series rewatch discussion post: s02e18 - s02e21
Season 2, Episode 18 - Custody Law and Eastern European Diplomacy
Annie decides to organize a baby shower for the expecting Shirley. Shirley, at the same time, tries to keep Senor Chang away from her. Britta has a new mysterious man of interest.
Season 2, Episode 19 - Critical Film Studies
Jeff incorporates Abed's love of cinema and pop culture, into a specially themed Pulp Fiction surprise birthday for him. But the tables are turned as Abed arranges another dinner with an unsuspecting Jeff at another eating establishment, meanwhile the study group eagerly awaits their arrival.
Season 2, Episode 20 - Competitive Wine Tasting
While the crew selects their electives for the spring semester, Pierce gets involved with a woman and Jeff suspects she is up to something.
Season 2, Episode 21 - Paradigms of Human Memory
The school year is ending and the group begins to work on their final Anthropology project. They begin to reminisce on past events that they have experienced together. Troy's monkey even makes a guest appearance only to retreat back to the ventilation system, where Señor Chang tries to track him down.
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!
Okay, so this stretch of episodes is weird for me. I found them funny (mostly) as I usually do but I just didn't enjoy them to the same degree that I did the previous 10-12 episodes. And in retrospect, I wonder if that's because the show was coming off such a long, distinct high. The stretch of episode preceding were so good, funny, heartfelt, etc., that in comparison, these don't stand up? Even though these episodes are good too? Like comparing peanut butter and Wow Butter (something I only recently tried), you know? Anyway, that's my introductory ramble. Let's get to the episodes.
That opening scene is one of my favourite things about Custody Law because of my shipper goggles and basically nothing else. I'm mature enough to admit that. It was funny, for sure, but I loved Annie standing there excited and enthusiastic with a bored but amused Jeff at her back. Every time I see it, I can't help but think of some future AU where they're welcoming their new neighbours to the block while Annie explains about the welcoming committee that's mostly just her (and her husband, Jeff, but he's not a voluntary member). Does someone want to write that for me..? But um, anyway. Did anyone else notice Chang's face when Shirley mentioned that Andre would be raising the baby no matter what? I wish we would have the opportunity to see every one of these actor's in dramatic roles. I actually think Ken Jeong would blow a more serious role out of the water. I doubt it means anything but Annie also makes a face (sort of put off? I'm not sure) when Shirley announces the contents of Chang's gift and Jeff subsequently says they're all things from his apartment - take a second and review the items: cigar cutter, Maxim magazine, and hot sauce. I'd probably make a face too,
So Britta has a reputation for ruining guys (for Troy and Abed) two seasons in? That's pretty awesome. Their friend Lukka, who they've just guaranteed she'll bone (with nary a blink from Jeff - so they're definitely not exclusive), is played by Enver Gjokaj who, confession time, I've never seen in anything outside of Community (and a few random guest appearances on TV shows). This episode made me love him. I don't even know why! Maybe it's because he tends to be involved in the funniest scenes in this episode? The video game scene is probably the best in this episode - Britta gets to be weird and hilarious, Lukka is charming and demonstrates domestic skills, and Troy and Abed's back and forth is like a non-stop volley of jokes. On a side note, at this point, nobody besides Abed (potentially) has any idea that Jeff and Britta are hooking up. Which means that Britta ruined Jeff for Troy and Abed at some point after Anthro 101 (after everyone found out they slept together). As far as they know, she slept with him once, decided she didn't like him, and then ruined him. What are your thoughts on that? Oh, and did you notice the way both Troy and Abed screamed defensively when Lukka asked if they were her boyfriends? Hmm. Your take?
That little scene with Jeff and Shirley, that was cute. Shirley used logic and only a tiny bit of guilt to get Jeff to do something for her ahd really, he gave in with minimal fight. He really does love them! I know, I know, we already knew that, but it's cute to see anyway. That immediately leads into Britta and Lukka's date... Can I just say, he has a really classy dorm room (is it a dorm room?). I actually thought it was a study in someone's house (it's absurdly roomy for a dorm) until we see them making out. Which then leads to another funny scene. I mean, the sad trombone? Amazing. It's interesting to see how they reinforce Britta's love of "broken" (crappy word to use, I know) men and therapizing all in one go. Backtracking a little in the discussion, what do you think of Lukka's character? He's a bit of a walking stereotype but I think the humour is in the fact that he's so absurdly cartoonish? I mean, an Eastern European man who partipates in (and develops a taste for) ethnic cleansing is both a stereotype (see: movie villains about 20% of the time) and not funny. Enver Gjokak has really good delivery, though, right?
