I still feel like Annie, and especially her dynamic with Jeff, is not being written with the sublety it deserves. The 'fantasy' was creepy to begin with, and her 'getting carried away' was too much. Annie fantasizes, but that? I did like very much that the hotel staff thought she was the nicest person, and I'd have liked instead showing on that subplot.
Shirley was pitch perfect! Her earnestness in trying to keep Inspector Spacetime for Troy and Abed (something she doesn't like or understand) was fabulous, and Yvette makes one hundred different kinds of head shakes for one hundred different different ways of 'no.' Hers in the background plus Abed's 'I hate you' made that tag!
Meanwhile, Troy x Abed x Britta's plot got better as the episode went on! Abed, for the first time, was confident someone would find and come for him; that's pretty huge for someone who associates reactions of anxiety for certain situations! And of course it was Troy. Troy's past as a jerk jock and football player made a come back in threatening Abed's stalker
( ... )
Shirley was one of the best things about this episode. One thing that the new writers/showrunners/etc have really done well so far this season (with Yvette's talent) is Shirley. I think in some past seasons she wasn't completely used or understood in the way she could have been, but season 4 has been Shirley's season to date. Her line at the end of the episode, "This is why I don't hang out with you on the weekends.", made the whole episode for me. I'm hoping for more and more great Shirley this season.
I've been enjoying Shirley a lot this season but I think it has more to do with YNB being used to working with so little than any difference in writing.
Side-lining her in a c-plot with Pierce was not the greatest choice. Although I thought that there plot had more potential for shenanigans and the Annie fantasizing thing was ridiculous.
There really was more comedy gold in Shirley's plot! You have Pierce ruining everything at the end, but in the meantime, Shirley trying so very hard to explain science fiction and getting it wrong and just going what she knows from her kids or her own favorite shows -- how could they pass on that opportunity? Wasted to be honest!
And Tricia's cameo was wasted with Jeff. I thought 'finally' when she got into explaining the philosophy of a science fiction world, but nope! It was right befor her cue that she was no longer needed as a romantic object. :( There was some good set up for commentary for what it means to be a fan (there has to be something 'wrong' with you physical wise to make you desperate and find solace in science fiction), and what it means to be a *female* fan (Britta being followed by males like she's an exotic object for them to hunt until she whirls around and authoritatively tells them to get lost
( ... )
It felt like it had a lot of potential and ultimately went nowhere. I really hated the Troy/Britta/Abed dynamic because I felt like Troy was being a total jerk to Britta (shoving her out of his bed, telling Abed she didn't have to come to the convention) and her protests about that seemed weird and muted to me. I don't get why Abed would have a problem with her anyway, in previous seasons they've showed that they had a really cute connection and she actually feels super protective of Abed so the way that played out felt... weird.
Annie pretending to be Mrs. Winger was such a non-starter for me.
I think Troy was a jerk too, but I think that's the writers setting up a later conflict to be honest. Conflicts keep relationships interesting, and maybe we'll see more development as a result. One of two things will happen, either Troy will man up and stop catering to Abed's insecurities (I love Trobed, but Troy needs to stop protecting Abed from the real world) or he'll fail Britta, and ultimately their relationship.
As a Troy/Britta shipper, I hope Troy mans up. It would be consistent with his development if he did.
What I really dislike this season is how, so far, Britta and Annie just seem to orbit around Troy and Jeff. Last week's wasn't as bad in that regard, but it was certainly there (Why would Annie and Jeff co-ordinate costumes, for one. It just seems really weird.)
But this week it was just through the roof. Annie's plotline is literally that she pretended to be Mrs Winger? What in the fresh hell?
Britta's plotline is mostly just being Troy's girlfriend.
I'm just kind of floored, actually, by the turns these two characters have taken in just three episodes.
One on hand, they're writing Shirley amazingly well this season. She's been my fave in all three episodes. But what on earth is going on with Annie and Britta right now, I actually can't even.
Yeah, I think you put your finger on a huge part of the problem. That and the fact that the show runners can't seem to write them all in one place. Everyone keeps getting broken up into little couples. Even if there was some of that before most of the ep was always taken up by the group actually hanging out in an actual group.
THANK YOU! Oh man, I was really bugged, too, about Britta and Annie's characterization in this episode! I feel like Britta has lost a lot of her sophistication and complexity over season three and now going into season four. She seems like a caricature to me? Like, this episode was cringingly heavy-handed with Britta's vocal feminism--to be honest, I think Ganz is better at writing Britta than Maggie Bandur.
The Troy/Britta relationship is limiting both of their characters!!! Troy is in his wheelhouse with Abed (and even Annie, I may argue), and Britta works well in her intellectual sparring with Jeff. Ahhh it makes me so sad.
Also, I definitely didn't like the "Mrs. Winger" plot with Annie, either. Again, it's like she's regressed into her romantically daydreaming season one self (e.g. when she admits "I've been INFATUATED with Troy"). Of course, it's a sitcom staple when a character's "little white lie" snowballs--I mean, that can definitely be humorous, but it didn't work here.
They need to switch couples IMO. Annie and Troy are a better fit with where they are in life and for ALL that is holy, JEff and Britta have such better sexual chemistry than any other couple that's been around on the show. Seeing Troy and Britta in bed felt really odd, I adore them both but together they feel so off (although I loved the escape routine Britta had.)
