Heavenly Humour! - Why 'The Good Place' is forkin' hilarious!!

Introduction

Imagine waking up in an absolutely perfect utopian neighborhood where your every wish is granted, you can have whatever you want, fly around. Have a magical assistant who arrives every time you call out her name and provides you with everything you want (basically a cross between alexa and a genie!)  

You are informed that you are dead on earth and are here because you were an excellent human being on earth, you did so many good deeds that now you have earned yourself a spot in the good place for all afterlife!

AWESOME RIGHT?!!

Butttt..... The thing is, the 'good deeds' that they said you did aren't actually true, actually they're completely false, as a matter of fact they're talking about a completely different person all together, you've been mistaken for a literal saint when in fact you were the farthest thing from a good person on earth, but you can't confess, else you'll be sent to the bad place where they literally boil you and then peel you and then put you back together just to peel you again! But everything you do in the good place is causing glitches and unexplainable things to happen, but then again, the bad place, UGHHHHH

So many but(t)s! (Title of your sex tape!... Oops, wrong show, my bad!)

Sit back, grab your ethically sourced snacks, and let’s dive into the hilariously twisted, ethically ambiguous, and forking brilliant world of The Good Place. Spoiler alert: things are about to get crazy, and it’s going to be one shell of a ride!

 

Dilemma upon Dilemma upon Dilemma

Such is the story of our Protagonist Eleanor Shelstrop played to perfection by Kristen Bell (who also voiced Anna in Disney's Frozen) set in the show 'The Good Place' created by one of the most talented sitcom writers Michael Schurr (who also wrote The Office U.S., Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks And Recreation) 

Story

Eleanor finds herself in quite a predicament as the longer she says in the good place the more it's breaking down and weird stuff keeps happening and also the real Eleanor who was meant to be in the good place is being tormented in the bad place, but then again if she confesses she'll lose the perfect life she has and will be deported to the bad place

The architect and basically the mayor of the good place, Michael played by the incomparable Ted Danson. He's like a well-meaning dad who's trying his best but constantly gets thwarted by his own incompetence. Watching Michael navigate the complexities of running a flawless afterlife is like witnessing a puppy trying to do calculus—it's equal parts endearing and hilarious. He's absolutely losing his mind trying to clear the mess that Eleanor is causing but he can't seem to figure out the mistake he has made and doesn't know how he'll face his boss Shaun, played by Marc Evan Jackson (who also played kevin, captain holt's gay partner in B99)

Now, let's talk about the rest of the gang. From Chidi, the indecisive moral philosophy professor, to Tahani, the impossibly glamorous socialite who name-drops like it's an Olympic sport, each character brings their own brand of absurdity to the table. And don't even get me started on Janet, the all-knowing AI assistant who's basically a walking, talking version of the internet—complete with sass and pop culture references galore.

In the good place, everyone has a soulmate, Eleanor's soulmate is Chidi, Tahani's soulmate is a Buddhist monk, named Jianyu who's practicing an oath of silence.

Eleanor comes up with a plan that if she actually learns how to become a good person, maybe she'll earn her spot in the good place and who better to teach her morals and ethics than the philosophy professor and her soulmate,Chidi Anagonye!

The only problem is, Chidi can't handle secrets and what Eleanor does is probably the equivalent of getting nuked for him

Meanwhile, Tahani can't seem to figure out how to get closer to her soulmate, the monk Jianyu buttttt 

SPOILER ALERT Jianyu isn't really a monk, he has the same story as eleanor, in reality he's Jason Mendoza, the human embodiment of a firework in a tornado. Picture a guy who's got the heart of a child, the wisdom of a rock, and the attention span of a goldfish on caffeine. That's our man, Jason. He's the kind of guy who'd accidentally set his own hair on fire while trying to blow out birthday candles, but somehow still manages to light up the room with his infectious enthusiasm. 

Eleanor is torturing herself with the dilemma of what to do and actually having to become a good person

Chidi is getting tortured knowing that his soulmate is the reason the neighborhood is crumbling and he can't do anything

Tahani is getting tortured in her own self obsessed and neediness for approval kind of a way

Jason, the living embodiment of chaos, is getting tortured by having to be a silent monk

Is this really the Good Place or is it Michael's mastermind of a Bad Place?!!

Characters and Cast

The role of the main protagonist Eleanor Shellstrop is nailed by the ever sassy Kristen Bell, her cuteness and sassy sarcastic will leave you in awe and you will fall in love with her. As a character, Eleanor will make you hate her, which Kristen does so well, as you move through the seasons the character development of Eleanor is commendable, you go from hating her to understanding her to loving and admiring her. The writing of Schurr and acting of Bell takes the viewers on an absolute journey

Then there's Chidi Anagonye, the perpetually indecisive moral philosophy professor, portrayed with nerdy charm by William Jackson Harper. Picture a guy who can't even choose between cereal brands without having an existential crisis—yeah, that's our Chidi. William plays the stressed out parts so well even the viewers will get stressed watching him just choose whether he should put right foot first or the left foot while stepping in! As a character Chidi too like the others shows immense development, from sort of having a too good high ground image at first, he becomes relatable charming which is just too good

