#terapsina's the good place rambles | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

terapsina · 7 months

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Now that the writers and actors strike is about to begin being felt (and as we wait for those greedy billion dollar companies who are refusing to negotiate fair pay and conditions to give up) here's 10 of my favorite (all around best) fully finished older series you should definitely check out if you haven't watched.

I mean it, these are the shows with continuously great writing and a satisfying endings that manage to actually deliver on their promises.

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1. Leverage - (containing 5 seasons, or 77 episodes) - trailer here.

Hitter, Hacker, Grifter, Thief and Mastermind. Heists and cons. Stealing from the rich and giving to their victims. They provide... leverage.

Meant for anyone who enjoys bad guys being the best good guys, who will burn down the lives of evil CEOs and then gloat in the background. Very satisfying.

Hands down the best example of a found family trope I've ever seen on screen. Barring none.

2. Killjoys - (containing 5 seasons, or 50 episodes) - trailer here.

Space Bounty Hunters. Another case of found family trope. Bisexual space princess assassin. Quippy sentient ship. Green alien goo. Evil lesbians (but like... in a good way). The warrant is all.

More seriously though, it's a story about three killjoys and the bounties they go after. Initially. And then they have to save the entire Quad from some very terrifying... stuff.

Contains one of the best friendships I've ever seen on television.

3. Orphan Black - (containing 5 seasons, or 50 episodes) - trailer here.

Found family trope but with clones.

Low level grifter sees a woman who looks exactly like her kill herself and plans to take over her identity long enough to cash out. Except then there's two other women who also look exactly like her. And apparently they're all clones and someone's killing them.

Enter a global conspiracy. Human experimentation. Lots of clone shenanigans. Some serial killings. And a few murders 💖.

4. Person of Interest - (containing 5 seasons, or 103 episodes) - trailer here.

Okay I'm beginning to see how I might have a found family trope issue.

Former CIA agent gets recruited by a reclusive billionaire computer programmer who developed a... machine that can predict acts of terror before they happen. But it also predicts 'irrelevant' acts of violence that will result in someone's death.

Unless someone interferes.

I'd really like to spoil some stuff to get you all to watch this one. But I'm going to maintain self control and just mention that early on they get a dog named Bear. Bear is a very good boy. Watch it for Bear.

Also for excellent commentary on rights of privacy, government surveillance and what does 'greater good' even mean? But mostly Bear.

5. 12 Monkeys - (containing 4 seasons, or 47 episodes) - trailer here.

The very best time travel show out there. What starts out as a confusing mess of causality basically exploding, by the end of the series all makes complete and total sense.

(when that final timey-whimey loop slid into place and revealed the entire pattern it was like a choir of angels started singing in the back of my head. It was freaking glorious).

Anyway, a man from a post apocalyptic future travels into the past to stop a plague from decimating nearly the entire world population.

He has the name of the man who released the virus and it's supposed to be a single trip. One trip. One bullet. Simple. Done.

Except then things keep escalating, and escalating until time begins eating its own tail and it might start looking like the end of the world might be a better ending than erasing all of time and space from reality.

Because when our guys screw it up, they screw it up GOOD.

And oh yeah... found family.

6. The Good Place - (containing 4 seasons, or 53 episodes) - trailer here.

A self-proclaimed Arizona dirtbag opens her eyes and finds out that she's dead and got accepted in the Good Place. Except that as soon as she arrives the Good Place starts glitching, and she really, REALLY needs to become a better person before she can be found out and kicked out to the Bad Place.

Luckily her assigned soulmate was a professor of ethics and moral philosophy.

One of the funniest, most thoughtful and clever comedies I've ever watched. Ever. The characters are delightful and by the time the final minute rolled around I had sobbed my heart out multiple times (which, as we all know, is a sign of the very best comedies out there).

As for the question of whether or not this too contains Found Fami- Yes! Obviously, yes.

7. Avatar: the Last Airbender - (containing 3 seasons, or 61 episodes) - intro here (couldn't locate the trailer but it's basically the same thing in this case).

The four nations lived in harmony. Until the Fire Nation attacked.

