God Friended Me
God Friended Me – All Those Yesterdays (2×04)
The gang is back together on God Friended Me Season 2 Episode 4.
It’s good timing as Joy receives her most intense friend suggestion yet: her daughter.
It’s never easy to confront your past, but it’s necessary to move forward. Navigating something so personal and close to home was difficult for Joy.
She shied away from getting any help from Miles, Cara, and Rakesh, but it was the kind of situation that called for their expertise.
Miles had to face his past during God Friended Me Season 1, so he, of all people, understands the delicacy of the situation.
Joy’s impulsivity proved to be the most significant uphill battle, especially once Rakesh figured out that Lauren, Joy’s daughter, was looking for answers about her identity.
Immediately, Joy wanted to tell her daughter that she was her mother, which wasn’t the best idea.
There’s a big difference between helping someone and destroying someone’s family.
The God Account sent Joy the suggestion because she’s the only one who could offer Lauren any peace or answers, but that didn’t necessarily mean that she needed to out herself.
That’s why it was good that Miles was in her corner seeing things more clearly without the personal connection.
Miles knew they couldn’t say anything to Lauren without talking with her parents first, and once he saw that they weren’t on the same page, he knew for certain that it wasn’t the right move.
Joy hasn’t been a fan-favorite, and storming out of the store and telling Miles and Cara to mind their own business didn’t do her any favors.
She came off more than just impulsive — she came off selfish and rude.
While the situation was extremely difficult — I cannot imagine what it feels like to see your daughter and realize she’s been craving to know you — it wasn’t Joy’s call to make, and it wasn’t necessary to throw caution to the wind.
We did learn a little bit about Lauren. She had Joy’s gluten allergy and her impulsivity, which was made evident by her decision to use her father’s credit card to purchase a bus ticket to Chicago in search of a third cousin.
Like mother, like daughter.
Joy proved that she had a maternal instinct, and when it mattered, put her daughter’s needs above her own. Again.
Whenever Joy tells Miles to trust her, I get worried, but this time, she knew exactly how to convince Lauren that going to Chicago was a bad idea.
The heart-to-heart delivered all the feels, and the waterworks were flowing!
Joy connecting with her daughter in such a selfless way was beautiful.
She gave her insight about her great grandfather, Kai, without overstepping.
And that little tidbit of information meant the world to Lauren.
She was satisfied simply knowing where she came from, which also means she wasn’t entirely ready to meet her birth mother yet.
God Friended Me handled matters of adoption in a caring manner; they showed the reality not only for the people giving up a child but also for the adopted children and their parents.
While Lauren didn’t figure out that her mother was “lawyer Joy,” Lauren’s adoptive mother pieced it together.
Joy’s storyline may have come to a close as she decided to head back to Chicago for her hearing, but it’s unlikely that this is the last we’ll see of her.
Something tells me she’ll be back in some capacity to either help out with a friend suggestion or to tell Lauren the truth when she’s ready to hear it. Are you sad she’s leaving?
As we close the book on Joy, Miles returns to being the God Account’s favorite.
I can’t say I’m too disappointed. Joy took the storyline in a new direction, but she was difficult at times.
It’s nice to see Miles back in action. However, if Miles is going back to being the God Account’s right-hand man, doesn’t that negate looking for a purpose in his future?
What was the point of going to Paris, finding “The Path” artwork, and attempting to find Audrey Grenelle?
It all seems pretty useless for now, but, as we know, the God Account doesn’t do anything without a good reason.
Audrey will likely come into play somewhere down the line. Unless we’ve already met her.
Read the full review at TV Fanatic.
It wasn’t until the final few episodes of God Friended Me Season 2 that we learned they were also the final few episodes of the series.
The series was not renewed at CBS, which killed the shows momentum and left fans heartbroken.
Not only was the series picking up steam about the God Account, but it was also delivering some incredibly powerful storylines through the Friend Suggestions and the core trio, Miles, Cara, and Rakesh.
During these difficult and unprecedented times, the series was a beacon of light offering hope and promise. And it continued to be so until the very end with a finale that gave fans closure and brought Miles back to his faith.
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and look back at season 2:
Best Friend Suggestion – Holocaust Survivor Abe
There were plenty of strong and emotionally driven Friend Suggestions this season. As Miles established a groove and embraced his role fully, he was better able to help those who may not have even been aware that they needed his help.
However, one Friend Suggestion sticks out so vividly because I was a complete mess throughout the whole episode. That Friend Suggestion is Abe (guest star Judd Hirsch) on God Friended Me Season 2 Episode 11.
