How THE GOOD PLACE Redefines the Sitcom | Why You Should Watch [No Spoilers]

Subscribe for more video essays: bit.ly/2cxs4Z3
Support me on Patreon: / skipintro
The Good Place is hardly the first sitcom to teach moral lessons, so how does it go to the next level?
Follow me on Social Media:
Facebook: / ideasatplay
Twitter: / jackapn2
Email: [e-mail]
Footage:
The Good Place - Michael Schur
Cheers - James Burrows, Glen Charles, Les Charles
I Love Lucy - Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, Jess Oppenheimer
The Andy Griffith Show - Sheldon Leonard
MASH - Larry Gelbart
All in the Family - Norman Lear & Bud Yorkin
The Cosby Show - Ed. Weinberger, Michael Leeson, Bill Cosby
Frasier - David Angell, Peter Casey, & David Lee
Modern Family - Christopher Lloyd & Steven Levitan
Parks and Recreation - Greg Daniels & Michael Schur
Friends - David Crane & Marta Kauffman
Music:
Procrastination - Kenny Segal
Daybreak - Electric Mantis
Pure - rare.
Subway (Instrumental Version) - Crowander
open.spotify.c...

[@ianferguson1495]

That season 1 twist forked me up

[@catpawz_1517]

Unresponsive Page The whole show forked up my brain

[@estherbankole1162]

Me, after finishing season one: BENCH WHAT THE FORK

[@viannataba299]

It made me watch the whole of season two in a week

[@fixyouraim5298]

God me too😂😂😂

[@DutchAver]

@@viannataba299 Amateur, I watched it in a weekend :P

[@R0DisG0D]

Between this and Brooklyn 99, Michael Schur is absolutely the king of Sitcoms right now.

[@notsadie8311]

And The Office, and Parks and Rec

[@user-zy1mu3mk4i]

He’s just the king

[@FirstnameLastname-gr5kb]

Yall just don't know iasip...

[@natesloan7445]

Firstname Lastname always sunny is an anti-sitcom

[@Tmanowns]

@@FirstnameLastname-gr5kb As Nate Sloan said, Always Sunny is an Anti-Sitcom. Its comedy still comes from the situations and the antics within, but at the end of the episode, there is no ethics lesson, or feel good moment. There's no lesson that the crew learns to become better, nor do they improve as people. In fact, every season they just become worse and worse. That's the whole point of the show, to be the opposite of a traditional sitcom, and turn some of the tropes on their head (like the bar setting of Cheers).

[@mapleorange3415]

spoiler alert: everyone dies in the beginning

[@dahyun1036]

I see what you did there

[@Bubbles603]

Duude you spoilt it😂😂😂

[@thebaatz157]

Lmfao

[@MrMrMayday]

Best line ever

[@chqrli]

and the end lol

[@feenitacharles905]

"Jason figured it out??... jason" Wow that one really hurt

[@lorenz2418]

i dont feel so good

[@saltymind4834]

lmao, i felt michael' pain during that scene

[@pedroks7756]

Thats spoiler,not for me but for 9ther peolple

[@slophisticated]

The funny bit is He kind of figured it out at the very beginning in season one When he said it was a prank show Sure he didn’t blatantly state it but even he could sense something was off

[@wu2166]

Who is Jason?????? I don’t speak spoiler Jk

[@codycrawford7842]

This show is incredibly underwatched, I am worried about people finding out the season 1 twist before finally learning of its existence and Netflix binging it.

[@abbyshore9953]

I've been watching the show for well over a year, and the twist at the end is one of the best kept secrets on the internet imo

[@pierssegal5910]

This video literally tells you the twist then a few seconds later says don't worry there won't be spoilers. It really should have said "go watch season one then come back" imo

[@quitmarck]

@@pierssegal5910 No he doesn't...if you mean Eleanor actually being a bad person, that is not a spoiler it is literally in the show description. He never tells the ACTUAL twist.

[@The_Jovian]

I went in blind except for one clip on Instagram. It was fantastic.

[@icantthinkofaname6991]

I found out the twist and I’ve only watched episode 1 :/

[@thewhatness]

I love just how casually this show teaches a wide audience philosophy from Kant to Kierkegaard, while still being genuinely funny and having characters that are engaging and charming.

