The Conners may be that remarkable rarity in television history: a sequel series that outgrew its original inspiration. For me, John Goodman, Sara Gilbert and especially Laurie Metcalf were the reasons I watched Roseanne-the-series anyway, and now--untethered from Roseanne Barr's erratic personality--the very talented cast can focus on what made the series great: a funny, incisive depiction of lower-middle class America.
The gut punch in the first episode was Dan's confrontation with Marcy Bellinger. In two minutes, Goodman and Mary Steenburgen gave you a picture of middle class life in this country so desperate, so hanging-by-a-thread that it gave you chills. More, please.
"Jeremy Bearimy" was easily the best episode of The Good Place Season 3, and as you said, William Jackson Harper dominated. But I found the platonic tag team of Tahani and Jason an unexpected pleasure. For once, the writers didn't load down Tahani with endless names to drop and there was only one "Florida" joke--and it was actually funny! Jason came off as sweet, not scuzzy (for a change), and you're right--his essential dimness just emphasizes how the afterlife's point system doesn't work. I expect Michael and Janet's manifesto to come up again, and the cyclical nature of time in the afterlife will almost definitely come into play by the end of the season.
Maybe Team Cockroach/Brainy Bunch/Soul Squad accepted the explanation because on a deep, unconscious level they knew what Michael said really happened?
(My favorite line was Janet pointing to a spot on the Jeremy Bearimy and proudly announcing "That's my birthday!")
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The gut punch in the first episode was Dan's confrontation with Marcy Bellinger. In two minutes, Goodman and Mary Steenburgen gave you a picture of middle class life in this country so desperate, so hanging-by-a-thread that it gave you chills. More, please.
"Jeremy Bearimy" was easily the best episode of The Good Place Season 3, and as you said, William Jackson Harper dominated. But I found the platonic tag team of Tahani and Jason an unexpected pleasure. For once, the writers didn't load down Tahani with endless names to drop and there was only one "Florida" joke--and it was actually funny! Jason came off as sweet, not scuzzy (for a change), and you're right--his essential dimness just emphasizes how the afterlife's point system doesn't work. I expect Michael and Janet's manifesto to come up again, and the cyclical nature of time in the afterlife will almost definitely come into play by the end of the season.
Maybe Team Cockroach/Brainy Bunch/Soul Squad accepted the explanation because on a deep, unconscious level they knew what Michael said really happened?
(My favorite line was Janet pointing to a spot on the Jeremy Bearimy and proudly announcing "That's my birthday!")