- ❝ Picture a wave in the ocean. You can see it, measure it, its height, the way the sunlight refracts when it passes through, and it’s there, and you can see it, you know what it is. It’s a wave. And then it crashes on the shore, and it’s gone. But the water is still there. The wave was just a different way for the water to be for a little while. That's one conception of death for a Buddhist. The wave returns to the ocean. Where it came from, and where it's supposed to be. ❞
- —Chidi to Eleanor[src]
The Last Door is an archway in the Good Place through which any human being who feels ready may leave the afterlife. Walking through the Door ends a person's existence—at least, in the state they've always known it—with their essence being dissolved and returned to the universe.
History
After Michael became the Head Architect of the Good Place, he discovered that all of its residents were extremely bored and lifeless. Eleanor figured out that everything needs an ending—otherwise, existence is meaningless to humans. This led him to create the Last Door. His announcement of the Door was received with tremendous applause by Good Place residents.
In Chapter 52, Jason plans to walk through the Door, throws himself a goodbye party, and leaves for the forest. Tahani considers going through, but decided to pursue a career as an Architect instead. Eleanor repeatedly begs Chidi not to walk through the Door, but eventually concedes that this is what he wants, and lets him go. While taking Chidi, Janet encounters Jason in the forest, who has been exploring the forest for many Bearimys. He is now ready, and leaves to join Chidi. Michael tries and fails to use the Door, so Eleanor instead asks Judge Gen to make him human, to which she agrees. Finally, Eleanor walks through the Door and dissipates with a smile on her face, returning to the ocean.
Use
After a human walks through, glowing particles rise from them, which waft throughout the universe and bring "good samaritan" moments to those they touch. This was seen when one man, influenced by Eleanor's essence, decided to bring Michael his junk mail after it was delivered to the wrong address.
Beyond the door is a vast field that humans can go through before they dissolve, but it seems they can stay in for however long, since Jason ran into the door and went far before dissolving offscreen.
Only humans will experience the full extent of the Last Door's properties; Immortal Beings and Janets can pass through but will feel nothing.
Known users
- William Shakespeare
- Doug Forcett
- Chidi Anagonye
- Jason Mendoza
- Eleanor Shellstrop
- Michael (no effect due to his immortality)
Trivia
- A common fan theory is that the souls would eventually reform into new personas to be born.