Abe was a Holocaust survivor who spent his whole life looking for answers about whether or not his sister, Rose, survived.
Some Friend Suggestion storylines are predictable and easy to crack, but it wasn’t clear if Rose was alive until the very end when Miles and Joy reunited the long lost siblings in what was surely one of the most touching and beautiful moments on television.
“A New Hope” — Miles discovers a new clue as to who is behind the God Account when Joy (Jessica Lu) reveals that his friend suggestions have all been clients of the same insurance company. Her theory is reinforced when they realize that Miles’ latest friend suggestion, Abe (Judd Hirsch), a Holocaust survivor looking for information on his sister’s fate, is also a client of the company, on GOD FRIENDED ME, Sunday, Jan. 5 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured L to R: Judd Hirsch as Abe, Jessica Lu as Joy, and Brandon Micheal Hall as Miles Finer. Photo: David Giesbrecht/CBS©2019 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Worst Friend Suggestion – Trevor
Some episodes were better than others, and the same goes for Friend Suggestions. The worst Friend Suggestion of the season came towards the end of the season on God Season 2 Episode 21. While Trevor helped Miles realize his feelings for Cara, he was also insufferable.
He had a bone to pick with Miles because he claimed the God Account ruined his life when it reunited the woman he loved, Rose, with Lt. Freemont thus leaving him heartbroken and betrayed.
Of course, Miles had nothing to do with the fact that Rose thought of Trevor as a brother, and when he refused to sabotage Rose and Freemont’s relationship on the eve of their wedding, Trevor outed Miles’ feelings for Cara in the comments section of his podcast.
Trevor also made terrible decisions like telling Rose how he felt while giving a speech at her wedding rehearsal. I’m still cringing.
“The Fugitive” — Miles, Cara and Rakesh try to stay a step ahead of a bounty hunter, Bonnie (Erica Tazel), who’s searching for Miles’ new friend suggestion, a petty criminal-turned-fugitive for evading court. Also, when Miles loses interest in who’s behind the God Account, Rakesh intensifies the search by planning to hack a powerful government super computer that can break through the Account’s firewall, on GOD FRIENDED ME, Sunday, April 12 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured L to R: Violett Beane as Cara Bloom, Brandon Micheal Hall as Miles Finer, and Suraj Sharma as Rakesh Singh. Photo: Peter Kramer/CBS©2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Best Team-Up – Rakesh and Zach
Zach was Miles’ Friend Suggestion and after they got him out of trouble, Rakesh realized Zach was an incredibly talented coder and a good addition to the team.
He took him on as an intern at Identity Seal, which proved to be useful as Zach came in handy when they wanted to hack the God Account’s mainframe.
Mostly, this duo was my favorite because they had such a fun bond and provided witty one-liners. Zach always kept it real.
Character That Needed Closure – Joy
Joy was introduced on the backend of God Friended Me Season 1 when she was sent Miles’ name as a Friend Suggestion.
At first, she was cold and unapproachable, but as we got to know her, and the God Account began to make an impact on her, Joy became part of the God Squad.
We learned she was in New York because she gave her daughter up for adoption and while she was able to have some closure by meeting her daughter and seeing that she was doing well, it always felt like Joy’s story was far from over.
It would have been nice to have her return for the finale, and who knows, maybe she would’ve been back somehow if there was a third season.
Couple That Showed True Promise – Ali and Emily
It’s unfortunate that Ali found love and a dedicated partner towards the end of the series because we never got to see thier relationship fully blossom.
Ali was skeptical of starting a relationship not only because she’d been burned before but because she didn’t want to drag anyone into her mess. When she met Emily while freezing her eggs and gearing up for cancer treatment, it was the worst time but also the best time.
Emily proved to be the best thing to happen to Ali; she by her side throughout the cancer battle, she supported her, and she loved her. It would’ve been great to see their relationship blossom outside of the cancer storyline and maybe even see them start a family of their own.
Ali always deserved a happy ending.
Read the full post at TV Fanatic Now!
And that’s the end.
The worst thing about a series getting canceled is that it doesn’t get to end on its own terms.
While watching God Friended Me Season 2 Episode 22, I found myself impressed with how neatly everything was wrapping up. I wondered if maybe the showrunners were tipped off about a cancellation prior to the announcement because everything was so perfect.
The episode had all the makings of a series finale — it even switched up formats by including a time jump and narration from Miles.
