The Good Place series finale included a surprise cameo from a fan-favorite on Parks and Recreation: Nick Offerman, potentially as Ron Swanson. After four critically acclaimed seasons, NBC’s terrific comedy about the afterlife has finally concluded. Created by Michael Schur, who previously worked on The Office and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place originally followed Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), who woke up in a heaven-like utopia called the “Good Place,” which was run by Michael (Ted Danson).
While in the “Good Place,” Eleanor, who secretly felt unworthy of the utopia, became friends with Chidi (William Jackson Harper), Tahani (Jameela Jamil), and Jason (Manny Jacinto). At the end of season 1, Eleanor figured out that she was actually in the “Bad Place,” which was disguised as heaven, and Michael was a demon sent to torture all of its inhabitants. The subsequent seasons followed the group’s attempt to reach the real “Good Place,” which they finally achieved towards the end of season 4.
In the Good Place series finale, “Whenever You’re Ready,” the group all found their versions of peace, but before that happened, Tahani ran into a familiar face from another show created by Schur: Parks and Recreation. Tahani strived to master all sorts of skills in the afterlife and one of those was woodworking. While finishing up her woodworking, Tahani was joined by Nick Offerman, who compliments Tahani on a job well done. This surprise cameo left fans to wonder if this was Nick Offerman or his character from Parks and Recreation, Ron Swanson.
Does This Mean Ron Swanson Is In The Good Place?
Because The Good Place and Parks and Recreation are supposedly set in the same universe, Ron Swanson, not Nick Offerman, could be the woodworker who interacted with Tahani. If Ron is in the “Good Place,” then at some point, he traded in his mustache for a beard. However, both Swanson and Offerman enjoy woodworking so it’s plausible that either male could have made the cameo. So is it Ron Swanson or Nick Offerman? The answer lies in the credits. At the end of the episode, the credits revealed that Offerman was playing a version of himself in the cameo, not his character from Parks and Recreation.
Unlike Parks and Recreation, which lasted seven seasons, The Good Place decided to end after four seasons. The reasoning behind this decision was purely creative as Schur and the writers felt that the storylines could be wrapped up after season 4, so additional seasons were no longer necessary. For a show involving death, which is usually random and unexpected, it’s nice that fans were able to properly say goodbye to their beloved sitcom, The Good Place.
Next: Will The Good Place Season 5 Ever Happen?