Next up, Chang and Jeff. The thing I noticed first? Jeff's coat hook thing? It has multiple hats on it. Are they Chang's? Jeff's? Why do we never see either of them wear the hats? So many questions! Secondly, where does Jeff keep all the confiscated saws? Finally, Jeff walks in and makes for the alcohol right off the bat. I don't think it was intentional but Jeff has a lot of unhealthy habits with alcohol set up from early on, doesn't he? Leaving aside Jeff's potentially problematic behaviours, why is Andre always on campus in this episode? Sorry, sorry, that's not important. Let's go over to Lukka's next scene. Wherein Britta kills it and all three men are weirded out by her incredibly strange behaviour. I really love that the follow up scene, too, where Troy and Abed tear into Britta in this calm but also ridiculous manner. "You're an inhuman person, Britta." How did you feel about Britta's unfair character assassination?
*sigh* The next scene is a blend of humour and heaviness. How do you feel about Jeff's turn on Chang? I mean, yeah, Chang is pretty warped but Jeff was harsh in a way that seemed unwarranted, essentially telling Chang to get out and that he didn't care about him whatsoever. I wouldn't say it was totally undeserved, just that it was mean. Of course, Chang's retaliation makes some of my sympathy evaporate. The scene that follows, with Andre explaining to Shirley why he cheated and why they're making it work... It raises some interesting questions. How'd you interpret the scene? I know a lot of people in the comm have mixed feelings about Andre but I tend to like him, mostly because they presented him in an overwhelmingly positive light. The episode ends pretty quietly. I like that Abed and Troy apologize and acknowledge their fault in the situation even if Britta was also being inconsiderate. All around, an episode I enjoyed more than I remembered doing so in the past, especially considering the marked lack of Annie and Pierce.
I've never seen My Dinner with Andre, first off. But having said that, you know right off the bat that this episode is an homage to something, right? In rewatching the scene where Abed hugs Jeff, it's really interesting to note how awkward the touching looks. It's not, as far as I can tell, just because Jeff isn't reciprocating. It's also because Abed is holding or patting or doing the affectionate gestures on a count - as if he pats Jeff's arms once, twice (getting no reaction, okay), three times. I don't know if it was purposeful or if the script just said 'awkward' or what, but it really was a masterful acting choice on Danny Pudi's part. Speaking of homages and masterful acting choices, how do you guys feel about the side-by-side homage bits - both My Dinner with Andre and Pulp Fiction?
The timing with line delivery in this episode is pretty fantastic. And I love all the little side conversations - Annie and Pierce, Annie and Troy, Britta and Annie, Pierce and Shirley... Troy's jealousy of Jeff? Annie and Troy's commentary of Britta's humblebrag? Shirley's breakdown of Pulp Fiction which, confession time again, even I know is wrong despite not having seen the movie? The main plot of the episode is definitely Jeff and Abed's dinner but man, those Pulp Fiction scenes have excellent by-play between the characters. Does anyone want to try for an explanation of why they're still hanging out with Chang after the previous episode?
Abed's monologue about his Cougartown experience, yay or nay? Jeff's snarky (and hilarious) comments aside, how'd you feel about it? At episode's end, I had a hard time deciding whether or not it was a true story. Or a true story with greatly embellished details. What did you think about his creation of the Chad character? And the fact that Chad fell in love with his best friend? I know it was done for comedic effect but I wish they hadn't ended the monologue with Abed pooping his pants. I mean, it can actually be taken seriously but it seems clear to me that it wasn't intended to be, if that makes sense? But I could be totally wrong, too, I always leave room for that. What comes next in that interaction is something I'm torn on... Did Abed manipulate (in an obvious sense, yes, since the whole dinner was a manipulation, but in that immediate discussion of "real conversation") Jeff into his revelatory confession about lying on a phone sex line?
