This analysis masterfully bridges the gap between clinical psychology and moral philosophy, turning a sitcom into a profound study of human behavior. It offers a sophisticated lens that enriches our understanding of ethical growth through the nuances of character motivation.
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Therapist REACTS to The Good Place 1x2 | Flying
Added:Right. Um, good place. We're carrying on. I am once again joined by my wife Charlotte, also known as, according to the comments, Mrs. Dr. Stew, also known as Mrs. Connection Through Reaction, also known as Mrs. Off the Script Therapy.
>> I know.
>> Also known as the boss.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> And it's a buy one get one free today.
It >> is, isn't it? So, we got Ned with us as well. She's going to join us. So, we really enjoyed episode one. What did you think? Yeah, I I really enjoyed it. And we were just talking about it off camera. One of the things I really enjoyed was actually properly watching something because it's so easy just to be there scrolling mindlessly on your phone. Whereas actually it was really nice picking up all the details and you know really getting into it properly like was quite novel actually.
>> Yeah, I say this quite often in my reactions that I was never someone to sit down and properly watch something.
it would be on in the background or I don't know. I mean, I watched things before we got into scroll culture, but my mind would be elsewhere. Or you could just go up and get a drink and just let just just leave it playing and you come back like 10 minutes later and must miss so much stuff. And I think as I've done more reactions, you start to notice more things in the background that are purposefully placed. Something I picked up from The Last of Us was even if there's like a radio show or something in the background, like there's some significance to it somehow, like it's been purposefully done. and just like lines like you get bits of dialogue sometimes that know how to explain it.
It feels it doesn't feel odd but it feels it's being placed there for some reason and maybe it's pointing to something later on or it's pointing for you to think about something >> like it's cuz I guess if these shows have only got a really short period of time to convey information to you, every line of that script has been placed in there for some reason.
>> Yeah. Uh, so I tend to think about that a lot more than I used to. And some of the like I wish you'd seen Severance because just the way some of the stuff's framed. It just looks beautiful. Some of the shots are just just amazing. Shame you didn't see. I think you would have really have enjoyed it.
>> Yeah, I might watch it at some point.
It's on my list.
>> Uh, and something else we were talking about was you were okay for people to try and get to know a little bit more about you. Maybe they could drop some questions down if you want to know anything about shark. Keep it clean.
Know what some of you are like.
>> Yeah, we're thinking we should just do a quick uh question and answer. If there's anything you want to ask, go for it.
>> Yeah, because I think I think how far to go with this. Like it's not it wasn't it wasn't a concern, but something that you were saying was that people feel like they probably know me a bit better now.
They know my background. they kind of know how I am, how I phrase things, my mannerisms, you know, just what I'm like. Where you coming in, you're like, "Oh, they don't know what I'm like. What are they going to think?"
>> So, if you do want to know a bit more about Charlie, if you got any specific questions, then feel free to drop them in the comments and we'll probably put out a video of you answering them. That fun. We might not do all of them, but we'll do the ones we think that probably give a broad kind of idea um not an idea of who you are, but you know, a broad range of questions that maybe just give a bit more of your background. Yeah, sounds good.
>> Does that sound right? I like I liked episode one. It's charming. Is that the right word? I find it quite charming. I don't know if the plot is charming and the themes are charming, but it feels I don't know. Maybe because I'm watching Andor, Breaking Bad, Legend of Kora.
We've done Game of Thrones, House of Dragon, Last of Us, like all of these shows which have got so much like devastation and trauma and gore and, you know, really I was going to say really heavy themes. I mean, this has got quite heavy themes, but it's got a very different feel to anything that I've watched before. I guess this is probably positioned as a bit of a comedy where the others weren't. So, it's got that to it that the other shows hasn't. A part of that leaves me on edge a little bit because you won't know but in a lot of shows I watch everyone I like dies like that seems to be the theme.
>> Maybe that these guys are already dead.
Is that >> Yeah. Yeah. That's a good point. Like like you haven't seen Arcane, have you?
No.
>> And I got really attached to this character called Vander because he's a dad. He's got two girls.
>> Careful what you say here. Guess I'll watch it.
>> Okay. Right. Well, that's okay. You can know that. Um I can't say what I was about to say then.
>> Sorry. No, no, no. That That's okay.
That's okay. Maybe we can do an arcane rewatch.
>> Yeah, >> cuz it's not actually that long. Uh maybe people will like that.
>> Yeah, I don't know for that.
>> Let us know. I'll try not to drop in any potential spoilers then in any conversations.
>> Yeah. So, I quite like the charm factor.
