‘The Good Place’ series finale doesn’t disappoint
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
“Picture a wave in the ocean. You can see it, measure its height, the way the sunlight refracts when it passes through…You know what it is. It’s a wave. And then it crashes on the shore and it’s gone. But the water is still there. The wave was just a different way for the water to be for a little while. That’s one conception of death for a Buddhist. The wave returns to the ocean, where it came from, and where it’s supposed to be.” -Chidi Anagonye
Following the beloved shows “Parks and Recreation,” “The Office” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” the NBC-produced Netflix Original ‘The Good Place” quickly became another success for writer Michael Schur. The series finale, which aired Jan. 30, took viewers on an emotional roller coaster that perfectly wrapped up each character’s story and maintained an interesting plot.
WARNING: SPOILER ALERTS AHEAD
The show follows Eleanor Shellstrop, Chidi Anagonye, Tahani Al-Jamil and Jason Mendoza, who have died and earned a spot in the Good Place to spend eternity in paradise. Eleanor, however, realizes that she doesn’t belong in this neighborhood of Nobel Prize winners and life-savers. She asks Chidi, a moral philosophy professor (who is also her soulmate), to teach her about ethics so that she can become ‘good’ before her identity is discovered.
Many seasons and afterlives later, the four characters, along with the endearing demon Michael, design a new way to measure the goodness of humans without wiping out the entire population. By saving all of humanity, they all automatically get into the real Good Place. But constant perfection takes a toll, so they alter the system so that residents can end their existence, even in the afterlife. The finale follows the four characters as they decide that they’re ready to leave the Good Place and erase their essence from the universe.
Usually, TV episodes that focus on character development and less on plot tend to be unbearably boring. However, “The Good Place” managed to keep my attention through their signature relatable humor and the subtle tension of waiting for the characters to leave. None of the characters’ departures felt forced; when they were ready to go, I felt happy for them, rather than heartbroken. It was heart-swelling to watch all the characters from broken homes experience a healthy relationship with their friends and family in the afterlife, and watch them grow in the way viewers expected from the pilot. This finale was the perfect example of a show ending the way the writers wanted the plot to end, and it was amazing. I would absolutely recommend watching “The Good Place” because it deals with major philosophical questions while maintaining a humorous and wholesome tone. This show will make you laugh, cry and leave you feeling peaceful about the future, no matter how uncertain it seems.
Sophie Nieder is a senior at Washington High School. She is the co-Editor-in-Chief for The Advocate. In her free time, she likes to read, go outside and...
