The Good Place on NBC

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

Every Janet appearance is so...comforting.

I started watching the first season because of the finale spoilers and it was hilarious.

You got us all! Great work!

http://i64.tinypic.com/2dv0j8l.jpg

Ha, didn't notice the caption.

HA!

"Sacre bleu! I peed in muh pants."

this was such a good episode

is janet glitching out of jealousy?

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

On the assumption you're watching it for the jokes then yes, it's hilarious.

Ha, interesting: that possibility didn't occur to me. I thought it was because she was beginning to develop human emotion and empathy, which is not what she was programmed for.
xp

That throwaway line about Janet having all the knowledge of the universe is a little ominous

Looking forward to malfunctioning Janet being replaced by Bad Janet.

is janet glitching out of jealousy?

I thought this too.

I can't remember why Michael is supposed to be learning ethics. I don't really care, obviously. Even if it's just to pass the time, that's fine. But I forget the reason they gave.

The knowledge that they're in the bad place has loosened Eleanor up in a really good way. The fact that she and Michael have so much in common, and that she can be more her funny, crappy self around Chidi, is a comedy bonus.

feel like janet is some form of god/higher power

I can't remember why Michael is supposed to be learning ethics. I don't really care, obviously. Even if it's just to pass the time, that's fine. But I forget the reason they gave.

Iirc, Michael wanted the humans' help to outsmart Vicky and Sean and keep all five of them from facing infinite 'real' torture, also suggesting that he might be able to get them all into the actual good place. Tahani and Chidi wanted to go along with the plan because it was their best chance to improve and actually become as good as they had thought they were. Eleanor agreed eventually but only on the condition that Michael also study ethics so that they would all become better and deserve the good place.

(Btw, imago, I'm rewatching s1 with the philosopher so I obv do think it's still worth watching after you know what happens.)

feel like janet is some form of god/higher power

I think it was the first episode of this season where Michael said he stole her from the actual good place, so it could just be she's malfunctioning due to being in the bad place.

It would be difficult to reconcile Janet having all the knowledge in the universe yet learning each restart. I guess maybe in some 'being a bat' sense? My rl person to talk about this show thought very early that Janet would develop a subliminal jealousy, so maybe she's right.

Decent piece in The Atlantic by an ethicict about what this show accomplishes with the topic and how deftly it saved the most famous ethics problem until its second season.

https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/10/how-the-good-place-goes-beyond-the-trolley-problem/543393/

imo Janet has knowledge in the sense that she’s like a library or database, and can spew out facts. all the restarts have made her cognitive capabilities higher functioning, to the extent she’s able to use that knowledge to do work that requires interpretation