I like the comedy. I like some of the themes that do get you thinking. What do you think? I think you're going to be quite interested in the ethics perspective of this, but actually the bit I'm quite looking forward to is seeing how Michael deals with it because how he's forked up his first uh project.
I'm quite looking forward to seeing how that that pans out. But I really like her. I like I know she's like quite a I don't know, not troubled, but she's not a perfect character, but I like that sort of very dry sense of humor going through it all. So yeah, looking forward to getting into it because it started off so beautiful, didn't it? And it was all very calm and I think it was quite nice compared to like you were saying the other shows you're watching and just generally life, you know, if you read anything, there's chaos everywhere and having this perfect world was quite nice to get into. Although we did end episode one with chaos. So >> yeah, was it giant giraffes and ladybirds and is that ladybirds? I think they were ladybirds. Right. So, we're going to find out how Elanor Eleanor.
Eleanor. Have you ever seen Gone in 60 seconds? Eleanor.
>> That means nothing to me.
>> Eleanor. So, it's a car. Eleanor.
>> Oh, >> yeah. So, she's she she wants to um change. She wants to make changes. I wonder what that's going to be like for her. I wonder how that's going to go down with Chitty.
>> So, just a quick word from today's sponsor, me. If you want to see my reactions earlier than they go up onto YouTube, then consider joining the Patreon community. The $5 tier gives you access to everything. That includes early access to all current shows. And because the reactions are unedited and you don't need your own copy of the show to watch them, they usually go up on the same day that I record them. Each current show also has its own chat and I am active in those discussions. So, if you enjoy those psychological reflections that I do at the end of some of the videos, Patreon is one of the places where those conversations can help shape some of my thinking. It's also where we short list and we vote on what shows I watch next. You can also take part in that in the free tier, so you don't have to join the $5 tier until there's content that you actually want to see. But the library has grown a lot over the last year. I'm currently uploading about six videos a week. And the $5 tier gives you access to the fullback catalog, as well as everything we are currently watching. There's movies, there's anime and animated series, and there's liveaction TV series. So, if that sounds like something you'd enjoy and you want to be a part of, then I'll leave a link in the description. If that doesn't interest you, then thanks for being part of the YouTube community and for supporting the channel.
>> Oh, we get a little recap. That's handy.
>> I'm not supposed to be here. These people might be good, but are they really that much better?
>> What was her name? Was it Jani or something?
>> Oh, I can't remember.
>> I'm going to make some notes this time by people's names cuz I'm really bad.
>> This is a mess. This is a putrid, disgusting bowl of ethical soup.
>> Okay, ethical soup. Hello, front desk lady. Can anyone access our search history or is this an incognito browsing situation like when you're stalking a hot mailman from your work computer?
>> That's like asking for a friend.
>> No one can access what you ask me, including Michael. Now, what kind of pornography would you like?
>> Oh, no, no, no. Not porn. I need clothes like yours and cheaties with the stripes.
>> There you go.
>> Everybody, everybody, uh, gather around, please. Thank you. Thank you.
>> I wonder why they went with the stripes.
>> I was just, you know what? I was just thinking that and I instantly think wasps.
>> Oh dear.
>> For some reason. But then I think bees and I think bees in a hive. Bees together. Bees are having a common purpose or working for each other. I don't know. That's what comes up for me.
>> Yeah. That's interesting.
>> What do you think?
>> It made me think of prison, but I don't know why because I've never seen a prison uniform like that and it's not really in keeping with the show. So I like the bee theme.
>> But that's what comes up for you.
>> Prison. Because people wearing the same thing.
>> Yeah. I guess like really old-fashioned.
Do they wear stripes or is that burglars >> before they go to Before they go to prison with a big bag?
>> Swag.
>> Yeah.
>> There's got to be a reason though they've chosen that.
>> We don't know what it is, how long it will last, or what caused it.
>> Oh, they're blue actually, aren't they?
Blue and yellow.
>> See, that's the trouble with these perfect systems. One little flaw can lead to Gary over there.
>> Oh dear. It's only Gary. Bion are leaking. What is that called again?
>> Sweat, >> right? Right. Still not used to being in a human body. And what do you do with sweat? Do you do you lick it away?
>> And then you lick the cloth. That seems weirder.
>> I think it's time to make me good, partner.
>> I like the clown in the corner there.
>> Where did you get a chalkboard?
>> It's the good place. You can get anything you want at any time.
>> Can I just have a quick look? Sorry.
Because I like stuff like this. And it's quite a short episode as well. So we we can do this. I want to see what's on the chalkboard. So we got questions on the left. Moral imperative to help. Uh potential >> greater harm.
>> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Potential great is a potential greater harm to the community.
