Season 1 Rewatch: 1x01 "Everything is Fine"

[sorchasilver]

Welcome to our first rewatch post! I’m really looking forward to rewatching the show, and having the opportunity to discuss it with you. Watch the episode at a time that works for you, and come join us in the comments.

Writer(s): Michael Schur
Director: Drew Goddard
Originally aired: September 19th, 2016

Synopsis:
Newly-deceased Eleanor Shellstrop is sent to the Good Place but only by mistake; Eleanor is determined to become a better person in her afterlife with help from friends Chidi and Janet.

Memorable Quote:
Chidi Anagonye: Well, I've narrowed it down to two possibilities: yes and no.

Useful Links:
Episode Transcript
IMDb entry

ETA: As this is a rewatch, references to future episodes is fine.

Comments

[erinptah]

This is one of the reasons I was so puzzled to see a bunch of people reacting to the s2 finale as if the characters' deaths were actually averted.

There's never been any indication the demons have time-travel or history-rewriting powers. What they have is the ability to wipe humans' memories and put them in fake environments that are carefully tailored to their (the demons') goals. And right now their goal is "prove that these humans can learn from each other and grow in the afterlife, even when their motives aren't distorted by knowing they're in the afterlife."

[enemyofperfect]

Yeah, I don't think it even occurred to me that it might be real! It was just a question of how much the simulation's being tinkered with -- is that real Chidi speaking English, real Chidi speaking another language but the simulation makes it work, another fake Chidi like during Eleanor's test, etc.

[erinptah]

Oh, good, it's not just me!

I feel like it would be a cop-out for this to be a simulated Chidi again, so my curiosity is all around what fake narrative has been constructed to get him here, and what he understands to be going on. (Also, how and when they're going to get Tahani to rejoin the party.)

[enemyofperfect]

Totally not just you!

It would be way less narratively satisfying if it isn't the real Chidi, wouldn't it? I think the main thing that made me wonder was the part where Chidi Anagonye, king of indecisiveness, seemed totally calm and confident while giving a talk to be shared with the entire internet. Which I admit is unfair of me -- he was a professor, he must have had some experience with public speaking!

But yes, I so share your curiosity about season three!