"Studies in Modern Movement" is a funky episode that didn't really feel like a Community episode. The characters are out of their normal school setting, and there are three separate plots versus the two which have been the norm this season. Though this kind of episode might have seemed less palatable earlier in the show's run, we come to know and love these characters so much that it's funny regardless of what's actually going on.
The three plots have little to do with character growth or anything, but give us a charming look at their lives. Abed and Troy act very weird and a little rude to Annie when she moves in, so she finally snaps, understandably, and gives them a piece of her mind. Dean is a creeper as usual and drags Jeff into a music video. Britta and Shirley ride together, arguing about religion before they pick up a hitchhiker who believes he's Jesus. The central theme is that these character can live with each other even when they're not part of the bigger group. It doesn't work as well as episodes where they're all together, but it works fine for its purpose.
Score: 8.8/10
Showing posts with label Community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Community. Show all posts
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Review - Community Season 3 Episode 6 Advanced Gay
I don't like Pierce, so a lot of my enjoyment of "Advanced Gay" came mostly from the other characters. Jeff and Britta were on point the entire episode, with Britta talking about the "Edible Complex" the entire episode, and the use of the gay community was pretty clever. On the other hand, the episode did little to change my opinion about Pierce. The introduction of his father shifts part of his personality problems away from him, but it also makes Pierce seem very weak. Then, the episode gives an easy out once his father dies--problem solved!
Troy choosing between air conditioning and plumbing was hilarious stuff, the best side-parody this season. The bizarreness is certainly there and the plot actually moves, as Troy decides not to join the easy life of air conditionering. Hopefully John Goodman will stick around on the show long enough so we can revisit the plot.
Community episode titles always (like 90%) have something to do with education and learning, so the title for tonight's episode, "Advanced Gay," caught my eye. Advanced Gay what? As it turns out, the missing word didn't matter much.
Score: 8.9/10
Troy choosing between air conditioning and plumbing was hilarious stuff, the best side-parody this season. The bizarreness is certainly there and the plot actually moves, as Troy decides not to join the easy life of air conditionering. Hopefully John Goodman will stick around on the show long enough so we can revisit the plot.
Community episode titles always (like 90%) have something to do with education and learning, so the title for tonight's episode, "Advanced Gay," caught my eye. Advanced Gay what? As it turns out, the missing word didn't matter much.
Score: 8.9/10
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Review - Community Season 3 Episode 5 Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps
"Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps" would have appeared to be a much stronger episode had it not aired after "Remedial Chaos Theory,” both featuring different stories told from different perspectives, but it's another strong episode nonetheless. Scheduling does weird things sometimes and this was one of the instances.
The core of the episode is the characters telling a scary story. Most of them are not good storytellers, with only Annie and Troy telling remotely interesting stories, but the stories are very funny because we can immediately recognize the personality behind the stories and there is plenty of gruesome images throughout the episode
Like most Community episodes, "Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps" ends on a positive note, as the fighting which spread until the end of the episode is resolved. There's no psycho in the group and everyone is happy with each other.
Score: 8.9/10
The core of the episode is the characters telling a scary story. Most of them are not good storytellers, with only Annie and Troy telling remotely interesting stories, but the stories are very funny because we can immediately recognize the personality behind the stories and there is plenty of gruesome images throughout the episode
Like most Community episodes, "Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps" ends on a positive note, as the fighting which spread until the end of the episode is resolved. There's no psycho in the group and everyone is happy with each other.
Score: 8.9/10
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Review - Community Season 3 Episode 4 Remedial Chaos Theory
Well that was great, wasn't it? There have been comments online about how Community hasn't had the break-out episode yet this season, and indeed I would concur that there hasn't been a super-amazing episode yet on the level of a bunch of season two episodes. Community turned that sentiment around with "Remedial Chaos Theory," an episode easily rivaling the best of second season. It's a high-concept episodes, with multiple timelines and whatnot, but the characters are immediately recognizable in all their quirks and it feels very familiar.
I'm not going to go into the plot summary of each timeline since that would take forever, but what made the episode come together was the final timeline, when Jeff goes to get the pizza. He doesn't say no to Britta, allowing for her to start singing and then everyone to start dancing. There is no chain reaction of Britta getting high into all the hijinks that occurred in other timelines. This puts "Remedial Chaos Theory" along the same lines as "Biology 101," in which Jeff is placed as the outsider. I'm interesting to see what happens to Jeff this season.