Possibility. This is a test for me um for others for her.
>> Society versus individual.
>> Society versus individual. That's an interesting question, isn't it? Is it because it did cause chaos, didn't it?
>> For everyone else. And are there are there longerterm repercussions of that potentially versus helping Eleanor? And then his fears, can morality >> even be taught? Can morality be taught?
That's interesting. Uh utilitarian, that's a type of ethics simply. Is she simply too flawed?
Selfish in capitals.
>> Oh, is that selfish about her or selfish about him?
>> I'm not sure. Interesting.
>> What are you reading?
>> A book on how to act good.
>> So, you've decided to help me. There's a thousand questions in >> Oh no. Is it going to go through the board?
>> Sorry. Sorry.
>> Are you taking someone else's spot?
Someone who deserves to be here.
>> Michael called me Ellanar Shelstrop. So he knows I'm me. He's just wrong about my overall.
>> What country am I from?
>> Is it racist if I say Africa?
>> And Africa is not a country. I am from Synagal. Do I have any siblings? Where did I go to college? Trick question. You didn't.
>> I was literally >> She knows he was a professor.
>> Do you not remember one single thing about me?
>> Dude, things have been nuts around here.
I bet you don't know anything about me.
>> Well, your favorite show is something called The Real Housewives of Atlanta.
And your favorite book is Kendall Jenner's Instagram feed.
>> You are the most self-obsessed person I have ever met.
>> Well, I think you're wrong.
>> What country am I from again?
>> Sen.
Look, the only thing that you are concerned with is your own happiness.
>> Here we go. Her self. She's selfish according to him.
>> Hey, names in the hat. Time to pick a designated driver. And the loser is >> Let's see.
>> Wait, you never get >> Is her name even in it?
>> Or is that say her name?
>> Oh. Oh, yeah.
>> My integrity 100%. Right, guys?
>> Give it to me.
>> Is she going to eat it?
>> Yep. Classic.
>> I did that out of principle because it absolutely had your name on If I check the other ones, I can figure it out by process of elimination.
>> Again, I was principal. Let it wash over you, Betsy. This is what integrity looks like.
>> Today, we're going to start with something that everyone has always wanted to do.
>> Flying.
>> We thought perhaps some of us could uh volunteer to help clean up the debris.
You know, it's quite a fun way to band together as a community. For those of you who don't know, my soulmate Ganu here is a Buddhist monk. He took a vow of silence that he's still observing.
>> We need about uh 12 volunteers.
>> Oh, >> I can't believe all these people are passing on flying to pick up garbage all day.
>> Yeah, in in the good place.
>> I'll be soaring through the air like a forking bird.
>> Eleanor and I would love to help.
>> You want to prove you're not selfish?
Here's the perfect test. There's something fun that you want to do and >> Yep.
>> They wouldn't call it fun. I'd say it's like 50 million simultaneous or but better. How's volunteer garbage pickup?
About the same. Great.
>> She did it though.
>> Yeah, >> she could have refused.
>> Doesn't really matter what she's a princess of. It's not really important.
>> Tahani, how goes the cleaning?
>> Oh, Tahani.
>> This neighborhood is a disaster. See, I must have made a mistake somewhere.
>> Oh, >> so now I'm just I'm just terrified that it's going to happen again. I'm trying to put a good face on.
>> Anticipate your anxiety.
>> Thank you so much for your service.
>> Powerful people do not handle failure well. Michael could be heading for a total meltdown.
>> Oh, isn't this great?
>> Um, yeah. When I thought of the afterlife, I totally pictured the non-flying janitor.
>> Us, too.
>> You guys are so fun. Fun. I keep thinking, when are they going to stop being fun? And the answer is never. I'll just keep doing what I do best, being super considerate.
>> Hey guys, we switched to a rotating system for choosing a designated she.
>> How's she going to get out of it?
>> I forgot we were doing this new system.
I got off work early. I've been here for about an hour. Guess the only place I'll be driving is through the giant loophole in the system I accidentally discovered.
>> Well, look how pissed off everyone else looks.
>> Just pause it quickly. Oh, we're about half off. That's good. 11 minutes in.
What do you think so far?
>> Yeah, it's good. It's interesting. It's gone sort of back to normal, which is quite nice because it does look a bit Disneylandish.
>> Yeah. Yeah. I wonder why that was whether I still don't know what activates it into chaos and why it calmed down. Like, is it something to do with her wanting to change? Was that enough to settle things down or considering change?
>> Does she want to change? Does she just want to stay?
