Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Incredibly original afterlife sitcom has charm, diversity.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Good Place
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 73 parent reviews
Parents say the show is a clever and entertaining exploration of moral philosophy, but its mature themes, including sexual references and drug mentions, make it less suitable for young children. While some families appreciate its positive messages and ability to spark discussions about ethics, others express concern over the inappropriate content that may not be appropriate for viewers under 12.
- mature themes
- positive messages
- family discussions
- suitable for older kids
- not for young children
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 279 kid reviews
Kids say this show is entertaining and binge-worthy, with a humorous approach to deep themes surrounding morality and ethics despite its numerous references to sex and drugs. Many reviewers suggest it is suitable for older children, particularly those 12 and up, although some express caution about its mature content and recommend parental guidance.
- mature themes
- binge-worthy
- humor and ethics
- parental guidance suggested
- age recommendations
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Somebody's made a mistake. Snarky con artist Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) has died, and instead of receiving her just rewards she winds up in THE GOOD PLACE, with heavenly coordinator Michael (Ted Danson) ushering her into a new life with a cute and tiny house, a group of morally upright neighbors, and her supposed soul mate, Chidi (William Jackson Harper). Saintly Chidi, a former ethics professor, is the only one who knows Eleanor's not where she's supposed to be, a fact that causes strange shock waves to radiate out through the afterlife. But Eleanor is hoping that she can make herself a better person, worthy of the place in which she hopes to stay.
Is It Any Good?
This bright charmer is a delightful and surprisingly deep exploration of the complexities of being, well, good. The Good Place, it turns out, is a series of sprawling suburbs, each one designed to meet all the needs of its (un-?) dead population and stocked with neighbors selected to harmonize with one another. Eleanor's heavenly neighborhood is one of green lawns and yogurt shops (but then, those are everywhere: "People love frozen yogurt," shrugs Michael), with shops such as the Small Adorable Animal Depot and a house that's supposedly specially made for Eleanor, with a primary color scheme and many pictures of clowns.
Of course, Eleanor doesn't fit -- not into the house, not into the neighborhood, not into this heaven cognate, and soon her snark and selfishness cause unforeseen consequences. She doesn't want to go to the Bad Place that people talk darkly but vaguely about, so her only choice is to try to improve herself enough to keep her spot in the neighborhood. It's hardly an original setup, but the jokes are fun (a list of everyone in the Bad Place includes Elvis, Mozart, and every American president but Lincoln), and Bell retains the flip, mouthy attitude that made her a breakout star on Veronica Mars, while Danson radiates a Willy Wonka-esque appeal. It all comes together in a show that's mild but fun and good for whole-family watching with tweens on up.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way women are portrayed on television and why main female characters tend to be such a rarity. Are women on TV more often shown working together or working against each other? What about on The Good Place? How do TV stereotypes match up to the behavior of the women you know in real life?
Many shows begin with a character new to a setting or situation being shown around. Why? Name some examples you've seen.
Life-after-death scenarios are a staple of fantasy movies and TV shows. Why? Why are shows that tell viewers what might happen after death appealing?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 22, 2016
- Cast : Ted Danson , Kristen Bell , William Jackson Harper , D'Arcy Carden , Jameela Jamil
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 3, 2026
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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