series rewatch discussion post: s02e06 - s02e09
Season 2, Episode 6 - Epidemiology
When some of the Greendale staff and students ingest a bio-hazardous substance, they start to develop flu-like symptoms and turn into zombies. The group will have to save the others and themselves when the Dean locks them in with the infected.
Season 2, Episode 7 - Aerodynamics of Gender
After an encounter with a group of "mean girls", Annie, Britta and Shirley turn to Abed to make him the ultimate "mean girl". Meanwhile, Jeff and Troy embrace a zen-like spirituality and find a hidden trampoline on campus.
Season 2, Episode 8 - Cooperative Calligraphy
Annie's favorite pen goes missing, and she suspects that someone in the group took it. Then study room is put on lock down, and Jeff starts conducting the investigation. Troy and Abed are especially anxious to get out of the room in order to make it to the Greendale Puppy Parade in time.
Season 2, Episode 9 - Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design
As the Dean is going over class schedules, he finds out that Jeff Winger is enrolled in a class that does not exist. When it seems that Jeff is going to be caught in the lie, a mysterious Professor Professorson emerges from the shadows and states that Jeff has been taking his class: "Conspiracy Theories in U.S. History" during night school. Jeff later admits to Annie that he has never seen Professor Professorson before in his life, so they decide to investigate who he really is. Meanwhile, Troy and Abed are building the most elaborate blanket fort in Greendale history.
Reminder: No bashing of other characters, ships or fans. Gifs, graphics, recs and other fan creations in relation to these episodes are encouraged in the comments. Be civil and respectful in all discussions and have fun!
This episode starts a long stretch of episodes that I (mostly) enjoy watching over and over again. Just, absolutely excellent. Having said that, though, there are some minor things I take issue with (they don't always balance character development with plot, for starters), starting in Epidemiology. This episode pretty much shoved Jeff's jerkiness, upon rewatch, in my face. I don't actually take issue with that - I think it's very much in character that Jeff was still an asshole in early S2. My evidence in Epidemiology? He shuts down Troy, he adopts a 'fend-for-yourself' attitude (literally, as soon as he realizes they're in danger), doesn't react when Annie or Shirley goes down and yet, he manages to maintain his arrogance right up until the end where it gets him zombified. I actually cheered when I saw him go down. What are your feelings about Jeff in this episode? I don't think I ever quite realized how much (3.5 years into the fandom) I might dislike Jeff upon rewatch. That isn't to say my dislike lasts (it varies episode to episode) but there's no denying, for me, that fandom paints him as changing/growing a lot sooner than he actually did, I think. Do you think the way fandom sees the characters measures up with what's shown on screen? Or is fandom likely more accurate than the, technical, Word of God?
On another note, I'm pretty sad that nothing came of Annie and Rich. While I tend to agree that there's something creepy about him, I'm on board with Annie - he was into her! Although I thought it was weird that Annie (ostensibly a second year community college student in an unrelated field) realized that the pathogen was transmitted via bite and Rich, the experienced doctor, didn't. No? Nobody else thought that was strange? (Oh, and if anyone wants to discuss whether Community is guilty of queerbaiting with Troy and Abed, this is a good episode discussion to do it.) Overall, though, I loved this episode. I'm a big fan of the zombie genre and I loved that Troy and Abed were the heroes - this episode was a celebration of nerdhood far more than some episodes. Plus, as per usual, it was eminently quotable. Feel free to share your favourites in the comments.
Can anyone tell me, in Aerodynamics, if Jeff is wearing runners or dress shoes? Because I've paused and double-checked and looked a bunch and cannot tell (though I'm pretty sure he's wearing dress shoes) and it is driving me up the wall. On a completely unrelated note, I don't love the Abed/Shirley/Annie/Britta plot. It tends to lean hard into the stereotype of 'women as bitches' and I get it, I do, because I'm a woman and I went to high school which is a hotbed of people being unnecessarily cruel to each other while high on fluctuating hormones. The saving grace of that plot line is that it allows the women (and Abed) a storyline that is completely divorced from romance and sexual entanglements. Also, Chang's reactions are just about the best. Ken Jeong nails it so well in this episode. P.S. I adore blissed-out Troy and Jeff (another friendship I wish they had developed further) and I would totally do yoga with Jeff. How did you feel about the execution of the 'women as bitches' trope and the ultra-relaxed Troy and Jeff? I did think the guest stars in this episode were on point. I appreciated Hilary Duff's limited arc and Matt Walsh is just the best (go watch Veep if you haven't already!) and Andy Dick was not overbearingly obnoxious as I sometimes find him, so woot! Was this episode the beginning of Pierce's descent into villainy? I think it might have been.
