Now THAT'S more like it. Things got contentious in the comments last week, with all those loud, shared opinions about "German Invasion," but don't worry, I have nothing but nice things to say about “Cooperative Escapism In Familial Relations." James Brolin fit in nicely as Jeff's much-mentioned, still-virile father, and the way the episode balanced his fake heart attack and demented would-be father figure Piece's non-seizure was well done. I've never cared about meeting Papa Winger as much as some, especially when it was announced he wouldn't be played by Bill Murray, so while it wouldn't surprise me if some viewers felt disappointed in how their shared scenes didn't feel revelatory enough, and how Adam DeVine was a distraction, said viewers would be wrong(ish).
OK, yes, Adam, excuse me, Willy, Jr. could have been a stronger character (literally, too, what with him being the DeVito to Jeff's Schwarzenegger), but goddamn if the specificity of Jeff's speech, in which he revealed he cut himself with scissors as a kid to fake having his appendix taken out, didn't get to me. We know a lot more about Jeff Winger after "Escapism" than we did before it. Plus, the texts to nowhere.
In the other story, Abed, Troy, Pierce, and Annie are at Shirley's house for Thanksgiving dinner, which naturally turned into a "hiding out in the garage," Shawshank Redemption and Prison Break parody before we had time to process Shirley's supposedly overbearing family. That's a minor quibble, however, because some of the episode's biggest laughs came from the car-hold scenes, like Troy's inability to lie about eating garbage dip and Troy sadly admitting that, yeah, Batman is kinda gay. Basically, Troy was on roll this episode, as was Britta, and yes, you see what I did there. Break up Troy/Britta, please; put Jeff/Britta together, pretty please.
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I hate to be that guy but last night’s episode was the first episode that felt like it could have fit in seasons 1-3. Remember all the complaints about the half-baked nature of the Hunger Deans parody (and IMO the sci-fi con parody)? The Shawshank one worked because it went all out. Bravo. If the rest of the episodes are up to this level then I’ll be a happy camper.
I kinda wished they would have gone farther with the Shawshank stuff. Still seemed a little heavy handed on the jokes with no real payoff. An overhead shot of Shirley standing in a rainy puddle at the end would have capped it for me.
That said, I liked the episode fine, but I’ve found good in all of the S4 eps so far. So, mostly, I’m just happy that other people liked it, too.
You are absolutely correct. I felt good watching it.
Annie faking an injury and ending up getting physically examined anyways, the “that’s you” impersonation/insult, Pierce thinking he’s funnier than he really is. There’s a lot that echoed previous seasons.
i agree. this episode and the halloween episodes were really the only ones i enjoyed. maybe they should only do holiday-themed episodes…
I was feeling like that as well. The first three before it have just felt so off.
Go ahead and be that guy, because you’re right. It felt like Community. Easily the best episode of the season so far.
I thought this episode was great, which was a nice change of pace
Really enjoyed last night’s episode- I felt like the prison-break story could have been so much more than it was though.
I’d also add that the lack of screen time for Pelton and Chang and the overall quality of this episode is definitely related.
That was the first time that we’ve seen the budget cuts hurt the show. I think we saw less of Shirley’s family to cut down on speaking parts and they didn’t do a whole lot of elaborate gags to save money.
I was happy with the lack of Chang. The dean can be funny when they’re not exclusively focusing on the “LOOK AT THE CRAZY OUTFIT HE’S WEARING!” bit. At least they kind of toned that down last night.
My only real complaint during the episode was precisely that: not only did the parody crop up part way through the episode, but its split-time made it feel rushed. Overall, though, it’s a minor issue with an otherwise stellar episode.
And like the others, I’m glad this episode seemed to embrace the Dean in small doses theory. Having him in Jeff’s costume works. Him popping up at Jeff’s father’s would not have, so thank god for small miracles.
@ nacho – you’re 100% right. He is completely unnecessary at this point.
Oh, also, I thought Willy worked in the tradition of characters like Todd. Plus, I thought Brolin played the hell out of William while they didn’t beat you over the head with how similar he was to Jeff.
