Ch. 35: Tiya Sircar, Actress | Bambadjan Bamba, Actor | Ben Harris, Casting Director | Andrew Law, Writer | Jeff Imada, Stunt Coordinator
Nov 16, 2018
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Tiya Sircar, Bambadjan Bamba, Ben Harris, Andrew Law, and Jeff Imada discuss satisfying fan questions, the influence of "Lost" on the show, Nick Offerman's rejection, and funny anecdotes.
The revelation of Doug Forsett's misery questions the current system of judgment and its criteria for getting into The Good Place.
Eleanor contemplates revealing her feelings for Chidi, with Tahani advising her to express her emotions based on the present timeline.
The coordination of stunts, wirework, and fight scenes adds dynamic action to the episode, showcasing Janet's resourcefulness and actors' ability to quickly learn choreography.
Deep dives
Doug Forsett: The Paragon of Goodness
The episode introduces Doug Forsett, a legendary figure in the afterlife world known for being the perfect example of human goodness. However, Michael and Janet's visit to Doug in Calgary reveals that despite his virtuous life, he is completely miserable. This revelation leads Michael to question the current system of judgment and its criteria for getting into The Good Place.
Eleanor's Dilemma: Revealing Her Feelings for Chidi
Eleanor confides in Tahani about her past relationship with Chidi in an alternate timeline. She debates whether or not to reveal her feelings to him in the present timeline, as they technically have no shared memories of their romantic connection. Tahani advises Eleanor to express her feelings, emphasizing that if she's still stressing about it, she must have feelings for him in this timeline. However, before Eleanor can confess, demons led by Sean threaten them in a Canadian bar, prompting a showdown.
The Fight and Stunt Coordination
The episode features a thrilling fight scene, set in a bar, involving the main characters and the demons. Stunt coordinators Jeffy Mata and his team help choreograph the fight and wirework sequences, ensuring the safety of the actors. The fight scene showcases Janet's resourcefulness in using found objects as weapons, while also incorporating comedic elements. Tia Surkar shares her experience learning the fight choreography, highlighting Bomba John Bomba's ability to quickly pick up the moves. The coordination of stunts, wirework, and fight scenes adds dynamic action to the episode.
The importance of certainty in knowledge and belief
The podcast discusses the distinction between guessing and knowing in relation to beliefs about the afterlife. While many people have ideas or beliefs about what happens after death, no one can say with certainty that their beliefs are true. However, in the case of the character Doug, he has been told by a demon that his beliefs are the truth, which leads to his certainty and ultimate damnation. This highlights the significance of knowing versus guessing when it comes to beliefs.
Behind the scenes of the action sequence
The podcast explores the making of the action sequence in the episode. It showcases the involvement of stunt coordinator Jeffy Mata and the use of various martial arts techniques. The fight sequence involved the doubles of the cast members and required coordination and teaching of practical moves. The episode also highlights the challenges of delivering tongue-twisters and the use of different sound effects for Janet's appearances and disappearances. Overall, the behind-the-scenes discussion provides insights into the intricacies of filming action scenes for the show.
The Good Place writer Andrew Law, actress Tiya Sircar (Vicky), actor Bambadjan Bamba (Bambadjan), casting director Ben Harris and stunt coordinator Jeff Imada shoot the shirt with host Marc Evan Jackson. They talk about catching up with Doug Forcett (Michael McKean) and finally satisfying fans’ questions about him, how Damon Lindelof’s TV show "Lost" informs the writers’ choices, Nick Offerman’s rejection for the role of "Shawn" and a shirt-ton more funny anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories.
