The Good Place (TV Series) Michael's Gambit (2017) User Reviews

That was amazing

[cherold · 10/10 · 21 January 2017]

TV is filled with intricately plotted dramas. Many of them create an elaborate, mysterious storyline, but a big chunk of them wind up collapsing under the weight of their ambitions and a failure to follow the logic of their own premise (think The OA, Lost, or Persons Unknown).

The Good Place, a silly, wacky sitcom centered on an awful person who somehow winds up in heaven, shows every pretentious dramatic series how it should be done. The first season was endlessly inventive but never showy. Everything that happened came out of the logic of the situation in such a way that you never thought about how clever the writers were being. It just all made sense.

The epitome of this series' approach to plotting can be seen in the finale, which offers a big twist that, once it is given, is so obvious that you can't believe you didn't think of it (although I'm sure some people *did* think of it in the way some people - not me - guessed the twist in West World).

The episode was great, typically funny and engaging. The twist was brilliant, funny, and logical. And it beautifully sets the stage for an ingenious and fresh season 2. Of the new series of the last year, only the aforementioned West World compares in the brilliance of its season ender.

I checked wikipedia and the ratings have dropped throughout the season, so I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that this show is renewed. It would be a crime if this was it.

Season 1: Cute, Funny, and Lovable (before it gets dark)

[alexdiflip · 10/10 · 14 March 2018]

Season 1 of the good place introduced to some quirky characters and a lot of enjoyable sub-plots. Eleanor is well-developed and fleshed our, and Kristen Bell plays her so wonderfully and beautifully. The supporting cast is also very strong, with each character clearly outlined with faults and problems. Eleanor is not only well-defined, but she is also well-developed, traveling from a selfish bench to someone who's on their way to becoming a good person.

Although it starts softly, it begins to really hit its stride around the 3rd or 4th episode, where it settles into the comedy and plot. The episode "Most Improved Player" is the strongest besides the finale, with many threads coming together and tying into a knot, as well as setting up for the second half of the season.

All of this is changed in the finale, which is, and I'm not exaggerating, one of the best plot twists I've seen in a while. It is so well done, and is one of those "Aha!" moments, in which the viewer will probably think "how did I not notice that? The clues were all there!" I won't spoil it, but this should give you some motivation to watch this wonderful, wonderful comedy.

I could have NOT in a million years expected that !!!! Just Amaaazing

[Aktham_Tashtush · 9/10 · 20 January 2017]

The show over all from episode 1 to this one was a huge success with a really high ratings, So i would say with no hesitation "another Hit for NBC".

The story is so fresh and followable the plot makes you engage so much and makes you think for fun "what if that really happened in the after life". the writer did an applaudable job, making each and every episode connected yet have their own inside story .. the comedy is refreshing and the anxiety and the nervousness back- talking between the characters made the comedy fast and far from being dull.

I gotta acknowledge Michael Schur for his amazing job again, started from Saturday night live sketches until peaking on "Brooklyn Nine Nine" or so did i thought , Now here he is with his fine latest project.

As for the cast, bravo .. i was worried at the pilot because as talented as she is, i kinda "as silly as it sounds" don't like Kristen Bell since her Role in the FOX Hit show "Heroes" back in 2007 but man she is amazing and here she just dismantled the character then wore it bit by bit , the other guys from Chidi, Tahani, Janet, Ted Danson as Michael and goodness me the new face who popped in the middle of the season Jianyu ,, he was Hilarious with his silliness and ignorance especially in this episode.

The set, the music and the effects were spot on and having 11 different guys directing the season has paid off well.

Finally, as the season ending with sky high ratings and with an Open/new plot ending, I strongly expect a renewal and expecting another strong come back next year, finger crossed ;)

Bold

[safenoe · 10/10 · 15 March 2022]

Michael's Gambit is incredibly bold and the twist is for the ages, with the Good Place being the Bad Place all along. The twist is enough to give one whiplash for sure. The ending was quite moving, with memories about to be wiped out, but still I hope the Scooby Gang reunite in season 2 please.

S1: Amiable enough with good concept and just about enough laughs to carry it

[bob the moo · 16 August 2020]

I'd heard good things about this show, albeit nothing specific and nothing I paid much attention to, so I didn't really know what the show was about at all. It starts out with a breezy high concept, and it introduces its season-long thread early to create a tension and narrative. It does this all in a polished and enjoyable enough way, although it never really has teeth or sharpness that helps it rise above this level. It is amiable, with plenty to like and not much to really turn against it for. I did find it easy to forget though, and it was only the final episode where I thought it did something of note.

Outside of that it does have plenty of talent and enjoyable moments - and each episode does produce enough laughs to make it work as a comedy. I will return on the basis of seeing what the cold start of season 2 does, and perhaps motivated by the way that I was not overly taken by Parks & Recreation in its first season either, so will see if this has room to expand and do more than just be amusingly smart.

The showrunners gambit

[Eulinho · 10/10 · 15 October 2018]

Like Michael in the show the writers play a dangerous gambit and I am just not sure if it really pays off. The revelation, that they are not in The Good Place really makes for a nice twist but it completely throws the premise and especially the character of Michael, both something I came to love, completely out of the window. I really enjoyed Michael as the lovable but somewhat clueless "angel" who desperately tries to put out fires all over the place, in fact he actually was my favorite character in the show. I also really liked the basic premise of each episode of the morally questionable character of Eleanor trying to actually be a better person. Both these things are gone, forever. So for better or worse, from Season 2 on this will be a completely different show. While I do look forward to the next season I am definitely less enthused about the show as I was midway through Season 1.

Saves the season... for the most part

[puzgolac · 8/10 · 16 April 2023]

Well, it finally came, that big twist that was hanging in the air. A few episodes in, I thought that it must come, but then I almost lost hope, because the last few episodes were so boring and drawn out, that I was afraid that the show really was this saccharine story about a mix-up in heaven that was meandering to nowhere.

Luckily, the twist did come, and it saved the season for the most part. Not entirely, because those several previous episodes are still boring and drawn out, but it did tie up a few things from them that would make no sense. However, this twist opened a few new loose ends/plot holes. Michael goes through this elaborate scheme to create a hell that is... moderately annoying for its residents? That doesn't really compare well to the established hell with all kinds of torture that the demons talk about. And since Michael says he didn't know that Eleanor would confess that she should not be in the good place, what was his plan when he said that he would leave a few episodes back? His whole idea was to be present to see the suffering (well, that is too strong a word) of his prisoners. And what was that deal with the neutral place? Janet brought up that idea, and she is not a part of Michael's crew, so either there is a neutral place, or somehow Michael can control/hack the good Janet, and neither of those ideas is particularly good (and neither was the part of him somehow stealing a good Janet for his project).

Still, this episode rekindled my interest in this show. I expect that the season 2 will have a very different feel for the viewer and I can only hope that there will be much less unnecessary filler, now that we know what the good place really is.

I knew it!

[phalheku · 10/10 · 9 June 2021]

A few episodes in I thought this is the bad place, but I couldn't sort some of the people in (mostly chidi) and over the following episodes I thought I clearly had to be wrong.

But even tho I figured it out pretty soon I am extremely satisfied with the twist and it turns around the whole next season(s)