Chapter 29: The Brainy Bunch is the 3rd episode of Season 3 of The Good Place.
Plot[]
Michael's grand scheme hits an unexpected snag and forces him to take drastic measures.
Summary[]
Trevor has joined Chidi and Simone's study, posing as an unlikable and overeager test subject in order to drive Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason away from each other. Michael and Janet are determined to stop him. After a few tests in Simone's MRI machine, Trevor drags the group to an America-themed restaurant where he insinuates that Chidi being friends with his test subjects will skew the results, correctly predicting that Eleanor will get disheartened when she seemingly fails to dissuade him. He also schemes to get Tahani and Jason to hook up so Tahani will leave the group in disgust. However, these plots fail when Tahani is actually charmed by Jason's behavior and stays, while Chidi goes to Eleanor's motel room, admits that they're friends, and brings her back to the study group.
Gen orders Trevor, Michael, and Janet to return to her chambers, expressing anger and disappointment at Michael's continued meddling in human affairs. Trevor tries to kiss up to her, which annoys her enough to get her to banish him into the void with a wave of the hand and forbids Michael and Janet from returning to Earth, saying that now the humans will have to get into the Good Place on their own merit. However, all the items Janet attempted to summon back on Earth appear and block her way; this distraction (and Jeff the Doorman handing them the key) allows Michael and Janet time to escape through the portal down to Earth.
Trevor infiltrates the study group. Right away he gets on Eleanor's nerves. Michael returns to Earth and confronts Trevor while dressed in a "Dick Tracy-ish" outfit. Trevor tells him how Shawn hacked into the system and saw that he was cheating. Michael asked why he didn't just go to Judge Gen. Trevor says that this is more fun.
Eleanor asks Chidi if they can continue their private sessions but Chidi says that he doesn't have time. Trevor suggests that they go sightseeing but Eleanor says that she just wants to go to a bar and have some drinks. Trevor says that he knows the perfect place and takes them to Cowboy Skyscraper Buffet.
At the table, Trevor hands out sweatshirts that he made for the group. On them, it says "the Brain-y Bunch." Their waitress arrives to take their order and it turns out to be Janet in disguise.
Trevor orders a round of beers and Janet tries to summon them but realizes that she has no powers on Earth. She leaves to physically go get the drinks while Trevor suggests that they all buy a house together.
Janet complains to Michael about not having her powers. Michael tells her to focus on the mission. Trevor plants a seed of doubt in Chidi's head when he mentions that hanging out with his test subjects might seem unprofessional. Chidi takes it to heart and leaves the table. Trevor suggests to Jason and Tahani that they play a drinking game.
Eleanor and Chidi talk as Eleanor tries to convince Chidi that it's okay that he's here with them. Chidi says that he might skew the study and Eleanor admits that she thought they were becoming friends. She leaves to go get him a drink allowing for Michael to talk to him alone. Trevor gets Tahani and Jason drunk.
After his conversation with Michael, Chidi decides to head home despite Eleanor's protests. Michael and Janet corner Trevor in the bathroom. Michael tells Trevor that they aren't going anywhere and Trevor wonders how long they'll be able to stay before Judge Gen finds out. Chidi tells Simone that he has to keep the study professional.
Tahani arrives and hands out apology letters for how she behaved the night before. She thanks Jason for getting her home and Jason tells her that it was fun getting to know her because she's the fanciest person that he knows. Chidi says that they're waiting for Eleanor to show up to begin but Trevor says that he doesn't think Eleanor is not coming. Chidi decides to pay Eleanor a visit.
He asks her if she's coming to class and Eleanor says she's not good in group settings. Chidi asks for her to give him three months and Eleanor agrees. Michael and Janet talk to Trevor in the bathroom. Michael says that Chidi and Eleanor have an unbreakable bond. He also tells Trevor that there is nothing in the universe he cares about more than these four humans.
The Doorman suddenly appears and tells the three of them that the Judge wants to see them. Judge Gen is upset because Michael meddled in human affairs. Trevor starts to agree with the Judge but she flicks him off into oblivion. She tells them that a lot of weird stuff has happened since he meddled.
Like how The Greatest Showman made a ton of money. She tells him that his experiment is over and that there is no more monitoring them. She's also sending them back to the Bad Place. Janet says that they're going to retire Michael and marbelize Janet. Judge Gen says that they should've thought of that before. Suddenly, all the stuff that Janet tried to summon on Earth starts to appear. They use this distraction to escape back down to Earth with the help of the Doorman who hands him the key.
Cast[]
- Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop
- William Jackson Harper as Chidi Anagonye
- Jameela Jamil as Tahani Al-Jamil
- D'Arcy Carden as Janet
- Manny Jacinto as Jason Mendoza
- and Ted Danson as Michael
Recurring Cast
Guest Starring
Co-Starring
- Antoinette Iesue as Hortense
Trivia[]
- Janet serves Heisler beer to the group. Heisler is a fictional product that has been used in many films and TV shows.
- The Doorman's name is revealed to be Jeff.
- Tahani's phone contacts are shown on screen briefly. The names listed under the letter 'T' are: Taika Waititi, Taylor Swift, The Edge—private number, Queen Elizabeth II (listed in the contacts as The Queen), Dwayne Johnson (listed in the contacts as The Rock), Thom Yorke, Tilda Swinton, Tiger Woods, Tim Cook, Tim Gunn, Tom Brady, and Tom Cruise.