Score: 9.5/10
I'm not going to go into the plot summary of each timeline since that would take forever, but what made the episode come together was the final timeline, when Jeff goes to get the pizza. He doesn't say no to Britta, allowing for her to start singing and then everyone to start dancing. There is no chain reaction of Britta getting high into all the hijinks that occurred in other timelines. This puts "Remedial Chaos Theory" along the same lines as "Biology 101," in which Jeff is placed as the outsider. I'm interesting to see what happens to Jeff this season.
Score: 9.5/10
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Review - Community Season 3 Episode 3 Competitive Ecology
The study group has always been the center of the Community, the glue that held these different characters together. But "Competitive Ecology" presents the group in a new light where these personalities actually clash. Whether the inclusion of Todd was the main reason for the group blowing up is up for debate, but it was very funny to see all of them go at it.
The Chang plot had nothing to do with the rest of the episode, but it filled up time and was pretty clever, making him into one of those fictional detectives who make random jumps in logic to find the conclusion. Even though there wasn't much sense to the plot, I enjoyed it, especially when he was playing the saxophone.
Score: 9.1/10
The Chang plot had nothing to do with the rest of the episode, but it filled up time and was pretty clever, making him into one of those fictional detectives who make random jumps in logic to find the conclusion. Even though there wasn't much sense to the plot, I enjoyed it, especially when he was playing the saxophone.
Score: 9.1/10
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Review - Community Season 3 Episode 2 Geography of Global Conflict
"Geography of Global Conflict" falls in the category of too weird, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Community has had plenty of weird episodes in the past, but they always came together in the end for something meaningful between the characters. In this week's episode, however, things go crazy and never come back down to earth (or Earth-2).
The A-plot is a Model UN-off with Annie versus Annie Kim, and there's plenty of cartoonish behavior to pass around. There's the floating head montage with Garrett yelling "Crisis alert!" among other nonsensical comments, Jeff constantly calling Annie "kiddo," then Annie and Jeff's semi-creepy conversation. I could buy the Model UN, but Jeff didn't feel like Jeff at times.
The B-plot is even more bizarre, featuring new security guard Chang and renewed protester Britta. Chang needs a lawbreaker to handle and Britta needs to be oppressed, so it's a perfect match, initiating the same romantic song each time. The writers poke fun at this idea of people needing each other, but it is limited by the satirical nature of the plot. Anyway, Chang was a riot while Britta was predictably annoying in activist mode.
Score: 8.3/10
The A-plot is a Model UN-off with Annie versus Annie Kim, and there's plenty of cartoonish behavior to pass around. There's the floating head montage with Garrett yelling "Crisis alert!" among other nonsensical comments, Jeff constantly calling Annie "kiddo," then Annie and Jeff's semi-creepy conversation. I could buy the Model UN, but Jeff didn't feel like Jeff at times.
The B-plot is even more bizarre, featuring new security guard Chang and renewed protester Britta. Chang needs a lawbreaker to handle and Britta needs to be oppressed, so it's a perfect match, initiating the same romantic song each time. The writers poke fun at this idea of people needing each other, but it is limited by the satirical nature of the plot. Anyway, Chang was a riot while Britta was predictably annoying in activist mode.
Score: 8.3/10
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Review - Community Season 3 Episode 1 Biology 101
Although "Biology 101" isn't as good as some of the spectacular episodes of the second season, it contains plenty of laugh and a heady mix of plot. And best of all, Community is back! After an amazing second season with a bunch of unforgettable episodes, everyone must be glad that the third season is here.
The plot deals with a serious issue--what makes the study group the group. If everyone isn't taking the same class, can there be a group? What if one person isn't in the class? The prospects of being left out is scary as Jeff soon learns, but he's back in the biology class by the end of the episode. Still, with these questions about the group and Chang becoming security, the group will be tested more than it ever has.
"Biology 101" had two big guests/cast additions in John Goodman and Michael Kenneth Williams. Goodman's role is right up his wheelhouse, an over-the-top, loud guy who humiliates Dean Pelton. Williams, for obvious reasons, can't be Omar and has to create a new character (though the prospect of Omar walking down the halls of Greendale as students scatter sounds great). As far as we can tell, he's a stickler on rules and kicks Jeff out for his cellphone ringing twice. He's not immediately funny, but we'll see.
