The Good Place: A Review

The Good Place came out in September 2016 and eventually garnered acclaim. The first two seasons are already out on Netflix with the third season currently airing on NBC. This show is very funny, which makes sense since it is a sitcom, but it is also clever and thought-provoking. 

The Good Place was recommended to me last year by Raina Tung ‘20 who says, “It’s full of plot twists and jokes, and while they entertain you, they are teaching you ethics . . . It’s insanely funny and it is the most creative show I’ve ever seen on tv.” The show utilizes many creative aspects and interesting plot points that aren’t usually seen.

The premise of the first season is that Eleanor Shellstrop has died, and she is surprised to find that she has gone to the “Good Place”. Quickly, she finds out that this was a mistake and she tries desperately to hide it from Michael, the architect of the Good Place, and Janet, his helpful assistant. Her open-minded soulmate Chidi and her perfect neighbors Tahani and Jianyu help her realize that she can still become a good person. 

One of my favorite parts of the show are the dynamic characters and their interactions with each other. Eleanor Shellstrop is a selfish and rude person; she is willing to lie if it benefits her. Chidi Anagonye is very nice and highly intelligent, however, he is very indecisive. Tahani Al-Jamil is posh and a wonderful hostess; she is very sophisticated and an excellent conversationalist. Jianyu Li is a silent monk because he took a vow of silence when he was alive, so as a result, does not speak in the afterlife. Each character acts in a way that reflects their backstories. The characterization of the characters is expressed implicitly, but it makes a big impact. 

In addition, there is a major twist at the end of the series that a lot of people didn’t see coming. I did not expect it at all. 

Lastly, there aren't many shows that deal with the afterlife in this manner. While it does talk about other religions, its method of the afterlife is unique, where people earn points for doing good things and lose points for doing bad things. 

I highly recommend The Good Place.