[7.7/10] This is another episode where I really enjoyed just about everything...except the relationship stuff. Once again, the emotional core of the episode is anchored to the relationship between Eleanor and Chidi, which just has yet to click with me, which means the grand climax here leaves me cold.
But that’s the thing -- I really like most everything else about that part of the episode. D’arcy Carden does amazing work at portraying all of her co-stars. The way she’s able to perfectly capture the specific cadences of characters like Jason and Tahani was impressive, to where it’s easy to forget that it’s not really them as Carden delivers the performance. At the same time, the editors and compositors deserve so many kudos for making it feel totally natural that these were all separate characters interacting in a room together and not just one person green-screened over and over again.
I even like the emotional conceit of the episode -- where Eleanor’s identity crisis turns literally inside the confines of Janet’s void, cracking the place up and making Eleanor transform into other people and forget who she is. Chidi trying to bring her back, avoid intimacy by burying himself in philosophy, and realizing that he knows who Eleanor is and cares about her is a strong concept. And hell, I loved the hell out of the visuals the show used to convey Chidi having his epiphany to the point that it brings both of them back to who they really are. I just don’t really see Chidi and Eleanor as an OTP yet, so it lacked some punch for me.
The other half of the episode was both creative and hilarious though. Bringing in Stephen Merchant to play the head accountant is an inspired bit of casting, and the show managed to deliver a lot of exposition on how the point system works in fun and creative ways. (The beleaguered tone of the “weird sex thing” accountant was a consistent set of laughs.) I enjoyed the revelation that no one has made it to The Good Place in 500 years, and the accountant refusing to accept the notion that there’s anything wrong with that, as it speaks to a certain institutional inertia that works for both comedy and drama. Hell, just imagining the nerve center of the afterlife as a beige-lit cubicle farm, replete with a Neutral Janet is pretty inspired.
And I enjoyed the message of that segment to, with Michael realizing that he keeps looking for an external solution to his problems, someone else to take care of them, when really, he needs to look within himself to starting fixing things rather than waiting for it to happen. Of course, that leads us to yet another reboot and tease, but it’s a promising one, as this show gives us more tantalizing territory to explore.
Overall, I’m still a little leery about how much weight the show is putting on an Eleanor/Chidi relationship that I haven’t bought into yet, but the comedy, creativity, and world-building continues to be superb enough to keep me smiling throughout.
still the best doctor who season finale? everyone seems to think of the s4 finale as the best, but this takes the cake? martha reasserting herself as the BEST doctor who companion and showing her strength. she walked the earth for a whole YEAR and chose to leave the doctor despite loving him because she knew it was what was best for her. i love her so much. jack being the face of boe? iconic. david tennant's acting when john simm's master refuses to regenerate.... AN ACTOR. and the scene with everyone thinking about the doctor? the cgi/graphics are terrible mind you but what can be expected from an early 2000s show, but the meaning and sentiment behind the scene always gets to me. fucking epic dude i'm telling y'all
PERFECT. HILARIOUS. WONDERFUL. CHEERS TO THE NINETY NINE PRECINCT!
So, when is The Lonely Island gon be releasing the "Trudy Judy's Booty" song? Cause that was hella dope.
One of the best finale episodes. Martha saved the world and yet she's crimnally underrated. I also love how she was the only companion of them all to chose to walk away from The Doctor.
THE DOCTOR LOVED ROSE AND HE NEVER SAID IT OUT LOUD I'M SO UPSET
What kind of stupid ending is this??? What a waste of 12 hours of my life.
As far as pilots go, this feels like it concluded a little suddenly and easily. From the trailer, I assumed the copycat killer was going to be the main plot of the season that forced Malcolm and his father together, but I guess this provides the variety of a typical procedural.
So far though, the show feels a bit self-indulgent at times - especially Malcolm's character. The way he presents his conclusions with this weird and unbelievable certainty reminds me too much of Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock. Especially when he's explaining how he's read someone's micro-expressions and knows if they're lying or what they're thinking. He doesn't quite feel like a real person yet. Maybe with more exploration of the trauma and instances where he isn't always proven correct will humanize him more.
His climactic confrontation with the killer was also a bit much, like the writers were using that scene only for the purpose of getting Malcolm to admit these things simply for Plot and Character purposes.
I started watching this for Michael Sheen and I'll likely continue mostly for him.
This is a really interesting episode.. Love amy and jonah being all flirty. And most of all im really excited to see jeff as a gay man.. He's so cute
Interesting 1st episode, loved Michael Sheen he's an amazing actor, and Lou Diamond Phillips is awesome too, not sold yet on the chemistry between Malcolm and his mother that scene felt fake and out of place, other than that solid pilot can't wait to see what they come up with
Now that ABC cancelled Roseanne they originally renewed. Can they uncancel Deception ?
I like this show so much. It's fresh and smart. Sad that it will be cancelled.
Sure, the ending was a bit silly, but the whole season was rather entertaining. This season finale with its interesting cliffhanger was definitely setting things up for the second season... It's too bad the show's been cancelled. It was not the best show around, but it felt fresh and fun and I'd like to see where they'd be going with the story. None of the characters did much for me, but Cameron/Jonathan showed enough charisma to make me want to keep watching more of Deception.
One thing I particularly enjoyed was that they never tried (much) to romantically set up the two main characters (Cameron and Kay), it's a cliché they've smartly avoided (on the downside of it, there was never much chemistry between the two, which would most likely hurt the show in the long run).
Well, here's another new show in a vast sea of uninteresting new shows that actually managed to grasp my attention, and it was all for nothing. Why do they keep cancelling the wrong shows?
I can't believe they ended it like that when there won't be a second season. I'm so upset right now.
The part of the episode where it's all cartoons is unwatchable; I had to skip over it. The rest of the episode was pretty stupid and confusing as well. I appreciate they're trying to experiment a little but the episodes this season have been mostly hit and miss.
We get it, they do drugs. Centering everything around drug usage is really not that interesting.
I've never actually rooted for a show I watch to not get renewed, but the time has come. There's no coming back from this and I'm out.
I don't really know how to put up with 5 more episodes without Liz. That's if there is any hope at all that she will be back in season 4. Otherwise it's not worth watching anymore because I don't really care who's taking custody of that little baby girl.
