I didn’t have to be convinced to watch this show starring Kristen Bell (“Veronica Mars”) and created by Michael Shur (“Parks & Rec” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”). As a fan of those other shows, I was in from the first episode, and I was richly rewarded for watching from the start. The first season of this comedy about a group of morally challenged goofballs trying to make sense of the afterlife was delightful.
Then it turned out the NBC show wasn’t just a sweet romp. The record-scratch, spit-take season finale promised to deliver a different, potentially dark second season. But would the show be any good after a major shift in its premise? Short answer: yes.
In the second season, every character in “The Good Place” is on the same path as Bell’s character: desperate for redemption but comically bad at accepting the moral lessons needed to become better people. The show entertained in clever and unpredictable ways that made it even more enjoyable than season 1. That’s quite a feat for a show that explores moral philosophy, ethical conundrums and thought experiments.
Recommended by Laura Hautala, reporter