Score: 8.8/10
The plot deals with a serious issue--what makes the study group the group. If everyone isn't taking the same class, can there be a group? What if one person isn't in the class? The prospects of being left out is scary as Jeff soon learns, but he's back in the biology class by the end of the episode. Still, with these questions about the group and Chang becoming security, the group will be tested more than it ever has.
"Biology 101" had two big guests/cast additions in John Goodman and Michael Kenneth Williams. Goodman's role is right up his wheelhouse, an over-the-top, loud guy who humiliates Dean Pelton. Williams, for obvious reasons, can't be Omar and has to create a new character (though the prospect of Omar walking down the halls of Greendale as students scatter sounds great). As far as we can tell, he's a stickler on rules and kicks Jeff out for his cellphone ringing twice. He's not immediately funny, but we'll see.
Score: 8.8/10
Friday, May 13, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 24 For a Few Paintballs More
The second season of Community wraps up with a very strong episode, but did we expect anything less? Continuing from last week’s Western-themed paintball, “For a Few Paintballs More” is more community oriented with strands of Star Wars.
There are great scenes in there—Abed as Han kissing Annie during the paint shower, the return of Magnitude (pop pop!), the final shootout—and the episode also resolves a long-running problem, Pierce. He saves the day for Greendale, but when the group asks him to rejoin, he declines.
Score: 9.5/10
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Preview of Week 5/08/11 - 5/14/11
Stargate Universe - SYFY, Monday, May 9, 9:00pm ET
The Stargate franchise comes to an end tomorrow night with the series finale of Stargate Universe. Unlike some people, I won't be too sad. There was already a Hollywood movie, 10 seasons for SG-1, 5 for Atlantis, 2 direct-to-DVD movies, and 2 seasons of Universe. There have been missteps along the way--3 failed video games (I feel sorry for those who bought Resistance), premature cancellations, and the new movies not going ahead--but it's been a long journey which had to come to an end eventually.
Community - NBC, Thursday, May 12, 8:00pm ET
The epic paintball fight which begun last week will continue this week with the second part and season finale.
Bones - FOX, Thursday, May 12, 9:00pm ET
If you watched the promos, something really big is supposed to happen. We'll see if the writers can deliver.
Smallville - CW, Friday, May 13, 8:00pm ET
After ten seasons, Smallville finally comes to an end with a two hour series finale.
The Stargate franchise comes to an end tomorrow night with the series finale of Stargate Universe. Unlike some people, I won't be too sad. There was already a Hollywood movie, 10 seasons for SG-1, 5 for Atlantis, 2 direct-to-DVD movies, and 2 seasons of Universe. There have been missteps along the way--3 failed video games (I feel sorry for those who bought Resistance), premature cancellations, and the new movies not going ahead--but it's been a long journey which had to come to an end eventually.
Community - NBC, Thursday, May 12, 8:00pm ET
The epic paintball fight which begun last week will continue this week with the second part and season finale.
Bones - FOX, Thursday, May 12, 9:00pm ET
If you watched the promos, something really big is supposed to happen. We'll see if the writers can deliver.
Smallville - CW, Friday, May 13, 8:00pm ET
After ten seasons, Smallville finally comes to an end with a two hour series finale.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 23 A Fistful of Paintballs
Before "A Fistful of Paintballs" aired, most people would agree it wouldn't top "Modern Warfare." Maybe it could be better with regard to the internal aspects--plot, character development, direction--but nothing would reach the sheer audacity and ingenuity of the first paintball episode. A second paintball episode just wouldn't have the initial shock and bewilderment of how amazing and unusual it is.
The writers know this and don't try to copy "Modern Warfare," instead changing it into a Western. They capture the spirit of the genre very well, making Annie the tortured hero and Josh Holloway plays the mysterious Black Rider. Best of all, the Community we've come to know and love is still there, with Pierce's attitude returning to center stage once we learn the group voted to kick him out and that Annie voted to keep him.
After the Black Rider is shot, he tells the group that the ice cream company sent him in to retrieve the prize and we see minions exiting the truck. Cue ominous music, references to 24/Lost/The Event and the episode heads right into the season finale next week.
