The Good Place

If you’re looking for a comedy show that will make you laugh, think, and feel deeply, then The Good Place is the right choice for you. Created by Michael Schur, this NBC sitcom premiered in 2016 and ran for four seasons, ending in January 2020. The plot and characters are refreshingly original and quirky, the writing and acting are superb, and the themes and messages are both humorous and profound.

The basic premise of The Good Place is that the afterlife exists, but it’s not a traditional heaven or hell. Instead, there are four main places where people can end up depending on their moral choices and actions on earth: The Good Place, The Bad Place, The Medium Place, and The Accountant’s Office. Our protagonist, Eleanor Shellstrop (played by Kristen Bell), learns that she has died and somehow ended up in The Good Place, which is an idyllic neighborhood filled with friendly and talented people, gourmet food, and endless entertainment. However, the catch is that Eleanor realizes she doesn’t belong there because she was a selfish and dishonest person in her previous life as a saleswoman of fake medicine. To avoid being exposed and sent to The Bad Place, where eternal torment awaits the morally corrupt, Eleanor hires a benevolent philosopher and ethics professor named Chidi Anagonye (played by William Jackson Harper) to teach her how to be a good person and earn her spot in The Good Place.

What ensues is a hilarious and heartwarming journey of self-discovery, friendship, and humanity, as Eleanor, Chidi, and their two other neighbors, Tahani Al-Jamil (played by Jameela Jamil) and Jason Mendoza (played by Manny Jacinto), navigate the challenges and dilemmas of living in a utopian yet imperfect realm. The humor in The Good Place is not only witty and slapstick but also clever and meta, as the show uses puns, wordplays, and pop culture references to satirize various aspects of modern life, such as social media, celebrity culture, and consumerism. The actors’ comedic timing and chemistry are impeccable, making even the most absurd scenarios and lines feel natural and relatable.

However, what makes The Good Place more than just a sitcom is its exploration of philosophical concepts and moral theories. Each episode revolves around a different ethical dilemma, ranging from trolley problems to the nature of happiness, from the meaning of existence to the role of fate and free will. The show draws on both Western and Eastern philosophy, referencing thinkers such as Aristotle, Kant, and Confucius, but also creating its own fictional philosophers who provide hilarious yet insightful commentary on life’s biggest questions. Moreover, The Good Place showcases a diverse and inclusive cast and crew, who promote social and environmental justice through their art and activism.

The central message of The Good Place is that what matters most in life is not what happens to us, but how we treat others and ourselves. The show argues that humans are capable of growth, forgiveness, and redemption, and that ethical living is not only possible but also rewarding. The characters’ development and relationships are a testament to the power of empathy, vulnerability, and mutual support, as they learn to overcome their flaws and fears and become better versions of themselves.

The legacy of The Good Place is that it has inspired and educated millions of viewers about the joys and challenges of being human. It has taught us that humor and philosophy can coexist, that diversity and representation matter, and that comedy can be a force for positive change. It has also offered us a glimpse into the afterlife that is both realistic and imaginative, inviting us to reflect on our own mortality and values. As one of the characters, Janet (played by D’Arcy Carden), says in the finale of the show, “no one is beyond rehabilitation or redemption.” The Good Place proves that laughter is not only the best medicine but also the best therapy for the soul.