[@sumayaabdi5014]

My name is kierkegaard and my writing is impeccable Check out my teleological suspension of the ethical

[@shemarbean1515]

My Ethics lecturer got us into this show. The entire class got hooked

[@layabstar]

I'd become an ethics professor just to show my students this show

[@nahuelma97]

That's a good teacher right there, using great tools to teach a subject

[@mindynasty]

SAME

[@Alexagrigorieff]

But everyone hates moral philosophy professors

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

And this is why peoppe now love ethical philosophy teachers.😎

[@TANIMAYTO]

I really like the Good Place! It's not a laugh out loud funny show, but it is abundant in charm! I can't wait till season 3.

[@Twowings2fly]

I felt season 2 ended on the perfect note. Not sure I'd like a season 3.

[@thatisweird]

Piroska Well, they're making it, and it's part of Mike Schur's original plan

[@Kelarys]

how can that finale even be conceivably considered an acceptable end of the story by anyone, it was a wonderful finale but it very clearly was only setting up the 3rd season. there's WAAAAAY too much left in the air to be considered a finished story. Particularly because the last few episodes spend most of their time highlighting how the other characters have had waaaaay less personal growth than best girl eleanore. I would have been devastated if I was told there wasn't going to be a 3rd season lol

[@MCArt25]

I don't know some scenes absolutely did make me laugh out loud

[@janNowa]

Floyd Zoyd Exactly. There's no laugh track but a lot of the time at least someone in my family makes their own.

[@DanielRomero]

This show is next level

[@logantyler9132]

I was gonna like this comment but the number’s already perfect

[@aaryanjain9532]

Don’t like

[@madjen8313]

@@logantyler9132 jl

[@DavidSprankle]

Man, good job avoiding spoilers. You even avoided Jason!

[@gupoll]

David Sprankle But you didn’t. I suggest you delete your comment

[@tokumusic4078]

The name Jason isn't a spoiler, if it has no context. Chill out man.

[@sophiaruizuvalle2523]

Who knew Jason Derullo would make a cameo

[@emilym9296]

@@sophiaruizuvalle2523 excactly

[@dacoolad]

still can’t believe they did that friday the 13th crossover.

[@presidenttogekiss635]

It’s curious how most sitcoms are set in the real world, where everything is always changing, but everything is the same in them, and the Good Place, which is set in the afterlife (a place where theoretically things stay the same) is always changing.

[@meli2066]

I don’t watch the show - I certainly want to now! - but maybe because ethics are always changing? What would once send someone to Heaven may now condemn them to Hell, etc.

[@MsLaetitia26]

@@meli2066 yes if you take child labour for example, 200 years ago it would be perfectly legal as children needed to work early but today, child labour prevent kid to learn valuable skills in school. robbing them of a successful life by exploiting them. also they're not paid fairly.

[@miamackenzie9946]

It has some insanely good plot progression, especially considering it’s a sitcom, which usually don’t have that

[@gaymerjerry]

I think that change stems from they only reveal information about the afterlife as its relevant to the plot We start only knowing theres a good and bad place Then we learn there was actually a medium place created for a single person Then we learn the show was actually set in the bad place Then we learn theres a neutral zone where the judge is Then we learn theres a door to earth in that neutral zone where judge sanctioned visits can happen Then we learn theres also an accounting department in the neutral zone that tracks the point system Nothing about the afterlife was really changing until you reached season 4 but so much of the whole system is expanded upon up until that point to make it look like the world is ever evolving

[@casual_ice_consumer4148]

I would say it's ironic, but ok.

[@zlamelie]

I binged 2 seasons in a week. It's a motherforking great show. Edit: I can see y'all saw this comment as a contest :) We'll hold the medal ceremony later this week. The fastest binge-watcher award goes to... Stay tuned 🏆

[@theheebs100]

pff. peon. I did it in two days

[@DevanLund]

Same. As soon as it came out on Netflix, we burned through both seasons in about 3 evenings.

[@emily-sv8yk]

A week? Man I did it in 3 dyays

[@bloomlooms1283]

Sameee

[@bloomlooms1283]

Actually I finished it in like 3 days

[@CoreIdeas]

I've been watching The Good Place since day one. I was hooked and became obsessed. Not only for the reasons you've listed but for the fact that I've slowly seen it gain popularity. I wanted to do a video essay on it but couldn't decide on the topic. You absolutely nailed it. To see a show about ethics and philosophy slowly grab an online presence was fantastic to see. Fantastic video.

[@worldsbiggestholdthegirlfan]

Core Ideas I haven’t been watching since day 1 but I started around when 5-6 episodes were out. I remember watching the finale live and omg I was so shocked.

