Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Well, if ya can’t beat ‘um, join ‘um.
Last week, The Good Place delivered its best episode of the series. Penned by possible genius Megan Amram, “Dance Dance Resolution” concluded with dapper demon Michael (Ted Danson) suggesting an uneasy alliance in order to thwart the evil machinations of The Bad Place’s worst case scenario theater major incarnate Vicky (Tiya Sircar). Tonight’s episode, “Team Cockroach,” centers on how our foursome arrive at the inevitable conclusion to accept Michael’s offer. I say inevitable because a Michael/Eleanor team up makes too much sense for both the characters on the show as well as the production creating the series to ignore.
Last week’s episode delivered more comedic razzle-dazzle, but tonight’s offering provided some much-needed world-building, which is immensely important. If you’re going to construct a world as deliciously intricate as The Good Place, you need to set some very clear rules and introduce the stakes for the rest of the season. Chapter 17 did just that.
Why join forces with a literal demon?
In one sentence, Michael sets the tone for the rest of the season: “You help me trick Vicky, and I can get you to the real Good Place.”
I mean, sure, never trust a demon and yada yada yada, but the afterlife’s jauntiest devil eluded to a way he could get Eleanor and company to The Good Place. Everyone, including Michael, will attempt to become better people in hopes of gaining entry into a place that doesn’t have enormous butthole spiders.
The stakes are set: If Michael and company aren’t successful in defeating Vicky, they’re all on the literal highway to hell.
The Medium Place is real
“Horny coke-head” Mindy St. Claire and The Medium Place are not a part of Michael’s chicanery. I’m 1000% on board with anything that delivers more Mindy.
Why are the Bad Place demons always in human form?
So that the demons can learn… (aww) … how best to torture you (oh). According to Michael, everyone in the Bad Place is randomly assigned a human body so they can “get a feel of how best to torture humans.”
And finally… The Janet conundrum
Question: Can Vicky just turn to Janet and be like, “Hey, J-bone, what are those dummies up to?”
Answer: Nope!
Janet can’t lie, but her purpose is to make humans happy. Since Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason are the only actual humans around, Janet insists that she’s on board with all the “fun little schemes” they come up with. This is both creatively and logically brilliant because D’Arcy Carden is straight-up comedy heaven. I haven’t seen any advanced episodes, but I think this seemingly innocuous line is going to play an integral role in the season.
“Every time a Janet is rebooted she increases her social awareness and abilities. I might be the most advanced Janet in the universe.”
The pieces of this delectable puzzle are slowly falling into place, and we are loving every minute of it.
This week’s commemorative Belinda Carlisle “Heaven is a Place on Earth” Good Place moment:
Vicky wearing a “Best Person” sash while belting out “I Will Survive.”
Eleanor’s “Highway to Hell” insult of the episode:
“Slow down, ding-dong” — Eleanor to Jason
Celestial quotes of the episode:
“Once, this guy in a bow tie came up to me at the gun range in a Jacksonville bus station and said he’d give me $600 if I put these weird turtles in my duffel bag and brought them to Dayton Beach.” — Jason explaining his loyalty towards people who wear bow ties. Bonus points for the “gun range inside a Jacksonville bus station” snippet.
“Oh no. I died… in Cleveland?” — Tahani
“Eleanor, your cocaine and escape train are ready.” — Janet
“The Bad Place is about to be outsmarted by a cowardly traitor, four dumb-dumbs, and a robot.” — Eleanor
“Not a robot.” — Janet’s response to Eleanor’s previous quote.
