#john wheaton

and that idea, of a group of people playing off each others flaws in order to create the worst situation for everyone involved, was the exact idea behind Michael’s first experiment. he gathered Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason specifically because their specific traits created the worst possible outcome for all of them. but it backfired, because instead of hurting and ruining each other, they consistently helped each other to grow and mature time after time, even on earth, essentially turning “Hell is other people” into “Help is other people”

but that’s not it, because remember, that’s all seasons 1-3 and this title is in season 4. you see, in season 4 they tried to recreate the experiment with new people to see if it work the same (despite being a fundamentally different experiment, but that’s another post). the participants-Simone, Chidi, John, and Brent-were supposed to help each other grow the way the original participants had. and in this episode, the new experiment is coming to a close, and the Soul Squad is desperately trying to rack up a few last points and get these people to help each other. to put aside their problems with each other and just help each other to grow and mature and change. and it almost works. if there had just been a few more seconds, it might have.

This episode kind of destroyed me. I’m still trying to blink away the tears to write this. It was so amazing.

It had all the cameos. All the philosophers coming to Chidi’s talk and Eleanor shutting down the show’s RL philosophy advisor. And it turns out in the Good Place they do trolley problem Michael’s way so bring a poncho.

Everyone’s we met got in but Brent. He’s still have a way to go. But the original Doug Forcett can finally party and not worry about points. This is what this new system was made for.

Donkey Doug and Pillboi both were there for Jason’s goodbye party. And so was Dance Dance Revolution crew. We even got one more Blake Bortles mention. And Jason became the monk waiting for thousand Bearimies for the last goodbye with his not a girl.

Eleanor’s roomates are now her real friends and they, and Simone and Uzo all hang together. And so do Eleanor and Chidi’s parents. And she even got Mindy to finally leave her Medium Place and the Most Derek Derek and go through the system. She gave her friends.

Tahani got to live with her sister without the rivalry and then finally their parents came and became the parents they both always wanted. And John was there for her too. And she got to become expert in everything and even got to problematically objectify Eleanor. But she still wasn’t ready to leave. Michael lost his sense of purpose but she found it and her bowtie was peacock.

We even catch up on the immortals. Glenn is back from the goo. Doorman Jeff who finally is very not alone and almost had too many frogs until Michael got him the real one. And in the end even Shawn becomes nice (he just has problem with tone). And Judge Gen discovers podcasts.

I loved the final tweaks to the system. Sure it works smoothly even the Joint Council of Afterlife Affairs got dissolved and even Shawn become better but it needed one more choice option. So Tahani the human got to be Tahani the Architect and run among the immortals. The final bragging rights but name-dropping is so gauche.

And Michael the Fire Squid finally got what he truly wanted - to be human. Michael Realman who could experience the heat and guitar lessons with Mary Steenburgen and even say “Take it sleazy”. And when he dies he can go through the system he designed and maybe even through the door. Eleanor’s last gift to him. She always was best at figuring out what everyone needs.

But of course the goodbyes hit the hardest. You always want it to last just a little bit longer. Even when you know it’s time for the story to end. Jason even waited extra thousand Bearimies to give Janet his present (J+J forever!) and to not go alone.

And Eleanor did all she could to get Chidi to stay just a little bit longer. It’s amazing that they went to film that on location in Athens and Paris and that was the last thing they filmed. The beauty was there to soften the hit. It helped a little but it was still heartbreaking. It's the saddest when the love of your afterlife is ready to go and you aren't. But it’s selfish not to let go. No wonder that she lived surrounded by mementos of him (I want that calendar) until she found what completed her journey.

And then Eleanor left. I hated to see her walk through the final door at the edge of existence but I loved to watch her leave.

But we still have Tahani. And Janet will forever remember them like they were still there.

The Walking Dead

Blade Runner movie poster homage