[@Ncholasbloom]

im binge watching for comic con i hope to meet kristen bell

[@themuse1826]

I remember when the first episode aired :) it really did quickly hook me and I can only really think of one live action show I watched every time they aired, (I really love cartoons) and that's this one.

[@lillykluge-browne8616]

Ll

[@gabrielaperez3307]

Talk about why you like it, its your video you can do whatever you like !

[@iissacc]

Normally I hate amnesia in plot as it just allows you to reset character arcs instead of developing them further but this time it managed to keep the development (mostly) and also briefly looked at determinism which is one of my favorite subjects to think about. Great video essay!

[@cryptid_dumbass]

I honestly feel like part of that is because resetting the character arcs is almost the point in this case so it's not as annoying because it's not just for drama reasons or something it's showcasing that even when everything that they learned is forgotten, they can still improve

[@scftforwlw]

“why can’t I say fork?” “If you’re trying to curse, you can’t here” “That’s bull shirt” 😂

[@internisus]

Welp. Now I have to spend my day rewatching the whole show.

[@lumen8341]

same

[@nurlainisunarto1222]

internisus worth it

[@Asoue1554]

Same I've re watched both seasons 2 time and love it even more each time

[@tudororor]

Yeah, me too, I just realised I wasn't really concentrading on the ethics sooooo.....

[@davidkonevky7372]

Specially now after it ended :(

[@tara7206]

This is the only sitcom I actually cared about the characters long enough to finish the show and enjoy rewatching. Chidi is played so well and the other lead male characters are loveable and not obnoxious like most shows in this genre. They found the perfect balance between heartfelt and forking hilarious.

[@LifeIsABeach3210]

Kristen Bell is such a queen, please do a video on Veronica Mars

[@left8277]

LifeIsABeach3210 Veronica Mars is SO GOOD

[@Seraphina434]

Veronica Mars is my favorite show to bad it was ahead of its time

[@Fazerella]

@@Seraphina434 Well it's coming back so here's hoping the reboot is good and gets the recognition it deserves.

[@seanthebluesheep]

Mostly, I'm just impressed by how you managed to present and discuss the achievements of the show into the second season without spoiling it at all. Aside from the absolutely crucial and game-changing events of chapter five.

[@jblue1622]

0:56 Ted Danson's smile is subtle foreshadowing

[@Alexagrigorieff]

Ted Danson is also the barman in Cheers (5:47)

[@KarishmaChanglani]

I love Michael's small little smiles during the first season. It's kind of delightful knowing what's coming.

[@rini6]

They don’t make enough episodes of this. I binged season one in one night. But I had to watch season two as it came out. Now I’m ready for season three. Hurry up! (I know it wouldn’t be as good if they rushed it. I’m just not a patient person)

[@princedonovaughn1182]

Right!! I need season three

[@jblue1622]

Spoiled much? 😜😘

[@lumen8341]

How can you not be spoiled? It's like when I gave my cat a little caviar from Russia. She was unwilling to accept less after that. The Good Place is like that. :D

[@notsadie8311]

It's coming out in September!

[@victoriapope5925]

Season three in September 💕

[@GREENWIZ6]

This show is forking amazing!

[@Oscar-dc4ur]

Why can't I say Fork?

[@bbro2504]

If you're trying to curse, you can't here. I guess a lot of people in this Comment threat don't like it, so it's prohibited

[@GREENWIZ6]

Well that’s bullshirt.

[@drakenfist]

Holly Motherforking Shirtballs!.

[@blindleader42]

What a bunch of Hemdköpfe. 😜

[@vicmartone]

It's very interesting rewatching Ted Danson's performance in season 1. So subtle but there's definitely something there.

[@beebaw99]

This was awesome! You should totally do a video on Brooklyn Nine-Nine too, it has a lot of nuance and social commentary and is also by Mike Schur

[@hanalee894]

yes! wow, i had no idea that my two favourite tv series' were done by the same person. that explains a lot, haha

[@abijo5052]

Hana Lee he was also showrunner on the US office and Parks and Rex

[@puddlel1ama327]

@@hanalee894 Exactly the same! (Spoilers) Also, Kevin (Brooklyn 99)also plays Shawn (the Good Place) and Adrian Pimento (Brooklyn 99) is also Derek aka Janet's rebound boyfriend or the Medium Place Janet.

