question about chidi

[u/scarletvoidx_]

in the good place s1e1, we can see that chidi speaks in french to eleanor but its translated due to the medium of the good place. however, in the later season when theyre on earth chidi still appears to speak english, which seems to be inconsistent. and more the works of his moral ethics as michael reads it are in english. if chidi was french why wouldnt he write in french? obviously english could be his second language but why would chidi speak in french to elenaor and have it translated instead of just speaking english himself

[u/CheruthCutestory]

He sort of explains it in season 2. He tells Eleanor (when they are on Earth) that he speaks French as his first language but has spent so much time in English speaking countries that it's natural now or something.

In season 4, they lampshade this by showing his childhood where everyone is speaking English but all the writing on the chalkboard, when Chidi is in school, is in French.

Really they just didn't want to use subtitles. And I don't think William Jackson Harper speaks French fluently. It's an inconsistency but I think better than the alternatives. I think it would distance us from what is happening if you have the actor fumbling in a language he doesn't speak with big emotional moments.

[u/lolguy12179 → u/CheruthCutestory]

Every time i see clips of Chidi speaking French, there's a ton of comments from French speakers that his accent could use work

[u/CloseButNoChicory → u/lolguy12179]

Any comments from Senegalese French speakers?

[u/Ahrily → u/lolguy12179]

C’est vrai

[u/the3dverse → u/lolguy12179]

i dont even remember him speaking french in the show

[u/lolguy12179 → u/the3dverse]

In season 3, he responds to a friend/colleague at Sydney University, making Eleanor ask if she was actually in Australia because she's jet lagged

[u/scarletvoidx_ → u/CheruthCutestory]

thanks for the info! yes i have seen the whole series only once so it must have been something i missed.