The Good Place Review: The Funeral to End All Funerals (Season 4 Episode 8)

Oh, The Good Place, you’ve done it again.

It’s truly amazing how this series can continue to surprise its audience and head in new directions, and that happens once more on The Good Place Season 4 Episode 8, “The Funeral to End All Funerals,” which is also Kristen Bell’s directorial debut.

But let’s start with what gives this episode its title. While the gang waits for the results of their experiment to be announced, they decide to kill time by giving each other a funeral that they can actually attend. 

It’s dangerous territory to have the chance to hear what others would say at your funeral, but for this group, it’s entirely positive and reveals how much they’ve all changed and the relationships they’ve developed with one another. With this being the final season, the timing is right too. It feels like a bit of a bookend.

But as emotional as some of it feels, it’s largely funny and each funeral is very specific. The locations are fitting for each, with Tahani on a jet, Jason at a pool (he was born in one when his mom jumped in!), and Eleanor at a bar.

I also really appreciate the sign behind them that reads, “Ya Dead.” 

It’s also yet another opportunity to ask some deeper questions. What if we could all have a similar chance? Would we want it? Because the gang decides to create their own funerals rather than hear what theirs were (plural) all like from Janet. There’s a reason for that.  

Meanwhile, the bigger question is being discussed in the Judge’s chambers. Can humans really change? And would they be better if the world was less complicated?

Ultimately, the answer they come up with is yes. Remove the world’s complications and stressors, and humans would be better people overall. Just like the idea that anyone can be capable of terrible things if the circumstances demand it, the idea here is that if things are a little easier, people are capable of being so much better. 

The Judge agrees with the results after listening to Michael’s additional explanations (because of course, the problem at first is with Brent’s score) and that seems like good news. 

But then The Good Place presents another twist.

The Judge is so convinced of the system’s flaws, that she decides it’s best to get rid of Earth altogether and start over.

So now, the gang has to try to save humanity all over again. 

Thankfully, Michael’s attempts as convincing Bad Janet that people can be good come into play at just the right time. Not only is she convinced, but so are the other Janets, so they hide the Judge’s “earth destroyer thingy” in one of their voids to buy everyone else some time to come up with a solution.

I’m excited at any chance to see multiple Janets, but this is extra special because of the way they all come together. D’Arcy Carden is a marvel. The way she can portray so many different personas is incredible and fascinating to watch. 

Now, keep in mind that this entire time, Chidi has been “frozen.” Even he gets a funeral with the gang, but he’s not actually present for his.

And now that the gang needs a solution, which is to create a point system that will actually work to evaluate humans, Eleanor is convinced that it’s time to bring Chidi back into the fold.

After all, who’s better than Chidi to solve the most philosophical puzzle of them all?

What did you think of this episode of The Good Place? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Good Place airs Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC.

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