RE: In Defence of Jeff Winger (Part 2)lunarblue21December 8 2014, 22:32:33 UTC
Hmmm, good points.
However, my own rationale for this is right after Borchert utters his famous line, watch carefully the expression on Jeff's face. There's a sense that a lightbulb just went off in his head and he knows what to do, so that's my reasoning for postulating that Annie's personal sacrifice instigates another one from Jeff himself, because being open with how he feels is a personal sacrifice for Jeff.
Thing is, Jeff does stare in shock (and with a bit of longing) once the lights come on after the Milady/Milord exchange and he just. can't. pull. himself. away from looking at Annie (arguably another lightbulb moment) even though you can clearly see how freaked out he is by the sheer intensity it is that he feels for her.
How he goes through the line makes sense though - I feel like he knew subconsciously what was going to happen, so, like you said, it's more like he's trying to evade them but in a way it can't be because LOOK AT HIS FACE when Borchert says the "in theory, a blast of human passion" line and there's like an awakening there. And right after that "awakening" on his face, he immediately orders everyone around but then goes through all of them, like he's testing himself.
But Annie is last because subconsciously he's aware of how HOW MUCH he feels for her and if his test is right, then he can't run away from it anymore (see how this ties into his personal sacrifice growth theme that I brought up?) and here's a good meta that explains it: http://fmptard.tumblr.com/post/83391136096/oh-my-god-i-finally-realized-jeff-was-testing
In any case, it's most likely scenario 2, in that Jeff has a hunch deep down that Annie would be the blast, but is trying to keep himself oblivious to it and then it SMACKS him over the head. Again. Like in Urban Matrimony.
RE: In Defence of Jeff Winger (Part 2)cgkm2099zDecember 9 2014, 02:42:31 UTC
I never thought of it as him testing himself. But I like that idea. I never noticed the deep breaths he was taking before. So how about this: Dan Harmon said that Britta and Jeff only love each other when it comes the fear of ending up alone, hence the marriage arrangement at the end of Basic Story. But when Annie gives her Edison speech, you can see the affect it has on Jeff. He felt something there, and he knew it. But he can't process it that fast, so when it looks like they're going to be trapped down there and can't save the school, he goes back to Britta for the reasons for the reasons Dan (and Abed) stated. But then Borchert reveals he founded Greendale, and Jeff finds the paperwork that provides a real opportunity to save the school. If the school can be saved, then the last five years aren't a waste, and them maybe, just maybe, he doesn't have to settle. Maybe there is something better. And maybe what he felt when Annie made her speech is the thing that's better. But he's never known what real love is and he's convinced himself that he's just friends with Annie. So when Borchert says they need a blast of human passion, he sees the opportunity to test it. He tells everyone to turn around because it's the only way he can bring himself to run the test. And yeah, he actually does look nervous. And now I'm thinking it's because of dawning realization that he actually does feel something more than friendship for Annie. And if this technology really works, then he's about to get the definitive answer to the most important question of his life. Who wouldn't be nervous? So he sets the baseline by looking at the Dean, Britta and Abed. I never really understood why he would look at the Dean at all, I mean they're friends, but inciting a blast of human passion? Jeff would know that wouldn't work with him. But as a means of baselining his test, it completely makes sense. And you're right, he does keep staring for a while, which would make sense as a "Oh my God, it's true" realization.
So then it wouldn't so much be a case of him avoiding his feelings, as it would be him having been oblivious prior to Annie's speech, but then starting to realize the truth and then needing to test it to know for sure. In a way, it's the opposite because for once he isn't avoiding the answer, he's meeting it head on. But then he has to cover it up because he isn't ready to deal with the consequences of this revelation. Oh Jeff...
I like that better than what I said in my first reply. I'm sold, this is my new interpretation. I hope I didn't just restate what you were trying to say... Had to work through it myself :)
RE: In Defence of Jeff Winger (Part 2)lunarblue21December 9 2014, 03:07:15 UTC
I've always noticed how breathless and anxious he looks when watching that scene, which just amplifies the feels/goosebumps I get from watching it because that scene is just rife with so much emotion and you can see how much this is affecting Jeff - and most things do NOT get to him THIS deeply - and it's like, wow.
And yeah, he actually does look nervous. And now I'm thinking it's because of dawning realization that he actually does feel something more than friendship for Annie. And if this technology really works, then he's about to get the definitive answer to the most important question of his life. Who wouldn't be nervous? So he sets the baseline by looking at the Dean, Britta and Abed. I never really understood why he would look at the Dean at all, I mean they're friends, but inciting a blast of human passion? Jeff would know that wouldn't work with him. But as a means of baselining his test, it completely makes sense. And you're right, he does keep staring for a while, which would make sense as a "Oh my God, it's true" realization.
I think when we get to this episode later this week I will get more screencaps because Jeff makes some quite revealing faces here and I've already pointed out the lightbulb one. He actually looks up when Borchert says, "In theory, a blast of human passion could shock the mainframe into a cold start" and there is just something in his eyes that shows that he knows that he has the feelings strong enough to do that since he's been subconsciously in love with Annie (and aware of it) since S3, though since he pulled the Milady/Milord exchange from S1, ep 6, the implication is that they've been growing inside him for some time, so that he would have quite a burst for the door to open.
