I almost forgot: The Good Place

[author_by_night]

I'm not completely sure how to summarize my thoughts on the season finale. But here are the ones I have, crossposted from the DW comm. SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT. Really, my reaction posts always have spoilers. I don't do spoiler free reviews or reaction posts, especially on shows like TGP. At least with a show like Parks and Rec you can be like "Leslie does a thing Ron doesn't like, and the show does a really good job, once again, of showing how they're both right AND wrong. Tom needs to chill out on Ann. Chris was overeager." TGP is more "thing that would make absolutely no sense out of context, and if it does make sense, congratulations, you've just been spoiled."

So. Here is a review so spoiled, you can smell it from Arizona.

That moment when Joss Whedon dies and comes back to life as Michael Schur.

Other questions:

- How did Simone die? Also, will she and Chidi wonder why they're the only ones who worked at the same place? Although I guess if Eleanor's tormentor knew Eleanor...

- I really hope we don't get a contrived love triangle, because those irritate me. Knowing this show though, it'll somehow only last about two episodes.

- I am glad to see Simone back, though. I always wondered if there was more to her than met the eye. She was way too cool about Chidi dumping her for no apparent reason.

- Is the Judge just evil? Because I'm sorry, but... what Shawn did really was epic cheating. Of course, that's probably the whole point.

Comments

[divinemusings]

I'm wondering about Simone too. Seems too convenient. I also want to know who the other two new people coming are going to be. Eleanor and Jason's. Will it be Pillboy? I hope not just because I hate the thought of him being dead, he's so random and funny.

[silverusagi]

I'm wondering if Simone died because the demons killed her. They do have an illegal portal to Earth... and no one said they couldn't kill people.

[dariaw]

I agree with this theory - it's what I thought too when Sean was bragging.

[author_by_night]

I've seen this theory around, and I can see that! It might be a bit too dark even for this show, but it's already got a dark premise for a comedy/dramedy. (It really is more of a dramedy at this point, right? If still lighter for a dramedy. I'd say it's on the other end of the dramedy spectrum, since most have a lot of drama but still ramp up the comedy and the absurdity. I see it as being a lot like the first season and a half of Buffy.)

I actually originally thought that maybe the original four humans were actually killed on purpose, at some point in season two.

[dariaw]

The demons were supposed to make it as hard as possible, so I think it's in the rules technically? Also the judge seems to only know rules and not human experience, so maybe not evil?

I also hope no love triangle - so cliche.

[yalumesse]

I think the judge takes into account the epic cheating as par for the course because otherwise she's on the good 'side'. Still sucks :(

I think you're right that the show will go minimum love triangle, maybe just long enough for Eleanor to get upset / do something she shouldn't / recognise how much she loves him, if that. We as viewers are primed to expect a love triangle - and so is Eleanor now that I think about it - and this show is good at subverting that.

[wheatear]

My interpretation is that the Judge accepts that the demons followed the letter of the law and not the spirit (no one said they couldn't choose people that Eleanor and co already knew) so she kind of rolled her eyes because they're demons, what do you expect. It's a fun excuse to make the afterlife hard for the gang anyway, I'm intrigued to see how it all pans out...