the_good_place | Season 4 Episode 03: Chillaxing

I'm trying to remember if the other seasons were as obvious about needing to rotate through the cast to do everyone justice, or if that really is a new issue now that they have three new humans to reform. Does anyone else have thoughts?

That meta aside, I was a little unnerved by Eleanor getting so into torturing Chidi, and very touched by Tahani's overtures towards John. I'm not completely sure what I think about Chidi needing to be anxious before he can help others... although I guess another way of looking at it is that he needed to believe there was a problem, and more specifically, a problem that he specifically needed to work on, which does make more sense to me. (He was so good when he thought Jason might be in danger. I really do love Chidi so much.)

Also: I love the woman who was so happy to see her childhood turtle. I don't even know if she exists as anything other than a sockpuppet for Janet, but I love her!

although I guess another way of looking at it is that he needed to believe there was a problem, and more specifically, a problem that he specifically needed to work on, which does make more sense to me

Yes, I think that's key. I mean, if you believe you're in the Good Place there's not much reason to think that there's any real problems afoot, much less than you need to be in charge of them.

I also thought it was a really good week for everyone. I think it's the first time we've really seen Tahani reaching out to someone like that, and also sweet to see heartbroken Jason realizing that focusing on someone else is a way to help himself (which Tahani, too, connected on). And Chidi is actually doing it too, even if he doesn't realize it. I also liked the supportive role Michael played with Eleanor after she had her crying fit.

I mean, if you believe you're in the Good Place there's not much reason to think that there's any real problems afoot, much less than you need to be in charge of them.

Yes! Which does have real life implications, now that I consider it again -- I'm reminded of the line about comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable.

I think it's the first time we've really seen Tahani reaching out to someone like that, and also sweet to see heartbroken Jason realizing that focusing on someone else is a way to help himself (which Tahani, too, connected on). And Chidi is actually doing it too, even if he doesn't realize it.

Oh, that's a great observation. Not only can we help each other, as this show has repeatedly shown, we can find comfort in doing so.

I'm gonna copy-and-paste my comment/question from the TGP LJ comm:

Those ding dang very-last-moments-of-the-credits twists are BACK! How I've missed them! I spent that whole last scene in the Architect's office trying to see if the door was open and stressing about if one of the test subjects was about to walk in and get spoilers for their soul, and I think maybe they did that on purpose to get us nice and alert before smashing out to the railroad tracks.

What rough beast is rolling towards the Neighborhood? Anyone have any guesses?

I've seen theories that Janet or Michael was swapped when they got on the train to hand off the demon, with a Bad Janet/Vicki in a Michael suit.

I can see Janet's recent behavior being a disguised Bad Janet subtly sowing discord, and honestly would prefer if that arc had more going on than just Unknowable Immortal Beings Somehow Have Textbook Straight-Relationship Drama.

Would rather Michael be real, though. Especially since we've already done a whole season of "Michael is not who he seems to be." And his bonding with pseudo-Architect Eleanor is so rewarding, it would suck if a bunch of that turned out to be fake.

I like the not-our-Janet theory! I don't think I would have thought anything of it if I hadn't seen that theory, but it would really fit with actually suggesting Tahani punch him. And I completely agree that it's better if Michael is real, too. I like who he is this season, I don't want that taken away in favor of "haha, fooled you"!

Season 4 Episode 03: Chillaxing

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