The Good Place facts for kids

The Good Place is a funny TV show from the United States. It's a sitcom that talks about the afterlife and big ideas about right and wrong. The show ran for four seasons, from 2016 to 2020.

In each episode, the characters learn important lessons. They explore ideas about ethics, which is the study of telling right from wrong. For example, one episode in the second season talked about the famous trolley problem. This is a thought experiment about making tough choices.

Meet the Main Characters

• Eleanor Shellstrop - (Kristen Bell) Eleanor starts as a selfish person from Arizona. She liked to be alone and not owe anyone anything. But this made her feel lonely and sad. During the show, Eleanor learns to be a much better and kinder person.

• Chidi Anagonye - (William Jackson Harper) Chidi is a philosophy professor from Senegal. He always thought deeply about doing the right thing. But this made him too scared to make any choices. Chidi helps Eleanor, Jason, Tahani, and Michael learn about ethics.

• Tahani al-Jamil - (Jameela Jamil) Tahani is a fancy person from England who helps others. She often held big, glamorous events to raise money. But she didn't truly care about people. She mostly wanted to be famous and make her parents proud. Tahani learns to care about others and becomes friends with her sister.

• Jason Mendoza - (Manny Jacinto) Jason is a funny DJ from Florida. He didn't think much about his actions. He loved making music, having fun, and being with his friends. Even though he was silly, he was very kind.

• Janet - (D'Arcy Carden) Janet is like a super-smart computer system in the afterlife. She can make anything appear and knows everything in the universe. There are different Janets, like Good Place Janets who are cheerful. Bad Place Janets are mean. The Janet in Michael's neighborhood grows and learns feelings and wisdom.

• Michael - (Ted Danson) Michael is a demon from the Bad Place. He designed a fake Good Place neighborhood. His plan was for Eleanor, Chidi, Jason, and Tahani to make each other miserable. But over time, he becomes friends with Janet and the humans. He also learns about what it means to be good.

• Mindy St. Clair - (Maribeth Monroe) Mindy lives by herself in a special "Medium Place." She helps Eleanor and her friends when they need it.

• The Judge - (Maya Rudolph) Judge Gen is a powerful judge in the afterlife. She is supposed to settle arguments between the Good Place and Bad Place. But she often just watches TV in her office. Her full name is "Hydrogen."

• Vicky - (Tiya Sircar) Vicky is another demon who works with Michael. She is always practicing her acting skills.

• Shawn - (Marc Evan Jackson) Shawn is Michael's mean boss from the Bad Place.

Learning About Right and Wrong

The show often talks about different ways people think about right and wrong. It explores ideas like:

• Utilitarianism: This idea suggests that the best action is the one that brings the most happiness to the most people.
• The Trolley Problem: This is a famous thought experiment. It asks what you would do if a trolley was heading towards five people, but you could pull a lever to switch it to another track where it would only hit one person.
• Virtue Ethics: This idea focuses on building good character traits, like honesty or kindness.

These ideas help the characters, and viewers, think about what it means to be a good person.

Related pages

• Parks and Recreation

Images for kids

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  Kristen Bell plays Eleanor Shellstrop, the main character.

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  Ted Danson's acting in the show was highly praised.

See also

In Spanish: The Good Place para niños