Michael Schur, creator of The Good Place, The Office, and Parks and Recreation, talks about identifying with characters he's written, the differences in artful media vs. big budget entertainment, his nods to 'Lost,' the history behind his Twitter handle, and more.
Michael Schur discusses his identification with TV characters he's written from The Office and Parks and Recreation.
The episode showcases the importance of intricate plotting and storytelling, with careful planning from earlier episodes.
The significance of small details, such as the arrangement of clown paintings and the use of numbers, adds mystery and intrigue to the storyline.
Deep dives
The realization of being in the bad place
In this episode, while Eleanor, Tahani, Chidi, and Jason try to decide who should go to the bad place, Eleanor realizes that they are already in the bad place. She hides a note in Janet's mouth before being rebooted, leading to a slightly altered afterlife. There are flashbacks showing the development of Michael's plan to torture the humans.
The intricacies of plot and storytelling
The episode showcases the intricate plotting and storytelling in the series. It highlights how the plot was carefully planned from earlier episodes, building up to this moment. The characters are placed in one room, driving each other nuts as part of the torture. The episode also delves into the importance of execution in storytelling and the balance between plot and other elements.
Changes in the afterlife and attention to detail
After rebooting the humans, Michael makes several small changes to the neighborhood, making it seem even more perfect. Details such as the arrangement of clown paintings, pizza places instead of frozen yogurt, and the color scheme of outfits are tweaked to create a jarring effect. The significance of numbers, like the Fibonacci sequence and the number 322, is introduced to add a sense of mystery and intrigue.
Eleanor's Power Moment
Eleanor, after a moment of realization, asserts her power and takes control. In this moment, she turns the tables on the others and confidently asserts her autonomy. It is a satisfying moment, as Eleanor finally exhibits her sharp intuition and ability to recognize when she is being taken advantage of.
Ted Danson's Brilliant Acting
Ted Danson's performance in a pivotal scene showcases his exceptional acting skills. The episode initially had a different direction, but Danson improvised a giggle that became iconic. The director decided to merge Danson's giggle with the original script, resulting in a memorable combination of sinister, comedic, and dramatic acting. Danson's ability to seamlessly transition from laughter to anger highlights his talent and enhances the impact of the scene.
Chapter 13: The Good Place creator and executive producer Michael Schur takes a break from the writers' room to shoot the shirt with host and performer Marc Evan Jackson. Michael talks about identifying with TV characters he's written from The Office and Parks and Recreation, the differences in writing and producing artful media vs. big budget entertainment, his nods to Damon Lindelof's "Lost," the funny history behind his Twitter handle and a shirt-ton more.
