We’re almost to the end of the season, and it’s always bittersweet to be here. Because we really don’t want this show to end, we never do, and yet a part of us can’t help but wanting to know more, wanting to follow this season’s storyline to what we assume will be a satisfying conclusion.
That’s how spoiled we are.
Good television is not as rare as it used to be, but it’s still rare, and when we consistently get it, like in The Good Place, the fact that this is, indeed, good television must be pointed out again and again. It’s the least we can do.
So, while we wait for next week’s season three finale, and rejoice over the fact that the show has already been renewed for a Season 4, let’s talk about the Judge, the romance, and the Eleanor of “Chidi Sees the Time -Knife”
HOW FAR WE’VE COME
Do you remember who these people were at the beginning of the season? Nay, who they were at the beginning of the show? Take a moment to do so, and then let it sink in how far they’ve all come. Because it’s amazing.
Take Jason, for example. How often have we all dismissed Jason as just the comic relief, and yet this episode it’s Jason who delivers the most compelling argument as to why they should be giving another chance. It’s Jason who finds the words to express himself, not Michael. It’s Jason, in a way, who saves the day.
And it’s Chidi who isn’t crippled by doubts, but instead expresses the issues with being crippled by doubt, and Eleanor who takes charge, just as last episode it was Tahani that finally managed to bring Jason and Janet together.
Four humans, a Janet, and a demon. Who would have thought that would be our definition of family?
THE PROBLEM WITH EXISTING
The Judge’s stay on Earth was a very funny haha way of expressing so many truths that if you haven’t, you should go re-watch this episode and pay attention to the zingers, because boy, are they good. The truth of the matter is that life is freaking hard, and even making the right decision can bring unintended consequences and how do we navigate this? Is there a way?
Well, the show hasn’t given us an answer, but I’ve got one of my own: we try. We keep trying. Day by day. We don’t give up because things aren’t perfect, we don’t give up because we haven’t found the right way to do something. We just don’t give up, ever.
Because that’s life, making mistakes, getting back up and trying again. Over and over again. Rinse and repeat. What else are we gonna do?
I mean, unless they really are going to fix the point system, in which case Thanks Michael, thanks Judge, and wohooo we’re back to doing whatever we want!
THE FINALE
With Michael in the middle of an existential crisis, it looks like it’ll be up to Eleanor to help kickstart the experiment, you know, the one they’re hanging all their hopes of a continued existence on. Now, Eleanor might not seem like the best person for this role, but in reality, the Eleanor of today is, in many ways, the leader of this family, and there’s really no one else to help guide a poor unsuspecting human down the right path.
Not because she’s good (which she is), but because she knows how it feels like not to be.
(Also, I’m still not convinced Shawn hasn’t pulled a fast one on us, but we shall see)
So here’s to a new beginning, a new neighborhood and new chances. May it work out as well as the old one did.
The Good Place airs Thursdays at 9:30/8:30c on NBC.