Kicking off the new season two weeks ago, NBC’s The Good Place delivers another fantastic episode with our human characters receiving a second chance at living a good life. Not only did they all survive the death they previously had, but are now reunited and working together on a new study about encounters with near death experiences, thanks to Michael’s (played by Ted Danson) influence and interference.
Within this 21 minute episode, a whole year passes by for the group as they continue their research with Chidi (portrayed by William Jackson Harper) at the head. Within their research, their bond as friends continues to grow along with the good within them. With the help of Michael and Janet (D’Acry Carden) keeping close watch. However, what happens when the group starts to separate? Can their good behavior still be intact? This episode covers that as Tahani (Jameela Jamil) becomes engaged to an ex-boyfriend, an event that was planned by Michael and Janet.
Their plan takes a turn for the worst when Tahani announces their move back to England, thereby breaking the group up. As if that is not enough, the research project is put on hold as Chidi announces the work that must be done and the grant money they’ll need to earn. As a result, Eleanor is put in a vulnerable position of losing the people she cares for the most, a group she never really had. Existentialism and identity play key parts in this episode for Eleanor, as our characters face the idea of who they are outside of the group. What do they have to fall back on? Is their life meaningful outside of the group? When someone has only so few close friends or family members, an identity crisis can fall into play if something happens to the group. Never before has she had people genuinely care about her as an individual and with that slipping away, she has little to nothing to fall back on back in The United States.
In this vulnerable position is also Michael, who continues to try to keep the group together as he as he did in afterlife. After much interference Janet confronts him about letting life takes its course for the group to learn on their own on how to be a good person. Michael then confesses that there is no point in them being on earth to help if the group doesn’t stay and grow together. For him, is life meaning is keeping the group together for the sake of the afterlife. While his acts may be noble, Janet does bring up a strong point. How long can they keep watching over the group? How long can they keep divine intervention going? We will find out more next week, now that the group knows something strange going on with Michael and Janet.
The Good Place airs at 8:30 PM on NBC.