Anyone think McHale deserve Emmy consideration for his performance in this episode?
Deserve, maybe, but a meteor would have to hit John Cryer and the entire casts of big bang theory and modern family…. plus about a baker’s dozen other actors from shitty CBS comedies before McHale would get even a look.
He was great in the episode. Man KNOWS how to hold a glass of scotch.
At the very least, he made a strong case for a successful post-Community career.
Yes, last night was great.
However, I think I’ve finally come to accept that this will be the last season of Community.
Will it though? Think about how shitty NBC’s ratings are and how many pilots will they pick up?
Yeah, with Office calling it quits and Penn 1600 being taken behind the shed and shot (i assume), there’s not much left for Thursday nights. Community has more than a puncher’s chance of another season.
NBC ratings SUCK. Getting to CW level, so who knows with Community. Here’s hoping…
I feel like CW has accepted their ratings while NBC is really neurotic about them, and just do stupid things because of their worry. If the rest of the season is like last night, I definitely want another season of Community
Yep, I’ll be working “I see what I did there” into everyday conversations.
Good, solid episode. I also loved Troy’s realization that the all-marshmallow casserole was a myth.
Fuckin’ yams.
It’s always been sweet potatoes for me. And, while I love sweet potatoes in fry form, I do not condone sweet potato casserole.
I agree with Patty about the sweet potato casserole. My Nana did butternut squash for the casserole once. That was even worse.
My aunt tried regular potatoes when she forgot sweet potatoes.
Here’s how you do it, the sweet potatoes with marshmallows and maple syrup? Chuck that bullshit, it’s disgusting. You mash the sweet potatoes and layer them in a pan and then put a struessel of brown sugar, butter, and pecans on it.
@SHough610: Fuck and yes! Marshmallows are bullshit.
Yeah, the yams thing was hilarious. Troy really was on a roll that episode.
I agree wholeheartedly, this episode FINALLY felt right. I laughed more than I have all season, most times were out loud.
I’m glad they’ve continued the Daybreak joke.
I set Daybreak as my phone alarm. Nothing sets you right better in the morning.
Exactly. Like Troy, I set it as my ringtone. Always makes me smile.
Daybreak was used last week in the tag as the sign off music to Troy and Abed’s podcast.
Boy, Jeff’s superficial scissor scar from 22 years ago stands out more than my actual appendectomy scar from 12 years ago.
Probably because his abs aren’t as toned as mine.
Or maybe he used safety scissors.
Dean Pelton is the new Chang. And the Daybreak placement is getting old…
Agree on Pelton, but I can never get enough daybreak.
I loved it when they snuck it in and you felt like a genius if you picked up on it. Now I kinda feel like they might as well put a laugh track on after they play it. I’m pretty sure this is the third straight episode they have used it in…
You shut your mouth. Daybreak will never get old.
you guys know nothing!! You’re all dumb and stupid and I hate your dumb stupid opinions!!
*kicks over chair, storms out of the room*
@kenny
opinions are assholes.
Agree on Pelton, but not on Daybreak, but I might have missed one of the 3 since I only noticed it last week and this week. Do you think it would have felt better if the eps had been aired in order? 402 aired out of order last week with daybreak at the end, this was 405 with daybreak at the end. Maybe if it had been spread out it wouldn’t have felt as stale this week? I know I felt like the name rhymes in the first three that aired felt forced, possibly for the same reason.
Everyone is being pretty hard on Dean Pelton (which he would love, coincidentally). Any of you guys notice that in the beginning when he is dressed as “John Wayne” he is wearing Jeff’s cowboy costume from the paintball episode?
@PowerClashing – Yeah, that’s why before Jeff can say something, the Dean cuts him off and goes “That’s right, I’m John Wayne!”
Jeff’s speech about just wanting someone to care about him was absolutely beautiful. The most I’ve ever felt for his character, certainly. This was also the funniest episode for me in a long time, so I am a happy Community-lover today.
also: Britta. Britta was awesome. “You really ‘you’d’ this one” is perfection.
yeah, except that “you really ‘you’d’ this one” was delivered by another character… dumbass…
britta is the worst…
Yeah, but she’s the worst in the best way possible.