Ah, Cooperative Calligraphy, the episode that sent many shippers' hearts a-flutter. Is it wrong that I understand both sides of the conflict, Annie's and the rest of the group? Because it's a Type A nightmare to see little things like that go missing. I can honestly understand her frustration. That aside, let's discuss the shippy stuff. According to DVD commentary, Gwynnifer wasn't real but Jeff's phone dialed and, honestly, despite Dan Harmon's assertions, I think she was real as of the time of the episode's writing. But that's my take. Do you agree with Dan Harmon? It's an interesting episode and the showdown between Jeff and Annie remains one of my favourite scenes, but this is a good example of an episode that balanced concept and character exposition/development. I don't think anyone or anything sincerely changed as a consequence of this episode (except maybe Pierce?) but I feel like little details about the characters and/or their relationships with each other were revealed. Is there anything that stood out to you or was it just good entertainment (or bad) plain and simple?
Good gosh, Conspiracy Theories is one of my favourite episodes of the entire show's run. Britta's dismissal of Troy and Abed's blanketfort runs parallel to Jeff's arrogance and belief in his own coolness which is one of the biggest things I dislike about both of them. And part of why, personally, I don't feel like they work as a couple. This episode also demonstrates that however you define their relationship, it was not exclusive or particularly possessive in nature. Any (non-bashing) thoughts about Jef and Britta in this episode given what we know in retrospect? Moving on to the fun stuff, which is literally EVERYTHING ELSE in this episode, the way Jeff says "I don't know!" is something I have worked into my daily vocabulary and I can quote, by heart, the exchange between Pavel and Troy & Abed. This ep also introduces one of my favourite professors. How do you feel about the various staff members introduced during the show's run?
I'm not sure it's a particular choice but have you noticed that in the previous episode, Jeff and Britta matched and in this episode, Jeff and Annie match? Also, how has nobody written fic about how Jeff felt when Annie boob-bumped him? Hmm? I can't believe how much effort went into Annie and the Dean teaching Jeff a lesson. But I guess that's a hallmark of Annie's dedication and the Dean's extra time. At what point do you think Jeff honestly figured out what was going on? I have, many times, tried to figure out how many double crosses there were and I always get confused. So I'm going to try working it out right here:
1. The Dean and Annie decide to teach Jeff a lesson.
2. Jeff realizes Annie and Dean are trying to teach him a lesson, he comes up with a plan.
3. Annie shoots Garrity.
4. The Dean shoots Annie, Jeff confesses.
5. Jeff shoots the Dean, and Annie comes to, and Jeff confronts her.
6. The Dean comes back to life and Jeff confesses to plotting with the Dean.
7. Annie pulls a gun on the Dean and Jeff and goes off-book.
8. Annie shoots Jeff, which the Dean knew nothing about, by all accounts.
9. Jeff comes to and the Dean admits to teaming up with anyone.
10. Cops burst in and Garrity is shot, thus ending the shootings and fake deaths.
That scene had so much going on. Sheesh. Where exactly do you think Annie went off-script? How cathartic do you think it was for her to shoot him? They both ended up so committed to the entire scene and teaching the Dean a lesson... They worked like a well-oiled machine. In the blanketfort, after the fact, Jeff seems duly impressed by Annie and her improvisation. How much do you think he felt was genuine, if any at all? Britta sure casts them a suspicious glare. Guys, I really can't think of much I didn't like about this episode. It was funny, it was witty, it was a little bit shippy (there was, technically, nothing truly overt), and it had a blanketfort. What are your thoughts?