God Friended Me Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Joy
Lizzy Buczak
at
.
The most uplifting show of Sunday night is back and ready to dish out more miracles and feel-good moments via the God Account.
At first, it seemed like everything was going well for all of our favorites on God Friended Me Season 2 Episode 1.
We had a good break; they had a good break.
Miles guest-starred on a podcast to promote his podcast, the Millennial Prophet, and was gushing how great life was going for him, Rakesh, Cara, and even Joy.
But, in reality, everything was a complete disaster.
Miles hadn't seen Joy since their first encounter when Miles became her first friend suggestion from the God Account.
And without Joy or any other friend suggestions, he had no material for his podcast's second season, a podcast he gave up his job to pursue.
You know, all this time you've been telling me why Joy is wrong for the God Account. Maybe it's time to ask yourself why she's right.
Arthur Finer
But alas, Miles and Joy were reunited mere minutes into the episode.
The way Miles found Joy mimicked God Friended Me Season 1.
It was the scene where Miles saved John from committing suicide -- before John even became his friend suggestion.
This time around, Miles missed his train because he was giving a soldier direction.
That soldier ended up being Joy's second friend suggestion, a man named Lt. James Fremont.
Before Joy could be fully convinced of the God Account's possibilities, much like Miles, she had to be wary.
Joy's hesitation in believing and giving into the God account was similar to Miles' reaction when he first received this task.
Joy said she didn't want any part in this and didn't really care about helping people since she's "not the helping type."
At first, Joy and Miles didn't get along at all, but the God Account is its own beast and isn't something one can tackle alone.
When Miles was chosen, he had Rakesh by his side and immediately formed a bond with Cara.
Joy didn't have anyone, but Miles was supposed to be her guide.
Their partnership got off on the wrong foot at first because Miles failed to remember how skeptical he was of the God Account as well at first.
He wasn't exactly gunning for the role the way he is now.
You know, all this time you've been telling me why Joy is wrong for the God Account. Maybe it's time to ask yourself why she's right.
Arthur Finer
But after seeing the God Account in action, Miles began to understand the happiness it brought, just as Joy did after seeing it for herself.
Adding Joy into the mix was a test for Miles.
There were moments where Miles questioned whether Joy was the right choice for the God Account, but that mostly stemmed from his jealousy of not being the God Account's "person" anymore.
Admittedly, I had my hesitations about Joy also.
Joy's backstory wasn't made available up front, but she didn't seem like the open-minded person who would fit the role. Her attitude was the exact opposite of bringing joy.
Her personality was harsh and borderline unlikeable, but as with most people, it was just a facade.
As we found out more about her story, Joy became a well-rounded, complex, and even likaeble character.
And it gave us a better understanding of why the God Account chose her -- her personality has bits and pieces of Rakesh, Miles, and Cara.
She's exactly the right person the God Account wants and needs, and she'll fit in with the group perfectly.
Joy is also a person that isn't fully whole; there's things in her life that went wrong and need fixing.
And she needs help from other people to fix them. If there's anyone who can help Joy, it's Miles and the gang.
Joy revealed that she came to New York to find her daughter whom she'd gave up for adoption when she was just 16, which will likely be a huge play for the God Account.
Joy's desire to reunite with a loved one that had been abandoned is similar to Cara's storyline in God Friended Me Season 1.
Cara came to New York to find someone, but instead of being the mother looking for her child, she was the abandoned child looking for her mother.
The story's have reversed themselves.
Cara can and possibly will be able to give Joy the abandoned daughter's perspective since she's been in those shoes.
Back in Chicago, Joy was a public defender, which gives her a leg up in knowing how to read people, knowing what they want/ need, and knowing how to get them there.
She may have come on too strong with Fremont, but when she tamed it down a bit and switched up her approach, she realized how much happiness stems from being a good person and doing the right thing.
Helping her first-person gave her that same high that Miles always felt -- it's the very reason Miles wasn't ready to give up his role in helping the God Account.
In working with Miles and the God Account, it seems Joy will learn the necessary lessons to prepare her to finally meet her child.
And you know there's likely a bigger connection here that'll be revealed through some friend suggestion.
Maybe we've already met someone connected to Joy's daughter before?
Miles also learned an important lesson of letting go.
He was trying to force something that wasn't meant for him anymore instead of just accepting that his role was going to be different.
Things can't always stay the same -- change is necessary.
In his current role, Miles learned all that there was to learn.
Related: Get CBS All Access via Prime Video Channels for Hit Shows, Exclusive Originals & Live TV!
However, the God Account isn't done with him just yet.
Just like on God Friended Me Season 1, the powers that be played "Only Human" and sent Miles a cryptic message: follow the lady, follow your path.
Who is the lady the God Account is referring to? Is it Joy?
Are Miles and Joy supposed to team-up on these friend suggestions going forward?
Is it Cara?
And what is Miles' new path?
Over in Paris, things became messier before they got better.
Cara asked Simon to help her hunt down her mother's friend, Annie, and the woman she credits with kickstarting their reunion.
Simon agreed, but his demeanor gave off the impression that he was hiding something.
He later disclosed that he was the reason Annie was discredited as a journalist.
See, I told you, messy.
Simon's a good guy now, but he wasn't always; his past is filled with less than stellar behavior.
Annie's demeanor towards Cara changes when she realizes her connection to Simon, but she eventually comes around, apologizes, and explains that she never sent Cara the Facebook message about her mother being in New York.
In fact, she didn't even know where her mother lived.
But if Annie didn't send the message, who did?
Cara believes its the God Account's doing and tells Simon that whoever is behind the God Account has likely been pulling the strings for a lot longer than any of them have ever known.
The God Account has a plan greater than we could have imagined.
Surprise, surprise.
But what is it?
The God Friended Season 2 premiere did a great job of introducing a new compelling character, figured out how to make the friends work together despite being oceans apart, and continued to provide heartfelt moments while maintaining the God Account's mystique.
Supernatural's Jared Padalecki to Headline Walker, Texas Ranger Reboot
However, the way the friend suggestion storyline unfolded with Fremont and his pen-pal lover was cringeworthy.
I'm able to suspend my disbelief when it comes to this show, but how the heck did the God Account manage to hack all those Times Square TV screens for that reunion?
Joy: So, how'd you get roped into this?
Rakesh: Oh, let's just say I have a very particular set of skills that come in handy when we're trying to help someone.
Joy: You're a hacker.
Rakesh: I wouldn't call myself a hacker.
Joy: What would you call yourself?
Rakesh: Super hacker.
I just couldn't buy into that.
Other God Account Musings
- As Miles struggled to let go of the God Account, Arthur Finer struggled to let go of his past, which threatened his future with Trish. The lesson here is that letting go does not mean forgetting -- it means that you're making room for something new and great.
- I cannot wait to see this wedding. Trish and Arthur are sweet together. I wonder if the God Account has anything in store for them?
- Rakesh seems to be doing great at his new job (he has an office), but as Suraj Sharma told us, things aren't going to be peachy for too long.
- It's Season 2 which means it's about time they give Ali some better material.
What did you think of the premiere?
How long do you think Cara will remain in Paris?
Do you like Joy?
Who do you think 'the lady' is that the God Account's referring to?
Make sure to watch God Friended Me online and comment your thoughts below!
Lizzy Buczak was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in June 2021..
