The Good Place (2016-20)

So after 2.5 years evading Covid-19, it finally came for me too. I took a few sick days off work and basically watched TV all day. The Good Place kept my spirits up. And it was very bingeable, breezily going through a season a day. It's bright, funny, and insightful. The characters are likable and redeemable and each have their own quirks. But there are a few things that really elevate The Good Place above other network comedies. 

 First is that it entrusts its audience with rather complex philosophical theory. The series deep dives into Kant and Aristotle and the like. It tackles the biggest philosophical questions and actually gives pretty good answers. Popularizing philosophy is something to be lauded. And it's not just a subplot, it's actually at the core of the show's themes. Second is the brilliant plot, with its unique premise setting up a conception of the afterlife with a points system. It has an excellent twist at the end of Season 1 (that I remember reading about at the time, but it was still a fantastic reveal), and turns the whole premise upside down. Even when it departs from the original conceit, it morphs into some other brilliant thing. Each season does something different, clever, on the same theme but from a different angle. 

Third, I love the diverse casting. William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil and Manny Jacinto with top billing on network TV. Harper plays the academic Chidi, a philosopher scholar. Jamil plays the beautiful philanthropic Tahani. And Jacinto, freed from the model minority stereotype, plays the dimwit Florirdian Jason. Kristen Bell, D'Arcy Carden and Ted Danson are all great too, as is Maya Rudolph in a recurring guest spot.

And finally, Michael Schur nails the landing with a poignant finale that provides satisfying closure. The scale of the finale spans hundreds of Jeremy Bearimys, Enough time for our protagonists to fulfill their life's and afterlife's dreams and to find the quietude to move on. It's a beautiful ending.