POP POP!
Leapin_Lizards makes a good point.
I think I might have liked the German invasion better, but yea I thoroughly enjoyed this episode.
Troy’s pushups and garbage dip lines were amazing.
Troy’s pushup line was my favorite thing from the episode.
Last night’s episode was the best of the season so far. Troy’s “Why did I have to go third?” cracked me up, so did several other moments. Dare I hope the new showrunners and writers have found their stride?
Stealing from Twitter last night… this was probably the best (or among the better S4 offerings), but its also proving that Harmonless Abed’s the weakest non-Pierce/Chang/Dean character.
Yep, no matter if the show regains its footing after last night is to be seen, but Abed will never be the same. You can tell that character was all Harmon.
Now you bring it up, I think that is both true, and what has felt off to me this season. I think Abed is the character I most identified with, and he seems more of a gag now – like a Family Guy cutaway reference – rather than a person who sees the world differently.
I agree, Abed has felt off, like more of a gag than a person.
You forgot the greatest thing from the episode, Shirley humming Daybreak. I have an unhealthy obsession with that song.
I do too. I hum it at work and hum it when I’m on the phone for work being put on hold.
The show has an unhealthy obsession with that song. It was just Shirley’s turn.
Nothing much to say, just a good episode that made me smile and feel right with the world. Hope this keeps up.
Jeff’s speech to his dad was a pretty awesome moment. Last night’s episode was the first of the season that felt like the “old” Community. The touchy-feely Jeff they have been pushing on us this season finally had a point. That shit was heartbreaking.
Troy’s garbage dip line and Britta’s “I see what I did there” were the biggest laughs of the night for me.
Either that, or just the writers taking a dig at him. Either way…
That was meant for another comment. Sorry. Stupid comments format.
Oh my indeed, this was a fantastic episode!
This week was good, last week was better. Both are better than the first 2. It’s still the best comedy on TV.
Their back baby! I drew a map of you house on my stomach!
How about Jeff finally admitting that he was never texting anyone? That’s a breakthrough people!
That was the highlight for me as well.
That felt like a waste of the who is jeff always texting storyline to me.
That was great, and it made sense. Who would Jeff be texting? He doesn’t really have any friends outside of the group.
Nicely done.
And as always, Britta carried it. That look in the second pic was the best part of the entire episode.
Britta has overtaken the rest of the study group as being the most developed character on the show.
The show works so much better when it pairs Jeff and Britta, letting Annie, Troy, and Abed have their adventures.
Who else thinks that Pierce’s ‘physical comedy’ schtick was Chevy’s idea? Since, that’s sort of what got him his start. But, the compromise with the writers was that it all happened off camera.
Either that, or just the writers taking a dig at him. Either way…
I think at this point in the shooting, they basically just said “Alright, Chevy. Say these 4 lines and you can go home.”
Chevy has been awesome this season. Once again, he had the line of the night.
“Or I know, make it Star Wars. Bet you’d like it then, Dick”
Should’ve came to Thanksgiving with black face.
Oh man I forgot about that. White face on top of black face. It’s meta. A-Bed gets it.
I didn’t think last night’s episode was very funny, but it balanced itself out by having heart. Kind of like this week’s TWD wasn’t a violent zombie blood-fest, but was still one of the best episodes since Season 1.
it was an amazing episode, it had many feels and laughs and it just felt like old community, I hope this is when the writers and show runners finally got their shit together and it keeps getting better from here on out.
Am I in the right place? What’s going on here?
I know, right? I almost didn’t log in today because I feared the backlash.
Throughout the episode I was actually saying, “Gee. Can’t wait to see why WG hates this episode.” The positivity is a welcome surprise.
Close your mouths.
Definitely the best so far, but I think they still missed the mark a bit–Jeff awknowledging his texts are to no one was too on the nose, as was specifically pointing out that they were doing a Shawshank ref.
