20 Best TV Episodes Of 2018

4. Janet(s) - The Good Place

The Good Place
NBC

It's not quite fair to say that D'Arcy Carden has long been the secret weapon of The Good Place, since her comedic gifts and importance to ensuring the show's high concept works are blindingly obvious to anyone who watches it. The awards shows haven't really reflected this though, but Janet(s) should go about changing that.

Carden delivers not only her best work on the series so far, but one of the performances of the year here, playing a total of FIVE different versions of Janet. Not only that, but because she's playing all of the other main characters (apart from Michael) as Janet, she has to successfully make each one distinct. It's a task Carden is more than capable of, nailing even the smallest of movements and gestures.

The episode doesn't just really on the multiple Janets, nor use it as a cheap gimmick. Instead, in true The Good Place fashion, it's a launching point for a philosophical lesson as much as it is comedic perfection. It's a thought-provoking analysis of self-identity, a sweet story about two people finding each other, and another example of how just when you think you've figured out the show, it blows its premise up entirely and changes the game once more.

Holy mother-forking shirtballs.

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Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.