Community, over the seasons, has done a lot of these "confessions" from characters and I often don't care for them. They feel forced or made up or done as plot points rather than coming off as organic, character developing, and genuine. But this one... I can totally buy it from Jeff. I've long wondered if Jeff is really as much of a ladies' man sex god as he (or the other characters) think he is. In fic, he tends to be written as a guy who goes home with women at bars frequently so that if he hasn't had sex in a few weeks, it's an unbelievable dry spell. Frequently in fics, he's displayed interest in Annie (or she's accidentally living with him, or accidentally pregnant with his baby, or they've made out/had sex/etc. but aren't sure what's between them) and he's still having sex or dating other people while that's happening. And I wonder, do you guys think that's accurate? I'm not saying it's wrong (either of him or the writers, because I've had him do that too) or out of character because this is a question about his character. How vast is the gulf between his canon and fandom characterization, do you think?
Back to the episode, though, rather than my observational ramblings... Jeff destroys a lot of his phones, doesn't he?
Really, though, the stand out here is the acting, yet again. Abed looks uncomfortable, like he knows he's crossing a line but can't stop the train, when Jeff asks if he can tell him something. What do you think Abed assumed it was about? The follow up story is sad but not something that's particularly surprising, again. The betrayal that Jeff displays when he realizes that the conversation wasn't real is painful. I want to see this cast in something serious and dramatic, damnit! The restaurant scenes are intercut with Chang acting as the serpent to Troy's Eve and Troy subsequently attempting to kill Chang. Why are they still hanging out with him?!? Did you think Troy's reaction was fair? In character?
Another needless observation, we know that in the first season, Jeff had to downgrade his condo because he didn't have the necessary funds. This is never addressed again until S5 when he claims his attempt at bullding a practice (and airing commercials) cleaned him out. In the meantime, Jeff throws money around with barely any thought (expensive gift and party for Abed, $800 for damages and Britta stays fired followed by dinner, for instance) and that always strikes me as weird. Anyway, I have long been a proponent of the Jeff/Abed friendship. I'm really glad they had that conversation at the bar that put a cap on the dinner. It explained Abed's motivation and while it doesn't excuse the pain he caused, it did allow a reason for it that meant Jeff could move past it. What were your thoughts on what was, yet again, a surprisingly heavy episode?
If I recall correctly, this has long been one of my least favourite episodes of Community so I've rarely if ever rewatched it. The opening table scene is funny enough but my god, Jeff and Pierce are such a toxic, ugly pair in this episode. I didn't always think that - they were oddly touching in S1 and parts of S2 but perhaps there's a shift post-Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking in theire relationship because right off the bat, I did not like Jeff. Yes, it is largely unheard of that a relatively young, attractive woman would prefer a considerably older man when a relatively young, attractive man is also available. But gosh, Jeff was a jerk about it. I thought his pick up line was a little sleazy and I really, sincerely, absolutely hated that his excuse for being turned down was "Once you get up close, she's actually quite homely." To me, that says his ego is so fragile and he's such an asshole that he immediately dismisses and blames the woman (who had no obligation to him) for not reciprocating his advances. It's gross. Maybe you guys have a more positive take on this interaction and this episode - please share, I'm open to hearing why I'm being too harsh but I doubt you'll convince me.
Which leads into the B-plot (C-plot? C-plot.) which has yet another entire joke that I dislike. There are a couple of critcisms of Community that I can totally and completely whole-heartedly get behind. One of those criticisms? How they often use or hint at sexual trauma in jokes. They're not technically making victims or survivors the butt of the joke but they're not really approaching it seriously (but with humour layered in) as they do with other similarly heavy topics they've addressed (such as, oh, I don't knot, abandonment). Troy decides to fake being sexually assaulted as a child by a family member for attention. Where's the joke? There isn't one. There literally is nothing funny about that except, "haha, he was so desperate to be interesting that he said he'd been assaulted as a kid!" which isn't funny. Because being sexually assaulted doesn't make you interesting, of all things. *sigh* What do you guys think of that development?
