What I’m Watching: The Good Place

The Good Place: Season 2, Episode 6 “The Trolley Problem” (B+)

I’ve encountered the famed Trolley Problem recently on an another TV show, with Kimmy Schmidt being forced to show her true colors during a crossing guard exam. Here, Michael immediately failed the test by showing that he had found a way to kill all six people instead of choosing the few or the one who had to die. He was excited to make the problem less theoretical, putting Chidi into the actual situation so that he could repeatedly kill people every time he failed to make the right decision. I love that the train was called the Ethics Express, and kudos to Eleanor for once again realizing that Michael was back to his old ways, tormenting Chidi instead of trying to learn about how to be a better being. What’s funny is that the old Eleanor and Michael are actually pretty similar, and they find the same things hilarious. Chidi wasn’t impressed with his gift, but Michael’s “opposite tortures” were actually pretty thoughtful. Eleanor sure does love shrimp! I love where Tahani and Jason’s secret relationship is going, as the usually idiotic Jason was smart enough to pick up on the fact that it wasn’t normal that she felt a need to keep their romance secret, and he was kind enough to agree to keep it on the “DL” in exchange for a few opportunities at juvenile displays of affection. Janet acting as a therapist works rather well, though her thumb flying off and a frog coming out of her throat show that there’s something wrong with her serving this function and now, as our four friends are pretending to be tortured, Janet helping them out is going to cause the neighborhood to collapse.