D'Arcy Carden Explains Why The Good Place Is Ending at the Right Time

When creator Mike Schur announced on Friday evening that The Good Place would be ending after the upcoming fourth season, it was bittersweet news for fans, who understood why the decision was made but still didn't feel quite ready to let it go. According to star D'Arcy Carden, the cast of the NBC sitcom experienced a similar mix of emotions.

"It was hard for me as a fan of the show, not just because I'm on it, but I love the show, I love these characters and I really trust Mike Schur and the writers so much," Carden, who plays Janet, told TV Guide at the ATX Television Festival in Austin, Texas on Saturday. "A part of me was like, 'One more, one more! Let's do one more, one more. Five seasons sounds great.' But then I was like, the writers and Mike Schur have not steered us wrong yet in these weird, big swings that we've taken, I feel like we've always landed it. And I'm like, 'I trust you. If this is the time, great. I don't doubt you for a second.'"

Marc Evan Jackson, who plays the demon Shawn as well as hosts a Good Place podcast, echoed the sentiment. "I am first and foremost a fan of The Good Place so I have the same reaction that everyone else does. That when we learned this -- we've known for some time, we've known for two or three months now -- but it's initially something that you react to and say oh no."

While Jackson said he would have happily played in this world forever, he understands and supports Schur's reasoning for deciding to end the show now. "I think it's really smart and potent to take this show out on a high note, at its best and of their own accord," he said. "They want to take it out deliberately and not letting something die on the vine or overstay its welcome. And Mike Schur is uniquely in a position in the business that is Hollywood to be able to call shots like that."

The Good Place's D'Arcy Carden Wouldn't Have Been Ready for Janet 10 Years Ago

The Good Place's fourth and final season will pick up with Eleanor (Kristen Bell) keeping up the charade that she's the neighborhood's architect during the experiment to prove whether or not people can grow into better versions of themselves. As for what else fans could expect, both Carden and Jackson remained relatively mum, although Carden did say that the show's ending is "wonderful and lovely and correct" -- and will feature another one of the show's signature twists, of course.

"Every season we have some big twist, whether it's a big, holy mother forking shirt balls type of twist or just a simple twist. But it's always something that I don't expect and this is the same," Carden said. "I always think, if I had a million guesses, I would never guess what the ending was gonna be, and this is the same way. This is like, a certain kind of twist. And it's just like, every season when I hear what it is, I'm like yep, that's what it is. That's right."

Oh Shirt, The Good Place Will End After Season 4

As futile as it seems to try to predict what Schur has in store for Janet, Michael (Ted Danson), Eleanor, Chidi (William Jackson Harper), Tahani (Jameela Jamil), and Jason (Manny Jacinto), one thing is for certain: No one is going to have an easy time saying goodbye to The Good Place when the show bows out.

"[The] people are really fun to work with. Everyone likes being there," Jackson said. "I will tell you that once you learn that life can go that way, it's really difficult when it doesn't. You look at other jobs, other sets, other interactions with your family and go, why can't my whole life be The Good Place?"

"This has been a life highlight for me," Carden said. "You gotta kinda hope that you keep having life highlights, but if this is it, then it's been great."

The Good Place will air Thursdays at 9/8c on NBC this fall.