So, Pierce comes in with Wu-Mei. Jeff is already overly-invested, if you can't tell. Shirley, though she does point out their age difference, doesn't object to the pairing. Jeff automatically jumps to the money or green card options (by the way, thanks for slipping in that bit of racism with your sexism, Jeff) but Annie maintains that Pierce might be a romantic (apparently, three of his marriages occurred within a month of meeting?) and Annie makes that face again! A more severe version of the distaste she seemed to feel in Custody Law. Of course, this face comes on the heels of Jeff equating a threesome in a hot air balloon with romance. Ugh, as if he could get more gross in this episode... Guys, I really don't mean to hate on Jeff but he's at his most disgusting, rude, antagonistic, and vile in this episode displaying racist, misogynistic and ageist attitudes, behaviours and comments. Like, why, Community, WHY?!?!
So, after everyone leaves the study room, Troy spills to Abed what's going on. Abed offers a quick soundbyte of character analysis ("Britta likes men in pain, it helps her pretend to be mentally healthy.") and then warns Troy that "nothing good can come of this." Did his warning address Troy and Britta (apparently, Troy's attraction is obvious to everyone and requires warning against?) or did it mean the whole situation where Troy pretends to have experienced childhood sexual abuse? Because Troy is pretty blaise about the latter ("Oh, um, I didn't have a painful experience to share in acting class so I made up this story about my uncle trying to touch my butt.") and it seems pretty clear that he understands that Britta finds his made up pain attractive (which is manipulative). Thanks for the portrayal of two main characters as completely gross assholes in the same episode, Community! I don't love that Britta finds herself sexually attracted in the wake of Troy describing his childhood sexual abuse because that's not a helpful response but... Whatever, this episode is not my favourite, clearly.
I do appreciate, in Jeff's meeting with Wu Mei, that she shoots down all of his assumptions because there's really no excuse or reason for him to act like such a colossal asshole. It's nice that Annie immediately calls him on his behaviour. His reaction, to insult her by insinuating that they call her something other than Irony-Free Annie, is not only rude but fairly characteristic of his behaviour this episode, isn't it? I just... Guys, please, point out something, anything redeemable about his behaviour or attitude in this episode up to this point because even Joel McHale can't pull off jerkishness like this! He's not totally horrible in the follow up at the restaurant - that is, he insults Pierce but it seems like he's let go of his anger and weirdly intense feelings around Pierce and Wu Mei's engagement and I'm a little upset, to be honest, that it was a fake out.
Of course, before that happens, Britta shares (and I use that word loosely) that Troy was molested as a child. Why take down two characters when you can take down three? Let me just put this out there, in case anyone needs to read/hear/see it, it is not your job to disclose someone else's history unless they are a danger to themselves, to others, or they ask you to do so. Troy, as far as we know, did not ask Britta to do that - she just blurted out that he was molested to an entire table of their friends and acquaintances in a crowded restaurant. I mean... C'mon! Speaking of shitty behaviour, let's get back to Jeff! He makes his declaration, which is actually all about him, and Wu Mei drops her accent and storms off. Now, I know this shouldn't be unexpected and it isn't - Jeff has done these declarations in the past and does them again later (Advanced Documentary Filmmaking from S4 comes to mind) - but it's more that this is the culmination of crass and ill-spirited behaviour that I object to. In this episode, Pierce has actually NOT been a jerk. It's been all Jeff. And in just a few episodes from now, Pierce "goes bad" but really, whose fault is that? (Rhetorical question, much like "Who's the boss?")
I'm very pleased that Pierce gets to call Jeff out on his shit because, quite frankly, he deserves that moment. Jeff tends to treat Pierce like his feelings and thoughts don't matter. Pierce is a mean and immature character but the study group, for whatever reason, has chosen to continue being friends with him. That means, as Jeff so eloquently put it, that you take him as he is. (Nevermind that they all try to change him, all the time.) While I'm also glad that Troy owned up to lying about the molestation, I didn't care for how that storyline wrapped up - with Britta saying she would never kiss Troy again, Troy implying that she might hopefully fall in love with him one day, and everyone forgiving him. And the implication that he was upset about not being molested.
