S03.E08: The Worst Possible Use of Free Will

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Quote

Eleanor recalls some forgotten events from her past.

Original air date: 11/8/18

[Melina22]

What a fantastic episode - complex and funny and unpredictable. I enjoyed it so much more than the last one. 

I'm trying to decide which I liked better - Eleanor chatting with a large lizard on her head, or Eleanor's "blame hose". And there's a sentence I never expected to type. No wonder I love this show. 

[Mockingbird]

Picking up people from the airport IS the worst possible use of free will. 

That was super sweet. Michael and Eleanor’s friendship is my favorite relationship on the show, so I always love when Michael is surprised/delighted to hear that Eleanor cares about him. 

Plus, welcome back, Bad Place crew! 

[Dots And Stripes]

I missed the good place neighborhood so much! I loved seeing the tissue moment Michael told us about last season. 

[Linny]

I hadn't realized just how much I'd missed the afterlife until we got to revisit it. Don't get me wrong, I love the gang on Earth, but the original neighborhood was so charming and full of detail that it really added a special dimension to the show. The zaniness of Pick a Pet day was just perfect, and for once I agreed with Chidi's indecisiveness -- both puppies were adorable! And Jason's penguin was in a Bortles jersey, hee!

Eleanor was understandably afraid of the feelings inspired by watching back her lost memories, and Michael was the perfect person to help her deal. Being a non-human, he doesn't buy into the grandiose idea of a perfect love, but he knows just how compatible Eleanor and Chidi are. Yes, he brought them together every time, but they made it work because of the chemistry they naturally possess. No matter the circumstances, Chidi and Eleanor just FIT.

"Tostitos presents a Public Library, brought to you by GoDaddy." LMAO, someone has a lot of fun creating these gems. Every place in Arizona turning into a porn set after dark was hilarious as well. Oh, and Eleanor mentioned Rihanna as a contender for the best person in the world (co-signed), and in Michael's file on Eleanor we see that Rihanna's bodyguard is listed as one of Eleanor's enemies. I live for that kind of continuity.

Booo, I HATE Vicki, but it's badass that the demons are on the loose now. It's so much fun how the show constantly mixes things up and never lets us get too comfortable with any situation.

By my estimation, this was the best episode of the season, carried on the backs of Kristen Bell and Ted Danson. Separately they're amazing, but together they're gold.

[Melina22]

I cannot wait to find out who in rural Canada is going to be their ideal human (speaking as someone who lives in rural Canada.) This should be good. 

[Trillium]

2 minutes ago, Mockingbird said:

Picking up people from the airport IS the worst possible use of free will. 

It really is. We live 10 minuets from the airport so I’ve done it a lot. But I’m hoping it’s earning me some major Good Place points. 

 

I love everything about this episode. Jason dressing his penguin in a Jaguars jersey and saying “Come on Blake” was hilarious. And centaur Tahani! I also loved Elenor being into Sam the Eagle, because that’s the most obscure thing ever.  I want to know who wrote that and why! 

[Chaos Theory]

Fantastic episode.  I am really enjoying this season but it was nice to see the good place neighborhood again.  Plus watching the reboot where Eleanor and Chidi fell in love was interesting.  I also really liked the conversations between Eleanor and Micheal.  They really are the heart and soul of the show.  The funniest bit though is that apparently every place in Arazona produces porn when they close down for the night. 

Edited November 9, 2018 by Chaos Theory

[tennisgurl]

23 minutes ago, Linny said:

And Jason's penguin was in a Bortles jersey, hee!

Jason found his spirit animal! 

I am loving the soul squad on Earth, but it was so great seeing the original Good Place again! It was so magical and filled with adorable, weird details, like Pick A Pet Day, featuring the Tahani Centaur. I loved seeing the timeline where Chidi and Eleanor fell in love, and I found the whole series of conversations about free will to be very interesting. I also love seeing old Michael, and how much he has changed. I mean, how much more evidence do you need that someone can change? Michael is a demon who eventually became a better person/cosmic being. I love Michael and Eleanor, and I will never stop loving how surprised and delighted he is when he realizes that people care about him. Classic Good Place. Hilarious, character driven, and alternately silly and philosophical. 

