4x06 A Chip Driver Mystery

[7.3/10] The frame story here is a little too cute. Michael debating with a Bad Janet about whether humans are thoroughly evil or sometimes good is the sort of highfalutin navel-gazing that’s easier to do than actually dramatizing people making choices and acting them out. But it’s the wrapper for a better episode than that.

I really like the setup of Brent writing a terrible, insulting book, forcing everyone to read it, and being offended and stung when it’s not met with the rapturous praise he expects. The idea that the humans have achieved six months of progress, and this literary nonsense bursts in to tear it all down makes for a good conflict.

There’s also a lot of well-observed bits here. Whoever wrote the passages from Brent’s book deserves a bonus, because it’s pitch-perfect as the sort of self-gratifying drivel that someone like Brent would like. And I really like Simone here, as someone who wonders (quite legitimately) why she and others who have been attacked have to be the bigger people and accommodate someone who’s been an unrepentant and oblivious asshole to them.

My favorite thing about this episode is that it doesn't really give an answer to that question, or an answer to any of these questions. I’ll admit, with all the talk of Brent learning to admit his mistakes, I thought we would reach a moment of small growth and self-knowledge from him here, that maybe marks a minor turning point for the character. Instead, Brent issues a non-apology apology, Simone and others won’t have it and tell him what they really think, and things are, if anything, worse than where we started. The Good Place isn’t so hidebound a show as to have to resolve every minor character arc within the span of a single episode, but the fact that this one leaves things so ruffled, despite pointing toward what seemed to be a more definitive lesson and resolution, was a pleasant surprise.

I also like the B-story here, with John finding out Jason’s secret and having to control his impulse to spread gossip wherever he can. John’s been a fun addition to the show, and his dynamic with Chidi and Jason is a good one. The other parts of the episode here are good too, like Eleanor struggling to come up with a good reason why they should all be so accommodating to Brent that doesn't give away the game, and Michael trying to use golf as a way to get through to Brent and see the effect his actions have on others.

But as much as I kind of roll my eyes at the frame story, I like how it ends and the ultimate message. Granted, it’s kind of stupid for Michael to let Bad Janet go back to The Bad Place and continue plotting against them, but I appreciate that it’s part of his moral awakening and a desire not to imprison people.

And I really like the closing point, that the encouraging thing about these events wasn’t some grand change of heart from Brent or a breakthrough in the group, but rather that our heroes suffered a serious setback and just kept on trying. “Do a little better the next time” is, perhaps, a bit oversimplified as moral philosophy, but perfectly good for network television. It’s something worth aspiring to in the face of our mistakes, and the cherry on top of this episode.