3rd (4th?) time is a charm - after hitting the wall ⅓ into Season 2 every time, I finally watched the entire series through over the last week or so.
I was so sad to say goodbye to each character and watch things end. But in a world of Netflix cancelations and whatnot, it really felt like the show did what it needed to do. In four brief seasons. I’ve stuck through Supernatural, Lucifer, Riverdale- lots of shows that survived ebs and flows but prob should have peaced out after the first divet. The Good Place truly wrapped up nicely - I don’t know what more I could have asked other than to drag it out because it’s hard to say goodbye.
Have been watching this show like 7 or 8 times already and I really love it. As you said, they had a plan and stopped the show when the story was told. For me it felt like season 1 would have been a good ending if it would have been a flop and after that season 2 - 4 told one beautiful story. And what I liked as well: no 1 hour per episode, nice 20-25min (except for I think 3 double episodes). And no dystopian grey, beige thingy, but so much colour. And oh my, the real ending in season 4… I just watched it once. Every other rewatch I stopped without the last I think double episode. It’s so beautiful, but so damn sad. In a good way, but wow. That ending hit hard. And it still works as a nice ending without the real last episode.