Okay, you know what? I apologize. I basically just tore down this entire episode. It's one long rant about how I didn't like it. But, that's the truth. I found it a pretty gross episode. I don't think there's a whole lot that can change my mind about that that but, I read every comment on these posts every week, so I'm open to differing viewpoints. If you read through my entire commentary and want to contradict something or disagree, you go for it. I promise to read with an open mind. Oh, but you know what? The episode had one redeeming feature - I loved every single bit with Abed. Every. Single. Bit. (Also, third week in a row with surprisingly little Annie, right? I think Chang has been getting equal or more screentime...)
I liked this episode. I mean, I din't like the revelation of Jeff and Britta sleeping together (I can't help but think they did a poor job fitting it in, despite the fact that they were planning for it as early as 2.11) and I didn't care for the way they sort of... Made Annie out to be waaaaaay more into Jeff (in a very school girl crush way) than he was into her. But, I recognize that my shipping tendencies might have been colouring my past viewings. The first time I watched the episode, I also thought the use of Sara Bareille's Gravity (parodying the very first Jeff/Annie shipping vid by veritas724) was insulting. I don't think that anymore (and veritas724 has said that she didn't take it that way) although I do think that Dan Harmon was invested in Jeff and Britta as a trope-defying relationship to the detriment of the show.
That is, I don't know how personally Dan Harmon was invested in the relationships on his show but I do think he cared about Jeff/Britta and wanted them together because he felt it was creatively unique and trope-defying. People, myself included, speculate about what Harmon's old interviews meant and what his comments mean now and how they should be interpreted altogether as a whole... And I have no answers, just my two cents. he conceit of the episode itself is clever (a clip show, which I've always enjoyed for the sentimental nostalgia, with all new footage? Awesome.) and I think Dan Harmon felt similarly about the relationships and tropes employed on the show - he wanted them to be clever and his take on them unique.
But um, on to the viewing. You guys may not know this but I type these commentaries and watch at the same time which is why it's sometimes disjointed. Having said that, the opening sequence where Chang, suddenly and without being asked to, strips off and oils up is among my favourite things ever. He was used in a pretty excellent manner in both S1 and S2, in my opinion. What are your Chang-related feels?
The positioning in this episode is neat to realize. Jeff and Britta stand together and happily reminisce even as the rest of the group, crowded together on the other side of the room, acknowledges the 'darkness' of the year. It's a really obvious way of telegraphing what's coming next and yet, in my first viewing (and immediate rewatches years ago) I didn't see it. So, Abed mentions, specifically, three times that Jeff and Britta hooked up. We don't actually know if there were many more or if it was just a once-in-a-while-because-this-is-convenient thing but I tend to believe it wasn't as frequent as people sometimes make it out to be? I feel like if it was every week, that would be a lot closer to verging on an exclusive arrangement but everything in the season contraindicates that, so. I don't know. What do you think was the state/definition/expectations around Jeff and Britta's relationship? There's been a lot of discussion on this in past weeks but this episode really brings the idea of relationships, romantic, sexual, and emotional entanglements to a head, doesn't it?
First, they remember some "good" times that only Jeff and Britta think are good (two memories). Then, Abed describes times that Jeff and Britta had secret sex (to his knowledge, three memories), followed by Troy and Pierce recounting how often Jeff and/or Britta have been selfish (five memories, two of Jeff, two of Britta, one of them both). That is countered by Jeff and Britta informing the group of how often each of them has been selfish (seven memories, two of which are just Pierce). Uh, I'm inclined to agree with the group - according to (admittedly faulty) memory, Jeff and Britta are on par with Pierce for selfishness. That breakdown (which I've never bothered to do before) makes you think... What were the intentions with how that was presented, do you think? Of course, it doesn't stop there, because that's not ambitious enough. Annie decides to publicly confront Jeff about his feelings for her because that's worked so well in the past (offering up five memories) with Shirley, Britta and Abed all widening their eyes in reaction to her announcement. Now, Jeff won't let that go without immediately repudiation so he shoots back with Abed and Pierce (who share four memories). And because Jeff is being an asshole now, he makes the Dean cry by pointing out his numerous costume changes (five memories). Abed points out how frequently the group fights (three memories) with Annie declaring the group toxic (not the first time, not the last).