Score: 9.5/10
The writers know this and don't try to copy "Modern Warfare," instead changing it into a Western. They capture the spirit of the genre very well, making Annie the tortured hero and Josh Holloway plays the mysterious Black Rider. Best of all, the Community we've come to know and love is still there, with Pierce's attitude returning to center stage once we learn the group voted to kick him out and that Annie voted to keep him.
After the Black Rider is shot, he tells the group that the ice cream company sent him in to retrieve the prize and we see minions exiting the truck. Cue ominous music, references to 24/Lost/The Event and the episode heads right into the season finale next week.
Score: 9.5/10
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 22 Applied Anthropology and Culinary Arts
I don't know about everyone else, but I have little interest in Shirley's baby. My reasoning is that because Community lies on the fringe so often, something as normal as a baby just doesn't compare. A baby might be a big deal on another show, Parks and Recreation perhaps, but when the show can do something weird and genius regularly, I'm not drawn to the baby.
That's why the main plot of "Applied Anthropology and Culinary Arts" didn't appeal to me much. The stuff surrounding it--Jeff getting Britta to step up, Pierce stealing Troy and Abed's handshake--was great, but the main plot wasn't enough to carry the episode to a higher level.
Now that the baby is not Chang's (though don't Asian and black babies still look dark?), I'm wondering what will become of him. Will he dive into a deep spiral, actually improve, or stay the same? It was really helpful and honest in his own way, and the baby not being his when he laid it on the line may be enough to break him.
Score: 8.8/10
That's why the main plot of "Applied Anthropology and Culinary Arts" didn't appeal to me much. The stuff surrounding it--Jeff getting Britta to step up, Pierce stealing Troy and Abed's handshake--was great, but the main plot wasn't enough to carry the episode to a higher level.
Now that the baby is not Chang's (though don't Asian and black babies still look dark?), I'm wondering what will become of him. Will he dive into a deep spiral, actually improve, or stay the same? It was really helpful and honest in his own way, and the baby not being his when he laid it on the line may be enough to break him.
Score: 8.8/10
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 21 Paradigms of Human Memory
When I read the episode description for "Paradigms of Human Memory," I wondered why Community would retreat to a clip episode when it's been on fire all season long. Was this something to trim the budget? Had the writers run out of ideas? And then I watched the episode.
"Paradigms of Human Memory" is nothing short of brilliant, and it is a clip show, just not the normal kind. Every clip is new, and the episode is a laugh riot. The recollections begin when Chang climbs after the monkey and discovers all the stolen items. We soon learn of Jeff and Britta's ongoing sexual relationship, Abed love of The Cape, the western ghost town, the killer robot, and, best of all, Youtube-style montages of Jeff and Annie giving each others looks along with Abed and Pierce looks, among a bunch of other flashbacks.
The episode has a little emotion tacked on in the end as most Community episodes do, with the group anger at each other for the present, but ready to meet again tomorrow. This may be a dysfunctional group of people, each with his/her many faults, but it works somehow.
Score: 9.6/10
"Paradigms of Human Memory" is nothing short of brilliant, and it is a clip show, just not the normal kind. Every clip is new, and the episode is a laugh riot. The recollections begin when Chang climbs after the monkey and discovers all the stolen items. We soon learn of Jeff and Britta's ongoing sexual relationship, Abed love of The Cape, the western ghost town, the killer robot, and, best of all, Youtube-style montages of Jeff and Annie giving each others looks along with Abed and Pierce looks, among a bunch of other flashbacks.
The episode has a little emotion tacked on in the end as most Community episodes do, with the group anger at each other for the present, but ready to meet again tomorrow. This may be a dysfunctional group of people, each with his/her many faults, but it works somehow.
Score: 9.6/10
Friday, April 15, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 20 Competitive Wine Tasting
I still have a bazillion shows to watch, so this will be very short.
Falling back into normal mode, Community returned with "Competitive Wine Tasting," an episode without any distinct qualities, but is pleasant nonetheless. These characters have been built up so well that practically anything could happen with them and we'd still laugh. There are three distinct plots in the episode--Pierce's girlfriend, Abed being a "Who's the Boss?" wunderkind, and Troy lying about being molested in front of the acting class--each having their unique qualities, notably Pierce not being too mean for once.
