I want more bad Janet!
Would it have broken the budget to cast someone else as high-school Eleanor? Kristen Bell in that role did not work, at all. This probably sounds like a joke, but I'm 100% serious when I say that the size of her head distracted me through the whole scene. Something about the costume design made it look super weird—or maybe her body was digitally altered to appear smaller in post?
This episode was greatly improved with Adam Scott guest starring. He has so much flare that it really livened up the show. The normal cast is so boring and subdued.
The Real Eleanor is vastly superior to the one we've been stuck watching. She has personality and is energetic. Fake Eleanor is dull and bland.
This show has grown on me so much, love it. Have fallen in love with all the characters.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParent2017-09-27T21:06:49Z
[6.1/10] I have to admit, the show is starting to feel formulaic even as it’s moving the ball forward, and I’m getting a bit tired of the repetition. The show is overly didactic when it comes to the theme of Eleanor not being a joiner or willing to be a part of a group vs. here when she realizes that Chidi & co. like her and want to be on her team. It’s a sweet enough idea, but the show is just too blunt about it to land.
The B-story, with Tahani trying to teach Michael to grow a backbone and stand-up to the reps from The Bad Place similarly ends on a strong note, but fills the coffers with some pretty feeble comedy and tepid storytelling when getting there. The badness of the bad guys is a little too over the top to be funny.
That is, of course, except for Adam Scott, who is just perfect at playing this sleazeball. It’s a complete 180 from his character on Parks and Rec or Party Down. Plus, new Eleanor is Sabine from Star Wars Rebels, which I appreciate, and her instant nerd chemistry with Chidi is certainly cute.
Overall, this one just didn’t click with me. I’m beginning to catch on to the show’s rhythms, and the humor wasn’t strong enough to cover for that in this one.