Originally, this wasn't supposed to have been split over two weeks; it was supposed to have been one full episode. NBC made that decision to split it. Had they not split it up, the book joke probably would have played even better, IMO.
The Good Place | S04E02 | "A Girl From Arizona, Part 2" | OAD 10/3/2019
Oh wow. This episode was so good that I almost don't know how to talk about it. If the rest of the series is at this level, we're really in for something amazing.
This one had everything I come to the show for: dumb jokes, sophisticated comedy, incredible production values, genuine emotion, a smart story, and a tidy philosophy lesson as the cherry on top.
Examples:
Dumb joke: The book hitting Chidi in the head was completely telegraphed but that doesn't mean it wasn't awesome.
Sophisticated comedy: Janet figuring that she can't hurt Jason any worse than she already has, and thus choosing to tell him about Blake Bortles, works both as a wonderfully clever way to pay off a series-long joke and also hilarious way to kick him while he's down.
Incredible production values: I mean, the whole Princeton riot scene. Everything about it. For the second time in four years, they custom-made all those costumes, not to mention the density of the special effects. All for a 30-second scene. Amazing. (I could have easily picked the "This Was Your Life" set.)
Genuine emotion: That scene on the couch between Michael and Eleanor. Good gracious, was that good. I was agog at what Danson was doing there, and Bell was just so good. One of the best scenes of the entire series.
Smart story: Eleanor's plans to put Trent and Simone on the right path have risks, but they are also completely logical based on everything we know. Really clever resolution to the problems with those characters that the premiere set up.
Philosophy lesson: Chidi's talk about solipsism was the note-perfect antidote to Simone's behavior, and also interesting in its own right. I loved that scene, too.
I'll be watching this episode again, at least once more.
This one had everything I come to the show for: dumb jokes, sophisticated comedy, incredible production values, genuine emotion, a smart story, and a tidy philosophy lesson as the cherry on top.
Examples:
Dumb joke: The book hitting Chidi in the head was completely telegraphed but that doesn't mean it wasn't awesome.
Sophisticated comedy: Janet figuring that she can't hurt Jason any worse than she already has, and thus choosing to tell him about Blake Bortles, works both as a wonderfully clever way to pay off a series-long joke and also hilarious way to kick him while he's down.
Incredible production values: I mean, the whole Princeton riot scene. Everything about it. For the second time in four years, they custom-made all those costumes, not to mention the density of the special effects. All for a 30-second scene. Amazing. (I could have easily picked the "This Was Your Life" set.)
Genuine emotion: That scene on the couch between Michael and Eleanor. Good gracious, was that good. I was agog at what Danson was doing there, and Bell was just so good. One of the best scenes of the entire series.
Smart story: Eleanor's plans to put Trent and Simone on the right path have risks, but they are also completely logical based on everything we know. Really clever resolution to the problems with those characters that the premiere set up.
Philosophy lesson: Chidi's talk about solipsism was the note-perfect antidote to Simone's behavior, and also interesting in its own right. I loved that scene, too.
I'll be watching this episode again, at least once more.
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Ditto everything you said (and well said!)
This especially. A thousand times this. What a scene.Genuine emotion: That scene on the couch between Michael and Eleanor. Good gracious, was that good. I was agog at what Danson was doing there, and Bell was just so good. One of the best scenes of the entire series.
Eleanor: But everything I do blows up in my face...I'm like a hot blonde Wile E. Coyote!
Michael: That's true...about you making lots of mistakes, not the thing where you sexualize the cartoon.
Michael: That's true...about you making lots of mistakes, not the thing where you sexualize the cartoon.
If they don't do a complete series blu-ray set when this is over, I will be devastated.
Oh no! Blake Bortles was cut and that's not even the biggest thing bringing Jason down! Loved this episode! The entire storyline with Brent is hilarious. I'm just not sure how they think he'll turn like Eleanor. He's a much worse human than she ever was.
Are you sure?Oh no! Blake Bortles was cut and that's not even the biggest thing bringing Jason down!
Are you sure?The entire storyline with Brent is hilarious. I'm just not sure how they think he'll turn like Eleanor. He's a much worse human than she ever was.
Also on the whole Chidi/Eleanor thing..... couldn't they just show him the balls that Eleanor saw from Michael that made her see/remember all the moments they had on the 800+ reboots and then him making this sacrifice? Wouldn't that be enough? They are acting as if he has to fall in love with Eleanor all over again when this is done but does he??
Never. I'm like a mild version of Chidi most days.Are you sure?
Are you sure?
