Loveday Writing

When Michael calls for Janet in the presence of Eleanor and Chidi, Derek appears behind her. Throughout the episode, Michael, Chidi and Eleanor discuss the ethics of killing Derek, specifically the principle of double effect – determining when it is morally permissible to perform a good deed knowing that will lead to bad results. In this case, killing Derek would maintain the gang’s cover, however it could lead to Janet’s glitches getting worse, which would also break their cover. Under this principle, Chidi concludes that it would be best to inform Tahani and Jason of the situation.

Meanwhile on their weekend getaway, Tahani and Jason have fun and try to get to know each other. As they are getting to know each other, Jason proposes to Tahani, as they like each other and he promises to always be nice to her.

Meanwhile Janet and Derek’s relationship is rapidly progressing throughout the episode. At the start of the episode they have moved in together, only to be loudly fighting by the middle. When Tahani and Jason call for Janet to put their wedding together, she is depressed and crying. Michael, Chidi and Eleanor stop Tahani and Jason’s wedding ceremony, informing them of Janet’s feelings and Derek’s creation.

Afterwards, the gang has to decide whether to reboot Janet or Derek. Eleanor talks to Janet alone and concedes her advice was wrong, and tells her that she needs to work through the emotions she’s feeling. Janet ends up deactivating Derek, which resolves the gang’s ethical problem. While Tahani and Jason conclude that not getting married was the best thing for both of them, they continue to slowly get to know each other.

Later, Eleanor shows Chidi the video of them declaring their love for each other during one of the previous reboots (which Eleanor has been secretly watching constantly). She asks him if he has feelings for her, however he says he doesn’t but does feel close to her, and she claims she feels the same way. Michael then walks in and asks to talk to Eleanor, asking her when it gets easier to be ethical. She tells him that trying to do the right thing is emotionally rewarding, and that reaching out to her was a very human thing to do, this moment between them clearly showing growth in both of them.

The episode ends with Michael walking into his office to find Shawn waiting for him.

Overall, I felt that this was a good but not a great episode. While I enjoyed Jason Mantzoukas’ performance as Derek, I felt that Tahani and Jason’s relationship progression was a little all over the place. I also felt that Eleanor showing Chidi the video and asking him if he has feelings for her to be out of place, in comparison to what was happening in the rest of the episode. However I’m looking forward to finding out why Shawn has come to visit Michael and if it’s because he finally knows everything.

Stray Observations:

-Derek’s last name is Hofstetler.

-Tahani describes the movie, Home Alone, as a “horror film about two ex-convicts who try to rob and murder a neglected child.”

-Derek refers to himself as a “P.I.” when he introduces himself.

-Tahani has a tizzy couch.

-Tahani attended The Hertfordshire Academy for Expressionless Girls before attending Oxford and then the Sorbonne.

-Janet uses the passage of time as lotion occasionally.

-Derek only lived for seven hours.

-Apparently when the ‘change oil’ light came on in Eleanor’s car, she abandoned the car in a parking garage.

Best one liners and interactions:

• “Chidi, just want to double check. How do ethical philosophers feel about murder?” (Michael to Chidi)
• “It combines both classic aspects of British sport – whimsy and restraint.” (Tahani describing croquet to Jason)
• “Has anyone ever told you what a drag you are?” “Everyone, constantly.” (Michael-Chidi)
• “Tahani, you’re so smart, every day you teach me something new about art and history, and why I shouldn’t eat everything that smells good, because sometimes it’s candles. You’re basically like a hot genius teacher who sometimes has sex with me, your student. That used to happen a lot at Lynyrd Skynyrd High School, but this time you won’t be arrested. Oh, I love you Tahani.” (Jason’s wedding vows)
• “Jason, I never guessed we’d be where we are today. Me, a prominent British philanthropist with award-winning legs, set to marry you, a swamp dweller who once asked me if the presidents on Mount Rushmore have butts on the other side. We don’t make any sense together, yet when I’m with you, I can really let my hair down. Metaphorically of course, since I’d never have it up in the first place, I’m not a factory worker. You’ve helped me see that there’s more to life then appearances, and I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but I think I love…” (Tahani’s wedding vows before being cut off when Michael, Eleanor and Chidi interrupt the ceremony)
• ‘“The ceremony will be private, but we think it would be totally dope if you biznatches came and got turnt up with us afterwards.”’ (Michael quoting Tahani and Jason’s wedding invitation, which Jason clearly wrote)
• “I don’t understand what you even like about Jason, what does he have that I don’t have?” “A soul and genitals.” “Here we go with this whole no-genitals thing again, you’re the one that gave me wind chimes instead of a penis.” (Derek-Janet-Derek)
• “There’s no easy way to say this, I never should have made you.” (Janet to Derek)