DISCLAIMER: This recap of The Good Place contains more spoilers than the number of times Eleanor has called someone a “messy bench.” Welcome to her new favorite phrase. You’ve been warned. Prepare for the afterlife and enter at your own risk.
Welcome back, Team Cockroach! The Good Place returned this week with its fall finale. Can you believe NBC expects me to wait patiently until next year for more episodes? Have they met me? Anyway, The Good Place capped a successful fall run with a titillating episode. “Derek” was mostly all about Janet’s latest creation of the same name. Michael and co. put their collective heads together to construct a way to destroy Derek. Destruction is the name of the game. Jason and Tahani took the next step – marriage! Yes, our favorite odd couple considered “putting a ring on it.” However, Team Cockroach swooped in and saved our lovebirds from holy matrimony.
Alright, Afterlife-rs, ready to delve into “Derek?” Just be sure to warn Janet when you’re about to enter her void. She’s strangely overprotective of her void space.
We open where we left off last episode – Janet (D’Arcy Carden) and Derek (Jason Mantzoukas) are in Michael’s (Ted Danson) office. Michael is trying to wrap his head around the fact that Janet created another living being. Well, Derek is certainly not without flaws. He seems to have trouble formulating simple sentences. Michael demands Janet dispose of him immediately. However, Janet informs Michael that she now shares her void space with Derek. Moving in together already? Janet sure knows how to live afterlife in the fast lane.
Later, Michael pays Jason (Manny Jacinto) and Tahani (Jameela Jamil) a visit. He convinces the two lovebirds to take a much deserved vacation. Let their collective hair down. Run free, untethered by the shackles of The Good Place. Well, the artificial Good Place. They take Michael up on his offer.
Meanwhile, Eleanor (Kristen Bell) is watching the tape of her and Chidi post-horizontal tango that she nicked from Mindy in The Medium Place. Chidi (William Jackson Harper) waltzes in and Eleanor scrambles to turn off said tape. We wouldn’t want our favorite ethics professor asking questions. Michael barges in shortly after him. Then, Michael asks Chidi if murdering someone that’s making your life difficult is acceptable, ethical behavior. Hey, I would write it off as “self-defense.” However, Chidi urges Michael to suppress whatever murder impulses he has.
Then, Michael informs our duo that Janet created another living being and that she’s dating said being. Like clockwork, Janet and Derek appear. Eleanor apologizes for the advice she gave Janet and how it was misconstrued. She didn’t mean go out and literally create a boyfriend. However, if I possessed that ability, that’s exactly what I would do. Michael dismisses Janet and Derek and off they pop, back into their void.
Next, we see Tahani and Jason enjoying the fruits of their vacation. Tahani teaches Jason croquet. Then, Jason takes the teaching reins and shows Tahani how to golf. Well, his version of golf, anyway. Which involves a croquet mallet and a wine glass. Also, inexplicably breaking as many glasses as possible. Methinks this isn’t a proper game of golf.
Meanwhile, Michael, Eleanor and Chidi are brainstorming ideas on how to eradicate the Derek problem. They could inform Jason of his past marriage to Janet, thereby dissolving his relationship with Tahani. That would hopefully prevent Janet from glitching if the lovebirds are separated. They could simply murder Derek. So many options, so little time! Regardless, Michael’s biggest fear is that Derek’s impulsivity will lead to Team Cockroach’s exposure. Vicky will surely find them out, and Derek could precipitate that. Then, it’s off to the real Bad Place. Eleanor and Michael are bonding over their shared solutions, while Chidi tries to ground them all in proper ethics. Always the wet blanket, that one.
Later, Tahani and Jason are luxuriating in their expansive picnic spread. Tahani talks of how difficult it is to truly be herself around people. Jason offers to be that person for Tahani, and then proposes! Yes, wedding bells are chiming for our lovebirds. Janet will be enraged!
Then, Eleanor composes a solution with a happy medium. Janet can keep Derek, so long as they fly under the radar. She keeps her boyfriend in check. Everyone seems content with said solution, that is until Janet and Derek appear. They’re embroiled in a heated argument. Well, so much for flying under the radar. Suddenly, Janet declares the void solely hers and Derek disappears elsewhere. Team Cockroach is forked, y’all.