Also, that cutting himself speech definitely should have been all bullshit to make his dad feel bad.
Yeah, that would have been vintage Jeff Winger.
they also missed the opportunity to have Jeff’s dad do a “Jeff Speech” type thing at the end. I thought they were going that direction when he started talking about not being there making him a good parent, but they didn’t go far enough if that’s what they were going for
@DeadMeat- I think you missed the joke. Jeff’s Dad starts to do that earlier in the episode, but Jeff stops him because he knows what he’s doing.
I didn’t really notice Chang’s absence since Adam DeVine’s Willy Jr. more than made up for it. I like my Chang to have his moments of lunacy balanced out by his crippling emotional need for someone to fill his void. So that just leaves Anders Holmvik as the remaining Workaholics person to make an appearance.
I enjoyed last night’s episode, it felt like a return to form. I wish they had fleshed out the Shawshank stuff a bit more but overall a pretty good episode.
All due respect to Adam DeVine, I thought he was horribly miscast for that role (which wasn’t particularly well written, either). Which is a bummer because Adam is great and it would have been fun to see him in some other role at Greendale.
That said, I really enjoyed last night’s episode. Easily the best of the new season. Now to start…my day off…with some delicious garbage dip.
Agree. He is actually better as the mayor of Sim City than he was as Jeff’s half brother.
I don’t know, I thought he was hilarious. I loved the “I’m sorry I don’t really know very much about you yet” line
He did ok, but it wasn’t like no one else could’ve done it.
Agreed. That whole character just felt out of place to me.
I loved seeing him on the show and I liked what they were going for but it felt like he was playing it a little too over-the-top. That being said , I did love his DeVito/Schwarzenegger line and the line that PowerClashing mentioned as well.
Gillian Jacobs looked just terrific last night, especially the scene where she was talking to Jeff on the phone. Tell me you don’t want to come home and see her parked on your sofa.
You’re not wrong.
I’m not into chicks but I wouldn’t kick her off my sofa either.
Definitely the most Community feeling show of season 4. My biggest complaint was we didn’t really get to see any of Shirley’s family to really see why the gang felt they had to hide from them all.
I felt like Abed’s Shawshank parody felt forced at first, but I loved it when he decided it wasn’t really like Shawshank afterall but like prison break, like shifting from western to star wars between the 2 paintball episodes. The map of the house drawn on his stomach was a nice touch.
So Winger’s dad is also Castle’s dad. For a second I was REALLY hoping for a crossover.
Enjoyed seeing “Thanks for watching” on the dry erase board
It was meta without being too Britta about it.
I just worry next week will be a let-down and I’ll want to eat garbage dip.
Also, I will absolutely lose my shit if Community doesn’t do a Die Hard themed episode.
Maybe they were saving that for the Xmas episode. Just in time for Easter!
The Die Hard episode is coming for Christmas. They showed a clip back around Christmas that they’re at the Dean’s and Abed is clearly wearing John McClane’s wardrobe
Couldn’t they have just open the garage door and walked out? That’s how I felt about last night’s episode.
The point was that they couldn’t leave in such a way that would be obvious and hurt Shirley’s feelings. It’s something that people with friends have to consider. Too bad robots don’t understand the concept of friendship.
Dude, don’t be mean to the robot. Many of them are quite unhappy about their inability to feel emotions.
I for one welcome Kevin.
And to think these episodes would have worked better if NBC didn’t fuck Community over by broadcasting them in fucking March instead of October/November. Some of the Thanksgiving riffs would have hit home if aired in the fall.
But if NBC doesn’t completely hose things, then who will?
I’m willing to bet there’s going to be another rap verse on the season 4 dvd springing from the #3 gif.
As much as I enjoyed last night’s episode, I think we really need to address a more important Community related matter: the fact that Gillian Jacobs is now a brunette in real life.
Shocking, right? I’m having a really hard time adjusting to that.
Well I have a hard something, I’m not sure if I would call it time though.
