The Good Place’s Take on Virtousness

*Spoilers ahead*

After Eleanor Shellstrop dies and realizes she has entered the “Good Place” after leading a disastrous life, she wonders: am I in the right place? Some seasons of the show go by until she and her friends discover that, despite what it seems like, they are not, and in fact no one is. Centuries have gone by ever since anyone has gotten into the real good place and the main characters take on a mission to find out why. What does it truly mean to be moral? Is anybody doing enough? This show’s take on goodness is revolutionary and a bit depressing: in today’s world it is nearly impossible to be completely virtuous.

By Sofía Prada, 10th A

Episode eight of Season 3 highlights the life of a man that is the epitome of consciousness. He analyzes every move he makes, assuring it is impactful in just the right way. His electrical power comes from solar panels, the most sustainable source. His diet consists of radishes and lentils as these vegetables are the ones that have the least carbon footprint. He takes care of 71 stray dogs and all of the snails that come into his little farm. He washes and irons the clothes of a hostile boy that lives nearby just to make him happy. He volunteers, donates blood, and is as kind as one can be. If anybody could get into the “Good Place”, it should be him. However, the show reveals that he does not have enough points to get into it despite everything he has done. Apparently, his efforts

have been futile even when he was considering every repercussion. If he wasn’t able to make it, can we? As Michael, one of the main characters, states, “Life now is just too complicated (...) These days just buying a tomato at a grocery store means that you are unwittingly supporting toxic pesticides, exploiting labor, contributing to global warming. Humans think that they are making one choice but they are actually making dozens of choices they don’t even know they are making”. So the show emphasizes having fun, living a life that is joyous for yourself while making sure that you are bringing the best humanely possible consequences you can. The only thing we have left is to try, try to be as good as we can just for the sake of it.