Score: 8.7/10
Falling back into normal mode, Community returned with "Competitive Wine Tasting," an episode without any distinct qualities, but is pleasant nonetheless. These characters have been built up so well that practically anything could happen with them and we'd still laugh. There are three distinct plots in the episode--Pierce's girlfriend, Abed being a "Who's the Boss?" wunderkind, and Troy lying about being molested in front of the acting class--each having their unique qualities, notably Pierce not being too mean for once.
Score: 8.7/10
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 19 Critical Film Studies
I don't know where the writers keep coming up with such brilliant, diverse episodes, but they did it again, taking what was supposed to be a Pulp Fiction homage and turning it into a touching glimpse of Jeff and Abed.
"Critical Film Studies," by official billing, was said to pay homage to Pulp Fiction and I could certainly imagine the show doing something like the Goodfellas episode. In reality, however, the Pulp Fiction bit was the supporting role, with the other characters dressed up for a Pulp Fiction themed party and various references that the characters are aware of.
The real story lies in the dinner between Jeff and Abed. Jeff immediately tells Abed is off when he doesn't make pop culture references, which leads to Abed's existential story of visiting the Cougar Town set and pooping his pants after realizing his self-created character was dead. (I love how the writers were willing to mention Cougar Town fifty times.) This leads to Jeff opening up about his own personal trauma, being mistaken as a girl one Halloween.
But as the surprise party gets spoiled, the waiter lets slip an errant phrase, leading to the biggest surprise--Abed has been faking it all along to create a My Dinner with Andre situation. Jeff is initially mad, as one may expect, but Abed is there to soften the blow and the homage party still goes on. While Abed is set as an unchanging character, in opposition to his behavior at the beginning of the episode, I think the writers now have more power over the audience with regards to what they can do to Abed. Abed is still a moldable character, and even if he wasn't being honest this episode, he still has emotional content buried deep beneath everything else.
Score: 9.3/10
"Critical Film Studies," by official billing, was said to pay homage to Pulp Fiction and I could certainly imagine the show doing something like the Goodfellas episode. In reality, however, the Pulp Fiction bit was the supporting role, with the other characters dressed up for a Pulp Fiction themed party and various references that the characters are aware of.
The real story lies in the dinner between Jeff and Abed. Jeff immediately tells Abed is off when he doesn't make pop culture references, which leads to Abed's existential story of visiting the Cougar Town set and pooping his pants after realizing his self-created character was dead. (I love how the writers were willing to mention Cougar Town fifty times.) This leads to Jeff opening up about his own personal trauma, being mistaken as a girl one Halloween.
But as the surprise party gets spoiled, the waiter lets slip an errant phrase, leading to the biggest surprise--Abed has been faking it all along to create a My Dinner with Andre situation. Jeff is initially mad, as one may expect, but Abed is there to soften the blow and the homage party still goes on. While Abed is set as an unchanging character, in opposition to his behavior at the beginning of the episode, I think the writers now have more power over the audience with regards to what they can do to Abed. Abed is still a moldable character, and even if he wasn't being honest this episode, he still has emotional content buried deep beneath everything else.
Score: 9.3/10
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 18 Custody Law And Eastern European Diplomacy
As most loyal viewers probably read by now, Community was renewed for a third season. Assuming that the writers will eventually run out of ideas for those special theme episodes, we're probably in for more normal episodes. "Custody Law And Eastern European Diplomacy" is a good example of a "normal episode," one which I'm perfectly fine having a lot of. There's nothing too innovative about the setup and the plot resolution is predictable, but the show has established these characters so well and the writers know them intimately that they work brilliantly under any circumstances.
The main plot focuses on Chang and his ongoing quest to become... something. We know that Chang isn't quite right in the head, always acting weird and acting ridiculous, but the paternal instinct is there and after a suggestion from Jeff, actually wants to better himself. As far as Jeff goes, I didn't think he was entirely opportunistic when telling Chang to get a job and his own place. While the end result, Chang leaving the apartment, was favorable, Jeff does seem to have a slight bit of sympathy for Chang. The episodes ends amicably, with Andre wanting Shirley to accept Chang like she accepted him.
I found the B-plot, involving Britta, Troy, Abed, and a ethnic cleanser named Luka (played by the wonderful Enver Gjokaj), to be the funnier of the two. Troy and Abed are great as always, but the addition of Britta and her distinct views on the world was hilarious when combined with Luka's background and Britta's past behavior towards her ex-boyfriends.
