God Friended Me Season 1 Episode 17 Review: The Dragon Slayer
Lizzy Buczak
at
.
If only all humans were as good as Miles.
Week by week, this series restores my faith in humanity.
Most of God Friended Me Season 1 Episode 17 focused on Miles' friend suggestion, Ben Evans, a homeless man whose run of bad luck was getting the best of him.
Every encounter Miles had with Ben and his son, Max, was more emotional than the next.
Since the creation of the God Account, Miles has helped a handful of people, but he was almost like a Guardian Angel to Max and Ben.
Related: God Friended Me Season 1 Episode 16 Review: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant
He helped them get their car from the impound lot, helped Ben get a job, watched Max, found them a shelter, and even fought to get Ben's job back for him.
Miles' role in Ben's life proved that one man could help change your life.
He was a real-life dragon slayer.
My heart melted when Miles pretended to be an undercover dragon slayer on the train even before he knew Ben and Max would be his friend suggestions.
Miles even went to Ben's interview to stall for him.
It probably wasn't the best idea, but it goes to show how committed Max is to helping those in need.
Arthur: I met with Lester and one of the other board members to talk about election strategy.
Trisha: And it didn't go well?
Arthur: They suggested that it might be best if I pretended not to have an atheist son and a gay daughter.
This episode was especially important because it also underlined the plight of homelessness; the vicious cycle homeless people get trapped in even when they are trying to come out on top.
It felt all too real addressing problems in our world that can quickly make someone fall on hard times: healthcare costs, company downsizing, and the loss of a spouse,
Ben couldn't get a job by telling the truth about his living situation, and he couldn't get a job because he lied about his permanent address.
It's a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.
Thankfully, Max was a great kid who wouldn't let his father get down in the dumps.
Belief is essential when going through tough times. You have to believe things will get better.
And they did. Ben didn't just find employment; he became a guard at the castle.
I'm such a sucker for a happy ending, and God Friended me never disappoints.
Miles and Cara had the "new couple" glow throughout the episode which made my heart flutter.
But no one was happier to see the two of them together than Rakesh, even if he did continuously interrupt their romantic moments.
Though Cara is right, Rakesh really needs to work on his timing.
While we were all basking in this new relationship, it did seem that the series was teasing a bit of tension ahead for Miles and Cara.
For starters, Cara lied to Miles about her meeting with the editor-of-chief of Catapult.
I know she thinks she's doing the right thing, but lying so early in a relationship is worrisome.
Why wouldn't she want to write Miles' story about who they believe is behind the God Account?
Miles has mentioned Henry Chase on his podcast, so it's not like they are super secretive about it.
She told Mr. Hughes that it "wasn't her story to tell," but isn't the point of being a journalist to help other people share their stories?
I don't think Miles would object if Cara were honest to him about the writing assignment.
And maybe having her dig into Simon Hayes and interview him would help them pick his brain without putting Rakesh's job on the line.
Or, at the very least, help them connect Rakesh's latest Simon Hayes is behind the God Account theory.
Rakesh is rolling with the idea that the God Account didn't choose Miles at random.
Instead of dining a connection between Miles and Simon, Rakesh found a link between Simon and John Dove.
Remember Miles' very first Friend Suggestion on God Friended Me Season 1 Episode 1?
Dove is the man who almost committed suicide before Miles interfered. He's also the man who saved Cara after she got hit by a car!
Well, Dove was also Hayes' bone marrow transplant surgeon.
Boss: If you don't mind me asking, where are you finding them? What I mean is, these people you're profiling, they don't seem random.
Cara: Well, a good journalist never reveals their source.
Small world, right?
I'm not 100% convinced that the connection between Hayes and Dove proves that Hayes is behind the God Account, but it's a credible lead that they should probably check out.
And again, what better approach than Cara, the journalist?
Dove seems to be the glue that's holding all of this together, but again, why would Hayes/ the God Account pick Miles to carry out his missions.
One could argue that it's because Miles is a good person with a massive heart but so are a lot of other people in New York City.
There has to be something more here.
Reverand Finer said he didn't have anything to do with Simon Hayes, but I do think Rakesh was onto something when he said a common denominator for many of the friend suggestions was Harlem Episcopal.
Almost all of Miles' friend suggestions have something to do with the church.
How is it all connected?
If Miles does accept the deal with FreeVerse, Cara may run into some issues with their exclusivity clause if she tries to break the story.
Related: Get CBS All Access via Prime Video Channels for Hit Shows, Exclusive Originals & Live TV!
At this point, I don't even know if Miles needs to sign with anyone. His podcast is compelling, or in Mr. Hughe's words, it's addicting, on its own.
The right audience will find its way to him slowly but surely. He can put it on the map without selling his content to someone else.
Arthur Finer dealt with a minor dilemma when the Board asked him to "pivot" the conversation away from his atheist son and lesbian daughter while running for Bishop of New York.
Boss: See, I figured out where you were getting your stories, but what I can't figure out is why you're not writing the most important one. I mean, who's behind the God Account.
Cara: Well, it's not my story to tell.
Boss: According to his podcast, you guys are close to uncovering God's identity. Is that true?
Ali and Miles told him they were fine with him not bringing them up, which makes sense.
There's no better and more open-minded candidate than Arthur; He helps everyone regardless of their situation, race, or sexual orientation.
But Arthur also shouldn't be encouraged to be ashamed of his children.
Nor do I think they can avoid the subject as Millennial Prophet gains steam.
I could see Arthur coming to the defense of his children and using them as examples of doing God's work unconventionally.
Religion can be very traditional and stuck in its ways, but I do think people would come around to Miles after listening to his podcast.
If you truly listen to it, you realize that it's less about him being an atheist and more about the good things he's doing for the community.
That's something that should make you very proud, regardless of your religious beliefs.
Catch up and watch God Friended Me online then share your comments with us below!
Do you think Simon Hayes is behind the account? What will Cara do about the story her boss wants her to write?
Lizzy Buczak was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in June 2021..
