#michael's gambit

[roseofithaca]

Just noticed that Eleanor is the only character whose name isn’t included in an episode title.

[prettylittlearrowfangirl]

You know what’s weird?

Eleanor is the only main character on The Good Place who has never had an episode with her name in the title. 

The third episode of the show is named after Tahani.

The fourth is named after Jason.

Chidi’s name appears in two titles: “Chidi’s Choice” in season one and “Chidi Sees the Time Knife!” in season three.

Janet’s name also appears in two titles: season two’s “Michael and Janet” and season three’s “Janet(s)”.

Michael’s name also appears in two titles: the aforementioned “Michael and Janet” and the season one finale, “Michael’s Gambit”. 

There are obviously episodes that reference Eleanor in the title--”A Girl From Arizona” seems a clear reference to her. But there is no episode that directly uses her name in the title.

As she’s (conceivably) the protagonist, this is a little weird. Even looking at Mike Schur’s other shows, there were multiple episodes that used the protagonist’s name in the title. For Parks and Rec, the first two that come to mind are “Leslie and Ben” and “Leslie and Ron”, and scrolling through iMDB, I notice at least five more. For Brooklyn Nine Nine, I think immediately of “Jake and Amy”, and iMDB reminded me of “Jake and Sophia”. I have yet to watch The Office, but scrolling again through iMDB, I saw several that contained the name “Michael”.

We only have three episodes left (or four, depending on whether the finale has two different names). So I wonder if one of these final episodes will finally use Eleanor’s name in the title.

[pass-the-bechdel]

The Good Place s01e13 ‘Michael’s Gambit’

Does it pass the Bechdel Test?

Yes, three times.

How many female characters (with names and lines) are there?

Six (40% of cast).

How many male characters (with names and lines) are there?

Nine.

Positive Content Rating:

Three.

General Episode Quality:

A delight!

MORE INFO (and potential spoilers) UNDER THE CUT:

Passing the Bechdel:

Eleanor says goodbye to Tahani. Eleanor leaves her message with Janet, and then receives it after the reboot.

Female characters:

Eleanor Shellstrop.

Tahani Al-Jamil.

Janet.

The Other Eleanor.

Val.

Nina.

Male characters:

Michael.

Dave.

Chidi Anagonye.

Jason Mendoza.

Shawn.

Bambadjan.

Todd.

Bart.

Chris Baker.

OTHER NOTES:

Anyone who already knew the big twist of this season has to have understood my reticence to discuss the content of earlier episodes until the twist came; I mean, it still is a strange show to comment on within my framework, so I legit struggled to come up with content there, but I was also fighting the ‘don’t spoil for future events’ battle, which impacts the context in which the season is viewed. What a twist! It’s still weird that I’m reviewing this show! Let’s try to talk about it properly (at least a bit) in the full season review, and then hopefully use more and better words moving forward! Everything is fine!

[brilliantfantasticgeronimo]

ELEANOR SHELLSTROP

An only child, Arizona born and bred

Petty and selfish

Lacks empathy

CHIDI ANAGONYE

Professor of Ethics

Wracked by indecision, paralyzed by choice

Wrote endless, confusing manuscript that he believes is brilliant

TAHANI AL-JAMIL

International socialite

Mega fundraiser

Major family issues

JASON MENDOZA

Drug dealing DJ from Florida

Below average intelligence

Zero impulse control

Eleanor will cause Chidi to live in an eternal ethical dilemma.

Chidi will point out Eleanor’s mistakes and [???????????] how much she needs to [???????????] (which will never happen).

Eleanor will frustrate Jason by trying to hold him back and control his behavior.

Jason will cause Eleanor to live in fear that his impending public admission will send her to The Bad Place.

Tahani will heighten Jason’s paranoia by throwing [????] parties at their home and parading him around.

Jason will make Tahani miserable by never talking or giving her the attention she craves.

Tahani will [?????] Chidi with the [?????] of a third option [????????????????] the other two Eleanors.

Chidi will cause feelings of unrequited love for Tahani.

Chidi represents all the things Jason [despises?]: intelligent [nerds?] and the educational [????] at large.

Jason will torment Chidi by being his exact opposite: stupid, impulsive, and inconsiderate.

Eleanor will get the attention that Tahani craves, both from Jason/Chidi and in public.

Tahani will seem perfect and flawless to Eleanor, causing her to feel inadequate.

@soulsuckingisaacnewton

ohhhh, bless ya man that’s gotta be worth some points !!

[everythingisundercontrolmaybe]

The Good Place redraw from s01e13

[ashleybenlove]

Michael, you magnificent bastard. 

[edrazeba]

[jqnet]

fgshjs