Why You Should Watch "The Good Place." Or Not. But Maybe?

     Time to get a little geeky about stories, and about storytelling, and about the power of stories, and all that other related jazz. This’ll probably be something I end up doing a lot, so I hope you get something out of it.

     I’ll try not to bog things down with references or jargon, but apologies if some of this lands in the murky, muddy reeds. If it does, don’t be afraid. There are no crocodiles waiting under the surface, just a geek yelling pop culture references at you. Nod your head politely, back away slowly, and try not to get trapped in a lift with it.

     So onward to geeking out over a show called “The Good Place.”

     I love this show.

     Now, I know it's an acquired taste. It has that strange sense of humour, akin to something like “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” but a little more abstract. And a little less Adam Sandburg-y. (Man, I love that guy!). This was a little off putting for me at first, I must admit.

     Some hit this strange factor hurdle and decide this show is not for them. And that is completely understandable, and fine. There’s no accounting for taste.

     Might I keep talking anyway. Or writing, as it were.

    A few things off the bat this show has going for it. It has a great cast, it has Ted (wasn't he Hell Boy?) Danson, and it has a fucking incredible premise. It’s also one of those shows that gets much better if you stick with it.

    However, the thing that really sold me on this show, enough to have me write about it, is that it is a show fundamentally about ethics. A fun show fundamentally about ethics.

The deliberate inclusion of morals in storytelling is a tricky task to tackle (try saying that three times). It’s a delicate balance to explore morality in a story without bias or agenda. Come on too strong and things can start to feel preachy real fast.

     And no one enjoys a long, humourless sermon about how bad they are - well, I can't speak for everyone. Demons probably deliver such speeches to their children at 21st birthday parties. (I'm going to write that story!).

    Back to the show. Back to the shoe.

    When I say “The Good Place” is about ethics, I mean literally. One main character being an actual Professor of Ethics and Moral Philosophy.

     Can you think of many shows that are about exploring ethics in a scientific and thorough way?
    I can't think of any off the cuff, not like this one.

     Many (most?... all?) good stories explore such themes, of course. Breaking Bad deals with moral ambiguity, and ends justifying the means, through the lens of a chemistry teacher turn meth dealer. Mr Robot – the actual greatest series of all time – has a constant theme of crossing lines, all in the name of justice and breaking the chains of our corporate oppressors.

     But these are stories about specific conflicts, or examinations of character. They are the story equivalent of blending your greens in with the mostly orange and watermelon fruit smoothie.

     A show about ethics itself, undisguised, uninhibited, unapologetic, that is NOT preachy, or dull, or confusing – that is rare to the point of conspiracy. Maybe because it’s difficult to get people interesting in eating their greens.

     Well now to life, and the revelations this show gave me, mostly about myself.

     There is a thing I now wish to quickly correct, regarding the holes in my knowledge. A vast ocean of literature exists on the subject of Ethics, and I have, at best, dangled my legs around in the water.

     Putting religion to the side for a moment – because, let’s be honest, there is a serious problem with how religion has tried to monopolise morality – let’s think of Ethics like any other field of study.

     All the headway we have made in mathematics over the course of our human history. The trust we have in our everyday technology due to science. The innovation of the culinary arts worldwide, in what is one of the greater examples of the wondrous power of multiculturalism and harmony. We humans thrive on exploration and discovery, and at our best we understand that we have barely touched the surface of anything – endless possibility and new horizons lend us infinite inspiration.

     And yet, for some strange reason, we grow up believing that we have magically fluked a high distinction in Ethics. We preach of morality, muse about the concept of good and evil, and argue over the best way to live together, but fail to reference any of our claims.

     “Here's my thesis, Professor. I wrote it ten minutes ago, and I didn’t even know Ethics was a subject with books and stuff and junk, but I expect no less than full marks, and a big golden sticker, thank you very much!”

     (That just got waaaay too academic. Perhaps that’s part of the problem)

     (It also got a bit preachy… which is rather ironic… quick, tell them you trying not to be judgey, and that you are mostly criticising your own actions!)

     Did I just write that all aloud?

     In our defence, we do… OK, overall. Things could be much worse than they are, and we have made some serious headway over the last fifty years as far as legal rights, prejudice and equality goes. I’d argue we have a long way to go, but we can’t so frivolously dismiss our progress.

     And when it comes to wisdom, there is a ton that books cannot teach.

But there is also a ton they can.

     Profound thinkers have dedicated their minds to moral philosophy, no different to any other field of study – the Ethics equivalents of Einstein, Mozart or Shakespeare wait patiently on book shelves for us to even learn their names, let alone read their words.

    To illustrate my point, many schools make Geography a mandatory subject.

     Geography.

     How rivers work, and the names of oceans, and how many species of fresh water fish there are in the Murray River.

     Look, it sounds like I’m having a stab at Geography.

     I am. A good stab with a desert fork. Right in the longitudes.

     I’m actually quite fond of Geography now, despite all efforts from my high school teacher to make it as exciting as the credits at the end of a film (Oooh, I didn’t know Christopher Arreola was the Lead Scanning Technician in “Cast Away”!)

     Technology – woodwork, metalwork, mugglework, pick-a-work. Very cool stuff. Something a student might gain a passion for and wish to pursue. Also something practical, a very handy skill to have.

     But mandatory?

     Even a second language – while a potent skill to have, and arguably high in the importance list – does it warrant a mandatory position? Who really remembers the language they learnt in high school, besides those who continued to pursue it in some way?

     I remember some Japanese from school... “Icucremu!” “Hotudogu!” I learnt much more Japanese from watching Anime, to be honest.

And yet.

     We don’t even teach Ethics, let alone make it a mandatory subject.

     I might be wrong here. Some wise teachers may sneak it into their tiny “Humanities” portion of the education pie. And philosophy is finally acknowledged as a thing that exists in the senior years.

     But one may as well hand me a crumb and proclaim it a feast.

    If I’m being blunt here, Ethics should be as mandatory as maths and science. I'm an English major, and I think Ethics has a whole lot more practical applications than a deep thought about the “pining symbolism of the green light” in the great Gatsby.

    Ethics should be a fundamental subject in business schools, as an alternative to the text book titled, "How to Fuck Over Your Customers, With a Smile."

Is this blog still about “The Good Place”?

    Is anything I’m saying here making sense?

How many more food analogies can I get in here, by the end?

     At least you know I can write about a TV show without spoilers, indeed while literally forgetting halfway through that I was writing about it at all.

    Well that's how fond I am of this show. It’s Ethics and Moral Philosophy 101 presented in a wacky, fantastical, clever and oftentimes hilarious way.

     In truth, I would like to see more stories tackle this subject in unique and interesting ways, so that there is a worthy buffet to choose from, different flavours for different pallets. The menu shouldn’t be so small.

     That is where the power of stories lies. When done well, they can reach far and enrich us as a society. They can open up worlds for us, impart new perspectives that make it easier for us to connect with each other as human beings.

     This has been a long one. If you’ve stuck around, I am grateful for your persistence and patience. Gods forbid I just wrote a tedious piece about Ethics. Hopefully it was somewhat palatable.

     Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of homework to do. Immanuel Kant, Leo Tolstoy and Socrates await, along with many others.

My plate of greens awaits.