The Good Place: Mondays, Am I Right? (4x11)

This is as close to a filler episode as we're ever going to get in The Good Place. I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing, but I did notice that nothing in this episode broke from what we might have expected.

Cons:

So, both of the plot lines this week were good, and they had nice character beats, and they furthered the plot, I guess... but they also just treaded water for me maybe a little too much. Think about what happens here. At the end of the last episode, we learn what the new plan is going to be. At the end of this episode, we find out that the Soul Squad has been granted access to The Good Place, and that the experiment is going to be replicated just like Shawn already agreed. So what is this episode? It's Michael working out how to let go of the planning, and it's Chidi and Eleanor having insecurities about their relationship, which they patch up in no time flat. The status quo didn't really change - everything played out and things are moving forward as planned.

That's not strictly a bad thing, but it did leave me feeling a little bit underwhelmed, which usually doesn't happen with this show. Everything that happened here could have been done in montage - a quick line about how the candidates for the first round of the experiment had worked out, and that Michael, with Vicky's help, had gotten the demons on board with the new plan.

Pros:

But even if the stories this week felt slightly sparse, that doesn't mean there was no meat on the bones, and of course the comedy was still pretty great.

I loved the return of Vicky, and the way all she really wants to do is perform. Her understanding of the experiment is actually valuable, and I like that even though Michael and Vicky are on different pages, Michael is able to swallow his pride and let go of some of his control issues, to give the job to the person best suited to it. It says a lot about Michael's progression as a character. Last week, we saw him being open and honest in his negotiations with Shawn, and now we see something similar with Vicky. He's really willing to do what needs to be done for the good of all.

I also adored the simulation of a possible scenario for Tahani, where she has the opportunity to ruin her sister's life. Tahani was certainly tempted, and I loved the way she exited the simulation to congratulate Vicky on a good scenario. And the chain-saw wielding bear, and the "Mondays, am I right?" was absolutely hilarious and on point.

Meanwhile, Jason, Chidi, and Eleanor look through files to find a crop of candidates for the new afterlife system, with the goal of finding people who will do well, to build faith in the system at the start. Things are goofy at first, but then Eleanor gets anxious that if Chidi reads her file, he'll change his mind about her. She eventually decides he has to read it, so if he decides to leave her it will be now, and not after they've already spent "half of their eternity" together. When Chidi reads the file, however, he is worried that he's not good enough for Eleanor, because of how exciting her life was compared to his. Jason steps in to offer Chidi some encouragement, and all is well.

The lightness and comedy of these scenes are what helped sell it for me. Of course the insecurity that Chidi and Eleanor both felt was real, but at the same time, they are both secure in their love for one another. And Jason coming in with the assist was brilliant. We talk a lot about how Jason has high wisdom, low intelligence, but this was an actually straight-up smart plan, because one thing Jason has learned in his time in the afterlife is emotional intelligence. He also drops a Shakespeare reference in there, to show he isn't actually totally uneducated.

I think Eleanor and Chidi's differences are what make them strong as a couple, so it was lovely to see that expressly stated. Yes, Eleanor had a wild life, and Chidi played it safe. But they are made up of so much more than just what they did when they were on Earth. It's an amazing example of the hopefulness of this show's message, that we can all do better, that we can all resist being defined by our past behavior.

Also, if I had unlimited access to the truth about long-dead historical figures, I would totally find out who was queer. So I get it, Eleanor, I get it!

I think I'll stop there. The window dressing of this episode was just as fun and charming as ever. And while the main story seemed to tread water, I still enjoy the direction this is going. The fact that the crew is headed to the Good Place and there are still three episodes left makes me very curious about whatever twists and turns are waiting for us in the coming weeks!

8/10