[@Ethan-en2ij]

So was Parks and Recreation and The Office

[@aFangirlsVideoMania]

Jane the Virgin also does the thing with themes even though it’s not a sitcom, and it works wonderfully.

[@saskiagrace]

Yeah, I love that show so much

[@plaflish]

My two favourite shows!

[@aliyahjade1543]

Yesss, i love jane the virgin!

[@n2da9]

I’m a guy but I accidentally turned it on at 1 and stayed up till 7, it’s kinda good

[@ipsumcontumelia6973]

No offense but its overly done drama isn’t relaxing as The Good Place

[@rade9242]

I adored this show from the very beginning. This is exactly how you make philosophy palatable to everyone

[@sophiah8182]

I like how you used cheers as the example because Ted Danson is in both cheers and the good place :)

[@andrewthezeppo]

Michael Shur is amazing. I almost never cry at a TV show or movie but that "waves" monologue in The Good Place and Ben and Leslie's wedding in Parks and Rec always get me.

[@KashTheStampede]

Spot on. The Good Place is the only sitcom I have been able to watch since Frasier. Most modern sitcoms milk embarrassment as a cheap source of humor. (Frasier did too at times, but like Cheers it was appropriately self-conscious about it) Due to childhood experiences, I can't watch shows like Modern Family, IT Squad, Parks and Rec, The Office, Big Bang Theory, etc, etc... I love The Good Place because the characters take each other seriously as human beings... or other conscious entities.

[@jaker3720]

John Redford try how I met your mother, it’s legendary

[@youtubeveiwer2394]

Give parks and rec at least 3 seasons before you judge it

[@georgebamber6871]

It crowd is hilarious

[@breadvelvet]

HIMYM has a ton of situational embarrassment as the root of its humor

[@Dave_MB]

Brooklyn 99 is great. Written by the same guy.

[@DevanLund]

I'd watch way more comedies on TV if they were serialized and made me want to know what happens next, like on this show. Most sitcoms are compartmentalized (as he mentions in the video) where everything returns to the status quo by the end of the episode. The most interesting episodes of any show have been the ones that lead to a shift in the dynamic (or especially, character development where they're not necessarily the same person at the end of that half-hour). The Good Place gives you that kind of change in damn near every episode.

[@RickReasonnz]

Gotta love seeing Young Ted Danson and Mature Ted Danson in the same vid. I too love how the show refuses to preach. It's closer to a education tool than a traditional sitcom.

[@mccritical]

Unlike traditional sitcoms, the "moral" and the "lesson" aren't always the same with TGP.

[@janetbeatrice9505]

You mentioned a few sitcoms and how they handle ethics and morality. I feel like Community should have been mentioned. If you're not familiar with it, you should watch it, or at least the first two or three seasons (fourth season doesn't count and after that it wasn't the same). Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a good one too, currently in its fourth and last season, but since it's an hour long, I'm not sure it counts as a sitcom. Two of the best shows ever.

[@fallapataurius]

I don't know if you've seen CW's Jane the Virgin, but that is an EXCELLENT show and if you did ever happen to watch it, I bet it would make for a great analysis video. It does a similar thing to The Good Place in breaking down its genre's (telenovela's) tropes and heightening them for modern audiences

[@victormunhozzz]

The show made me consider a lot of things in my life, and see things from another perspective *_{Spoiler warning}_* Specially that episode where everyone is resurrected and Eleanor decides she wants to be good from that point on no matter what. I was kind of disappointed when they had to die again in order to escape to Janet's void. I really wanted to see them spend more time on Earth.

[@YTwoKay]

Take all of that and compare it to "It's Always Sunnny in Philadelphia" where no one ever learns a positive moral lesson and the characters get ethically and physically wise over time.

[@michaelcreek3813]

You start putting plans under a microscope and nothing's going to make sense.

[@arb9010]

How can you get physically wise?

[@nyahgust]

i think they meant "worse"

[@lumen8341]

it's weird. they're both amazing and somehow the actual exact opposite of each other. I love it!

[@justagent5844]

Ive never watched much Sunny, but the clips I've seen are funny and the idea that the show is almost always seen through a "generous point of view" of one of the characters is genius.

[@kkaaiittlliinn]

this is my all time favorite show. smart, funny, and an incredible cast and writing team. perfect.

[@sidonipfaeffle5505]

No ending has ever made me cry as much as this one, its an amazing show

[@ShelbyRenaeH]

Please do one of these with spoilers! I have watched both seasons twice and I would love to hear your take, especially on the second season!

