brown-faith922

The Good Place is not your standard feel-good comedy. It is expertly crafted. I've never seen a show that could balance so much intelligence with so much goofy humor, and churn it out in a way that warms your heart and breaks it all at the same time. While shows like Parks and Recreation and The Office combat their dry and awkward humor with warmth and character building, The Good Place leaves them in the dust. The show digs deep into the mechanisms of people and explores what it really means to be a good person, leaving the audience simultaneously tearing up at personal connections we've made, and tearing up while laughing at the incredible blink-and-you'll-miss-it throw away lines, or the myriad other hilarious moments. I'm a believer that comedy doesn't really work best unless you have a reason to care about the characters, and through some of the best character development I've ever seen, this show delivers. This is a show I could (and do) watch and re-watch many times over without getting tired of it. And without getting too deep or mushy, quotes from the show often pop into my head at serious points in my life. I do think to myself sometimes, "we're all a little bit sad all the time." But I can cry all I want, I just need to "pay for that toilet plunger." No matter how deep this show gets, there's always a joke to round it off nicely. This is a show that will always be a favorite in my house.

I don't like quiet, awkward, slow, uncomfortable humor. The first season of Parks and Rec is like that, so for years I avoided it, until I started seeing a few episodes towards the end of season 2 when a friend was watching it. I just picked it up from there and never looked back. The first season isn't terrible, it's just really uncomfortable. But from season 2 on, I swear, it is hilarious - but it's the kind of funny that's made sweeter by the fact that there is something likeable about every character, and every character is capable in their own way, and they grow and develop throughout the show. You'll find yourself wondering who among your friends is the "Leslie," who is the "Jerry" that everyone picks on, who's the "Ann Perkins," the "Ron Swanson," etc - all the characters are so different but so memorable. It does occasionally get a little over the top silly, but the characters react to the situations in ways that either make sense or are even more hilarious. So for people like me who couldn't get through the first few episodes, stick it out! There is not a bad actor in the bunch!

Ehhh.... I'm conflicted. I feel like it's a good show, but it really just misses the mark when it comes to capturing the original story. Mostly when it comes to the feminism stuff. Anne of Green Gables (the book) had feminist themes for sure, but literally... this series just shoves it down your throat. It's too much - it makes the story about that, and it shouldn't be.

As for accuracy to the books... look I understand that they want to expand on material, and I'm OK with deviation of detail, but... look the charm of the Anne books (really up until the last book) is their simplicity. There isn't a whole lot of dramatic violence or desperate situations - that's why her imagination was so important. She imagined all these wild, exciting, romantic things. And the point was you got to see how really - the drama of normal life turned out to be just as exciting and important. We don't need any dramatic things like... well, that ending. Geeeeeez.... come on.

Other than that... I mean I like the acting of Marilla and Matthew. They're really good. It's pretty well made I guess - really nice visually. Good music. And honestly I think Diana was cast so perfectly - she's ten times more charming than Anne in my opinion. And Gilbert is handsome and charming as you could wish - pleased with that casting choice.

Just... I was really hoping for better. Solid six out of ten. Hoping the next season doesn't feel the need to invent anymore story lines.