Remember that the whole reason Chidi's memory was erased was because with Simone, his ex, there, he felt his knowledge of the situation they were in would lead him to inadvertently tip her off and thus invalidate the experiment, dooming humanity. As a result, the very last thing the Soul Squad wants to do is give Chidi his memory back. The whole reason this is so hard for Eleanor, of course, is that she does remember, still loves him even though he is oblivious to it, and now even has to steer him into a possible new relationship with Simone.Also on the whole Chidi/Eleanor thing..... couldn't they just show him the balls that Eleanor saw from Michael that made her see/remember all the moments they had on the 800+ reboots and then him making this sacrifice? Wouldn't that be enough? They are acting as if he has to fall in love with Eleanor all over again when this is done but does he??
Eleanor and Chidi have fallen in love hundreds of times previously, so I think we are all expecting them to find their way back to each other before this is all over. But that is separate from the experiment, which might even be jeopardized by them doing that.
That was a great scene and it answered a nagging question that I had.Genuine emotion: That scene on the couch between Michael and Eleanor. Good gracious, was that good. I was agog at what Danson was doing there, and Bell was just so good. One of the best scenes of the entire series.
Something about Michael's breakdown always felt just a little off to me and them saying that Michael faked it to force Eleanor to take charge now makes perfect sense.
Ok, I laughed when the book hit Chidi.
Same here.Ok, I laughed when the book hit Chidi.
I watched both S4E1 and E2 for the first time last night, so for me, it was more like a single, 1 hour episode. So the book hitting Chidi was definitely funny.Originally, this wasn't supposed to have been split over two weeks; it was supposed to have been one full episode. NBC made that decision to split it. Had they not split it up, the book joke probably would have played even better, IMO.
Whenever I see Part 1 in the description, I usually save that episode until Part 2 [and Part 3, if applicable] is recorded, so I can watch them consecutively.
I was waiting for it, and it still cracked me up.Ok, I laughed when the book hit Chidi.
haha Yes, I know all this. I don't mean NOW. I mean when they are finished. They've acted like wiping his memory is the end of it all but it's only the end for now until they beat the bad place.Remember that the whole reason Chidi's memory was erased was because with Simone, his ex, there, he felt his knowledge of the situation they were in would lead him to inadvertently tip her off and thus invalidate the experiment, dooming humanity. As a result, the very last thing the Soul Squad wants to do is give Chidi his memory back. The whole reason this is so hard for Eleanor, of course, is that she does remember, still loves him even though he is oblivious to it, and now even has to steer him into a possible new relationship with Simone.
Eleanor and Chidi have fallen in love hundreds of times previously, so I think we are all expecting them to find their way back to each other before this is all over. But that is separate from the experiment, which might even be jeopardized by them doing that.
They got to a point where I styled waiting for it. Then...BAMM!I was waiting for it, and it still cracked me up.
I was mad that I laughed because I knew it was coming.
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I've bought the first three seasons on ITunes, and it's just the episodes. There's got to be a ton of terrific bonus stuff they could package into a full-series box set. Which would pose a conundrum for me, but I bet it would be so worth it.If they don't do a complete series blu-ray set when this is over, I will be devastated.
Huh. Some of the episodes on Netflix and Amazon were extended by a couple of minutes from the broadcast version. Did you check that all iTunes episodes were 22 minutes or less?I've bought the first three seasons on ITunes, and it's just the episodes. There's got to be a ton of terrific bonus stuff they could package into a full-series box set. Which would pose a conundrum for me, but I bet it would be so worth it.
They routinely do release extended versions of each episode online after the broadcast airings. Interesting that those versions are finding their way into the streaming services and not just on nbc.com. I've not actually watched any of the iTunes episodes yet since I watch the show when it airs. I just knew this was one I wanted to own and will re-watch in the future.Huh. Some of the episodes on Netflix and Amazon were extended by a couple of minutes from the broadcast version. Did you check that all iTunes episodes were 22 minutes or less?
I read the episode synopsis on my TiVo before starting. "Jason receives some unsettling news". I was sure he was gonna learn about Bortles!! And boom. He does.. Right after Janet basically sort of dumps him.. Poor guy..
Though I bet Jason would be a Minshew guy.
Poor guy..Though I bet Jason would be a Minshew guy.
According to the podcast, NBC requires the broadcast version of the show to be 21 minutes and 29 seconds.Huh. Some of the episodes on Netflix and Amazon were extended by a couple of minutes from the broadcast version. Did you check that all iTunes episodes were 22 minutes or less?
Oh, most definitely. Jason would love Minshew.I read the episode synopsis on my TiVo before starting. "Jason receives some unsettling news". I was sure he was gonna learn about Bortles!! And boom. He does.. Right after Janet basically sort of dumps him..
Though I bet Jason would be a Minshew guy.
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
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