*spins bowtie, dances off stage left.*
I was genuinely happy watching the episode last night. It just felt good.
Also more Britta boom-box please
If NBC had aired the episodes in the correct order, with last weeks ep actually being episode 2, and the halloween ep being episode 4, I think we would be feeling better each week about the direction of the show. It seems the writers are starting to figure out a new direction and get a feel for the characters. I never understand why they air episodes out of order, they did the same thing with Scrubs.
Gillian Jacobs’ face may be the single greatest asset this show has. The way she smiles in that second gif is a thing of wonder.
Relevant:
[www.pleated-jeans.com]
When Abed replaced Troy on the weight bench and tried to do curls but couldn’t lift the dumbbell, I absolutely lost it. No line, just Abed’s perfect execution of a super subtle joke. Also, the silent tie-back to Troy having to work on his upper body. HA!
This one was ok. The Shawshank/Prison Break parody was forced and unnatural though. All of the references just aren’t as organic as they used to be. Everything else was good though
So, you liked about 20% of the show?
Are you saying you watched this episode and concluded that the Prison Break/Sawshank stuff made up 80% of the entire episode? Because if so, you are an idiot.
I’m completely agree, the Shawshank part was forced and unnatural. Who would allow their guests to hide in the garage for the entire evening of food that was made for them?
Wasn’t Britta dating Troy in the first episode? Whatever happened to that storyline?
They’re banging and calling each other hun. Just because they aren’t spending every second together on the show doesn’t mean they aren’t dating. It’s just a component that the writers felt like they didn’t want to expand in their storyline.
The shout out to Chevy’s prat falling routine was pretty solid. Probably the best episode of season 4 so far.
The show has definitely been improving week after week. The season premiere was fairly weak, but honestly, they often are, and it seems like there’s been steady improvement since.
Britta was looking deeeeeeeeeeeelicious in this episode. Even more so than usual.
I hate to say this, but, I didn’t care for the episode. I really wish they’d stop having the characters pointing out their meta jokes. We know they are meta jokes. Stop spelling it out for us. Pointing out the meta jokes is the new laugh track.
Winger’s speech was great.
Community Christmas: Die Hard Edition sounds pretty amazing.
Good episode. Felt more like the Community we all know and love. Everything just seemed much more natural, not so forced. But I thought Adam Devine would be better than he was. And they should just abandon the whole Troy/Britta thing. It doesnt play.
Oh yeah, MORE LEONARD!
I just watched this, it wasn’t the worst episode of Community this season (the Shawshank references were ok, could have been done better), but it’s funny how much I hated Adam in this, while I love him in Workaholics. He’s basically playing one of Adam’s side in W, but in the Community universe it just doesn’t work. Really not a knock on the show or Adam either, they just weren’t a good fit, and it would have probably been the same when Community was actually good.
I think Blake or Ders would do a lot better. (Blake was pretty good in that show nobody watched called Traffic Lights.)
Blake played the doorman in last seasons bar mitzvah episode. That would’ve been weird to re-introduce him as Jeffs brother. Plus, they should have just gotten lazy eyed Karl to play the part, (g)rape van and all.
britta boom box had me at the time when the boom box got pulled out.
Great episode and best so far this season. Troy killed it like always but i think Abed is becoming very annoying.
I definitely haven’t been as hard on this season as everyone else on these discussions has because, we all knew it wasn’t going to be the same show after Harmon left. I’ve enjoyed having Community back because the cast is still doing solid work even if all the jokes and concepts aren’t landing like they used to. BUT, this episode felt RIGHT. Like others have said it could have easily fit in with one of the previous seasons. Britta and Troy were the MVPs of this episode, I thought. And when Jeff started into his speech I was like “Oh, here we go…” but was extremely impressed with McHale’s performance and thought I saw tears welling up in his eyes at one point. ACTING. It was nice to feel good about the future of Community for the rest of the season. Hope it stays this good.
I don’t want any of them together yeesh! Nope!
Nope. Still lacking in Annie jiggle
James Brolin made for the perfect dad