The Good Place: Finally Returns! Also, Almost Over
The Good Place finally returns from its hiatus that began in November. I’ve sorely missed it, the wait has been painful. But all is forgiven, because it’s finally back as of last Thursday. Unfortunately, it’s also almost over. There are just a handful of episodes left of one of my favorite shows that I watched in 2019, and I don’t know what I’m going to do without it.
The creators said they wanted to end it at its natural ending place after 4 seasons instead of letting it keep going and lose quality and direction like The Walking Dead did. They didn’t add that part about The Walking Dead, I’m just pointing out that show experienced a slow rot and become horrible. So, it seems reasonable that they’ve inflicted this brief The Good Place return on us.
It’s going to be sad to see The Good Place go because it was highly unique in what it offered. It was uplifting and positive without being excessively lame like the saccharine Hallmark movies (which are actually not only horrible movies, but also feature awful people depicted as heroes and teach horrible lessons about life that absolutely no one should ever follow, take seriously, or, in a perfect world, enjoy). It was a very smart show without being nerdy. It was philosophical without being preachy, and it was fantasy without being geeky.
They pulled off something pretty incredible with this show, but I can honestly say, watching 4 seasons of a great show is better than watching 8 seasons of a good show. The only thing I can think of that could have been improved about The Good Place was Jason. Jason was just.. too much. Funny in small doses, but the doses have to be so small they dare not risk letting him have equal screen time to the other characters. If they’d just pulled him in a little bit and made him more of a believable caricature instead of an outright cartoon character he’d feel more in-line with the rest of the cast.
So, I am filled with a bittersweet joy knowing that The Good Place finally returns, but that its return will be shortlived and soon it will be gone forever. My ennui knows no bounds.