It's been a hundred years since the beginning of the war when two kids from the Southern Water Tribe find a boy frozen in ice and wake him up. A boy who's able to bend all four elements... though not very well.

Enter multi-nation flying road trip (thank you Appa, we love you most of all) as they try to find teachers for the Avatar and save the world.

Includes found family (shut up), amazing fight scenes, the most heartfelt and vivid characters ever, and the best example of a redemption arc actually done well.

8. Love Between Fairy and Devil - (containing 1 season, or 36 episodes) - trailer here.

This one gutted me. I'm saying this as a compliment. But it had to be said. Completely destroyed me. I just haven't been the same.

A love story between an Orchid Fairy and the leader of the Moon Tribe that starts out with her accidentally releasing him from millennia long imprisonment and then takes you through the caleidoscope of all possible human emotions (it's a body-swap comedy through the first part, then a romcom, then a dramatic romantic tale, and finally a tragic love story).

But it's such a satisfying slow burn.

And it carries this... humanity through the whole thing that makes it so visceral.

If you're a romantic who's very tired of instalove and characters dropping all their morals because 'ooh, attractive person' then you've got to watch this. Because this story does NOT take the easy road there.

(my more extensive rec for this series can be found here)

9. Star Wars: The Clone Wars - (containing 7 seasons, or 133 episodes) - fanmade trailer here (it was better than any of the official ones).

This series did so much. Introduced Ahsoka Tano, and made us love her. Gave names and faces and souls to the Clone Troopers (okay, it's the same face but you know what I mean), to a point where their endings during Order 66 destroyed me just as much as the ending of the Jedi Order. And somehow made me both love Anakin AND be a million times more angry with him.

There are some arcs in this series that might be a bit weaker. But there were some... god, there's a reason I love Clone Wars more than any other series or trilogy in this universe. And I'm not even a little ashamed to say it.

Must watch for Disaster Lineage shenanigans; for the vod'e; AND for the Jedi (who did their best okay? They always did their best 😭💔).

(and on the subject of found family... do I even need to comment)

10. Nikita - (containing 4 seasons, or 73 episodes) - trailer here.

A rogue assassin that escaped Division - covert government agency that takes recruits out of prison, fakes their deaths and then forces them to become spies and assassins - has come back to take it down. Brick by brick if she has to. With guns and explosives too when that works better.

Contains soooo many cool fight scenes. Is full of incredible characters you'll fall in love with (and hate with) very quickly. And most of all has an incredibly complex relationship of mentorship and friendship between two women that holds both great admiration and betrayal, real care and love as well as rage and hatred, forgiveness, mutual respect and an unbreakable kind of bond that so very rarely involves even one female character on TV, let alone two.

(as usual, found family tropes up the wazzoo).

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In conclusion. We all know there's going to be a large space between seasons of our favorite shows now (and some shows that aren't going to survive it). Let's fill that space with some excellent TV we haven't had a chance to see yet.

And direct the blame for the wait towards the right place (i.e. the studios).

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terapsina · 6 years

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Okay, so lets talk about Chidi, Eleanor, Simone and Tahani.

I don’t multiship a lot, usually I’m a one OTP per character sort of person. But once in a while a show happens where that’s impossible. And The Good Place is one of those shows.

It’s like... I love Eleanor and Chidi okay? They’re adorable and they really have earned a place in my heart. Plus the fact that Eleanor seems to have fallen in love with Chidi in every other one of Michael’s attempts is pretty significant.

But I enjoy this show’s commentary on the soulmate myth as being a flawed one. It’s not about being ‘meant for each other’ it’s about ‘finding something beautiful in each other’ and how that doesn’t have to be only with one person in our lifetime.

Eleanor and Chidi found something beautiful in each other and it was absolutely amazing.

But the premise of this show allows them to explore how the variations of chance and circumstances can give different results.

Which is why Tahani fell for Chidi in the first attempt and Jason in Attempt #803.

And then there’s the fact that I also ship Tahani and Eleanor. Quite a lot. I’ve loved their chemistry from the beginning and the fact that Eleanor has been pretty significantly attracted to Tahani has been kinda important to me. I love me my bisexual characters.

