The Good Place has been known for reinventing itself each season over its first two years. So far, this season, that has been on overdrive as the first few episodes have been burning through plot points like it’s going out of style. This episode continues that trend but seems to finally settle down and set a path for the rest of this season.
After being discovered by the humans at the end of last week, Michael and Janet come clean about their actions over the last year. This ultimately dooms the humans as knowledge of the afterlife taints their actions with the expectation of going to the Good Place. This revelation causes each of the humans to spiral in their own separate ways.
However, Eleanor eventually pulls herself out of it and decides that even if she is doomed for the Bad Place, she can still help other humans on Earth with her new insight. Thus, the ‘Brainy Bunch’ became the ‘Soul Squad’ so they can help other souls get to the Good Place.
This shift signals a new ethical direction for the show and the characters. As Chidi explains, they are now following the virtue and consequentialism schools of ethical thought in order to lead virtuous lives. Basically, this boils down to the humans leading a good life while helping others. Ethics may not be the centerpiece of this show but considering Chidi is a moral ethics professor, the show has raised interesting ethical questions in the past and this shift is new territory in that arena.
In the past, the characters tried to get better to get into the Good Place. However, now they are acting ethically simply because it’s the right thing to do. It may seem like a small change but it will likely lead to new and interesting insight into these characters as they grow morally over the course of this season.
So far, this season has been a whirlwind of new stories and characters but this episode seems to bring the season-long arc into full focus. It also sets our characters up in a new place to grow and change as the season progresses. Hopefully, this narrative won’t be rushed through like the earlier episodes this season though as it seems like there is a lot to explore here.
The Good Place airs Thursdays on NBC.
