Synopsis of 02×03: Michael continues to work out the kinks in his grand plan; Eleanor stumbles across a secret.
Michael records his thoughts in his office and mentions, “I hope and assume, this will be the final version… after I pull this off they’re going to hang my picture in the Bad Place Hall of Fame.” It’s clear he thinks he’s finally won, but Eleanor manages to discover that she’s in the Bad Place. So once again, Michael resets and starts from scratch.
The writers did a great job here for the ‘Dance Dance Resolution’ storyline because they managed to fit in hundreds of attempts where Eleanor realized she was in the Bad Place within the 30-minute time slot. There are scenes ranging from Eleanor insulting Chidi by calling him Cheeto, and claiming he’s way too smart to scenes where Chidi is being attacked by bees and running for his life.
But no matter what Michael throws her way, Eleanor always ends up reconnecting with Chidi, Tahani, and Jason. My favorite scenes have been watching Janet negotiate with Michael, begging for him not to reboot her. Every single time, Janet pleads with him not to hit the button. She hits him with an absurd excuse like being pregnant with his baby, tickets to Hamilton, and others like who will care for her birds.
Michael is relentless and continues to use the information he gathers about Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason to create new forms of torture for them. As expected, he fails each time because Eleanor eventually finds out. Michael finally hit a low point, he let himself go and gained weight in his thighs and started stress eating. He even admitted to a reset Eleanor that Sean (his boss) still thinks he’s on version two. Eleanor sat there confused and Michael just told her it didn’t matter because he was going to erase her memory again.
When he did, things still didn’t work out in his favor. Michael knew things were in really bad shape when even Jason figured out that they were in the Bad Place (because of the terrible TV selection, ha)! Michael of course swiftly reset things, but this time his band of torturers pulled together a plan of their own.
While Chidi and Eleanor went for some hot chowder, Michael went to speak to the torturers about his new plan. When he arrived he discovered the torturers were on strike and suddenly finds himself being blackmailed by Vicki. He and Vicki head back to his office to negotiate terms. Michael listens and reads their demands but decides he isn’t going to meet them. But Vicki has other plans instead, she demands Michael erase Eleanor, Chidi, Jason, and Tahani’s memories because she’s taking over.
Michael refuses until Vicki tells him she will give Sean a complete report of all of his screw-ups and attempts.
Meanwhile, Eleanor and Chidi overhear three torturers talking while out for hot chowder. They discover that they are in the Bad Place and call upon Janet for help. Janet takes them to Mindy, who lives in the middle of nowhere. When they arrive, Mindy informs them that they have been to see here 15 times. They can’t believe it but listen to what she has to say.
Mindy shares all the previous plans they’ve come up with in the past and Chidi and Eleanor try to figure out what to do next, while trying not to repeat the same mistakes. Of course Chidi and Eleanor argue nonstop and Eleanor tries to vent to Mindy, but it doesn’t work.
Instead, Mindy reveals to Eleanor that she and Chidi had sex several times and are actually in love with each other. She doesn’t buy it until she sees it on video for herself. Eleanor takes the tape and calls Janet and Chidi so they can head back to the Good Place.
Back at the Good Place, Jason unexpectedly gives Michael advice on how he can fight back against Vicki. Michael barges in on Eleanor, Chidi, and Tahani and Eleanor tells Michael that he keeps failing over and over and he needs to realize that they have all the power. Michael actually agrees with Eleanor and tells the group that he wants to partner up with them!
Looks like my prediction of Eleanor and Michael teaming up has come true. I can’t wait to see how the season plays out. With Michael and Eleanor on the same side, things are about to get really forking bad!
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