Next, we have Tahani Al-Jamil, the posh and perpetually name-dropping socialite, brought to life by the fabulous Jameela Jamil. She's like a walking Instagram feed, complete with glamorous outfits and humblebrags that'll make your eyes roll so far back in your head you'll see your own brain. A typical high class personality with a flamboyant personality, the type that does pilates with Victoria Beckham and sips sparkling water with Kim Kardashian. Jameela nails the need for approval trait seen in Tahani, despite doing everything, she's overshadowed by her own sister and has to fight for her parents approval. From finding her obnoxious to feeling for her, Schurr performs magic with this character

And who could forget Jason Mendoza, the lovable doofus with the heart of a child and the IQ of a goldfish, played by the endlessly hilarious Manny Jacinto. He's the kind of guy who'd accidentally start a cult while trying to throw a birthday party for his pet turtle—seriously, it's Jason. Manny nails the character of the lovable idiot who's solution for everything is a Molotov! Jason brings in comic relief wherever necessary

Rounding out the cast, we have the one and only Michael, the bumbling architect of the Good Place, portrayed with mischievous charm by the legendary Ted Danson. He's like a cross between your favorite uncle and a mad scientist, with a dash of awkward dad jokes thrown in for good measure. Along with Eleanor, Michael truly is the essence of the show, there is no good place without Michael, both literally and figuratively! One of the most finest character arcs ever written, one of my personal favourite characters!

And last but certainly not least, we have Janet, the all-knowing AI assistant who's basically the Alexa of the afterlife, brought to life with deadpan brilliance by D'Arcy Carden. Need a quick answer to life's biggest questions? Just ask Janet—she's got you covered, along with a side of sarcasm and sass.

Together, this motley crew of misfits brings laughter, tears, and more philosophical dilemmas than you can shake a moral compass at. So grab your favorite pint of frozen yogurt, settle in on your comfiest couch, and prepare to laugh, cry, and question the meaning of life—all while wishing you had a neighborhood like the Good Place to call home.

Writing, Originality and Production

A special credit to the incredibly talented Michael Schurr who has cemented himself as a legend in the sitcom business. Unlike the usual sitcoms which are unique but fall into a broad category of a workplace comedy (The Office, TBBT, B99, Parks and Rec) or just a friends group in their walks of life (F.R.I.E.N.D.S, HIMYM) Schurr really takes this sitcom out of the box and out of this world, quite literally. the story writing is absolutely beautiful and does justice to this crazy novel idea of the good place, it really makes you wonder how does one come up with this stuff.

While you may think the plot will be over in a few episodes or seasons, the writing is so well done that the twists don't stop coming and its unpredictable, season 4 will have you hooked as much as season 1 and just as you feel it's done, a new storyline emerges, each better than the last one

Hats off to the production team to make the good place actually exist, the crazy frozen yogurt rivers, or the flying or the weird pictionary drawings coming to life, the production team nailed every effect and made it all seem real, the most beautifully produced and edited sitcom ever.

Overall Evaluation and Audience Appeal

'The Good Place' is one of the most interesting and funny shows to ever exist and its just damn near perfect

The only drawback I felt was the pacing, at sometimes in the show the episodes just seemed a bit too dragged and slow paced. While Schurr and his writing team managed to keep the viewers hooked and entertained almost throughout the whole series, in just a few episodes the roller coaster seemed just a bit too flat but then it made up for it with a couple crazy loop de loops soon!

The concept of the show being a bit too novel and with the twists it might get a bit confusing for the viewers, while the problem might be rare but has a need to be addressed 

If you are a sitcom fan or love sci-fi or fantasy movies/shows and want to do some casual viewing

Watch something while having food, just lay back relax for a little while or need something to play in the background while doing chores, 'The Good Place' is absolutely perfect and you can't call yourself a sitcom fan if you haven't seen it

Scintillating Score

A special score from yours truly to help the readers choose the show they'd love to watch

7.5/10

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Good Place" isn't just a TV show—it's a philosophical rollercoaster, a comedy goldmine, and a heartwarming journey all rolled into one. With its witty dialogue, lovable characters, and thought-provoking themes, it's a rare gem that manages to entertain, educate, and inspire in equal measure. From the hilarious antics of Eleanor and the gang to the mind-bending twists and turns of the plot, each episode is a delightful blend of humor, heart, and humanity.

But beyond the laughs and the existential crises lies a deeper message about the power of redemption, the importance of empathy, and the beauty of second chances. It's a reminder that even in the most chaotic of times, there's always hope for a better tomorrow—and maybe, just maybe, a little slice of the Good Place waiting for all of us.

So whether you're a seasoned philosopher pondering the mysteries of the universe or just someone looking for a good laugh, "The Good Place" has something for everyone. It's a show that reminds us to cherish the moments we have, to embrace the complexities of life, and to never underestimate the transformative power of friendship, love, and a really good Janet joke.

In the immortal words of Eleanor Shellstrop, "Holy motherforking shirtballs," do yourself a favor and watch "The Good Place." You won't regret it.

Thank you for joining me on this journey through the Good Place. Until next time, remember to be kind, take chances, and always strive to be the best version of yourself—even if that means occasionally messing up and learning from your mistakes. After all, as they say in the Good Place, "ya basic."

Goodbye for now, and remember: keep it sleazy.

Don't forget to be Awesome!

Yours scintillatingly.

@sarcastically_scintillating