25 feel-good shows to start 2018 off right

The Good Place

The premise: Kristen Bell plays Eleanor Shellshrop, a terrible, selfish, garbage person who accidentally winds up in (a version of) heaven after her death. It becomes quickly clear, as she examines the memories and moments of her life, that she has been sent here by mistake. They got the wrong Eleanor, and she must spend her time trying to keep the secret hidden. She’s paired with a “soulmate” who is also a former ethics professor, and is neighbors with a Buddhist monk and philanthropist. She is literally the worst person in her neighborhood, and there are some real consequences for the mix-up.

Why it’s so good: For one, it’s terribly clever. It’s entire premise is built around the concepts of heaven and hell, good and evil, but it’s never preachy or clichéd. There’s even a moment when Eleanor asks Michael, the architect of this section of The Good Place, “Who was right?” It’s a hat tip to the the spiritual elephant in the room, and the show handles it with grace, a little snark, and lots of funny banter.

Even though it’s super high concept, it never serves up confusion just for the sake of surprise. The show’s cast routinely delivers smart, well-considered portrayals of actual humans. Even when the action tips into the cartoony, you buy in because you’re invested in the characters. Ted Danson plays Michael with such nuance, and Kristen Bell can do douchey better than anybody in the world.

How to watch: Season 1 is available on Netflix, and you can catch up on the latest episodes of season 2 on Hulu or NBC.