The Good Place on NBC

I recommended it to one of the bar staff in my local. She liked it, but now every time I see her I get subjected to complaints about having to wait for another episode.

I loved Parks & Rec, and I absolutely adore Ted Danson, but I watched the first two episodes of this and I thought it was really, really dumb. Giant killer lady bugs or whatever? Ugh. Should I stick with this?

Like I said, I've seen maybe the first five episodes of season one and haven't found it funny (just like season one of Parks & Rec, too), and in fact it almost plays like it should have a laugh track but doesn't. But apparently it gets much better in the back half, or so says my daughter.

Yes Evan you should stick with it!

No, everyone talking itt about how much they like it and enjoy the characters and find the writing clever and the jokes hilarious are lying to each other to trick you Evan

man tough crowd

i don't remember a big change in quality midway through s1, so maybe you just are dumb and don't like it

I haven't seen like 2/3 of the NBC sitcom shows and I think it's pretty funny.

lol wasn't questioning that people love the shit out of this show. They obviously do. But as a person who hates that fake-y, candy-colored, internet-baiting Community aesthetic I'm just wondering if I'd be able to enjoy it, too

All I can say is if you think giant killer ladybugs or whatever are dumb, then you're exactly on the same page as the writers. The Good Place? More like this place sucks!

If the cheesy cg was what put you off, there was a lot more of that in the first couple of episodes than in most later episodes, iirc (although there's often still at least a couple of seconds per episode of people flying or whatever)

i don't remember a big change in quality midway through s1

I don't recall this either. The qualities that I like were present from the first episode. Community is one of my favourite shows of all time, at least for the first two seasons, so maybe not your thing.

The last episode had unicorn rides iirc.

Maybe it's not a change in quality I've read about so much as a twist or something else that shifts the show? I'm thinking of this AVClub review headline for I think episode 6 or 7 of the first season: "The Good Place leaps into the unknown—and greatness." I haven't read the review for fear of spoilers, but iirc it was this headline that caught my eye when I was wondering whether or not to watch it. And then then season 2 premiere headline, also intriguing: "The Good Place continues its peerless sleight-of-hand in its two-part season premiere." Peeking at that sort of praise in my periphery made me invested in keeping surprises surprises and seeking the show out when I had time to pay attention. Hence my surprise that the first 5 or 6 episodes of season one have been just sort of OK for me, but also why I intend to stick with it (whereas with most shows, if I'm halfway through season one and not digging it I usually jump ship).

The last one was the first I've really enjoyed this season. They've got themselves out of that narrative corner by now but it took at least an episode too many to get there.

how can you watch several episodes of this without your bullshit detector going off, repeatedly, and at progressively louder volumes?!?

how can you participate in this thread when you're avoiding spoilers?

lol

I keep wondering if people posting they haven't noticed a plot twist have actually read the entire thread and think the subtext being referred to is the main premise, and they keep waiting for the real twist to come in

good thing we haven't talked about the *real* plot twist on this thread, right, chums? *wink wink*

The last one was the first I've really enjoyed this season. They've got themselves out of that narrative corner by now but it took at least an episode too many to get there.

― Matt DC, Tuesday, October 17, 2017 1:47 PM (sixteen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

agreed kinda; the episode where they debated whether or not to trust michael was very much... overextended and kinda ponderous

I've skimmed and compartmentalized. I mean, it's pretty easy to glean whether something is good or not without spoilers. Just as it's easy to glance at the thread and tell if people like the show. I heard the show was good and looked here to confirm. It ain't complicated.

Hence my surprise that the first 5 or 6 episodes of season one have been just sort of OK for me, but also why I intend to stick with it (whereas with most shows, if I'm halfway through season one and not digging it I usually jump ship).

I did wonder at first whether I was enjoying it. I found it very mannered, and many of the characters very unsympathetic. For me, it's not that there was a shift in quality towards the end of the first season, more that the show seemed to gain stakes that made me like the main characters more.

The last episode had unicorn rides iirc.

I really hate it when television shows incorporate exotic animals. I was disappointed to see the giraffes and monkeys and elephants in this episode.

For me, it's not that there was a shift in quality towards the end of the first season, more that the show seemed to gain stakes that made me like the main characters more.

This is a good way of putting it.

I really hate it when television shows incorporate exotic animals. I was disappointed to see the giraffes and monkeys and elephants in this episode.

FP'd you for this.

So glad I got everything done tonight in time watch this show. Gotta love Thursdays at 8:30

That was stellar, easily my favorite episode of the season.

OTM!

Running VR trolley problem simulations actually seems like a great idea tbh. Michael breaking down why everyone in Les Miz and Victor Hugo himself "suck and deserve to be in the bad place", with numerical scores and extra demerits for being French was both one of the funniest parts of the episode but also seemed to raise an interesting philosophical point at the same time, if I can get analytical about an NBC sitcom for a moment: if we were to know for a fact that there is an afterlife with heaven and hell and immortal omniscient beings who have some kind of absolute system of ethical judgment, what exactly would be the value of studying "human ethics"? The show seems to take the position that human ethics still has its own independent value that the immortal could fail to understand, that these can still moral questions regardless of whether you would end up in heaven or hell, which seems radically humanist or something. Curious what j. thought.

(I'd ask my philosopher half but she's still on s1.)

I'm assuming where they're going with it is that the Danson character will eventually rebel against the unethical system he's always served.

The implications of that are p radical imo!: human inquiry can lead to a moral knowledge and system of ethics that are superior to those of heaven and hell, with the potential to revolutionize the afterlife. Basically, a dogmatic religion can still be wrong even if it is factually accurate.

I would put a blade out the window to kill the one guy on the other track

This cast is so ridiculously good. I want all six of them to star in everything.

The answer to "what would you do to an ethicist if you had near-omnipotent powers?" for me may also be "make them do the trolley problem irl"

Especially a cripplingly indecisive ethicist

the bucket of blood hitting his face was so beautiful

It will never happen but if someone manages to figure out how to do a 2-part The Good Place/black-ish crossover, I am all in.

I could sort of see Diane as a demon from the Bad Place playing experiments on the family.

I'm holding out for Good Place/Carmichael Show.

this + Superstore is a v good pairing

i cant stand superstore

Superstore is great whenever I remember to watch it.

It's the only American workplace comedy I can recall that actually has the appropriate level of contempt for its work setting. I like to imagine that TGP is ultimately set in purgatory while Superstore is set in actual hell.

Michael gleefully picking a chunk of human flesh off Chidi's face was disgusting and hilarious. Easily the best episode so far this season up until now Chidi hadn't been given much to do and he's my favourite character.

I've finally gotten into this, courtesy tt. It's great! I should go back and watch it all really. Michael's drawing of his trolley problem solution needs to be on a t-shirt, and I need to wear that t-shirt

https://scontent-dft4-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22222052_531833037165626_7579528096675395060_n.jpg?oh=8543c5d6d8ab30dd1c2e1308400f0971&oe=5A7013F6

Imago, does that mean you skipped the first season?? Because that really would change things.

I've been given all the spoilers. Still worth watching?

I've seen the last 3/4 episodes

I'm guessing it's all bubblegum Huis Clos goodness?

love janet, love glitching janet even more