And now we know that every place in Arizona becomes the site of a porn shoot after dark. The more you know!

[MrWhyt]

28 minutes ago, Melina22 said:

I cannot wait to find out who in rural Canada is going to be their ideal human (speaking as someone who lives in rural Canada.) This should be good. 

the guy who got the afterlife 92% right was from Calgary.

[Mockingbird]

5 minutes ago, MrWhyt said:

the guy who got the afterlife 92% right was from Calgary.

Doug Forcett! If he was a stoner in the 70s, he’s probably still around...

[DrScottie]

47 minutes ago, Mockingbird said:

That was super sweet. Michael and Eleanor’s friendship is my favorite relationship on the show, so I always love when Michael is surprised/delighted to hear that Eleanor cares about him.

It's mutual. He's the Big Blue Toothbrush at Bed, Bath, and Beyond that she always wanted in her life and he cares about her so much that he was willing to lose his very existence to save her. 

11 minutes ago, MrWhyt said:

the guy who got the afterlife 92% right was from Calgary.

Doug Forcett was my guess too. I would think the person who figured out the afterlife and the points system associated with it would be aspiring to do the best he could to get into the actual "Good Place."

Edited November 9, 2018 by DrScottie

[chaifan]

34 minutes ago, Trillium said:

I I also loved Elenor being into Sam the Eagle, because that’s the most obscure thing ever.  I want to know who wrote that and why! 

I knew someone who wrote for a very popular sitcom in the 80's/90's.  I learned that many of the really wacky plot lines have origins in reality.  So my guess is someone on the writing team - or someone someone on the writing team knows - had/has a Sam the Eagle fetish.

[Traveller519]

47 minutes ago, MrWhyt said:

the guy who got the afterlife 92% right was from Calgary.

Oh boy, as a Calgarian, I would be thrilled to get The Good Place treatment. Can we top the Tostitos Public Library, Presented by GoDaddy? We shall see. Also, I can't wait to see Calgarians get their backs up when our city is described as rural.

 

As for this episode, I like when the show steers into the moral philosophy hard. And I felt proud of Eleanor for being the one to do the teaching. The best way to learn something is to teach it to some one else. Danson and Bell are so fantastic together

[thuganomics85]

Centaur Tahani was something I would have never predicted and I certainly never knew I wanted.  It was certainly ironic watching her dress down actual Tahani.  Overall, while I've been enjoying the gang on Earth, it was fun seeing "The Good Place" again, and all of the wacky schemes that went down, including Chidi's inability to pick a puppy (I can't blame him, to be honest), and, of course, Jason's animal being a "mythical" penguin.  That he naturally named Blake and put a Jaguars jersey on.  Oh, Jason!

Still, I really enjoyed the scene with Eleanor and Micheal.  As much as I love the entire cast now, Kristen Bell and Ted Danson really are spectacular together, and I like that Eleanor really did seem to finally address her underlining issues, and how helpful Michael was in his own way.  While I know the show likes its twist and turns, I really do hope their relationship remains, and Eleanor can really grow now, without regressing again.

Fun seeing Arizona get the butt of the jokes this go around.  Is it really a haven for porno films?  I always assumed Los Angeles was the place for all of that.

So, we can add Sam the Eagle to the list of Eleanor's crushes.  Not too surprised, at this point.

Vicki!!  Yeah, I don't care if I get sent to The Bad Place for cheering her return, but I just love her and Tiya Sircar.  And the return of Shawn was also welcomed, since I love his brand of "worst boss ever" evilness and, again, no one can do deadpan like Marc Evan Jackson.  Really can't wait to see what those two bring to the proceedings, now that they can cross over to Earth as well.

I so can't wait to see how this show handles Canada!  