There are no coincidences with the God Account, so it was not a coincidence that the writers gave closure to most of the storylines while still leaving us on a thought-provoking cliffhanger that was slightly infuriating.
That’s another thing that’s so frustrating about a cancellation — there are usually so many stories left to tell.
Even if you remove the mystery of the God Account, the series had a roadmap and plan for the future.
The cliffhanger proves that, before getting word of the cancellation, the series was simply wrapping things up in order to reinvent itself for the upcoming season.
If we were to get another season, we’d likely get to explore a potential pregnancy storyline for Ali, the blossoming relationships following the time jump, and Miles’s new outlook on faith and the God Account.
The episode kicked off with Miles standing on top of the Annapurna Himalayan mountain. Coming off of God Friended Me Season 2 Episode 21, it wasn’t immediately clear why or how.
And to be quite honest, even after the final moments, we still don’t really know what he may have found. We likely never will.
It’s painful to lose a TV show that has become part of your life.
And there’s nothing like all of the burning questions going unanswered before the final bow.
Despite Ali’s surgery being a focal point, the episode was uplifting and inspirational as it revealed there was light at the end of the tunnel; the sun always comes out after a storm.
All Miles needed was a little bit of faith.
Faith played a huge role in not only the episode but the series, which isn’t surprising since it’s a show about God.
But the last few Friend Suggestions, specifically, have been trying to bring Miles back to his faith. To give him back what he lost when his mother died.
Its boldest attempt was when Ali’s surgery hit a bit of rough patch due to an unexpected blood clot.
Miles felt helpless, and that helplessness made him find solace in a church.
Shortly after he turned to the church and prayer, Ali was on the road to recovery. Was it a miracle? An act of God? The blood thinners doing their job?
It’s a situation that often plays out in real life, and in both instances, the root cause of the miracle remains a mystery.
The only explanation that matters is the one that you believe.
At the end of the day, that’s what faith is. It’s your belief in yourself, in science, in medicine, in something greater than yourself.
You cling to that belief because it gives you hope. It would be nice to think that faith looks the same for everyone, but it doesn’t.
Miles may not have fully returned to being a believer like his father or Ali, but he does believe in people and being a good person.
Through the God Account, he sees miracles happen when people come together, when they lean on each other, and when they help each other.
That’s the reason why this show struck a chord with so many of us. Like Miles, we’ve all been trying to make the world a better place and do right by each other.
And while the religious aspect may have been a huge draw for some people, most of us stuck around because it was the light that assured us everything would be okay.
I think Miles summed it best in one of his final podcast quotes that voiced over a montage of Friend Suggestions dating back to the very first one. Cue the nostalgia.
He said: “It doesn’t matter what we believe or where we come from. That we are all in this together, that we can all be there for one another. Because when we are, amazing things can happen.”
That, right there, is what the show has always been about — bringing people together and celebrating their differences.
It’s why the series never leaned too far one way or the other. It never established the God Account as spiritual or physical — It teetered right in the middle till the very end so that it never alienated anyone.
If you think of it that way, maybe it was never in the books to reveal who is behind the God Account because as we’ve all pointed out one time or another, it would ruin the magic.
It’s heartbreaking for fans, but God Friended Me is coming to an end on Sunday, April 26, with a two-hour series finale.
Many fans are wondering if we’ll get closure when it comes to the overarching mystery of the God Account.
Check out the synopsis for both episodes below to get some insight:
God Friended Me – Miracles
Miles helps his new friend suggestion, C.J. (Lonnie Chavis), a young boy who claims an angel wants him to reunite his father, Corey (Cornelius Smith, Jr.), the creator of the God Account’s original algorithm, with Corey’s estranged father, in the first part of the two-hour series finale of GOD FRIENDED ME
God Friended Me – The Mountain
Miles is forced to examine his lack of faith more than ever before when the God Account sends him his sister, Ali, as a friend suggestion on the eve of her cancer surgery, in the second part of the two-hour series finale of GOD FRIENDED ME, at a special time, Sunday, April 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS
God Friended Me
"Miracles" -- Miles helps his new friend suggestion, C.J. (Lonnie Chavis), a young boy who claims an angel wants him to reunite his father, Corey (Cornelius Smith, Jr.), the creator of the God Account's original algorithm, with Corey's estranged father, in the first part of the two-hour series finale of GOD FRIENDED ME, Sunday, April 26 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured L to R: Brandon Micheal Hall as Miles Finer and Cornelius Smith, Jr. as Corey. Photo: Barbara Nitke/2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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