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Next, Tahani and Jason discuss their future marriage and its implications. Tahani is hesitant, but Jason convinces her that it’s the right thing to do. Shirt, they should get hitched that very evening. Why the fork not? Our soon-to-be newly weds summon Janet, who is about as forlorn as any Janet could be. They inform Janet of their impending nuptials and how they want her to officiate them. Uh oh. This can only end horribly.
Meanwhile, Michael and co. are on the hunt for the missing Derek. They find Janet’s boyfriend sitting in a tree. He defiantly refuses to get down from said tree and causes even more of a ruckus. Then, Janet appears with wedding invitations for our trio. Tahani and Jason are tying the knot that evening. Now there’s another task on Team Cockroach’s collective agenda – stopping a wedding. Of course, Chidi reminds Michael and Eleanor that they simply can’t barge in on a wedding with the sole intention of killing Derek. That would be ethically wrong. And also boring.
Later, we see Tahani and Jason standing on the beach, with Janet overseeing the ceremony. They’re reciting their vows to each other, which of course are sickeningly sweet. Suddenly, the remainder of Team Cockroach swoops in to prevent the wedding from moving forward. Michael is about to go in for the kill but stops himself. He reveals that Chidi really got into his head. You know, ethically. Aw, our architect is turning a new leaf! He’s transforming into a better demon! So, Eleanor takes the reins. She informs Jason and Tahani of the former’s marriage to Janet. Hence why Janet has been glitching – because she misses Jason. Tahani faints in typical Tahani fashion.
Then, Michael, Chidi and Eleanor are standing on the beach sans the lovebirds. We see Derek and Janet are each standing by a reboot button. Now, who should be rebooted? Janet or Derek? Eleanor pulls Janet aside and gives her more advice. Firstly, don’t compose boyfriends in an effort to alleviate pain. Live in the pain. Talk to someone about it. Grieve. Eleanor offers herself as someone Janet can always turn to. I adore this newly budding friendship. Then, Janet makes an executive decision and finally decides to rid their world of Derek. She begins feverishly snogging him, so she can reabsorb the information she gave him. Yeah, that’s why I snog people too.
Later, Janet places Derek in a large trunk and locks him inside. Time to say goodbye! Janet then leaves The Good Place so she can dispose of her ex-boyfriend in a remote corner of her limitless void. Sounds like a grand ol’ time!
Next, Jason and Tahani decide that marriage can wait. They were simply moving things too quickly. Jason reassures Tahani that yes, he might have been married to Janet at one point but he doesn’t remember it. He likes Tahani now. Jason proposes they try some “reabsorbing” of their own. Get it, you crazy kids!
Meanwhile, Eleanor decides to come clean regarding her sexy times video to Chidi. She informs him that in their past rebooted lives they’ve partaken in the horizontal tango multiple times. Then, she shows Chidi the video. He’s shocked at how easily he was able to tell Eleanor he loves her. However, Chidi informs Eleanor that he doesn’t feel that way about her right now. Eleanor responds in kind, but there’s clearly some tension between the two. Michael enters and Chidi wishes to continue their conversation, but Eleanor brushes him off.
Then, Michael tells Eleanor of his transformation. He’s slowly morphing into the man Chidi is helping him become. And guess what? He likes being ethical. Michael is finding it more difficult everyday to be his old diabolical self. Aw, someone’s growing!
Later, Michael enters his office. Suddenly, we see Shawn the Eternal Judge (Marc Evan Jackson) is sitting in Michael’s chair. He wishes to speak with our architect. Uh oh. This won’t end well.
The Good Place hit all the right buttons this week! Seriously, this show never ceases to make me laugh till my sides ache. Mantzoukas was the highlight for me as Derek, and his scenes with Carden were truly magical. Danson always hits it out of the park. His growth as Michael is a joy to watch unfold. Also, Team Chideanor. Elidi? In short, I adore Eleanor and Chidi together. My hope is that when this dreadfully long hiatus ends we see more of them together in the not friend way. Of course, the cliffhanger this week is certainly the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. Team Cockroach might already be exposed and dire consequences could be looming on the horizon.
Do you think Shawn has discovered that Michael is working against him? Will our crew be exiled to the real Bad Place? Will Michael be able to successfully shoo Shawn away? Could this turn our architect evil again? Will Eleanor and Chidi stop being dumb dumbs and finally fork? Well, join me after the hiatus as I continue to recap The Good Place, here on Geek Girl Authority.
The Good Place will return in January of 2018 to your NBC affiliate.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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