[Amarsir]

Alright, The Good Place is back! This is the kind of unpredictable supernatural philosophical comedy this season has been missing! And filled with excellent Eleanor/Michael interaction.

[MrPissyPuppy]

1 hour ago, Linny said:

I"Tostitos presents a Public Library, brought to you by GoDaddy."

They should have used Cholla library in Phoenix which also would be a good stronghold in a zombie apocalypse.

[La Dee Da]

I wonder what Mac n’wine would taste like - red wine does pair well with cheese but I suspect the wine in this case was white and came from a box. 

This was a great use of the show’s past to show how far these characters have come in their personal development and relationship building. Each time they end up as friends and family. Michael and Eleanor are great together. 

So looking forward to visiting Canada next week - I will easily watch the show 5 times on slo-mo to catch every single reference. 

[Leia1021]

Loved this episode.  Can we go back to the "Good Place" to stay? Really miss it.

[LBS]

I was such in a crabby mode this night and when the show started, I carped at my husband that this was a going to be a clip show and how lazy it was.  But then I realized that this was all new shots in the ‘Good Place’ and I was amazed.  Ted Danson subtle ways of menace when he was full on demon (his body is stiffer and his voice is more staccato) versus where he is now (looser limbs, smile reaches his eyes) is just a joy to watch.  Eleanor willing forgiving him for his past decisions without a second thought because she had the free will to do so was nice.  My favorite was that Tahini’s  ‘pick a pet’ was so a Michael’s torture that went right.

[MadyGirl1987]

Hilarious episode! Was great to see the Good Place again! Loved Michael and Eleanor together. They have such good chemistry and play well off of each other!

Loved the spirit animals. I would totally be Chidi in that scenario. The perfect Bad Place torture for me would be having to choose between two adorable puppies and tell one you don’t chose them!

I know it was a throwaway gag but as I actually work at a public library here in the Phoenix, Arizona area, I feel a need to defend... We are actually pretty busy places    with tons of services and events! *End public library PSA here*

[GaT]

Something is really wrong with a show when the best parts of an episode are the way it used to be, not the way it is now.

[Dowel Jones]

Director:  "Okay, for this scene, we're going to have a large iguana crawl up Kristen's neck and perch on her head for the entire scene."

Kristen:  "Wait, what?  Somebody call my agent."

4 hours ago, Trillium said:

We live 10 minuets from the airport so I’ve done it a lot. But I’m hoping it’s earning me some major Good Place points.

Sitting through ten minuets is definitely worth some Good Place points.  Throw in a waltz or two.  :)

[AnimeMania]

1 hour ago, MadyGirl1987 said:

I know it was a throwaway gag but as I actually work at a public library here in the Phoenix, Arizona area, I feel a need to defend... We are actually pretty busy places    with tons of services and events! *End public library PSA here*

All Day and All Night apparently.

"Roses Are Red And So Is My Neck!"  a book by Jeff Foxworthy

[possibilities]

I would have known it was the Bad Place if I had been forced to choose between two dogs instead of getting to adopt them both.

I loved the lizard crawling up and seriously mussing Kristen's hair.

Also, that aging effect after Eleanor's first glimpse of after-death memory? Whoa!!

[bros402]

I really liked this episode - I am glad to see Tiya Sircar again, and I bet next week will be amazing

[Samsnee]

A flashback episode that didn’t really use flashbacks (except for the one where Eleanor confessed). It reminded me of when Community did something similar. But I really enjoyed it and as others have said, I missed seein the neighborhood. 

 

And i I didn’t realize how much I missed seeing evil Michael from Season 1. But then he offsets it with that speech about why me needs to believe in free will now. Give Ted Danson an Emmy already. 

5 hours ago, Dowel Jones said:

Director:  "Okay, for this scene, we're going to have a large iguana crawl up Kristen's neck and perch on her head for the entire scene."

Kristen:  "Wait, what?  Somebody call my agent."

Sitting through ten minuets is definitely worth some Good Place points.  Throw in a waltz or two.  :)

 Apparently the crawling was unplanned and Kristin just rolled with it because she’s awesome. 

