The Good Place – Patty

By: Ariba Bhuvad

Chidi (William Jackson Harper), Eleanor (Kristen Bell), Good Janet (D’Arcy Carden), Tahani (Jameela Jamil), Michael (Ted Danson) and Jason (Manny Jacinto) are all heading to The Good Place in a hot air balloon – finally! They’re all super excited as they see flying puppies on their way. 

After landing Janet gets all the information she needs to know everything about The Good Place. One thing she learns is that humans can’t see everything in The Good Place at once, otherwise their brains will get scrambled. They will; however, get a welcome party catered to each person’s personality. While everyone else is excited, Michael is nervous about being in The Good Place as he feels like he doesn’t belong there. 

As they calm Michael down, a soothing chime goes off indicating it’s time to meet the Good Place committee – Chuck (Paul Scheer), Daisuke (Takato Yonemoto), Andie (Denise Sanchez) and Meg (Tatiana Carr). They’re super excited to welcome the group as they explore the stations set up around them, which include hugs from Grandma and listening to all the nice things people said about you during your life. Chidi, in particular, is super excited to meet Hypatia of Alexandria after finding out from Janet that she’s in The Good Place. 

The Good Place committee announces that Michael will be getting a swearing-in ceremony to become an official Good Place architect while everyone else walks through a rainbow portal to their welcome party. The party will have all their favorite things and because they walked through the portal together the party became a mish-mash of all their personalities. At the party there are all sorts of things that each of them love along with green doors that will transport you to anywhere and any time you want to. 

Meanwhile, Michael signs a scroll and learns that he’s now officially in charge of the Good Place. The contract is legally binding so as soon as he signs it the committee runs away and leaves him to figure it out. Confused, Michael looks around the office but finds nothing but a whiteboard with ideas on how to improve The Good Place.

Chidi finally meets Hypatia (Lisa Kudrow) and is over the moon to talk to her, until she says that everyone in The Good Place needs their place because they are screwed. As Hypatia explains, all desires and needs are met forever, but it makes everyone turn into zombies because you do everything you want to. However, they then still have infinity to look forward to.

As a result of this everyone’s brains are turning into mush and they’re becoming happiness zombies. Even Jason got tired of his lifelong dream of go-karting with monkeys. Michael suggests they erase everyone’s memories every once in a while so paradise would seem fresh and new. But Chidi reminds him that this was the playbook they used in hell, so they can’t use it here.

Instead, Eleanor says that they should let people leave when they want to. If they are done with paradise they should be able to be at peace. Michael announces the new plan to the group and says that it feels like they’re on a never-ending vacation so they’ve set up a new kind of door. It will give everyone peace and their time in the universe will end. People don’t have to go through it, but they can if they want. It’s unclear what will happen once they do, but they will feel good. 

As expected, everyone breaks out in celebration and is excited at this new lease on The Good Place. And thanks to Michael everyone has their dream house (Jason gets a wings place and Chidi and Eleanor get to cuddle for all eternity and be happy). Friendships saved the day!