Score: 8.8/10
The main plot focuses on Chang and his ongoing quest to become... something. We know that Chang isn't quite right in the head, always acting weird and acting ridiculous, but the paternal instinct is there and after a suggestion from Jeff, actually wants to better himself. As far as Jeff goes, I didn't think he was entirely opportunistic when telling Chang to get a job and his own place. While the end result, Chang leaving the apartment, was favorable, Jeff does seem to have a slight bit of sympathy for Chang. The episodes ends amicably, with Andre wanting Shirley to accept Chang like she accepted him.
I found the B-plot, involving Britta, Troy, Abed, and a ethnic cleanser named Luka (played by the wonderful Enver Gjokaj), to be the funnier of the two. Troy and Abed are great as always, but the addition of Britta and her distinct views on the world was hilarious when combined with Luka's background and Britta's past behavior towards her ex-boyfriends.
Score: 8.8/10
NBC renews Community, Parks and Recreation, and The Office
NBC renewed three of their Thursday comedies. While Parks and Recreation and The Office have been doing well, Community has averaged only 2.1 18-49 adults, according to the press release, but it's a reflection on the sad state of NBC.
It's worth noting that NBC has not renewed Outsourced or Perfect Couples, both of which have been struggling even relative to NBC shows. 30 Rock was already renewed last year.
It's worth noting that NBC has not renewed Outsourced or Perfect Couples, both of which have been struggling even relative to NBC shows. 30 Rock was already renewed last year.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 17 Intro to Political Science
It's about time Community settled down after a string of amazing episodes, and "Intro to Political Science" fits the billing. It's a funny episode, to be sure, but it's not one of those wild concept episodes or an episode with an out of control plot. Instead, it feels like a throwback episode, which spoofs a situation with each character playing a role.
Because VP Joe Biden is coming to Greendale, there has to be elections, sparking a hilarious debate. The debate has everything, the stupid, the overly patriotic, the plain senseless, and everything you can expect. And in the end, South Park wins. Jeff and Annie have a friend moment near the end, but nothing beyond that. At this point, the romantic possibilities between them aren't there, which is probably for the better.
Abed, between a casting the election with Troy, gets a minor plot of his own, with a Secret Service agent having a crush on him. It's cute in a weird, Abed sort of way, and hopefully we'll see Eliza Coupe again.
Pierce is an asshole in the episode, ruining Yellow Shirt's day. I think I'll go back to my season 1 practice of ignoring him (or at least I think I did that).
Score: 8.7/10
Because VP Joe Biden is coming to Greendale, there has to be elections, sparking a hilarious debate. The debate has everything, the stupid, the overly patriotic, the plain senseless, and everything you can expect. And in the end, South Park wins. Jeff and Annie have a friend moment near the end, but nothing beyond that. At this point, the romantic possibilities between them aren't there, which is probably for the better.
Abed, between a casting the election with Troy, gets a minor plot of his own, with a Secret Service agent having a crush on him. It's cute in a weird, Abed sort of way, and hopefully we'll see Eliza Coupe again.
Pierce is an asshole in the episode, ruining Yellow Shirt's day. I think I'll go back to my season 1 practice of ignoring him (or at least I think I did that).
Score: 8.7/10
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 16 Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking
Like so many times before, Community switches up the format and shows just how versatile the crew can be. As the title suggests, "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking" is a mockumentary. It covers every character, reaching something deeper inside them, not only for laughs, but also for character development and drama. What makes it even better is that Abed is directing, which makes it somewhat realistic in context of the show.
Annie, after receiving the tiara, thinks the message is that she shouldn't be an elitist; Britta realizes she's terrible with money; Shirley sees that her fear of the group talking bad about her is overblown; Jeff becomes angry about her father after bottling feelings for so long; Troy gets to meet his hero, LeVar Burton, aka Geordi/Reading Rainbow guy, but is so amazed and so worried of disappointing his hero that he spend the entire episode in a state of shock, eyes wide open and completely speechless.
