The first season of The Good Place was a fun and inventive comedy with streaks of philosophy. But when the season finale came about and the rug was pulled from underneath the show, fans were left clamoring for where the show would pick things back up in season two.
Fortunately, the show never once disappointed and this much was evident when season two kicked off in 2017 on NBC, two years ahead of its final season. The show’s identity continued to grow, but it also stayed true to the core philosophy of the show. IMDb users agreed with their across-the-board high ratings for each episode of the season.
“Derek” - 8.0
“Derek” is not the first episode that sees Jason Mantzoukas take on the role of the A.I.-not-an-A.I., boyfriend-not-a-boy, bot-not-a-bot, Derek. But it is the one that features him in all of his hysterical glory with the most prominence.
This episode also resets the romance between Chidi and Eleanor, with the information that they once shared feelings for one another not cracking through either of their confused, conflicted demeanors.
“Existential Crisis” - 8.0
At the outset of The Good Place, it is clear that the abhorrent Arizona trashbag known as Eleanor Shellstrop belongs in the Bad Place. But because of episodes like this, when the audience comes to learn how she became the person she is, our first impressions are challenged.
Elsewhere in the episode, Tahani’s architectural, party-planning skills are made evident and Michael undergoes an existential crisis that makes him question the value of being alive.
“Team Cockroach” - 8.1
Team Cockroach, the Soul Squad. Whatever you want to call the group of four humans who save the universe with Michael or Janet, there is no denying that they are among the best foursomes in television history.
This is the first instance of Team Cockroach finally joining forces with Michael for the good of all of them. But mostly, it is a fantastic episode because of how lovely it is to see Tahani, Chidi, Jason, and Eleanor putting their minds together to solve the most pressing problems.
“Janet and Michael” - 8.2
Over the course of the entire run of The Good Place, few relationships were as special or pivotal as the bond that was formed between Michael and Janet. This episode props that connection up as the main focal point of the installment.
This episode is the first one to feature Derek. However, it also shows the origins of Michael’s connection with Janet. One of the more surprisingly complex characters on the show, Janet grew beyond a helpful afterlife assistant and showed that she, too, could develop emotions and feelings akin to humanity’s.
“Best Self” - 8.5
The initial premise of “Best Self” promises viewers a trip to the real Good Place, once and for all. That is until Michael reveals that he does not actually have a way to bring them there. Instead, Janet takes control by the end of the episode and finds herself leading a train to the Bad Place.
There, with the characters reflecting on the chaos that has been thrust upon their afterlives, they plan to make a case for themselves as members of the Good Place. But it’s going to take a Herculean effort to convince the Judge and fool every demon in the Bad Place.
“Leap to Faith” - 8.5
This episode receives much of its humorous notoriety for the first pairing between Mindy St. Claire and Derek. However, there is also a ton of comedy to be mined from the intellectual disadvantage Team Cockroach is at in the face of Michael’s afterlife trickery.
The team, like the episode’s viewers, are forced to trust Michael and take that leap of faith that he is actually still trying to help them through coded language. Of course, that’s exactly what he was doing at the roast in the neighborhood. He just wanted to appease Marc Evan Jackson’s character, the demon named Shawn.
“Everything Is Great!” - 8.6
“Everything Is Great!” was the first episode of season two and it completely reset the stakes for the next arc of the Good Place and its inhabitants. Many expected that the show would put the characters through the wringer, as they were in season one, with the twist being that they did not know they were in the Bad Place the whole time.
Instead, Michael Schur and his writing team anticipated this storyline potentially growing tiresome and they began their pattern of upending the status quo at the end of every episode. It doesn’t take a whole season to figure out they’re in the Bad Place anymore. Now, it just takes one season premiere.
“The Trolley Problem” - 8.7
In one of the most famous ethical quandaries that was similarly popularized by The Good Place, Chidi is faced with a real-life simulation of the famous “trolley problem,” that forces people to choose between killing one person or killing five.
The episode is obviously hilarious and William Jackson Harper nails the performance. But it also helps cement one of the show’s core ideas: that help is other people and the help we give to other people.
“Dance Dance Resolution” - 8.7
Manny Jacinto is not only an immensely talented actor who brought the lovable doofus named Jason Mendoza to life on The Good Place. He is also an impeccably amazing dancer. Jason always had a warped interpretation of ethics.
However, he was also always right, in a roundabout sort of way. This time, the recollection of his dance team taking a stand against their enemies brings The Good Place into uncertain territory. Just not as uncertain as Michael felt when Jason figured out that he was in the Bad Place. A real low point.
“The Burrito” - 9.0
No, the judge who makes all the decisions of the universe is not a burrito. The judge is actually an over-enunciating Maya Rudolph character who is obsessed with cable television shows that marked the era of peak TV, like Justified and The Leftovers.
During the episode, Michael and Janet hang around in the Bad Place and attempt to reunite with Team Cockroach. Meanwhile, the four humans are put to the test by the Judge as they strive to see if they can pass the ethical tests for admission to the Good Place. It’s only season 2, so don’t expect flying colors.
“Rhonda, Diana, Jake, and Trent” - 9.0
The third to last episode of season two sees the characters just narrowly avoiding capture and torture in the Bad Place. Yes, it is mostly thanks to their wits. But it also owed, to some extent, to Jason’s quick toss of a Molotov cocktail.
The episode also sees a magical moment in the history of the show’s run. With Michael fully committed to helping his humans and his friends, he decides to sacrifice himself into the Bad Place to send Eleanor through to the Judge. It might seem impossible to give character development to a literal demon. But that’s what made The Good Place so special.
“Somewhere Else” - 9.0
“Somewhere Else” is the season finale of the second arc of The Good Place. Its 9.0 rating comes in at the highest because it had the most votes on the IMDB charts. In this episode, a case is made for Team Cockroach to get a do-over on Earth to see if they would still improve their moral codes, even if they weren’t promised admission into the Good Place.
In a shocking moment, a show about the afterlife returns to Earth and Eleanor is saved from her gruesome, shopping cart-induced death. With this experience having rocked her, she aims to become a better person, until the lack of moral desert leads her to question why she is trying to do anything at all. Enter Ted Danson as Michael, back behind a bar after all these years. He provides the advice of “what we owe to each other.” It was a critical turning point for The Good Place. Nothing was ever the same.
