Mockingbird

A couple of the very best quotations from this episode, in addition to the brilliant "Something something Janet something something." Shawn: "Some people called you names, like the Thomas Edison of incompetence, or...that dick." Jason: "I can't believe Michael betrayed us AGAIN. Why is it always the ones you most expect?" Michael (this is all in the delivery, plus the addition of Kristen Bell's absurdly beautiful beaming face): "You GUYS! I was so scared for you! You're my friends and I wanted to save you!" Also, his little smirk when Eleanor agrees with Michael about Tahani's stuff in the roast being perfect. Michael and Eleanor's friendship is my favorite; they're making each other better people/demons but still maintain a bit (sometimes more than a bit) of their original ash-holery. Also, the idea of expanding this neighborhood with Michael overseeing it is really fascinating. It would offer other people the opportunity for redemption if there is actually a way to get to the Good Place from the Bad Place...

Before I even realized that I was cheering about a character getting two duffel bags of cocaine...I was actually cheering for Mindy and her cocaine.

Holt and Rosa’s hug made me tear up. I’ll need to watch again to recall everything he said to her, but it was perfect. Side-eying the writers forever for teasing Gina’s departure but then bringing her back. That was cruel. Almost as cruel as Gina was immediately to Amy.

Force him to watch 99. If that one doesn't draw him in, it's a lost cause. This episode definitely felt off, but the next one more than makes up for it.

My face during that whole episode was pretty much Jake’s face while Amy was plotting the squad’s return route. That was so sweet. And hilarious. Absolutely one of my favorite 99 episodes.

As someone with a number of friends who are sociologists, Holt’s utter disdain with his “A sociologist, Terry” was extra delightful to me. God, I wish this show’s numbers were better. Very few sitcoms are consistently this funny and this endearing.

Terry’s off camera “you’re a dick!” slayed me. Also, I don’t care how stupid the Rosa/Sully/Hitchcock storyline was. It was worth it for the absurdity and the glee on their faces when they scooted out to get the hot dogs.

“Dismal” is probably not the best adjective to use to describe your collection...

Here’s a clip from some of William Jackson Harper’s finest work on the Electric Company along with Lin Manuel Miranda.

Oof. I can usually sympathize with Rebecca, even when she’s doing pretty terrible things, but her telling Paula that her work on the Josh case was embarrassing and “cute” was just cruel. Also, add me to the list of people who hated how quickly Josh’s friends turned on him. I could see if a few people at Home Base believed the article, but Hector and WhiJo? Come on, show. On a positive note, I do love George. And Heather’s song was entertaining, even if it was a waste of Vella’s voice. On another note, I don’t know how I feel about Nathaniel. As “Oh My God I Think I Like You” is probably my favorite song from this show, I wish it wasn’t used here. If Nathaniel’s heart is actually melting and this isn’t some gross “I’m not used to being rejected so I’m gonna come after you harder” thing, it’s just a really weird time to be developing feelings for Rebecca.

And to think I was upset about how I imagined I was going to lose my affection for Michael after the season one finale. Underneath his contempt for humans and penchant for torture, he’s just a big old softie. A Silly Billy, if you will. I read an article earlier today about how this show has been Ted Danson and Kristen Bell’s best work in their careers, which may be debatable, but they (and the rest of the cast) really are so great with these characters.

Re: the new opening. https://www.google.com/amp/amp.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/10/20/assessing_crazy_ex_girlfriend_s_three_opening_credits_sequences_video.html I’m in total agreement. I was iffy with the second season’s opening until the first BLAM! with the hold. Then I was sold on it forever.

Luridness rhymed with cock...suredness. Oh, show. I love you.

Also, add me to the list of people (everyone? It’s everyone, right?) who love how ridiculously well Ted Danson and Kristen Bell play off each other. I had to rewind the moment when Eleanor told Michael that he was pulling an Eleanor and he shot back “Posting my cousin’s credit card number on Reddit because she said I looked tired?” because their following laughter had me in stitches.

Michael’s super sarcastic non-apology followed by his sincere, vulnerable actual apology melted my heart. Which is probably why I’d be so easy to torture.

I knew this episode was going to be one of my favorites when we got Holt’s “In my belly” in the cold open. But then it was even better than I could have imagined it was going to be. Jake realizing he wanted to marry Amy when she was in bed, angry she found an error in the crossword puzzle was so ridiculously sweet. Or, as Rosa would say, dope.

Hypothetically, Eleanor, Chidi, and Tahani knowing that Jason’s a fake should be more torturous for them. Eleanor, because he’s literally the dumbest person and might blow her cover, too. Chidi, because lying about Eleanor AND Jason is doubly vexing and stomach ache inducing. Tahani, because she knows she’ll never be matched with her actual soulmate for all of eternity. They just have to act like all of this is actually torturing them. Big sap that am I, I would actually be totally on board with the two couples put together to make eternity miserable for each other actually being perfect for each other.

I mentioned to my roommate that all I could see with Michael’s piece was a disco alien dick. So of course he wins. But at least Brandon didn’t win for doing what he does every week, but slightly worse, this week.

Nooooooooo! My Janet/Jason ship! But it was actually super lovely to see someone finally be truly kind to Tahani. Chidi felt badly for her last season because he knew about her “fake” soulmate and so he did nice things for her initially (like the Tahani Degas painting), probably out of guilt. Jason is just too dumb to have any ulterior motives. If Michael’s not forking with Eleanor and Chidi, this show is again progressing with their relationship so much more quickly than I imagined it would.

Maybe I’m being too optimistic, but I think, despite all of his talk about humans being cockroaches, that Michael actually likes Eleanor. The look he shot her when they were pretending to tour the neighborhood and especially their shared annoyance when Vicky started singing weren’t the interactions you’d have with a cockroach. That dirtbag from Arizona is going to win him over yet. (Also, in this paragraph, Eleanor is pronounced El-lin-er just like Ted Danson does.) And Jason may be literally the dumbest person, but he is loyal. Maybe knowing who’s on his team and who isn’t will help him keep his mouth shut but probably not.

Not just tickets to Hamilton. But tickets to Hamilton with the rumor that Daveed Diggs was coming back. That was cold, Michael.

This show. So so good. I can't wait to watch those first ten minutes again. I was laughing too hard from Janet's pleading and Jason's figuring out they were in the bad place to hear everything. And the pacing! They're not forking around in the writers' room. I wish I could force everyone I know to watch this.

Loved it. So glad this show is back. Even without the note, Michael's in for some trouble. The characters retained a bit of their growth from the first season. Janet and Jason may actually be soulmates. Chidi made a decision rather quickly. (Yes, it was an obvious decision, but I could see the ramifications of just having to make such a decision giving him a stomach ache.) Tahani was coming to apologize and admit a mistake. Eleanor wasn't nearly as much of an ashhole as she was in episode 1. Plus, Vicki is so much fun. God, I would LOVE a twist in which Michael is actually a human, too. (Or I suppose he could be a deceased demon, as long as our fab four are still real.) Season 3 could look at Sean pulling all the strings behind Michael's back... I mean, success is impossible, failure means retirement, Eleanor's so sharp, and his actors are revolting. It works.

At long last, the rumored Kristen Bell video of the cast learning about the ending for the first season: http://ew.com/tv/2017/09/20/the-good-place-bad-place-video-kristen-bell/?sf115660823=1

MURTAGH. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/live-feed/outlander-surrender-recap-caitriona-balfe-tobias-menzies-ron-moore-interviews-1038768 A strange way to break that news, but I will absolutely take it. I was dreading his death scene. Book Murtagh was fine, but show Murtagh is fairly consistently just wonderful.