The downside to the episode is Pierce and his behavior. Once again, I'm waffling on Pierce. His pathetic state at the end of the last episode and beginning of this episode would indicate that Pierce might come around and I said last week I was mistaken for ragging on Pierce's increasingly hostile portrayal. But his whole plan during the episode to play a trick on Jeff, and while it does put Jeff in a place to contemplate his father, what Pierce did is still crummy by any measure. So what now? Will Pierce be the eternal jackass of the group who lingers for no reason other than to antagonize people? Community is too good of a show for that to happen--or so I think. For now, I remain cautiously optimistic that he will change eventually, preferably by season's end.
Score: 9.1/10
Annie, after receiving the tiara, thinks the message is that she shouldn't be an elitist; Britta realizes she's terrible with money; Shirley sees that her fear of the group talking bad about her is overblown; Jeff becomes angry about her father after bottling feelings for so long; Troy gets to meet his hero, LeVar Burton, aka Geordi/Reading Rainbow guy, but is so amazed and so worried of disappointing his hero that he spend the entire episode in a state of shock, eyes wide open and completely speechless.
The downside to the episode is Pierce and his behavior. Once again, I'm waffling on Pierce. His pathetic state at the end of the last episode and beginning of this episode would indicate that Pierce might come around and I said last week I was mistaken for ragging on Pierce's increasingly hostile portrayal. But his whole plan during the episode to play a trick on Jeff, and while it does put Jeff in a place to contemplate his father, what Pierce did is still crummy by any measure. So what now? Will Pierce be the eternal jackass of the group who lingers for no reason other than to antagonize people? Community is too good of a show for that to happen--or so I think. For now, I remain cautiously optimistic that he will change eventually, preferably by season's end.
Score: 9.1/10
Friday, February 11, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 15 Early 21st Century Romanticism
I want to say, "Community does it again!" but I probably already said it. "Early 21st Century Romanticism" isn't one of those far-out episodes which stretches reality or the formula of the show. It stays centralized around the Valentine's dance, using the setting to generate individual stories for everyone. Troy and Abed, in the cutest way possible, court the librarian. She chooses Troy, but the bromance proves too strong in the end. Britta gets caught up in a fake lesbian befriending, revealing how pathetic she is (at least in this case). Jeff seems to like Chang more than he did, making sure Chang is okay after the party. And how can you not feel sorry for the guy, after being thrown out of his house?
After ragging on Pierce's portrayal several times this season for his transformation into a complete jackass, I want to take back my words. The final shot of Pierce passed on the bench, along with his slow descent into drugs, shows that writers were planning this from the start. I guess I overlooked the fact that the writers have something larger going for Pierce. He's still not funny (to me), but there is definitely more character development left.
Score: 8.9/10
After ragging on Pierce's portrayal several times this season for his transformation into a complete jackass, I want to take back my words. The final shot of Pierce passed on the bench, along with his slow descent into drugs, shows that writers were planning this from the start. I guess I overlooked the fact that the writers have something larger going for Pierce. He's still not funny (to me), but there is definitely more character development left.
Score: 8.9/10
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Review - Community Season 2 Episode 14 Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Community does it again! "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" manages to frame the entire plot around a Dungeons & Dragons game in the funniest way possible. With the musical cues, everyone becoming increasingly serious about the game, and Annie's vivid sexual descriptions which we can only imagine, I couldn't stop laughing. The writers seamless blended the characters and their personalities, notably Britta's care for the oppressed, into the fantasy world, and succeed yet again with an out-of-the-box episode.
However, I have one issue with the episode. Like I said last week, I'm not a fan of Pierce and his constant bigotry, etc. It's problematic, then, that Pierce is turned into a vile, evil creature in the episode, resembling some kind of grotesque monster from D&D than a human being. The piling on of insults isn't funny but morally bankrupt. As Pierce continues to act like this, I have a hard time seeing any value in him other than as a pure villain. And when is the group going to get rid of him? He's not remotely nice, doesn't have good intentions, and probably doesn't help study.
Score: 9.3/10
However, I have one issue with the episode. Like I said last week, I'm not a fan of Pierce and his constant bigotry, etc. It's problematic, then, that Pierce is turned into a vile, evil creature in the episode, resembling some kind of grotesque monster from D&D than a human being. The piling on of insults isn't funny but morally bankrupt. As Pierce continues to act like this, I have a hard time seeing any value in him other than as a pure villain. And when is the group going to get rid of him? He's not remotely nice, doesn't have good intentions, and probably doesn't help study.
Score: 9.3/10
