Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Good Place!The Good Placehas cemented its place as one of the most ambitious sitcoms of all time, and the huge twist at the end of season 1 is even better for Mike Schur’s decision to keep his cast out of the loop right up until the last minute. The afterlife series occupies a rare space as it becomes more rewarding with every rewatch, thanks to having one ofthe biggest plot twists on TV. The show follows four individuals trapped in the afterlife with the Architect, Michael (Ted Danson), untilThe Good Place’s conclusionin season 4.
Not only isthe series' premise innovative, butThe Good Placecovers lots of ground across its 53 episodes. There’s no shortage of emotional moments in the show, withThe Good Place’s true meaning and messagebeing left to the audience’s subjective interpretation. The critically acclaimed series is so much more than a simple sitcom, and the intricate narrative is what makes it rank so highly. However, the entire trajectory of the show depended on the success of the season 1 plot twist, which Schur delivered flawlessly.
The Good Place Season 1 Benefits From Keeping Most Of The Main Cast In The Dark
Only Two Cast Members In The Good Place Knew About Season 1’s Huge Twist
The Good Place’s defining legacy is season 1’s finale, where the core group discovers they have been in the “bad place” all along. When season 1, episode 13, “Michael’s Gambit” aired, Eleanor’s (Kristen Bell) revelation was a totally unexpected turn of events that ultimately changed the entire course of the following three seasons. With that in mind, the secrecy surrounding the twist makes it all the more compelling.The Good Placecharacter leads,Kristen Bell and Ted Danson, were the only two cast members who knew about Mike Schur’s plans, while the other four series regulars were kept in the dark.
In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, Mike Schur said: “[The cast’s] reactions will tell me whether or not we’re going to pull it off. If the people who have been living with the characters every day are genuinely surprised at this move, that’s a pretty good indication that the audience will be as well. So when they all were very surprised—and we got that reaction that you see in that video—I was like, ‘Okay. This is going to work.'”
The season finale hinges on this premeditated plan, as it’s what makes the final moments of the first season so gripping.The collective reactions of William Jackson Harper, Manny Jacinto, Jameela Jamil, and D’Arcy Carden capture their genuine surprise,and more crucially, mirror their respective characters’ experiences. It was sheer genius from Schur, and although the show would likely have been successful anyway, it is difficult to say whetherThe Good Placewould have garnered such incredibly high levels of praise and acclaim without his brilliance in the show’s monumental season finale.
Why The Good Place’s Big Season 1 Reveal Is Still An All-Time Great TV Twist
The Good Place’s Season 1 Reveal Doesn’t Impact Your Viewing Experience
Few sitcoms, or series, can retain the magic of a first-time viewing, butThe Good Placemanages to exceed all expectations. In fact, season 1’s twist only serves to make any subsequent rewatches all the more entertaining.Knowing that Michael has been deliberately misleading us from the start provides a completely new perspective on the main story,and certain details are more prominent as a result. I immediately realized there are countless hints hidden throughoutseason 1 ofThe Good Placethat allude to Michael’s real plan, and they’re glaringly obvious in hindsight.
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Needless to say,it’s far morerewarding to go intoThe Good Placewithout being aware of the plot twist, and the ambitious plan is ultimately what secured its wide viewership. There are subsequent reveals during seasons 2, 3, and 4, too, which would be remiss of me to overlook — and the show evolves far beyond this. The series leads to genuine self-reflection, and its guidance has had a huge impact on me.The Good Placeexplores themes of morality, friendship, and belonging in great depth, and, along with its consistently strong comedic flair, firmly places it among this generation’s best sitcoms.
Ted Danson Spoiled The Good Place’s Big Twist For John Krasinski
Both Actors Worked With Michael Schur On Popular Sitcom Shows
And stepping outside the world of the show for a moment, it’s interesting to note how the actors involved in the series actually engaged with the material. Ted Danson, theactor who plays Michael and ultimately delivered that spectacular big reveal, has discussed an encounter he had with anotheractor, John Krasinski, prior to working on the show. Krasinski, having worked withThe Good Placecreator Michael Schur onThe Office, met with Danson after he had accepted the part and read the script.
Obviously, as the main antagonist, Danson was made aware of his status as a double agent, and while speaking to Krasinski, the comedy legend wanted to impress his fellow star. As such, when describing the show, Danson revealed the big twist during their conversation, which apparently took place before filming began, and he was warned to keep it under wraps. Evidently,, and fortunately Krasinski being in on the secret didn’t spoil the surprise for others in the cast.
The Good Place Season 1’s Twist Is Actually Better The Second Time Around
The Sitcom Twist Appears To Work Much Better Than In Traditionally Twisty Genres
The Good Placeis absolutely one of the most clever sitcoms in recent history. Despite being in the comedy genre, it flawlessly pulled off a huge twist that not only stunned the actors on set, but it cemented the show’s reputation for audiences at home. And while some projects end up being in a worse position when the big twist is revealed,The Good Placeactually gets better on a rewatch. The difference comes down to the fact that this is a comedy series, and when the audience is in on the secret, they can feel more a part of the prank being pulled on the characters who believe they have arrived in Heaven.
I’m Convinced This 2010s Show With 97% On Rotten Tomatoes Has The Greatest Twist In TV Comedy History
When it comes to comedy shows, few decide to invest time and effort into crafting a big twist, but as this series proved, it can be worth it.
That, in combination with the clues that can be picked up along the way, makes this an incredibly satisfying show to revisit again and again. After all, it’s one of the most stunning performances from Ted Danson in his long career, with his iconic turn from the friendly architect of The Good Place to the grinning demon being a moment that deserves all the recognition it got, and more.The Good Placestands out for its innovative twist ending, the intricate characters, and the incredible execution that all come together to make it a series that earns a place as one of the very best sitcoms to come out in the last decade.