[@nifesi]

Such a great cast on this show !

[@ricknoriega6908]

I love this show and can't wait for season 3. The cast and the writing are both excellent, they really compliment each other and the plot twist at the end of season 1 was amazing. I actually yelled " OH SHIT." and rewatched the whole first season over again.

[@comicconcarne]

When you realize that every single one of Michael's lines and expressions has two meanings. *SPOILER* Like when Elanor confesses, is he disappointed that she's not a "good person" and there's been a mistake, or is he annoyed that he has to reroute his thousand year plan for the neighborhood? That slight slump and frown goes both ways.

[@sonam10107]

Genuinely the best plot twist ive probs ever watched

[@whatsup968]

Yeah I didn't LOVE The Good Place when I was first watching it, but as it went along and became more complex/philosophical, and the character growth became clearer, I started really liking it. I enjoy the optimism and intelligence of the show. It feels like normally when shows are trying to be intelligent they also become negative (Like Rick and Morty. I love that show but the main message of an episode is often not a very positive one), but The Good Place explores ideas I wouldn't normally think about while remaining positive, upbeat, and optimistic about humanity and the way the world works. I think you're right that The Good Place is supposed to be a healing-type of show

[@jesswilliams1436]

Love this show. Just now watching Deadwood and realizing that after that, this, and the musical remake of Reefer Madness, kristen bell is a more than admirable actress.

[@brnk2]

Probably my favorite TV show currently airing. It is very clever and still retains its humor even in its deepest moments.

[@pieceofloveb2638]

this is literally my favorite show. i remember seeing commercials for when it first came out and being like huh. but then i recently watched ALL 3 SEASONS in like 2 weeks. it has such an original humor and it mixes a moral virtue into the show without the audience even noticing. we all relate to eleanor in a way but shes so funny at the same time. the cast is literally perfect and the plot is so eccentric you have to watch the next episode then the next. its ADDICTIVE

[@Halfandhalf32536]

Came across this show by chance and boy am I glad I did

[@aragorniielessar1894]

I was honestly surprised to se how good this show is.

[@sam-to1br]

This show was amazing. During quarantine I watched the entire thing in less than 48 hours - across the span of three days. It’s brilliant

[@ginsengaddict]

Nice! I do love The Good Place for a lot of reasons. You just gave me a few more. Thank you for that. Any interest in doing a video on The Expanse?

[@lumen8341]

ooh, I'd definitely like him to talk about the Expanse. it's a sci-fi show, but there's so much depth to the many obligations and allegiances all the characters have. I'm not even that big into sci-fi, usually, but that show has so many characters with so much going on and I'm rarely bored. With many other shows, they have extended character arcs for people I just don't really feel moved by and it becomes a slog whenever their stories crop up. The Expanse has pretty much never made me feel that way, and my attention span is garbage. lol.

[@chrisnikolov2152]

*noice, smort

[@olit1234]

i forkin love this show

[@candaceroberts3238]

I was afraid it would be cancelled because it’s so good. It seems to happen too often. But it survived (yea!) and I hope the quality remains and its on for many years. I think it’s excellent and enjoyable. I also wonder what kind of brains come up with this stuff. Give it a try, it’s gonna be worth it.

[@Alexagrigorieff]

The philosophy advisor for the show made a cameo in the last season.

[@wilfer11]

This is Such a well done video. Editing is on point.

[@pyroshayniac1090]

I forking love The Good Place.

[@wet0wl]

Michael Schur has made my top 4 favourite shows and taught me a lot of great lessons. Absolutely legend!

[@ryanliang57]

that's bullshirt!

[@tehn3085]

Ryan Liang Which part?

[@zliu4208]

Tehn He is mimicking Eleanor.

[@tehn3085]

Brant Liu oh!!! Okay lol

[@benjespina]

Stop being a bench. 😂

[@justagent5844]

what the fork are you all talking about?

[@pranavchopra_0075]

After learning the twist , rewatching the show is really fun

[@trinniee8203]

This show is the best shirt ever I’m so forking excited that I found it

[@stephenbrooker7097]

A wonderful show - the best way I can describe it is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, reimagined as set in the afterlife.

[@gga2344]

I believe this show is great because it actually made me think. **S P O I L E R** Why does heaven take into account motivation. Tahani raised millions for people, which is incredible. Yet she goes to the bad place because she only did it so her parents would actually see her. She still raised millions.