I am thrilled the show is around, and have enjoyed the season, but I do feel it is trying to hard. When Troy and Jeff walked into the study room I was like "there is the table, finally." I love the off campus adventures, but I'd like to see school driven study room time as well, that is where the show has it's heart.
I had the exact same reaction when I saw the table. I even gave a little gasp in excitement when they walked in. They've surrounded so many episodes around that singular piece of furniture that although I understand why they're branching away from it, it still seems like something is slightly missing from the show when it's not there.
I actually think Britta and Troy are adorable, particularly tonight, and have good chemistry together. Same with Jeff/Annie actually, but then I've never been a fan of the whole "your true love is your first love" thing. Of course, it's all in the execution, so maybe they would do it well.
See I am the exact opposite. I loathe Annie/Troy as a ship. As friends I love them, and as characters. But a romantic relationship between is one I cannot stand. Do not hate Jeff/Britta but don't love them. Jeff/Annie have an undeniable amount of chemistry, but I feel they really need to follow up on virtual systems analysis so Annie has a better justification for falling for Jeff again.
I'm with you, girl. And actually, I thought this episode really showed how Jeff and Annie have finally reached that place where Annie's crush is recognized as just that - a silly crush, and it doesn't have to mean anything more. I think both have realistically acknowledged that it wouldn't necessarily work out, and there's nothing more there that needs analyzing or actual action involved. It's just THERE, both accept it, and they can move on from it. They're good friends, and maybe from there, it will progress (or not), but at least that sexual tension is gone. The episode seemed to be more about Annie, and her romantic proclivities for fantasy and marriage, than about Annie AND JEFF.
I have a feeling that Annie and Troy will be developed more as the season goes on, which is great for me, cos I've kinda secretly rooted for them since S1. They would be adorable together. I mean, really.
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Shirley was pitch perfect! Her earnestness in trying to keep Inspector Spacetime for Troy and Abed (something she doesn't like or understand) was fabulous, and Yvette makes one hundred different kinds of head shakes for one hundred different different ways of 'no.' Hers in the background plus Abed's 'I hate you' made that tag!
Meanwhile, Troy x Abed x Britta's plot got better as the episode went on! Abed, for the first time, was confident someone would find and come for him; that's pretty huge for someone who associates reactions of anxiety for certain situations! And of course it was Troy. Troy's past as a jerk jock and football player made a come back in threatening Abed's stalker ( ... )
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Side-lining her in a c-plot with Pierce was not the greatest choice. Although I thought that there plot had more potential for shenanigans and the Annie fantasizing thing was ridiculous.
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And Tricia's cameo was wasted with Jeff. I thought 'finally' when she got into explaining the philosophy of a science fiction world, but nope! It was right befor her cue that she was no longer needed as a romantic object. :( There was some good set up for commentary for what it means to be a fan (there has to be something 'wrong' with you physical wise to make you desperate and find solace in science fiction), and what it means to be a *female* fan (Britta being followed by males like she's an exotic object for them to hunt until she whirls around and authoritatively tells them to get lost ( ... )
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It felt like it had a lot of potential and ultimately went nowhere. I really hated the Troy/Britta/Abed dynamic because I felt like Troy was being a total jerk to Britta (shoving her out of his bed, telling Abed she didn't have to come to the convention) and her protests about that seemed weird and muted to me. I don't get why Abed would have a problem with her anyway, in previous seasons they've showed that they had a really cute connection and she actually feels super protective of Abed so the way that played out felt... weird.
Annie pretending to be Mrs. Winger was such a non-starter for me.
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As a Troy/Britta shipper, I hope Troy mans up. It would be consistent with his development if he did.
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What I really dislike this season is how, so far, Britta and Annie just seem to orbit around Troy and Jeff. Last week's wasn't as bad in that regard, but it was certainly there (Why would Annie and Jeff co-ordinate costumes, for one. It just seems really weird.)
But this week it was just through the roof. Annie's plotline is literally that she pretended to be Mrs Winger? What in the fresh hell?
Britta's plotline is mostly just being Troy's girlfriend.
I'm just kind of floored, actually, by the turns these two characters have taken in just three episodes.
One on hand, they're writing Shirley amazingly well this season. She's been my fave in all three episodes. But what on earth is going on with Annie and Britta right now, I actually can't even.
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The Troy/Britta relationship is limiting both of their characters!!! Troy is in his wheelhouse with Abed (and even Annie, I may argue), and Britta works well in her intellectual sparring with Jeff. Ahhh it makes me so sad.
Also, I definitely didn't like the "Mrs. Winger" plot with Annie, either. Again, it's like she's regressed into her romantically daydreaming season one self (e.g. when she admits "I've been INFATUATED with Troy"). Of course, it's a sitcom staple when a character's "little white lie" snowballs--I mean, that can definitely be humorous, but it didn't work here.
Help!
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I am thrilled the show is around, and have enjoyed the season, but I do feel it is trying to hard. When Troy and Jeff walked into the study room I was like "there is the table, finally." I love the off campus adventures, but I'd like to see school driven study room time as well, that is where the show has it's heart.
There really is something about that table...
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I actually think Britta and Troy are adorable, particularly tonight, and have good chemistry together. Same with Jeff/Annie actually, but then I've never been a fan of the whole "your true love is your first love" thing. Of course, it's all in the execution, so maybe they would do it well.
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I have a feeling that Annie and Troy will be developed more as the season goes on, which is great for me, cos I've kinda secretly rooted for them since S1. They would be adorable together. I mean, really.
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