So seeing that a version of events is possible where Eleanor and Tahani fall in love with each other would be FORKING AMAZING. And I NEED IT.

And the setup this season is perfect for it.

Tahani was introduced to Eleanor in a way that immediately showcases how much of a mess Tahani is too so there’s no initial perfectness there for Eleanor to chafe under. There’s just a very tall, very very attractive woman who is just as much of a disaster person as her.

And Eleanor is introduced to Tahani as the first person EVER to not be more interested in her sister. And that was definitely very attractive to her.

And btw during that scene Chidi looked the same way that Eleanor looked when she saw him first talking to Simone (the only difference being that during this scene they didn’t make a huge deal about putting the camera on his face the way they had Eleanor’s) so I wouldn’t be surprised to see some matchmaking attempts from his side too.

And yes, Chidi has Simone this season but I actually don’t agree that this is one of the reasons Tahani/Eleanor is fair game... mostly because that’s kinda of a gross way to look at it.

Simone is AMAZING and in one episode they managed to really convey how perfect she is for Chidi. Not to say that Eleanor wasn’t perfect for Chidi too. But that’s exactly my (and I think their) point. There is no one single person that’s perfect for Chidi. There is no one single person that’s perfect for Eleanor. Or Tahani. Or Jason. Or Simone. Or Janet.

It’s about finding a person that fits them and then building a relationship with that person until they’re perfect for each other, until they become what we would consider ‘soulmates’. And in this show, where we get to see them grow again and again while they don’t remember the previous versions, it doesn’t have to be the same person every time.

So I really think that in this one it’s going to be Chidi’s relationship with Simone.

And I WANT this to also be the one where we see Eleanor’s always present crush on Tahani getting a chance to become something more. And that’s for multiple reasons. Because they're cute and I ship them. Because I really want them to give us more queer representation than just funny throwaway lines about how hot Eleanor thinks Tahani is. Because I approve of the message it would send about how finding love once doesn’t mean you’ll never find it again. And because I just think it would make for a good story line.

Basically what I’m saying is:

‘YOU get an OTP tag. And YOU get an OTP tag. AND YOU TOO GET AN OTP TAG!!!’

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terapsina · 5 years

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But you know if Eleanor has to pose as the Architect then Michael will have to pose as a human. Also this might mean that Chidi has a rehabilitated demon for a roommate in his future.

#eleanor shellstrop #chidi anagonye #michael #chidi sees the time knife #the good place #tgp spoilers #terapsina rambles #terapsina watches the good place

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terapsina · 5 years

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Okay wow that was incredibly cruel.

Poor Eleanor. Poor Chidi.

I mean I know Eleanor is gonna be the one suffering (which gives me pain). But Chidi’s the one with the unwritten character development (which gives me eternal irritation).

The movie recap of their relationship was beautiful though.

#cheleanor #chidi anagonye #eleanor shellstrop #the good place #pandemonium #tgp spoilers #the good place spoilers #terapsina rambles #terapsina watches the good place #otp: eleanor x chidi

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terapsina · 6 years

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I wonder if the appearance of Trevor means that Janet will be coming to Earth next now. Because by getting Team Cockroach together Michael basically burned any possibility of a future identity for himself. All four of them know his face and know him by different names so if they want to make sure Trevor doesn’t run rampant they’re gonna need to get someone else there.

And that means Janet.

I can’t help but enjoy the idea of her and Trevor trying to perfectly pleasantly and in front of everyone else insult each other in roundabout ways. While Eleanor squints at them suspiciously.

I’m also wondering about which will be the first person to find out they’re all the center in an existential quandary over whether or not a system of heaven/hell is a fair one. My money’s on Jason.

#the good place #janet #trevor #eleanor shellstrop #jason mendoza #terapsina rambles #terapsina watches the good place

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terapsina · 5 years

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I wonder who the for new humans are going to be. More specifically I wonder if at least one of them is going to be someone we already know.

Because if Shawn is choosing them he’ll definitely try to pull something sneaky.