>> Yeah, I mean that I mean that's a good point. She she she wants to stay, doesn't she? And in order to do that, she has to change. So that's her motivation for changing. It's not to be a good person. It's in order to have the good stuff >> that a good person gets there. And I think it's interesting that she did. She was willing to give up flying in order to do the cleanup. So she's trying to put something into action like she's not just saying it, she's doing it.
>> And there was a cost to it.
>> Yeah. of flying something that sounds really exciting. So she did have the capacity to not do something >> that she really wants to do.
>> But then I guess she really wants to stay here. So that's probably the motivation.
>> Yeah, because she didn't have that much choice in it when she was volunteered like that.
>> Yeah, I guess it would have stood out if she suddenly went, "No, actually, no, I don't want to."
>> But to be fair, she was do doing the activity. she wasn't just sort of skirting off it or anything like that.
So, >> yeah. And then we had uh Michael with some anticipated anxiety of things going chaotic again.
>> Yeah. And talking about like it's interesting he was talking about like his face and him being in the human body and not showing necessarily what he was feeling internally was quite interesting as well.
>> Yeah. I mean, what what is he some kind of angel?
>> I don't know.
>> Something like that.
>> Possibly.
>> And I wonder why he's chosen to look like Michael. But but it's interesting that he has this sense of anticipator anxiety and cuz he's never been human, has he? He's not someone who's is he he's not someone who's died and gone up there.
>> Not I don't think. So I wonder what his experience is of feeding emotion in terms of fear anxiety >> because like he didn't know what sweat was called and it doesn't sound like it's something that happens often.
>> No, licking the sweat. So it it seemed like it was a little bit out of his his experience. And it's interesting that his anticipator anxiety is about the his what do you call the whole place? Like his village, his neighborhood.
>> Um there's like this question of if if things go wrong, it's because of me. But then there's probably questions around am I good enough for this? There's probably like the core belief that people have. Am I good enough? like if I can't do my first neighborhood, am I good enough in this role? Which kind of connects with Elellanena, am I good enough to be here?
>> Yeah. No, that's an interesting connection. I had thought of that.
>> I don't know what the consequences are if it does go wrong for him. I don't know if he just gets sacked or whether he has no role and he disappears or something.
>> I don't know. But it be interesting to see if we find out later on.
>> Also, we see more of Tah Tahani. I said that right?
>> Tahani. Yeah.
>> Yeah. So obviously she's organizing the cleanup day, but also she's named dropping an awful lot, isn't she? And I wonder what's you know what we're going to unpick with that.
>> Yeah, I find her extremely annoying.
>> Yeah, me too, to be honest.
>> Um, but there's also a part of me that thinks everyone here has done some good.
>> Yeah.
>> And I I feel like I can't take that away from her. And I know the whole being good thing is quite subjective in terms of how they measure it and who decides what gets what points on that. But I think it's very difficult to not to to deny that on some level she's done more good than she hasn't.
>> Yeah.
>> And it feels like when we saw the list in the previous episode, it doesn't feel like they were all good things just for you. Like they seemed like they were in the spirit of the community and for other people. So it feels like she has done and she arranged this cleanup and >> what was her motivation?
>> That's what that's what I was going to ask. What's the motivation for the cleaner? Cuz it didn't really seem to bring anything.
>> No.
>> Unless somehow there's there's a like a good hierarchy >> or like point system or league table.
>> Yeah.
>> In there as well where there's like another step above this. I don't know.
>> Yeah. I want to see her and Elellanena together more because I'm not sure that's going to work. And I think that would be quite interesting.
>> That's going to be a clash, isn't it?
And I wonder what happens if there is a clash and Eleanor stops being perceived as good. how that will then come across.
Will that cause more chaos? Is it is it the worse Eleanor gets, the more chaos there will be? I don't know. It's interesting though. Let's see.
>> They've managed to mix one million flavors together and yet somehow I can taste each individual one.
>> I got no flavor.
>> It's all I deserve. Really?
>> Look, I I >> And it is. It's all white. Look, >> if I made one tiny mistake in my design, if even one blade of grass is angled at >> What? What? What happens?
>> Oh, we don't get neighborhoods.
>> But what does compromise mean, >> guys? Whose dog is that?
>> Where's ours?
>> Nice try, puppy.
>> What?
What's wrong with the puppy?
>> I'm doing the same as her.
>> Oh, >> that was a close one, >> teacup.
>> But that shows how important it is for him to get rid of glitches.
>> Yeah.
>> Oh, Uh, >> you never mess with the dogs in in programs.
>> Five more minutes.
>> Oh, man. Really?
>> That's like how kids tidy up, isn't it, >> Janet? I'm finished with cleanup and I'm ready to fly.
>> Hop on the launch pad and conjure an image that brings you pure joy.
