Where'd the Sweetness Go? A Community rant

[em1983]

This is the thing: Jeff is a jerk. We've known that from the beginning, but it was his vulnerability to this strange, lovable group that endeared him to us. So where did that go

Comments

[westwingwolf]

I'm not in entire agreement with the oddness of Jeff. I don't see it coming out of nowhere. Yes, I think it's odd that he wasn't spending as much time with other characters as he was Britta, and I hated how little interaction there was with Annie. But I managed to come up for some reasonable explanations for it.

First, his "crave young flesh" comment: A) I loved it because I'll love any chance to mock Twilight. B) It came more from his annoyance with Shirley at the moment. Everyone expects him to behave better, and perhaps he should, so he lashes out at Shirley. It was an intense situation and it called for quick moments so unfortunately no nice side cutaway for him to look at Annie apologectically. They had to keep the pace of the situation, and the only chance to do so would have been after Abed's speech but the scene needed to end on his exit and Jeff's reaction to it. He does feel guilty about hurting the group afterwards so that was enough of me. Did he feel more for Annie than he let on? I like to think so. But I don't think he was going to say that especially when everyone (save Annie) was on his case about it. He was cornered so he attacked and damn the consequences. I also think he does feel as he stated that it would be wrong of him to like Annie because of her age, because he is trying to be a good guy and this would be just one more thing against him. And I think (and hope) the awkwardness of Jeff and Annie will be explained and perhaps resolved somewhat in this week's episode. I think Annie's hurt feelings over the whole kiss (because nor do I think she meant what she said about kissing Jeff just to be cool...or at least is wasn't her only reason...people hide their feelings and making execuses. She could have even been lying to herself and not know it until a tense moment forces her to realize it.) will come out and they will deal with the consequences of saying what has been unsaid so far.

I think the fact that Jeff has been able to spend so much time with Britta shows that the repercussions of the Tranny Dance didn't bother either of them so much. These two accept that neither was right in their petty fighting. No awkwardness because it didn't affect them as much. It is resolved for them. Yet the awkwardness we all feel between Jeff and Annie suggest it isn't resolved yet and hopefully will be. I don't believe in the 'Jeff & Britta are doing it' theory for all the reasons you said. It's pointless for the two of them to do so. Nothing good can come out of their relationship except friendship.

As for Jeff in Accounting for Lawyers, I think Jeff's been in this bubble with the group and campus. He hasn't had the chance to hang out with his old buddies. So I believe his bad behavior reflects what would happen if an addict were faced with a chance to relapse. It wasn't going to be easy for him to automatically be the good guy to his friends when it is so easy for him to go back to being a jerk if he has the chance to hang out with his jerky friend. If Annie had the chance to take adderall again, I don't think she would automatically say no. I don't think she'd take it right away either, but I think she would keep the pills with her and give it serious thought before hopefully eventually throwing them away. This was Jeff's test, and he failed at first, but he eventually came through and did the right thing. Better than ditching the group completely which he would have done without second thought if this was the second episode of the first season.

[westwingwolf]

As for Jeff not worrying about Annie where Alan was concerned, well the episode is trying to sexualize Annie. Most noticibly in this episode, and in Psychology of Letting Go, plus recently in Cooperative Calligraphy. It's counterproductive to have Jeff say "keep away from her, she's too young" in the same episode that has Troy & Abed checking her out. It throws the audience off. He might be thinking it, he probably is, he did request that they find her before they left so there was worry in some form, but in those moments he's in jerk Jeff mode so he's got his priorities which is to not be embarrassed by the group. Again, not nice, but like I said he's closer than he's ever been to his old life and it would make less sense if he immediately said "you're right guys, I thank you for showing me the error of my ways" as soon as they show up. You know plus, no reason for the episode then.

The "I can't believe I made out with both of you" comment: I thought it was funny. Annie and Britta were being complete killjoys and even though Jeff's intentions with Pierce weren't at all good, Annie & Britta should have had some comment about it. He wasn't happy that they weren't interested in his plot in any way. They weren't the Annie & Britta that he knew, and I bet Jeff likes to think that he wouldn't date/kiss/make out with/have sex with uninteresting people so he made that comment. Plus he put them on the same level even though he did more with Britta, and had probably been reluctant before that to even call the kiss with Annie 'making out.'

Yes, I think Cooperative Calligraphy was the best episode so far. Yes, I want more episode like that one. But I don't agree with the idea that Jeff's character is regressing, or at least is doing so without reason. He's new to this still even at one year, compared to his whole life. He is not always going to immediately have the non-asshole reaction. The good thing is he always recovers. I suspect for the rest of his life, and the rest of the series there will be instances where he has to force himself to behave non-selfishly and not be a jerk. His behavior might be because he's holding back on purpose, at least I hope that is what the writers are doing. So I'll reserve judgement and wait to see how the rest of the season pans out.

And at the end of the day, I have to remember this is comedy. It's purpose is to make me laugh, if I laugh at the joke then I don't give much thought to anything else it could mean. Sometimes there will be the 'Jeff is a jerk' episode to tell a story, as long as the storyline has a fresh take then I don't mind. The one with his 'friend' was a fresh take because we'd never seen him confronted with his old life.

Sorry for the longness of this post.

[westwingwolf]

Again, sorry just clarifying: I meant the show is trying to sexualize Annie in that first sentence.

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