If anyone is keeping count, that is 35 clips.
The group just decides not to fight. Which... I don't know what that says. I guess it speaks to them recognizing their unhealthy patterns and attempting to step around them for now. Jeff, not one to let go easily, closes it out with a speech (14 clips, 9 "unique" memories) that ends in a group hug. I will say, it appears he makes eye contact with Britta and smiles, given the context of the episode, make of that what you will. Immediately thereafter, the group says it's cool if they hook up and they end it - both of them indicating Jeff is the issue (him out of courtesy, Britta out of... Honesty, desire to insult Jeff, who knows?) and that's that, apparently.
To be honest, it's a weird episode in terms of character development and even overarching plot. My affection for the episode stems largely from my love of clip shows so maybe that doesn't say much? How'd you feel about the concept? The execution? The various clips? The group's decision to just stop fighting? What plot thread started in the clips would you most like to follow up with? There's both a lot and not much to say all at once. Annie used memories that didn't really indicate the chemistry between them (and we, as viewers, know there are better ones) so what does it say about her that she didn't use the most obvious examples? And what does it say to the group, who may or may not take her seriously? I mean, none of them looked surprised that there was something between Jeff and Annie... Do you think demonstrating the chemistry between Abed and Pierce was a dick move on Jeff's part? Or in character? (I vote in character AND a dick move, but very in character.)
If you're interested, here's the breakdown (with a very brief description) of each clip:
Good memory - ghost town
Good memory - glee club
Abed remember J/B sex - Hallowe'en
Abed remembering J/B setting up sex - Christmas
Abed remembering J/B post-coital - St. Patrick's Day
Jeff being selfish -Jeff taking Troy's wig in barber class
Britta being selfish - Britta interrupting Troy & Abed watching The Cape
Jeff being selfish - Jeff yelling the group is giving away iPhones to avoid talking
Britta being selfish - Britta borrowing Annie's lipbalm without asking then throwing it
Jeff & Britta being selfish - they betray the group during Habitat for Humanity
Pierce being selfish - he steals the flu vaccine from nursery program
Shirley being selfish - introduces Annie, Britta, and Abed to Lady Miss Lady cosmetics
Pierce being selfish - He caw caws and steals Abed's sandwich
Troy & Abed being selfish - they pretend to be Jeff and make fun of him
Troy being selfish - he punctures the St Patrick's Day raft
Abed being selfish - he pretends to be The Cape and knock's over Jeff's lunch
Annie being selfish - she punched Pierce and Shirley during martial arts practice
Jeff/Annie - he stares at her in the lunch line
Jeff/Annie - he saves her from stepping in shit in ghost town
Jeff/Annie- he gives her the Heimlich Manouevre
Jeff/Annie - he saves her from Boobatron 5000
Jeff/Annie - jump rope competition
Pierce/Abed - Abed gives him change at the vending machine
Pierce/Abed - Pierce watches Abed pretend to be The Cape
Pierce/Abed - Abed lets Pierce know his zipper is down in ghost town
Pierce/Abed - jump rope competition
The Dean - Catwoman
The Dean - Baroque
The Dean - Tina Turner
The Dean - Caesar
The Dean - Gone with the Windows
The group - camping and fighting
The group - painting the nursery and fighting
The group - caesar salad day and fighting
Jeff speech - haunted house
Jeff speech - drug cartel holding them hostage
Jeff speech - a locomotive that runs on us
Jeff speech - shark hunting?
Jeff speech - haunted house again
Jeff speech - caesar salad day
Jeff speech - camping
Jeff speech - straight jackets
Jeff speech - bed bugs
Jeff speech - caesar salad day again
Jeff speech - the cape
Jeff speech - drug cartel again
Jeff speech - sharks again
Jeff speech - straight jackets and Harrison Ford irradiating their testicles
Go ahead and dissect it in the comments. We're coming down to the final stretch of S2 and I'll probably have a lot to say. Sorry!