Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality.

"And you're going to pull a Dane Cook in one of those three movies he was in about Dane Cook getting laid by accident! Only, it's not a Dane Cook movie, Jeff, because this time someone's watching!"

How do you define yourself? The opinions of others? The sum of your life’s work? Your ambitions, dreams, possessions? It’s an interesting amalgam of all of these that help form the selves we see. As we grow older our lives change, these parts and passions are rearranged. If we’re not the people we were then, who are we now? It’s seems pretty deep and philosophical for a ½ hr sitcom but that’s why we love Community (and if you don’t please enjoy the hate read, I’ll see you over at the GIRLS recaps).

Tonight a sense of self and friendship take the forefront. Finding old and new friends, realizing that you’re not the same and even questioning one’s existence all intermingle with a near criminal absence of Annie Edison AND I still liked the episode, that, my friends, is saying something.

Britta

A+Is it just me or are Britta-centric episodes the best? I absolutely loved Herstory of Dance and it was a GAS LEAK Season episode. There’s something so pure about Britta’s motivations and the fact that she’s still figuring herself out makes these glimpses of her journey so watchable. Someone VERY close to me may have turned 30 yesterday (A FRIEND OKAY) and it’s easy enough to relate to Britta’s sitch, we’re getting older and people do that differently. Some save money, enter stable relationships, retain steady jobs, as ‘society’ calls it ‘figuring it out’ and then there are the Britta’s: unsure of where life’s leading us until we follow our heart, we listen to our truth and we live a life that while not perfectly planned or universally accepted is exactly what it should be: an adventure. So it’s even more disheartening to see Britta’s ‘friends’ mock her choices. Real friends, like the study group, like you for you and even though Britta had an existential crisis it’s good to know it was only temporary. You’ll figure it out Britta … and so will I.

Jeff & Duncan

B+ & B+Bro, Bra, Broseph, Buddy, Man …  how many ways do dudes (did it again) get around saying the word friend? It’s a tired generalization but I’m running with it because it works and I’m also tired, BUT us dong-havers have a hard time expressing our emotions (hint try excessive amounts of bourbon, you won’t even know what you’re crying about!). Case in point old ‘friends’ Jeff and Duncan. Unable to even have a normal conversation though they been friends for years Jeff decides to aid Duncan in becoming his Eskimo Brother. In his quest to bang Britta (can’t blame him) Duncan realizes that there might be something more important then getting laid: friendship. Just like Jason Biggs he realizes just how important friends are (this is essentially what Jason Biggs does in all his films, yes?) and joins Jeff for a ‘Bros Night’. They drink a bottle, cut their hands and generally do it right (a ‘Bros’ night for me once ended in punches to the gut, karate chops to the chest and eating a stranger’s bucket of wings).

It was a little weird to see Jeff with a friend outside the study group, but it wasn’t weird to see Jeff dip his toe in the Britta Perry flavored water again. The growth of Jeff is always interesting but the bouncing him off Annie and Britta has gotten stale. We get it: they’re the three most attractive members of the group so TWO OF THEM HAVE TO END UP TOGETHER #televisionlaw. The real deal here is Community might work better if that never happen … but if it’s going to it should definitely be Jeff and the Dean? Shirley and Abed? Hickey and Jim the Duck? Annie and Britta!!!!!!!!!!

Abed & HickeyB & B

It was a really good episode BUT here’s where Community is suffering. With the absence of Pierce and the recent departure of Troy new characters have come to patch the holes as this ship lurches towards #sixseaonsandamovie. In my personal opinion, it was never broke so why are we fixing it? Yes T&P (I see it too) we’re important but the rest of the study group could easily holdup a storyline. Hickey is more endearing due to the character exposition in this episode but is he as dynamic as Pierce? Not yet anyway. Ping ponging Abed between other characters to see if friendship chemistry occurs is an intriguing tactic, but is it necessary? The moments when Abed has to deal with being alone are rather poignant for a show that’s supposed to make you laugh. I’m interested in seeing where the script goes and enjoyed seeing Abed at least pretend to emote but I’m not so sure I’d tune into bed and Hickey in The Mornnnniiinnnnnnggg.

Chang

B-I honestly thought they were going to explain away Chang’s ghost encounter as a little bit of interactive community theater, they didn’t and that’s why this show is the best. I’m always up for a solid M. Night Syhsafsljsfmam reference (I may have been the only person that still liked him through The Village… there’s been no saving him since Lady in the Water though) and Chang is at his best when teetering on the edge of sanity. I actually guffawed at the picture caption reveal. I would have been happier with an Annie/Shirley storyline but it’s nice to know that he can pull off not being annoying for an entire episode.

Annie & Shirley

Incomplete

Why would they do this to my girl? And Shirley.

“We’ve had enough focus lately”-Annie
“Speak for yourself”-Shirley

"Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality"

AGhosts of all kinds littered this episode: the ghosts of Jeff and Britta's 'relationship', the ghost of Britta's past life, Duncan's sex-life and the real ghosts who spent the episode effing with Chang. It was a tender hearted Community and I for one am not upset. You'll have your A+ when I get more Annie.

Extra Credit

• Abed: “They shouldn’t have redesigned the costume. Keep your heads in the sand if you want."