The Good Place: Should Tahani really try to save her family?

The Good Place has its characters trying to save souls this season, starting with their families. But is it really a good idea for Tahani to save hers?

With this week’s episode, The Good Place seems to have a clear path for the Soul Squad: save their family members. This week’s first attempt is Donkey Doug, aka Jason’s dad. To no one’s surprise, that doesn’t pan out, and their mission turns into Pillboi, who really is more of a brother to Jason anyway.

It ends with the crew in Budapest to go to an exhibit opening for Kamilah, which has us drawing the conclusion that Tahani’s here to help save her family.

But should she be?

THE GOOD PLACE — “Jeremy Bearimy” Episode 305 — Pictured: (l-r) Manny Jacinto as Jason Mendoza, Jameela Jamil as Tahani — (Photo by: Colleen Hayes/NBC)

Let’s look at both sides. First, to start such a selfless mission from such originally selfish/tortured people is a very large change. Starting with family makes sense because they’re familiar. It’s harder to start with strangers to save their souls. You already know family; you know how to help them—or at least a place to start.

Since things went relatively successful with Jason’s outing, it shouldn’t surprise us that we’re headed to Tahani’s family. Sure, Tahani doesn’t focus on them as much anymore and has grown as a character. But what’s familiar is familiar, and as much as she may be tortured by them, is it still her duty to try to save their souls?

She must believe so to willingly go to an exhibit opening for Kamilah after distancing herself from them all for the last year.

Does it feel right for Tahani to try to save her family’s souls? To us viewers, no, not at all.

Season two’s finale taught us that there’s literally nothing Tahani can say that will change her parents’ minds. They’re too self-centered and focused on Kamilah to care about her, her opinions, or what she tells them, unless it belittles her character.

THE GOOD PLACE — “Everything is Bronzer! Pt. 2” Episode 302 — Pictured: Jameela Jamil as Tehani — (Photo by: Justin Lubin/NBC)

The process hasn’t started yet, but it still feels like it’s a step backwards for her character. You can already imagine how they’ll react to Tahani being married to a Floridian and also having willingly given away most of her fortune to receive nothing in return. How will Tahani react to their scrutiny?

It feels like it will just turn into a narcissistic nightmare of everything Tahani thought she had left behind. The same patterns from before. Back down those same paths, and it may not go as well as we hope.

Tahani’s family feels very irredeemable. And maybe that’s the point. Maybe The Good Place wants to show that anyone can be redeemed. If Tahani can help save Kamilah and her parents from their self-centered lives, shouldn’t that be enough to save anyone’s souls?

Maybe if Tahani can help her family with their horrendous flaws, that will mean something for our four humans (and Michael and Janet) in the afterlife scoring. You know, assuming Eleanor doesn’t throw it all away by murdering her own mother.