[@kevinflipper3128]

That’s actually a good point, does that means that to get into heaven you must have a kantian approach to ethics?

[@lumen8341]

I think that's a very good question that they're definitely going to bring up at some point. You know these guys, that's the whole point of the show -- covering all these "what ifs" and "why"s.

[@mariaferodigue]

There's also Chidi, who had all the good intention but couldn't get himself to do anything.

[@Lucky10279]

Kevin Flipper Kant is not the only one to think motivation is important.

[@ilexdiapason]

i had never considered it, but jason really is Florida Man...

[@dark_wolf017]

I rewatch this show at least once I year usually never gets old

[@Fadolapanoli]

Ted Danson performance is so forking good man, I actually feel him

[@moses9647]

this show masterfully explores the basic question of what makes a good person good (and a bad person bad), the key being "explores". there isn't really an answer that's offered. great mix of moral philosophy, religious undertones, humour, character arcs, etc. 10/10.. love this show

[@jamescooper1968]

Great job, but I think you were wrong about why this show exists now. The Good Place could have been done 10 years ago, and I think it would have been a hit (much more than it is now.) It would not have happened then because TV was much more corporate and less willing to take chances--but the audience was there for it. What has made "original" programming more available is the expansion and availability of media. Netflix/KZbin/etc. have provided venues for all types of shows, and forced/allowed the corporate media to take chances. People are much smarter and savvy than we generally give them credit for being.

[@sophiaruizuvalle2523]

And also, every episode of a standard tv sitcom has to be clear and have enough info to be understood by even the person that's never seen it before, and the people who watch every week but forget what happened the last episode. But now, no one starts a show from the middle, and people can finish three seasons in a week so, there's more freedom to tell stories without much setup

[@noneri]

binged the whole show in three days this week since i've been inside and not feeling well, loved every second of it ^_^

[@aosfs2924]

Finally started watching this show and its amazing

[@Fallingwithstyle1995]

Terrific video; I particularly appreciated the examples from classic sitcoms to illustrate just how well-structured this new series is.

[@Attmay]

Fallingwithstyle I LOVE LUCY, ALL IN THE FAMILY and CHEERS are classics. F(R)IENDS is unwatchable junk, and I will downvote any video that incorporates it in any context.

[@GacLosen6556]

Spoilers ahead, you were warned. As someone who HATES Sitcoms (the ones with laugh tracks, mostly, like Two and a Half Men, the Big Bang Theory, every show on Disney Channel), I genuinely enjoy The Good Place because it does what many other sitcoms don't, and throws away conventions of the older shows that I find annoying. I mentioned I hated shows with laugh tracks, and that's because I don't need to be told when to laugh. I don't need an awkward pause where characters are saying nothing while I hear dead people laughing over something that was or wasn't funny. The only show I've seen in recent years that had a laugh track and was able to make me laugh was Mr. Iglesias, and that's because Gabriel Iglesias (a stand-up comedian) is the main character, and I was only laughing at his jokes. It felt like a bad sitcom with one human character. Which leads to the next issue: Characters that are overtly caricatures of a certain personality trait or trope with absolutely no change over time are annoying to watch, especially if they're unlikable. I'll never understand what makes characters like Archie Bunker and Sheldon Cooper popular. Sure, they might get their comeuppance at the end of the episode, but come the next one, they're not any less humble, or they haven't done anything to show that they've changed. You could argue that it's because change happens slowly, but there is literally no change in the literal years these shows have been on air for any of the characters. Sheldon Cooper is an obnoxious know-it-all who makes people want to strangle him in episode 1. He's still that character at the very end. Then, of course, you have the pushover characters like Leonard who want to tell their tormentor to step off, but usually, don't, and they're equally frustrating because they don't stand up for themselves. Enter The Good Place. We have the tormentor character, Eleanor, and the pushover, Chidi. Instead of Eleanor walking all over Chidi, and Chidi just going along with whatever she says, the roles here are reversed. Chidi is the one in power because Eleanor is trying to learn how to be a better person, and she is learning the consequences of her actions. Chidi isn't a perfect character, either, as he has his own flaws, but we see them actively try to change. There's character development. Even though they're caricatures, they're transforming in every single episode. My personal favorite character, Jason, actually shows that he's learned a lot about Ethics, and he even figures out that they were in The Bad Place during one of the resets, despite being seen as and treated like a complete and utter idiot. The characters are different in every episode, even when they have their memories wiped. Even Michael, a literal demon who has been tormenting people since the dawn of time, has an existential crisis, and reforms to try and get into The Good Place. He even learns empathy for others, and humanity as a whole as the series goes on. That's right, a literal demon from hell has more empathy and understanding of human life than Sheldon Cooper, a character who literally believes that everyone else around him is an idiot, and that they should all take his outrageous demands seriously. And the best part? No laugh tracks. I don't need to be told "THAT'S THE JOKE, LAUGH NOW" like some puppet. Every character brings their own form of humor, so if one of them doesn't make you laugh, the others will. Whether it's Eleanor talking about her alcoholism or how thirsty she is for Chidi and Tahani, Michael's dry humor about most situations, Jason's overt idiocy and Florida stereotypes (many of which are true, speaking as a Floridian), Chidi's inability to make any decision between two things, Tahani's insane Bourgeois tastes and name-dropping, or Janet, who is one of the best written and best acted characters I have ever seen. More shows need to be like this.