However, Jeff is so emotionally closed off that he's lied to himself/been in denial so long that only Racquel can provide the answer to the question he seeks, which is why after hearing Borchert's explanation, that he almost desperately reaches for that headset and begins setting the baseline for his test. And then when his answer is the one he wants so badly (but has been telling himself for years that he shouldn't be able to have) he still keeps staring at Annie longingly and doesn't jerk away from her until she is the first (the first!!) to turn around, and then he does his shy boyish guy-with-a-crush thing and averts his gaze from her before she's able to catch him staring at her and it lands (much to his regret later I'll bet) on the dean.
So then it wouldn't so much be a case of him avoiding his feelings, as it would be him having been oblivious prior to Annie's speech, but then starting to realize the truth and then needing to test it to know for sure. In a way, it's the opposite because for once he isn't avoiding the answer, he's meeting it head on. But then he has to cover it up because he isn't ready to deal with the consequences of this revelation. Oh Jeff...
Hehe, yep, this. Of course, he has to deal with it now since Annie's personal sacrifice called forth his own so c'mon S6 hurry up and get here I need answers!
However, my own rationale for this is right after Borchert utters his famous line, watch carefully the expression on Jeff's face. There's a sense that a lightbulb just went off in his head and he knows what to do, so that's my reasoning for postulating that Annie's personal sacrifice instigates another one from Jeff himself, because being open with how he feels is a personal sacrifice for Jeff.
Thing is, Jeff does stare in shock (and with a bit of longing) once the lights come on after the Milady/Milord exchange and he just. can't. pull. himself. away from looking at Annie (arguably another lightbulb moment) even though you can clearly see how freaked out he is by the sheer intensity it is that he feels for her.
How he goes through the line makes sense though - I feel like he knew subconsciously what was going to happen, so, like you said, it's more like he's trying to evade them but in a way it can't be because LOOK AT HIS FACE when Borchert says the "in theory, a blast of human passion" line and there's like an awakening there. And right after that "awakening" on his face, he immediately orders everyone around but then goes through all of them, like he's testing himself.
But Annie is last because subconsciously he's aware of how HOW MUCH he feels for her and if his test is right, then he can't run away from it anymore (see how this ties into his personal sacrifice growth theme that I brought up?) and here's a good meta that explains it: http://fmptard.tumblr.com/post/83391136096/oh-my-god-i-finally-realized-jeff-was-testing
In any case, it's most likely scenario 2, in that Jeff has a hunch deep down that Annie would be the blast, but is trying to keep himself oblivious to it and then it SMACKS him over the head. Again. Like in Urban Matrimony.
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So then it wouldn't so much be a case of him avoiding his feelings, as it would be him having been oblivious prior to Annie's speech, but then starting to realize the truth and then needing to test it to know for sure. In a way, it's the opposite because for once he isn't avoiding the answer, he's meeting it head on. But then he has to cover it up because he isn't ready to deal with the consequences of this revelation. Oh Jeff...
I like that better than what I said in my first reply. I'm sold, this is my new interpretation. I hope I didn't just restate what you were trying to say... Had to work through it myself :)
Reply
And yeah, he actually does look nervous. And now I'm thinking it's because of dawning realization that he actually does feel something more than friendship for Annie. And if this technology really works, then he's about to get the definitive answer to the most important question of his life. Who wouldn't be nervous? So he sets the baseline by looking at the Dean, Britta and Abed. I never really understood why he would look at the Dean at all, I mean they're friends, but inciting a blast of human passion? Jeff would know that wouldn't work with him. But as a means of baselining his test, it completely makes sense. And you're right, he does keep staring for a while, which would make sense as a "Oh my God, it's true" realization.
I think when we get to this episode later this week I will get more screencaps because Jeff makes some quite revealing faces here and I've already pointed out the lightbulb one. He actually looks up when Borchert says, "In theory, a blast of human passion could shock the mainframe into a cold start" and there is just something in his eyes that shows that he knows that he has the feelings strong enough to do that since he's been subconsciously in love with Annie (and aware of it) since S3, though since he pulled the Milady/Milord exchange from S1, ep 6, the implication is that they've been growing inside him for some time, so that he would have quite a burst for the door to open.
However, Jeff is so emotionally closed off that he's lied to himself/been in denial so long that only Racquel can provide the answer to the question he seeks, which is why after hearing Borchert's explanation, that he almost desperately reaches for that headset and begins setting the baseline for his test. And then when his answer is the one he wants so badly (but has been telling himself for years that he shouldn't be able to have) he still keeps staring at Annie longingly and doesn't jerk away from her until she is the first (the first!!) to turn around, and then he does his shy boyish guy-with-a-crush thing and averts his gaze from her before she's able to catch him staring at her and it lands (much to his regret later I'll bet) on the dean.
So then it wouldn't so much be a case of him avoiding his feelings, as it would be him having been oblivious prior to Annie's speech, but then starting to realize the truth and then needing to test it to know for sure. In a way, it's the opposite because for once he isn't avoiding the answer, he's meeting it head on. But then he has to cover it up because he isn't ready to deal with the consequences of this revelation. Oh Jeff...
Hehe, yep, this. Of course, he has to deal with it now since Annie's personal sacrifice called forth his own so c'mon S6 hurry up and get here I need answers!
Reply
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