SUPER-LATE Review Roundup: 5.02 "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics"
Hello, my precious blueberries! My apologies for not putting this up until today; I was so confuzzled yesterday that I didn't even realize it was Friday until 5:00 PM, and then I had other responsibilities keeping me from putting together a roundup until this morning. Basically what I'm trying to say is that I suck. The episode sure didn't though. I especially enjoyed the Ben Folds cameo; I've been a huge fan since the first Ben Folds Five album back in 1995. But as I've said before, no one cares what IU think, so let's look at some reviews, using the format htbthomas (to whom huge thanks for filling in at the last minute) used last week, because that's faster than the way I usually do it and this is already a day late.
AV Club - Todd van der Werff
“Basic Intergluteal Numismatics” is a stirring paean to the everlasting humor of the word “butts.” It’s a perfect comedy word. (B+)
HitFix - Alan Sepinwall
As a parody of serial killer thrillers like "Zodiac," I thought it worked very well. The best "Community" parody episodes, though, function both as loving tribute to a particular genre and as a character study of one or more members of the study group; it was less successful on that front.
Zap2it - Laurel Brown
"Dark," by the way, is a literal thing in this "Community" episode. With a blue filter on the camera and a whole bunch of mood lighting, the show takes on a new identity. This makes sense though. When a criminal is sticking coins where the sun don't shine, there can be no true sunshine for anyone.
IGN - Eric Goldman
Season 5’s first focused “parody” episode was a standout installment of Community. The Seven/Fincher homages were terrific and hysterical and this will likely be one of the most quoted Community episodes ever among fans, with one awesome line after another. (9.5/10)
Just About Write - Jennifer Marie
The Community writers are NEARLY there, but they’re still hesitant when it comes to completely committing to or developing the show’s romantic element. And whether you ship Jeff/Annie or Duncan/Britta or Troy/Abed for all I know, this unsatisfaction, this not-quite-there element WILL leave a tiny, gerbil-sized void in the series as a whole.
tv.com - Tim Surette
"Basic Intergluteal Numismatics" was a VERY funny episode of Community, and what more can you ask for?
TV Fanatic - Gabrielle Moss
Though parody episodes have been a TV staple for longer than anyone reading this has probably been alive, no one executes them with the fervor and all-around excellence of Community. Those same qualities that sometimes work against the show - that obsession with detail, that willingness to reach conceptually far beyond where any sane TV writer would go - pay off wildly during these kinds of installments. (4.9/5)
Den of Geek - Joe Matar
It’s lucky I’m easily amused by jokes about the buttocks because quite a lot of this episode rides on them. For people unlike me, I could see this episode being a completely alienating experience-Community finally managing to too heavily indulge in its immature side. But to you I say: have you no heart? Or at least no place in your heart for butts?
Sound on Sight - Randy Dankievitch
Not to say “Basic Intergluteal Numismatics” isn’t a funny or enjoyable episode of Community, but there’s so many homages and stories crammed into the final ten minutes, there isn’t enough time for anything to breathe - and ultimately, buries two-thirds of the cast in the background for the entire episode, with nothing to hang its hat on besides its butt jokes and tired Jeff/Annie material.
The TV King - Jerome Wetzel
Despite the dark and serious nature of "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics" it is still very funny.
Twitch - Ben Umstead
What continues to please me about Community after so many years, after all the acknowledged and well worn ups and downs, is that when the show just goes right down the pop culture rabbit hole, and I mean really burrows deep and just owns it and has fun, it goes to a place of such joy, a special place for us die hard fans, the ones who held on.
ScreenCrave - Sarah Shachat
Although it’s odd to get something this stylized this early in the season, concept episodes are what Community does well. (8/10)
Paste - Sean Gandert
Still, while “Numismatics” ended up being a big old mess, at least it was Community, with strange jokes and references and more ideas than it could keep track of, rather than the undead beast that called itself by the same name last season. (6.7/10)
Character Grades - Jon Bowling
It’s thrilling (to see Annie and Jeff together again), scandalous (the underuse of the rest of the cast) and at times downright scary (DON’T TOUCH THE BEAR TROY) but most importantly it’s Community done right and that’s something everyone can enjoy. (B+)
Drunk Monkeys - Matthew Guerruckey
It’s the juxtaposition that sells it-the decision to partner what might be the single silliest plotline in Community history with a parody of one of the most decidedly not silly filmmakers in Hollywood, the dour David Fincher. (7.7/10)
KSiteTV - Derek B. Gayle
The best concept episodes tie flawlessly into either a character arc or character dissection (see "Critical Film Studies" or "Pillows and Blankets"). This one doesn't quite achieve that level of perfection, but it certainly honors the genre with highly detailed and highly entertaining confidence.
GeekBinge - Jared Russo
An amazing return to form by Community with a concept noir episode that is sure to be a classic. The only stain on an otherwise fantastic episode was a narrative shift in gear at the climax. (9.5/10)
Badass Digest - Brian Collins
Otherwise, a solid episode that makes good use of Greendale's expansive supporting cast and earns lots of laughs from their more random character attributes. And ultimately it might inspire someone to see Fincher's Zodiac (which is his best film but also the lowest grossing), so it's a winner in my book.