Which leaves me to wonder about the chances of one of them being Kamilah,

#kamilah al jamil #the good place #chidi sees the time knife #tgp spoilers #the good place spoilers #terapsina rambles #terapsina watches the good place

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terapsina · 5 years

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Also Shawn is so MEAN. I mean I know he’s evil but threatening Michael with having his friends tortured by Vicky in a Michael suit really is diabolically mean.

#michael #shawn #the good place #chidi sees the time knife #tgp spoilers #the good place spoilers #terapsina rambles #terapsina watches the good place

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terapsina · 5 years

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The thing about the new experiment is that if it succeeds Chidi basically suggested they create the Purgatory. Not good enough for the Good Place and not bad enough for the Bad Place, spending their afterlife in the middle while it can be determined where the soul should end up?

That's Purgatory.

#chidi anagonye #the good place #tgp spoilers #chidi sees the time knife #terapsina rambles #terapsina watches the good place

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terapsina · 5 years

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OH MY GOD ELEANOR IS GONNA PLAY MICHAEL!!!

I mean he’s freaking out, the human is awake, they need to let him in, and she doesn’t have time to fix their reformed demon friend. She’s GOING to be playing the Architect!

It’s going to be so awesome. And hilarious. And awesome.

#eleanor shellstrop #michael #the good place #chidi sees the time knife #tgp spoilers #the good place spoilers #(potentially)#terapsina rambles #terapsina watches the good place

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terapsina · 7 years

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This season won’t be complete until Eleanor helps Tahani burn her sister’s self portrait.

...I kinda suddenly want to write a one-shot where they’re roasting marshmallows over that fire actually.

#eleanor x tahani #tahani x eleanor #tahani al jamil #eleanor shellstrop #the good place #tgp spoilers #otp: hey there hot stuff #terapsina watches the good place #terapsina rambles

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terapsina · 7 years

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I’m super forking invested in Vicki’s quest for a better role.

But also I think Michael trying to ignore her is going to bite him in the ass later (and help our four humans and Janet) because there’s nothing quite like a bitter employee with a grudge and too many opportunities to screw over their jerk boss.

#vicki #michael #the good place #tgp #everything is great #tgp spoilers #terapsina watches the good place #terapsina rambles

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terapsina · 7 years

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THAT. WAS. THE. GREATEST. THING. I. HAVE. EVER. SEEN!!!

i didn’t stop laughing once through the entire third episode of the s2 of The Good Place.

Not once.

(I do feel cheated out of seeing the version where Tahani was Eleanor’s soulmate, but dammit I’m still glad that I know it exists)

Also my prediction that Vicki was going to take over Michael’s job was right (yay me), though I didn’t predict it happening THIS season.

I love all of this so so so so so so much.

#the good place #eleanor shellstrop #vicki #eleanor x tahani #the good place spoilers #tgp spoilers #terapsina rambles #terapsina watches the good place

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terapsina · 7 years

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You know, the more I see of Tahani’s sister Kamilah the more I’m reminded of that spell that Jonathan did in the Buffy episode ‘Superstar’. So now I can’t help but think that she’s either a witch... or she sold her soul for fame and adoration (which by the rules of most fiction makes me wonder if she doesn’t eventually show up in the ‘Good Place’ but not as a fifth human... but as another demon, humans who sell their souls to demons end up becoming demons right?).

#tahani al jamil #kamilah al jamil #the good place #terapsina watches the good place #terapsina rambles

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terapsina · 7 years

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Speaking about that scene where Eleanor tells Chidi to tell Real Eleanor that he loves her too and gains 20 points for it. Those were absolutely not a ‘giving good advise’ points, those were ‘being selfless’ points. I’m almost totally certain.

#eleanor x chidi #eleanor shellstrop #chidi anagonye #the good place #what's my motivation #the good place spoilers #otp: eleanor x chidi #terapsina watches the good place #terapsina rambles

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terapsina · 7 years

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So, anyone else feel like they have to rewatch the entire season of The Good Place now?

#the good place #michael's gambit #terapsina rambles #terapsina watches the good place

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terapsina · 7 years

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I feel like Michael will be very put off that he wasn’t invited to Janet and Jason’s wedding.

#the good place #chidi's choice #michael #terapsina watches the good place #terapsina rambles #the good place spoilers

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