 

https://www.vulture.com/2018/11/the-good-place-season-3-kristen-bell-lizard.html

[Melina22]

Thanks for posting that link! It never occurred to me that that wasn't planned. It was my favorite part of the episode! But we all know how great Kristen is with animals, after seeing her sloth video. I'll bet she loved filming this episode. 

[ElectricBoogaloo]

One of the things I loved about the argument that Eleanor and Michael had was that it showed she really has learned a lot about philosophy from Chidi!

I also liked that she wasn't upset about the fact that she and Chidi weren't in love anymore but that she wanted to believe that she was capable of loving someone despite her parents and being Arizona garbage.

Jason's mythical penguin named Blake in a Bortles jersey was everything, as was the Tostitos library (where they shoot porn after hours, duh).

[Johnny Dollar]

I dreamt about Mirror Centaur Tahani last night. And not in a good way. That thing is absolutely frightening. 

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Jason's delight at the "free vest" was killing me!

[Empress1]

47 minutes ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

Jason's delight at the "free vest" was killing me!

"It's times like this I remember we are ... legally married." That was nice delivery. 

[Ohiopirate02]

57 minutes ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

Jason's delight at the "free vest" was killing me!

This behind the scenes clip had me rolling last night.

[Melina22]

He's so funny without saying a single word. Just his facial expressions and body language crack me up. Of course, in season 1 he barely spoke. We had no idea back then what a wonderful character he'd turn out to be. I find myself rewinding at least twice in every episode, just to enjoy his reading of a single line. He's a gem. 

[srpturtle80]

Lol yes I saw this on Kristen Bell’s IG last night and I was cracking up. So flipping funny. 

[Chaos Theory]

6 hours ago, possibilities said:

I would have known it was the Bad Place if I had been forced to choose between two dogs instead of getting to adopt them both.

All those animals would have given me a stomach ache.  They are cute and all but I just never understood the point.  Honestly I would have gone for  the mythical ones or the self cleaning ones.  Maybe a fish that dies in a week.  The only one I thought was remotely cute was Jason’s penguin.  I did love Tahani’s Pegasus as well.  Puppies are fun until they need you to walk them at three am.   Which is also probably why I don’t have kids.

Edited November 9, 2018 by Chaos Theory

[jmonique]

I'm rewatching so I can create a thoughtful post, but this is not it:

At 6:48 or so into the show, when they come back from a break and Tahani is noting how Eleanor and the lizard both have combination skin, if you look above their heads, there's a little magical streak through the sky. If you pause it, it's the magic panda from last season that Jason wanted to catch, hopping from one balcony to another.

This show.

Edited November 9, 2018 by jmonique

[Blakeston]

So we saw how the lizard was meant to torture Eleanor (it ran away, which could expose her as a fraud). We saw how the mirror centaur was meant to torture Tahani (it mirrored back her personality in a negative way). And we saw how Chidi was tortured by having to choose between the puppies (and then winding up with an owl that attacked him. and gave him the world's most withering stare).

Is anyone else disappointed that we didn't get to see how Jason was tortured by Blake the penguin?

Maybe Blake didn't like his Jaguars jersey.

[RainbowBrite]

14 hours ago, Melina22 said:

I cannot wait to find out who in rural Canada is going to be their ideal human (speaking as someone who lives in rural Canada.) This should be good. 

Yes! Another rural Canadian here - very excited!

 

Edited to add: The Good Place won't do the terrible "Canadian accent" that so many sitcoms do, with they? Because it's NOT a thing (for 99% of Canada, anyway...NFLD is another story)!!!

Edited November 9, 2018 by RainbowBrite
Addendum re: accent

[Xantar]

Here’s the diagram of Eleanor that Michael put up. I wonder what she did to Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

I was kind of surprised that Eleanor didn’t take her rant about determinism to its logical conclusion: if she is the product of her genetics, environment, and her upbringing, then she doesn’t deserve to be condemned to The Bad Place because she couldn’t choose to be a good person. She was never taught how to be a moral person, and her parents abandoned her! The whole afterlife system is unjust.

