Michael begins The Good Place as the charming, bowtie-wearing architect of the neighborhood where Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason find themselves.
The twist? He’s actually a demon, and the neighborhood is an elaborate psychological torture chamber.
But over the course of the series, Michael undergoes one of television’s most surprising transformations as he learns empathy, humility, and the value of working toward the common good.
His journey is a masterclass in how even the most unlikely individuals can change when they choose curiosity over cynicism. And in Michael’s case, it’s also a reminder that sometimes the best way to understand humanity is to live alongside it, mistakes and all.
Before We Begin: A Quick Heads-Up
Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Good Place, including Michael’s true identity, his moral transformation, and the series finale.
Why We’re Talking About This Character: Michael’s arc is a rare chance to explore moral development from a completely alien starting point. He doesn’t just start at “selfish human” and grow into “better human” as characters like Eleanor Shellstrop or Tahani Al-Jamil do. Instead, he begins as a supernatural being whose entire job is to inflict suffering. Because of this, watching him learn empathy, ethical reasoning, and vulnerability offers a fascinating lens on the psychology of change.
Meet the Character
When we first meet Michael, he’s the picture of composure: a genial, bowtie-clad “neighborhood architect” who claims to have designed the perfect afterlife for his residents. He’s endlessly polite, quick with a smile, and deeply invested in making sure everyone feels comfortable.
Well… on the surface, anyway…
Underneath, Michael is a demon from the Bad Place, and the whole neighborhood is a giant social experiment designed to make humans torture each other through subtle psychological stress. Instead of traditional fire-and-brimstone punishment, Michael’s innovation is to create a seemingly perfect environment where tiny annoyances, mismatched personalities, and constant self-doubt slowly erode the residents’ sanity.
Michael is meticulous, creative, and takes enormous pride in his work. In his mind, this isn’t just cruelty, but art!
But that pride becomes a liability when his plan starts to unravel. Time and time again, the humans adapt, cooperate, and support each other in ways he didn’t anticipate. But in time, his mind-numbing level of frustration turns to fascination, and that fascination plants the seeds for his transformation.
Spotlight Scenes: From Manipulation to Mentorship
Michael’s first major crack appears in “Dance Dance Resolution” after hundreds of reboots. The humans should be breaking down, but instead, they’re bonding and never failing to entirely derail his experiment. It’s not immediately apparent, but we see the signs that, somewhere in the chaos, Michael starts to enjoy their company not as playthings, but as people.
In “The Trolley Problem” (Season 2), Michael begins taking ethics lessons from Chidi. At first, he treats moral philosophy as a joke, staging literal trolley problem scenarios with horrifying realism and taking delight in Chidi’s frustration and horror.
But eventually, upon finally considering his own “non-existence” for the first time, the lessons start to sink in. Realizing that it’s not something he can just ignore or “push off” with endless distractions, he begins asking questions not to manipulate, but because he genuinely wants to understand.
By the time we reach “Janet(s)” (Season 3), Michael is risking his own safety to protect the humans. He infiltrates the Judge’s chambers, manipulates the afterlife bureaucracy, and lies to other demons not for personal gain, but to give his friends a fair chance.
One of the most telling moments comes in “Pandemonium.” Faced with running a new experiment to prove that humans can improve, Michael has a panic attack. The demon who once thrived on chaos is now terrified of letting his friends down.
Finally, in the series finale “Whenever You’re Ready,” Michael chooses to become human. He gives up immortality and his supernatural powers to experience the limitations, joys, fragility, and customer loyalty cards of human life all for himself.
For a 6,000ft tall Fire Squid who has been around forever, it’s the ultimate act of empathy: stepping fully into the shoes of the beings he once considered beneath him.
The Psychology Behind the Bowtie
Michael’s arc mirrors Kohlberg’s stages of moral development (1981).
He begins at the pre-conventional level, where morality is defined by self-interest and avoidance of punishment. His torture plan is all about personal achievement and professional pride. As he learns from the humans, he moves into the conventional level, valuing relationships and the approval of his friends.
By the end, Michael reaches the post-conventional level, guided by universal ethical principles rather than rules or rewards.
As Michael shows, his growing empathy is an example of perspective-taking, which is the ability to step into someone else’s mental and emotional world (Davis, 1983). Initially, Michael uses perspective-taking as a tool for more effective torture. But repeated exposure to the humans’ struggles and triumphs shifts his understanding from intellectual to emotional.
Though it’s important to also mention that Michael’s transformation also fits transformative learning theory (Mezirow, 1991). A “disorienting dilemma” (i.e., his plan’s repeated failure) forces him to critically examine his assumptions about humans, morality, and his own role in the universe.
Through dialogue, reflection, and new experiences, he reconstructs his identity from manipulator to mentor.
Beyond The Good Place: Why It Matters
Michael’s story challenges the belief that personality is fixed. Even beings who have existed for millennia can change when they’re willing to question their purpose and values. His arc shows that change isn’t about erasing who you were, but is instead about redirecting your skills and energy toward something better.
It also challenges the idea that empathy is purely innate. Michael learns empathy through deliberate practice: studying ethics, spending time with people unlike himself, and facing the consequences of his actions. This suggests that empathy can be cultivated, even in those who seem incapable of it at first.
For us, Michael’s journey is a reminder that the capacity for change is not limited by age, background, or even species. What matters most is the willingness to learn, to listen, and to let go of the need to always be in control.
Tomato Takeaway
Michael’s journey from demon to human shows that growth is possible at any stage or in any lifespan. By replacing manipulation with mentorship and cruelty with compassion, he proves that the best use of intelligence is to help others flourish.
And if a literal demon is able to do it, what excuse do we have not to try, eh?
But now it’s your turn: Have you ever experienced a complete change of heart about someone or something after seeing it from a new perspective?
Share your story in the comments and, until next time…
take it sleazy…
Fueled by coffee and curiosity, Jeff is a veteran blogger with an MBA and a lifelong passion for psychology. Currently finishing an MS in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (and eyeing that PhD), he’s on a mission to make science-backed psychology fun, clear, and accessible for everyone. When he’s not busting myths or brewing up new articles, you’ll probably find him at the D&D table or hunting for his next great cup of coffee.