--- title: "The Good Place: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/the-good-place/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/the-good-place" critics_score: 72 critics_reviews: 7 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Good Place (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 72 from 7 reviews: 6 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like The Good Place, and they like it for the same reasons. The praise clusters around Michael Schur’s writing, which several reviews call brisk, inventive and unusually cheerful about asking questions of morality, and around the two leads. Kristen Bell is picked out for her comic timing and Ted Danson for stealing scenes with little apparent effort. The afterlife setting, and the world built around it, is credited with making the show stand apart from other network sitcoms. The reservations are about staying power rather than quality. Two early reviews find it gently amusing rather than funny and wonder whether the premise can carry more than a handful of episodes. IndieWire goes further, judging that the show loses momentum almost at once. The spread is otherwise narrow, six positives to one dissent, and the single later review of the final season suggests the doubts about longevity did not come to much. ## Radio Times — Sarah Doran Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). The critic finds the series unmissable thanks to its central twist and strong supporting cast. Danson is singled out for stealing scenes with ethereal ease in this fantasy comedy about an afterlife mix-up. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-jeimxu/the-good-place/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 19 September 2016. The critic finds the series irresistible and flat-out fun, praising its inventive world-building, character-driven comedy, and strong ensemble cast led by Kristen Bell and Ted Danson. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/09/good-place-is-irresistible-comedy.html) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 28 September 2017. The critic praises the brisk, imaginative comedy from Parks and Recreation creator Michael Schur, highlighting Kristen Bell's irresistible comic performance and the fun, infectious writing that explores morality in a cartoonish, brisk style. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/sep/28/the-good-place-review-kristen-bell-heavenly-afterlife-comedy) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Tim Goodman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 September 2016. The critic describes the show as sunny and funny, delivering immediately with original jokes and strong performances from Bell and Danson. It praises Schur’s creative writing and notes the breezy comedy provides a welcome respite, though it must prove it has more to offer beyond the central premise over time. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/good-place-review-930730/) ## Variety — Maureen Ryan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 15 September 2016. The review calls the show earnest and pleasant, praising its unusual afterlife setting and sprightly tone that helps it stand apart. It notes the series is more gently amusing than laugh-out-loud funny in its early episodes and may need time to find its footing, though the leads make it worth watching. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2016/tv/reviews/tv-review-good-place-kristen-bell-ted-danson-michael-schur-1201854191/) ## IndieWire — Ben Travers Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 15 September 2016. The series starts strongly with its premise and lead performances but quickly loses momentum and fails to sustain its early promise as a network sitcom. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/the-good-place-review-kristen-bell-ted-danson-nbc-season-1-1201726723/) ## The Ringer — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 September 2019. The critic praises the final season for recalibrating after Season 3's heavier focus on concepts, returning to the show's intimate, character-driven roots while maintaining its philosophical ambitions. She singles out the full-circle structure and nostalgic callbacks that highlight character growth and the comforting consistency of the network sitcom format. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2019/09/26/tv/the-good-place-season-4-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/the-good-place.md