When Does The Good Place Get Good?
Fans of The Good Place tell potential viewers that the show should have you hooked within the first couple of episodes but that it’s vitally important to complete at least the first season. Potentially one of the strongest endings to a comedy’s premier season ever, The Good Place remains strong for its four season run, building off of one of comedy televisions best first season finales ever.
What Fans Say
Fans of The Good Place often praise it for its unique premise, inventive storytelling, and ability to make moral philosophy approachable and entertaining. Many appreciate how it avoids the predictability that can plague network comedies, with each season introducing a fresh setting or twist. The chemistry among the cast is another highlight, as the actors’ performances—particularly those of Ted Danson and D’Arcy Carden—elevate the show’s humor and emotional weight. Fans also appreciate the show’s thoughtful, layered approach to morality, offering a thought-provoking journey that never loses its comedic core.
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What Haters Say
Critics of The Good Place have noted some issues with pacing, especially in later seasons, where the show occasionally sacrifices character development for plot twists. Some viewers felt that the show’s humor and philosophy-heavy dialogue could at times feel overly simplified or didactic, as if the series prioritized making philosophical points over deepening characters or story arcs. Additionally, certain fans expressed disappointment with the series finale, which some saw as overly sentimental or ambiguous.
Does the Show Fall Off in Quality at Any Point?
The Good Place maintained a high level of quality throughout its run, though some argue that it peaked in the earlier seasons. Season 1’s twist and Season 2’s exploration of the afterlife’s rules were widely praised, while later seasons were viewed as slightly less sharp. Some critics found the moral lessons increasingly overt, making the show’s unique premise feel a bit stretched by the final season. Nevertheless, many agree that the show managed to conclude in a way that was true to its ambitious themes, even if the journey felt uneven in parts.
Aggregated Critic Commentary
Critics were consistently impressed with The Good Place’s originality, lauding it as a groundbreaking sitcom that defied the conventions of network television comedy. Praise was especially directed at Michael Schur’s ability to weave philosophical questions into a mainstream show without losing its humor or accessibility. Reviewers were also impressed by Ted Danson’s and Kristen Bell’s performances, describing them as “pitch-perfect” in balancing comedy and drama. The show’s exploration of identity, morality, and personal growth earned it critical acclaim, particularly in its earlier seasons, which were seen as tight, surprising, and refreshingly different from anything else on television.
| Season | IMDb Rating | Rotten Tomatoes Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.2 | 92% |
| 2 | 8.4 | 89% |
| 3 | 8.3 | 86% |
| 4 | 8.5 | 87% |
Overview of The Good Place
The Good Place, created by Michael Schur, is a unique blend of philosophical musings, moral dilemmas, and high-concept comedy. The series follows Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), a woman who finds herself in an idyllic afterlife known as “The Good Place.” Initially elated, she quickly realizes there’s been a mistake, as her morally questionable behavior during her life suggests she doesn’t belong in this paradise. Determined to stay, Eleanor enlists the help of Chidi (William Jackson Harper), a former ethics professor, to learn how to become a better person. Alongside a diverse ensemble cast, including Tahani (Jameela Jamil), Jason (Manny Jacinto), Michael the architect (Ted Danson), and the AI assistant Janet (D’Arcy Carden), Eleanor’s journey soon reveals deeper secrets about the afterlife.
The show skillfully incorporates complex themes like ethics and moral philosophy, introducing concepts from famous thinkers such as Kant, Aristotle, and T.M. Scanlon in a digestible, comedic way. This approach made The Good Place stand out from typical sitcom fare, appealing to a wide range of viewers who appreciated both its humor and intellectual depth. Its four-season run features numerous twists, making the show’s narrative style as unpredictable as it is thought-provoking. Each season builds on previous reveals, continually reinventing the stakes and shifting viewers’ understanding of the afterlife and moral growth.
Season Breakdown
Season 1
The first season introduces Eleanor’s moral awakening as she grapples with her accidental placement in The Good Place. With each episode, she learns more about herself and what it means to be a good person, largely guided by Chidi’s ethical teachings. The season’s climactic twist—that they are, in fact, in “The Bad Place,” where Michael is torturing them—is a revelation that shocked audiences and set up a narrative direction few could have anticipated.
Season 2
Season 2 sees Michael, desperate to prove himself to his demon superiors, resetting the group’s memories and restarting the afterlife experiment hundreds of times. Eventually, Michael and the humans form an alliance, striving to outwit the Bad Place bureaucracy. This season expands the show’s philosophical scope, exploring themes of autonomy and redemption while adding layers to Michael’s character as he contemplates his own existence.
Season 3
In Season 3, the gang returns to Earth, where they attempt to become better people in their real lives, unaware of the cosmic stakes. With each character trying to navigate the real world, the season dives into themes of redemption and free will. The experiment orchestrated by Michael to prove humanity’s potential for change, and the eventual return to the afterlife, keep viewers questioning the boundaries between life, death, and moral growth.
Season 4
The final season sees the characters running their own version of “The Good Place” experiment to determine the future of the afterlife. Each character confronts personal challenges, and by the series finale, they face a poignant, philosophical resolution about what it means to live, die, and truly “move on.” The series finale, “Whenever You’re Ready,” offered a bittersweet farewell, wrapping up each character’s arc in a way that aligned with the show’s thoughtful approach to life’s biggest questions.
Titles of 3-5 Similar Shows
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Another Michael Schur comedy that balances humor with heart, featuring unique characters in unconventional settings.
- Parks and Recreation – Schur’s earlier work that also centers on personal growth, community, and humor grounded in kindness.
- Russian Doll – This dark comedy explores themes of self-improvement and existentialism in a thought-provoking and inventive manner.
- Upload – Set in a futuristic afterlife, this show examines technology, mortality, and identity with a comedic touch.
- The Good Doctor – While more dramatic, it shares thematic elements of self-improvement, kindness, and ethical challenges.
Shows Reflecting “If You Liked These, You’ll Like This Show”
- Dead Like Me – A show with a similar blend of existential humor and questions about the afterlife.
- Pushing Daisies – A visually stunning, quirky series that combines humor with life-after-death themes.
- Forever – Maya Rudolph and Fred Armisen star in this philosophical comedy exploring love, life, and the afterlife.
- Community – Though more grounded, Community’s creative storytelling and sense of humanity align with The Good Place’s inventive narrative style.