[@JayDagny]

It is so incredibly well done how you handle the concept of spoilers. Such huge respect to you to say when the spoiler part is over. Holy hell man I've seen a lot of your videos before but I never realized what a nice guy you are

[@johnwang9914]

Now I want a "Fork Off Eleanor" t-shirt

[@Alexagrigorieff]

You can actually buy "Dress Bitch", "Fork Off Eleanor" and others on Teepublic dot com

[@ChrisTheMemeMan]

this show literally entrances me. i can be in the middle of something and i look over to see someone watching it and i get stuck for hours. i love this show and its the most incredible sitcom ive ever watched.

[@insomniacslive]

This and brooklyn nine-nine are definitely my favourite shows. Michael Schur is a genius.

[@ethankish]

It’s really interesting to see this from your angle and I didn’t even realize that the things you were talking about was happening. This is also really well done. Thanks man!

[@JonathanJFrantz]

That was BARELY a spoiler.

[@jameswebber359]

True. But it is better to give people the option out of courtesy.

[@JonathanJFrantz]

James Webber Right. I respect that.

[@lumen8341]

Yeah, I was pleased how not spoilery it was. He was very courteous about saving the secret stuff! :D I appreciate that. If someone had spoiled the show for me I'd have been pretty disappointed.

[@justagent5844]

Timn8r, how early? I figured it out in the first episode but didn't say anything until the middle of the second episode (I was introduced by people who had watched it already). I believe pandering is part of the already established sitcom formula.

[@lottieew135]

Me and my fiance watched it all in Netflix over the course of about a week or two. It was forking brilliant, and we tried getting our friends into it. Love it, and I refer to my Alexa as flat chested Janet when I don't want her to light up.

[@PixieoftheWood]

I wonder if by the rules set in the Good Place it's actually harder for someone religious to get into the actual good place than an atheist. My thinking being, for most Christians, at least, all good works are innately selfish. They're doing it to rack up points being kept by a cosmic deity, not because they care about helping people. I frequently hear hardcore Christians talk about how Atheists would be completely selfish if they _truly_ didn't believe in God, because why would _anyone_ sacrifice anything if there wasn't heaven at the end of it all. The very concept of just wanting someone to be happy and healthy and not suffer during the time they have alive is so foreign that they have difficulty believing that anyone would really do that. I would think by this system, the best way a religious person would get into 'the good place' is by doing good deeds that they believe will damn them or while already believing they are damned. For example, performing an abortion in a case where it saves the mother's life, baking a cake for a gay couple or failing to ritually sacrifice your child when you hear the voice of God in your head telling you you must.

[@charleskramer7062]

PixieoftheWood, good topic of discussion - and it would be a fun thing to address in the show. However, it’s best to remember that different Christian traditions understand the issue differently. In the tradition to which I belong, it is impossible - and unnecessary - to earn one’s place in heaven. You don’t rack up points - it’s just offered because God loves everyone. It’s not even essential to believe. Though nobody knows, many theologians believe that all it takes is to be a loving person. You don’t have to believe this; all I wanted to show was the idea of earning heaven points is not inherently Christian.

[@mspisovatel]

Please no, that would be terrible. Let Parks or The Office make fun of religion. TGP is a lighthearted wholesome comedy. if it adressed religious topics, it would be a completely different show.

[@Asta_Rose]

But a lot of Christian churches teach that doing good things do NOT take you to Heaven. The good things you do are a result of having changed because of Christ, and you do that good things now because you want to.

