!” twist.
But that would be lame, and none of the twists so far have been lame, so I shouldn’t worry.
It seems obvious to me that the “test” is really how Eleanor deals with the stress of being Architect without compromising her moral growth. Or at least that’s the direction I see this going. The new humans, even Jason, Chidi and Tahani are just distractions.
Episode 4: Tinker, Tailor, Demon, Spy.
Didn’t see that one coming, even though it was already discussed upthread
It’s always fun when Jason is the one to pick up the important detail.
I am pleased with myself - I immediately went “hey, where’s the ‘not a girl’ - waitaminute…”
That’s what ran through my head too.
And the little out-of-character surprises that actually are in-character if you think about it just really elevate the show for me.
Plus continuity. Didn’t need to see windchimes.
Assuming this really is the real Michael why did Shawn create a Michael suit only to switch Janet’s? Was it just to mess with Michael’s head (which would be completely in character for Shawn)?
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Vicky’s just not that good an actress, no way she’d fool Eleanor for long. A hyperevolved Bad Janet nearly got away with it though. I imagine Vicky will have some use against Jason in a future episode though.
Why would the sex handcuff reveal the real Bad Janet? What do they normally do? And why did the sex diaper not have a rear?
I assume because they were described as being magnetic.
Yes, and magnets basically make Janets drunk so she couldn’t keep up the masquerade any longer.
I had forgotten that detail until it was relevant…even though Derek’s line when introducing the magnetic cuffs should have been a reminder.
Gotta say, Bad Janet is a surprisingly good actress to have fooled them all until she gave Jason (still love that) the clue that tipped him off.
I not only forgot it; I still don’t remember it now that it’s been brought to my attention.
I think having Michael turn out to be Vicky-in-a-Michael suit is not only unbelievable in-universe, for the reason you’ve stated, but also unworkable in the context of having a dramatic show arc. Michael’s heart-to-heart talks with Eleanor are sort of the core of the show. Michael has grown and developed as a person since Season One, and it’s that growth that lets him have this effect on Eleanor, making her a better person too. If you have to rewind and say that it was really Vicky doing those interactions, then you let the air out of the whole bounce castle. You also lose Michael’s continued growth over the course of the time that he’s effectively off screen.
I expect that the Michael suit will show up in the next episode, though, in some sort of scene where Jason has to distinguish between real Michael and suit Michael. I also expect that the show will come up with some clever way to do this that we haven’t seen a hundred times before.
Here’s my question, which I expect will be glossed over in the show (and I don’t mind if they do, frankly): Without a Good Janet or even a Michael, who’s been known to do some supernatural stuff, how are Tahani and Eleanor supposed to keep the experiment going? They can’t manifest shrimp on demand now, right? Unless they either keep using Bad Janet under duress, or perhaps bring in Derek. Which could be hilarious, now that I think about it.
My question is, who’s actually running the Janet babies? Was that just a lie from Bad Janet that she had to run them? Or did Good Janet ever say she was running them too?
Side note: I want to see how Bad Janet reacts when you try and reboot her. Does she plead for her life or just call you a butt munch? And what about Neutral Janet?
My WAG: the Bad Place will set this up as a major strategy to foil Jason at some point. Jason will overcome their strategy through the power of obliviousness: his supernatural shoulder-shrug at their antics, his willingness to be cool with not knowing which Michael is real, will render their gambit irrelevant.
I was wondering the same thing - either they have a problem or the whole “Janet has to run everything” story was a lie. Also - can Janets be de-marbleized?
BTW, I keep wondering whether we’re going to ever get a callback to Chidi recommending to Dax Sheppard’s character in The Bad Place that they torture people with books. IIRC they moved off that quickly but the way this show goes I wouldn’t be surprised.
Episode 4:Employee of the Bearimy
I guess we don’t have to worry about the Michael suit, at least for a few months…
This was probably my favourite episode so far of the season, thanks in no small part to Jason Mantzoukas/Derek. Listening to the podcast, apparently there were some even dirtier adlibs of his that had to be left on the cutting room floor.
I was happy that the Michael we’ve been watching really was the real ‘Michael’ - as stated above, it would have been too cynical to ruin the character development that has happened, just for the sake of a twist.