>> Oh no. What you going to think of?
>> People puking on roller co.
>> It's working. Oh, what the >> They probably don't want people thinking of people puking on roller coasters in the good place.
>> I kind of kicked your dog into the sun, but I got her back.
>> Everything.
>> Oh, no.
>> Oh, if you do, then just breathe cuz everything's fine, Michael. It's fine.
>> It's raining garbage.
>> The irony of it raining garbage when they've just tidied up.
>> Yeah, well, exactly. I think it's undoing everything. Maybe it's undoing all the good that she's just tried to do.
>> What did you do?
>> Nothing. It just started raining trash out of >> Maybe this is what happened. She'll do something good, think something bad, and then it undo what she did. That was good.
>> How about this trash, Storm Gunner?
>> More cleaning up to do.
>> It's a It's a dream come true.
>> We're okay. You can't die here.
>> Come on. I mean, even you have to admit these guys are psycho.
>> Oh, I wanted him to admit it. me. I mean, it's my duty to be calm and in control, and I'm falling apart.
>> Well, you are a paragon of fortitude.
You're a mountain of strength.
>> I'm a canyon full of poo poo.
>> The architect of this neighborhood has just referred to himself as a canyon full of poo poo. Surely now you will say something. Grace us with your vocalized wisdom, please. I'm begging you.
>> No way.
He doesn't need to vocalize with his voice, does he?
>> The strength is inside. It's been there all along. No, of course. I can overcome any obstacle.
>> Oh, >> her face.
>> You did it. Oh, you have so much to teach me. Maybe I should try to be silent, too.
>> That was wonderful. So cleansing.
>> Just water tonight, huh?
>> All of her friends have left her. And >> I mean, I It sucks that I can't do it more often. I actually prefer it to drinking.
That's my buzz.
>> Hey guys, good news and bad news. See that hot bartender over there? He's into me and we're going to bang it out. The bad news is it means I can't drive you guys.
>> A cab for you guys. But they recognize my number and they didn't want to come.
>> If you blow us off, you are banned from Thursday night drinks forever.
>> Yeah, I'm good with that.
>> Look what she's doing. M >> I think you're capable of change and I will help you try.
>> I've collected the worst smelling garbage that I could find. Do you still want me to dump that inside Antonio's house?
>> No.
>> I did not tell you to do that. You're loco girlfriend. Okay, I won't let you down starting now.
>> No.
>> Since I'm special, your words, I didn't get to fly.
>> I'm sorry. No, I've had to ban flying for a thousand years.
One resident hit a rotting turkey carcass at a thousand miles an hour. It just exploded.
>> No.
>> Oh, >> we're going to have assignments and quizzes. It's going to be so much fun.
>> Remind me what I'm getting out of this again.
>> I got you a present. Sagal.
>> That's not a present.
>> Oh, what's this? Oh, no. on there obviously. Who Who do you think it is? It's got to be someone we've met.
>> The Buddhist monk. He's probably quite attuned to people, I'd imagine.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> Or is that just me being really stereotypical, >> but he would also have to do it via a note cuz if he's not talking >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that that would fit.
That would fit. But then it could be somebody's gonna they could have told Michael and obviously he can he could have given them the the note to Michael. So, they obviously want something else from there's gonna be some kind of blackmail or something later, isn't there? Surely.
>> Yeah.
>> Or or they just want to really get to her and wind her up a bit.
>> But how do they know? And it's not a very good place thing to do, is it?
>> No. So, maybe there's more than one person that's not supposed to be there.
>> Oh, that's a good point. I didn't even think about that.
>> Which my guess honey?
>> Yeah.
>> Is that why she's so over the top good?
>> The monk. Because you It's the person you least suspect. It's got to be someone we've already been introduced to >> because the only other two are >> the two Bing guys.
>> Yeah. It's not them.
>> It's definely not them. I can't think of anyone else.
>> And Tarn's already got some not necessarily faults, but there's she's not quite as perfect as she portrays, I think. So, >> do you not think so? Is that because of all the name dropping?
>> Yeah. It just feels like slightly like she's got some flaws whereas like Chey doesn't seem to have any flaws or at least not obvious ones yet.
>> Yeah, Chi's wait not not flaws but they're more in terms of weighing up the ethical situation he's in. Like is it for the greater good of everyone if she isn't there because of the chaos? But then if he grases her up to Michael, then he's not personally doing a good thing. Well, I guess he is for the the greater good. But then it's also a good thing to help an indiv individual.
>> Yeah.
>> Instead of watching the next one, can I do something that I do in some of my reactions where I do like a mini formulation?
>> Sure, go for it. and I can kind of talk you through
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