ScreenCrush - Britt Hayes
“Basic Intergluteal Numismastics” is the perfect blend of everything we love about the show: it’s got humor and loads of heart adorned with loving and clever metatextual references to television and film.
Thanks for reading, everyone!
AV Club - Todd van der Werff
“Basic Intergluteal Numismatics” is a stirring paean to the everlasting humor of the word “butts.” It’s a perfect comedy word. (B+)
HitFix - Alan Sepinwall
As a parody of serial killer thrillers like "Zodiac," I thought it worked very well. The best "Community" parody episodes, though, function both as loving tribute to a particular genre and as a character study of one or more members of the study group; it was less successful on that front.
Zap2it - Laurel Brown
"Dark," by the way, is a literal thing in this "Community" episode. With a blue filter on the camera and a whole bunch of mood lighting, the show takes on a new identity. This makes sense though. When a criminal is sticking coins where the sun don't shine, there can be no true sunshine for anyone.
IGN - Eric Goldman
Season 5’s first focused “parody” episode was a standout installment of Community. The Seven/Fincher homages were terrific and hysterical and this will likely be one of the most quoted Community episodes ever among fans, with one awesome line after another. (9.5/10)
Just About Write - Jennifer Marie
The Community writers are NEARLY there, but they’re still hesitant when it comes to completely committing to or developing the show’s romantic element. And whether you ship Jeff/Annie or Duncan/Britta or Troy/Abed for all I know, this unsatisfaction, this not-quite-there element WILL leave a tiny, gerbil-sized void in the series as a whole.
tv.com - Tim Surette
"Basic Intergluteal Numismatics" was a VERY funny episode of Community, and what more can you ask for?
TV Fanatic - Gabrielle Moss
Though parody episodes have been a TV staple for longer than anyone reading this has probably been alive, no one executes them with the fervor and all-around excellence of Community. Those same qualities that sometimes work against the show - that obsession with detail, that willingness to reach conceptually far beyond where any sane TV writer would go - pay off wildly during these kinds of installments. (4.9/5)
Den of Geek - Joe Matar
It’s lucky I’m easily amused by jokes about the buttocks because quite a lot of this episode rides on them. For people unlike me, I could see this episode being a completely alienating experience-Community finally managing to too heavily indulge in its immature side. But to you I say: have you no heart? Or at least no place in your heart for butts?
Sound on Sight - Randy Dankievitch
Not to say “Basic Intergluteal Numismatics” isn’t a funny or enjoyable episode of Community, but there’s so many homages and stories crammed into the final ten minutes, there isn’t enough time for anything to breathe - and ultimately, buries two-thirds of the cast in the background for the entire episode, with nothing to hang its hat on besides its butt jokes and tired Jeff/Annie material.
The TV King - Jerome Wetzel
Despite the dark and serious nature of "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics" it is still very funny.
Twitch - Ben Umstead
What continues to please me about Community after so many years, after all the acknowledged and well worn ups and downs, is that when the show just goes right down the pop culture rabbit hole, and I mean really burrows deep and just owns it and has fun, it goes to a place of such joy, a special place for us die hard fans, the ones who held on.
ScreenCrave - Sarah Shachat
Although it’s odd to get something this stylized this early in the season, concept episodes are what Community does well. (8/10)
Paste - Sean Gandert
Still, while “Numismatics” ended up being a big old mess, at least it was Community, with strange jokes and references and more ideas than it could keep track of, rather than the undead beast that called itself by the same name last season. (6.7/10)
Character Grades - Jon Bowling
It’s thrilling (to see Annie and Jeff together again), scandalous (the underuse of the rest of the cast) and at times downright scary (DON’T TOUCH THE BEAR TROY) but most importantly it’s Community done right and that’s something everyone can enjoy. (B+)
Drunk Monkeys - Matthew Guerruckey
It’s the juxtaposition that sells it-the decision to partner what might be the single silliest plotline in Community history with a parody of one of the most decidedly not silly filmmakers in Hollywood, the dour David Fincher. (7.7/10)
KSiteTV - Derek B. Gayle
The best concept episodes tie flawlessly into either a character arc or character dissection (see "Critical Film Studies" or "Pillows and Blankets"). This one doesn't quite achieve that level of perfection, but it certainly honors the genre with highly detailed and highly entertaining confidence.
GeekBinge - Jared Russo
An amazing return to form by Community with a concept noir episode that is sure to be a classic. The only stain on an otherwise fantastic episode was a narrative shift in gear at the climax. (9.5/10)
Badass Digest - Brian Collins
Otherwise, a solid episode that makes good use of Greendale's expansive supporting cast and earns lots of laughs from their more random character attributes. And ultimately it might inspire someone to see Fincher's Zodiac (which is his best film but also the lowest grossing), so it's a winner in my book.
ScreenCrush - Britt Hayes
“Basic Intergluteal Numismastics” is the perfect blend of everything we love about the show: it’s got humor and loads of heart adorned with loving and clever metatextual references to television and film.
Thanks for reading, everyone!