[@dsolomon]

There are several reasons to make good choices and serve others. At the bottom of the spectrum might be because of fear. Also a bad reason would be to be seen of others, or getting earthly rewards for your good deeds. Doing good as a means to get to heaven is a better reason. But the best reason to serve others is because of your love of God and love for your fellow man. You may not always do the right thing for the right reasons, but the goal is that with God's help, you can change your heart so that you want to do good and do it for the right reasons.

[@myopinion5691]

No I think Christian choose to do right because they love God more then their own needs is the very reason why they should go to heaven... atheist do things that they think is good because they r their own God and they deemed for themselves what is good and evil where Christian don't care what they think they care what God think and want to be apart of his plan so they do what he say not because they are forced to but because they want to ....

[@matthewklitzke2970]

Ok, can we just agree that the big season one reveal had the best villain laugh ever?

[@aneirenestrmberg3032]

your voice is so comforting :) Maybe you should do episodes on more popular TV shows to get the viewers up so your channel can continue to grow. Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, The Wire, Sopranos, AND The Office!! it is a truly fantastic show that has so many things going for it: comedy, humanity, beauty of the mundane etc. Keep it up your channel is really good!

[@burcopresents]

I started watching season 1 because I had a big crush on Kristen. I’m so glad I had that crush because The Good Place is one of my most favorite show now.

[@TheGoncas2]

The Good Place is not a sitcom. It's just disguised as a sitcom in the first season.

[@biglittlefilms4382]

Ideas at Play, this was a beautifully written and well thought out premise on an excellent show, one of my favorites. Even today, in the era of streaming, networks can still occasionally hit a home run.

[@GoryionB]

The Good Place is the best show on Network TV right now.

[@goodjobeli]

As well as Brooklyn Nine-Nine. It's by the same person who knew.

[@justdeadedkinda1897]

I’ve cried so hard when I watched the ending

[@dorissaclaire]

I love the good place!!!!

[@samcanham6215]

Anyone notice at 0:54 Michael has the quickest little smile of amusement when he tells Eleanor she's in the Good Place? Cheeky bit of foreshadowing

[@justinrc1692]

can you do a video about BoJack Horseman?

[@Prokomeni]

Justin RC16 omg yes

[@Prokomeni]

+++

[@sophiaruizuvalle2523]

+

[@jamestate858]

This video changed my entire perspective on the show and am now rewatching it with new eyes. Thanks for the great video

[@88happiness]

Other sitcoms teach ethics in a black and white way, while the good place shows how complicated being good is.

[@alexweinstock943]

Might give this show a try now. Thanks!

[@debblouin]

How does the fact that The Good Place was actually a form of The Bad Place affect the nuance of the moral philosophy lessons? That would be a good follow review.

[@0oOSTFUOo0]

Loved the finale, can't remember the last time I cried over a TV show like that :D

[@jblue1622]

Sitcom is less a genre and more a style

[@yoboinicossman]

I watched the entire show in less than 24 hours. Absolutely riveting experience!

[@TkrakenT]

It kind of remembers me dead like me

[@TheRealLaughingGravy]

Nice job. I think this is the most ambitious situation comedy ever aired on American network TV, and maybe the most ambitious American show of any genre. I am stunned that it ever aired at all. I originally watched the first three seasons when they were originally shown (although I binge-watched the first half of the first season to catch up). Recently, I binge-watched the first three seasons to prepare for the final season, one season each night, and the show's structure and evolution became more apparent to me. It's smart and funny and challenges the viewer to think. It's a gem, and I'll miss it when it ends.

[@Elizabeth_Paz]

I love this show. great video!!

[@playin4power]

Very nice video! Love the good place and this is a great take on it. Definitely checking out more of your stuff.

[@laurelkuyon2556]

Spoiler: When she said “wait a minute this is the bad place” my jaw dropped

[@Alexagrigorieff]

Holy mother forking shirt!

[@peachy-wd6ci]

*gasps* "Holy mother forking shirt balls..." *everyone stares o_o* "THIS IS THE BAD PLACE" *Michael laughs* *everyone 0_0

[@sufyan1466]

You can watch it for free legally on the nbc site

[@nmikk10]

It's a good show but there are so many pop culture references that it will definitely seem dated in a decade, or even a couple years.

[@timidDot]

i would die for video essays like this about shows i love like this, im so happy about this