Season 4 Episode 02: A Girl from Arizona (Part 2)

[enemyofperfect]

Hello again! How are you all feeling about the season premiere now that you've seen both parts?

I hope to watch this week's episode later tonight, but until then, a few questions for those of you who are ahead of me:

• Who got the best line of the episode?
• Was there a moment that made you wonder -- or speculate?
• What was the best visual gag (or other visual!) of the episode?

I'll look forward to reading everyone's comments when I get a chance!

Comments

[erinptah]

Just watched both episodes! Quick thoughts:

- The NBC site also has the mini-webisode series "The Selection", so I started with that, and it's great. Just a parade of demon fun and conversational worldbuilding. ("I couldn't eat a whole baby, but what if we ordered a baby for the table?")

- I don't buy at all that Michael faked the panic attack. I think he agrees when Eleanor raises the theory because (a) it makes her feel like things are more under-control and (b) it makes him look cool and smart instead of helplessly freaked-out.

- The "Eleanor, Eleanor, Eleanor. Now I won't forget." "Ya might!!" exchange was so good. So many layers of feeling packed into such a short delivery.

- The drop-in of the Kars-for-Kids song was amazing.

- Already tired of the "uh-oh, we haven't given Jason anything to do this episode, let's make up some romantic drama" schtick. His conversation with Michael was funny and snappy and character-based! More of that please.

- And why was Derek's error message showing in the neighborhood, anyway, even though he was rebooted in Mindy St. Claire's? Let Derek be a fun wacky joke, not a source of drama and creepy possessiveness :(

- Sassy Gay Blogger hasn't had much to do either. Nor Tahani, his corresponding most-annoyed-original-human. I'm assuming the character development will feel more balanced once the whole season is out.

- Awful White Dude was mostly just painful to watch. Funny but way too close to home. (That said, his chaos sequence was pretty great.) I'm honestly not sure how they're going to redeem him.

- When the demon-in-disguise started with the punching, I thought she was a human who had been suppressing violent urges her whole life (or, you know, maybe not always suppressing them), and finally snapped and went all-out with the punching after hearing "you can have anything you want here" enough times. Turns out, no, she was an plot-devicey excuse to make the cast a tiny bit less overstuffed.

- Related: the pure-light baby elephant was wonderful.

- Simone was adorable and ridiculous. If I was lucid-dreaming, I'd try to conjure up the most exciting/exotic things, but she just goes as absurd as possible. I hope she really was just added to the experiment to fork with Chidi, and not because she has a secret level of awfulness that's going to be revealed.

- Related: Eleanor, you didn't have to pull out soulmates as an excuse to push them together, you could've just said Chidi's experience on Earth made him a good fit for helping her!

- I want more flavor from the Janet-baby constructs! They seem to be so active, and interact so much, even when there aren't any humans around to put on a front for. What is their deal? Does that one woman even know she's playing a role, or does she actually believe she's the reason there are still ducks?

[enemyofperfect]

I like your theory that Michael just agreed with Eleanor to smooth things over! I much prefer him being fallible and sometimes overwhelmed to his somehow becoming the secret mastermind he thought he was at the start of the series.

And yeah, I'm not that into creepy possessive Derek. Unless they're doing some kind of origins of evil thing with him, it just seems weird? I would love to learn more about Janet's other constructs, though. They seem rather better adjusted overall...

I share your hope that the season as a whole will feel more balanced! I know Eleanor is the main character, but as much as I love her, it still felt a little strange having her so completely centered as the only possible hope -- I mean, I thought this show was about working together? But there's been a lot of stuff to love so far, so fingers crossed.

[yourlibrarian]

I wondered how much content there was in The Selection, so thanks for that!

Yeah, I preferred that Michael's action not be retconned either.

That said, his chaos sequence was pretty great. I'm honestly not sure how they're going to redeem him.

Agreed. And me neither, so I'm curious how that will be addressed.

When the demon-in-disguise started with the punching, I thought she was a human who had been suppressing violent urges her whole life

Honestly, I would have found that more interesting. Of course, this allowed them to change Chidi's status but I'm not sure if that would have changed what they'd do with him.

I'm assuming that Eleanor pulled out the soulmates thing because she knows how it worked for them both the first time around, and figures it was the push he needed.

[enemyofperfect]

I loved this episode so much! Part one was fun and great, but this one dialed up the feelings and philosophy even more, and it's exactly what I needed. I could do with a little less of the chosen one vibes with Eleanor -- not because she isn't an A++ reformed dirtbag and certified hottie, but because it feels like it's downplaying the help the others gave her along the way -- but I think I'm even more excited for this season now than I was to begin with, which is saying something.

My humble nomination for best line: Jason's morose but heartfelt, "You're right, that is the code." You're a good bro, Jason.

And the scene between Chidi and Simone was just amazing. First of all because he went into it so confidently and secondly because I enjoyed what he had to say, but also because they were just so adorable? She was so delighted to be surprised! He's clearly the best hallucination she's had so far!

Meanwhile I'm really curious how they're going to get through to Brent and (whenever he resurfaces) John. Here's looking forward to episode three!

[yourlibrarian]

"You're right, that is the code." You're a good bro, Jason.

To me, Jason's moments are often a delight because he seems like the most restricted person to work with of the main group, especially in terms of representing personal progress while still maintaining his basic character.

[enemyofperfect]

Aw, that's such an interesting thought! And makes me all the more curious about what this season may bring for him.