Tag: Eleanor Shellstrop

“There is no answer. But ‘Eleanor’ is the answer.”

From: The Good Place

Genre: Televison

Who said it?: Chidi Anagonye

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the NBC comedy series, The Good Place. The show focuses on four humans who have died and are now supposedly spending eternity in The Good Place. One of the people, Eleanor Shellstrop, apparently isn’t supposed to be there as she was a bad person while she was alive. The first season then focuses on her journey to be a person worthy of being in The Good Place in order to avoid being sent to The Bad Place.

The quote comes from the fourth season episode, The Answer. The Judge of the Universe is about to reset the world as the point system which judges if humans are good and bad has become so convoluted, no one is getting into the Good Place anymore. The team decide to revive Chidi Anagonye (played by William Jackson Harper) as, although he’s proven to be incredibly indecisive, is the best person to develop out a system that would work without resetting everything. After being revived, Chidi asked Janet (played by D’Arcy Carden) to give him the note he wrote before his memory was erased. She hands him the note and he reads it, which is the quote in question.

Geek wisdom: There is no “one size fits all” answer to why anyone of us exists. That answer is always going to be different depending on the individual. It could be living for a loved one, helping others or just trying to live life to the fullest. Your reason for existing may not make sense to others… but it makes sense to you, which is what’s important.

“If I could give you an answer to how the universe works, it wouldn’t be special.”

From: The Good Place

Genre: Televison

Who said it?: Janet

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the NBC comedy series, The Good Place. The show focuses on four humans who have died and are now supposedly spending eternity in The Good Place. One of the people, Eleanor Shellstrop, apparently isn’t supposed to be there as she was a bad person while she was alive. The first season then focuses on her journey to be a person worthy of being in The Good Place in order to avoid being sent to The Bad Place.

The quote comes from the Season 3 finale entitled “Pandemonium.” Due to the Bad Place demon’s plan, Chidi has to be mind wiped and Eleanor now has to pretend to be the Architect of this version of the Good Place. Eleanor (played by Kristen Bell) wonders if it’s all worth it and asks Janet (played by D’Arcy Carden) to what is the meaning of life. Janet, despite knowing everything, has some experience being human and notes that the universe doesn’t really make sense but that’s part of the beauty of life. This is when she delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Life has many ups and downs and, at times, things can feel too chaotic. However, it’s these peaks and valleys we experience that makes life worth living. We have to enjoy the highs and persevere through the lows. It is through all of these experiences that makes life worth living.

“…This is the Bad Place!”

From: The Good Place

Genre: Televison

Who said it?: Eleanor Shellstrop

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the NBC comedy series, The Good Place. The show focuses on four humans who have died and are now supposedly spending eternity in The Good Place. One of the people, Eleanor Shellstrop, apparently isn’t supposed to be there as she was a bad person while she was alive. The first season then focuses on her journey to be a person worthy of being in The Good Place in order to avoid being sent to The Bad Place.

Before you read on, I will have to mention that there are going to be MAJOR SPOILERS for the show. Even though The Good Place has been on for quite a while, the quote does involve a major twist so the SPOILER WARNING is up.

At the end of the first season, the four humans, including Eleanor (played by Kristen Bell), have to send two of them to the Bad Place. As they argue as to whom will be chosen, Eleanor comes to a realization that they can’t be sent to the Bad Place as they are already in the Bad Place!

At the very end of the first season, the architect of the world, Michael (played by Ted Danson), resets everything, including the memories of Eleanor and the  rest of the humans. However, even after doing that, Eleanor still manages to figure out that they are indeed in the Bad Place over and over again.

Geek wisdom: You may not realize where you are right now. You may think that you’re doing alright but then it might suddenly hit you that you’re in a bad place in your life. The first step to changing your life for the better is always going to be recognizing that you’re in a “bad place” before you can start changing things for the better.