[possibilities]

Jason always seems to escape the effects of torture. he's so relentlessly innocent and sunshiney that he never gets too bothered by anything. It must drive the demons crazy!

[Samsnee]

To me they should have realized they were in the bad place when Chidi felt pain and started bleeding from the owl scratch. Why would you bleed in the good place?

[SailorGirl]

6 hours ago, Melina22 said:

Thanks for posting that link! It never occurred to me that that wasn't planned. It was my favorite part of the episode! But we all know how great Kristen is with animals, after seeing her sloth video. I'll bet she loved filming this episode. 

SO MUCH THIS! I wondered why her spirit animal wasn't a sloth!! I wonder if it was suggested but she knew she could never keep it together and stay in character . . . . Whenever I need a good laugh, I watch that Ellen clip . . .  in case any of you haven't seen it . . . enjoy . . .
 

[Empress1]

4 hours ago, Melina22 said:

Just his facial expressions and body language crack me up.

His facial expressions in that behind the scenes clip are great - he does guileless so well. Like "la la laaaaa, don't mind me, just hanging out in my free vest ..." 

[Loandbehold]

12 hours ago, MadyGirl1987 said:

I know it was a throwaway gag but as I actually work at a public library here in the Phoenix, Arizona area, I feel a need to defend... We are actually pretty busy places    with tons of services and events! *End public library PSA here*

Services and events, when you think about it, could cover porn after closing.

 

2 hours ago, Blakeston said:

Is anyone else disappointed that we didn't get to see how Jason was tortured by Blake the penguin?

Maybe Blake didn't like his Jaguars jersey.

Exactly. He's a Texans fan. Closest team to the South Pole in the Jag's division. Maybe.

Very funny episode. I agree with everyone who said going back to The Good Place was a treat and had been missing from this season. Considering there were 803 (802?) reboots, plenty of opportunities for "flashbacks."

[mammaM]

2 hours ago, Xantar said:

Here’s the diagram of Eleanor that Michael put up. I wonder what she did to Neil DeGrasse Tyson.

I was kind of surprised that Eleanor didn’t take her rant about determinism to its logical conclusion: if she is the product of her genetics, environment, and her upbringing, then she doesn’t deserve to be condemned to The Bad Place because she couldn’t choose to be a good person. She was never taught how to be a moral person, and her parents abandoned her! The whole afterlife system is unjust.

I wonder what the barefoot contessa did to piss off Eleanor ??

[Melina22]

Thanks for the link, SailorGirl! I haven't seen that in ages. Still love it. 

[SailorGirl]

19 minutes ago, mammaM said:

I wonder what the barefoot contessa did to piss off Eleanor ??

I can't stand the Barefoot Contessa, so that would definitely be on my diagram. 

I am VERY curious, however, as to what an "Ambien-Hamster Mishap" could be . . . or maybe its better not to know . . . 

[iMonrey]

Quote

Something is really wrong with a show when the best parts of an episode are the way it used to be, not the way it is now.

Bingo. Look - I still love all the characters on this show but this season just hasn't been doing it for me, until this episode. And that's because The Good Place is really lacking The Good Place right now. It just isn't as funny, clever or charming outside of that magical environment. It's still OK, it's just not nearly as good.

That said, I look forward to seeing what the Bad Place characters are going to do now that they've managed to create a portal to earth. I'm assuming they have no powers either, so what can they really achieve?

I loved the little digs at the library that had a poetry section with only one book by Jeff Foxworthy and a sex education section that had only the Bible. 

Loved the Centaur Tahani looking down her nose (literally) at the real one. Love Chidi's inability to pick a puppy (although, why wouldn't he simply ask Janet to conjure up another one?)

[MadyGirl1987]

1 hour ago, Loandbehold said:

Services and events, when you think about it, could cover porn after closing.

Ha! Well, you do occasionally have the people using the library computers to watch porn...