Someone commented on my blog and told me that I should consider reviewing Parks and Recreation at some point. Now it may have just been a spam comment, but the reason I don't is because I feel it would be a bit dishonest of me to review Parks and Rec and Community because I've never really watched those shows as a critiquer, let alone a fan (also other people do a better job at reviewing them on SpoilerTV: other reviews of last night's Community and Parks & Rec here). It wasn't until 30 Rock was paired with Community that I started watching that show. And I began to jump on the P&R bandwagon during its stellar third season, after having abandoned it since season one. I had finally recognized the pure genius of both shows.
Two weeks ago,
Community's "Chaos Remedial Theory" may have been one of the best and most ambitious episodes of any comedy I have ever seen. But I probably only cracked a smile. It was more than just a repeat of the same three minutes over and over again, it was also a bottle episode, it executed perfectly how the characters are just one conversation from either hooking up or remaining friends or hating each other or… well, dying. But more so, I think it truly set up the dark horse of villainy in the group that is Jeff, while a general consensus is that Pierce is evil (or whatever evil means in a comedy).
But last night's episode of
Community, "Horror Fiction in Seven Easy Steps" was not only a (maybe unintentional) parallel to the episode before it, but it was the perfect example of this show's ingenious abilities at storytelling while also being hilarious. In fact, it was the funniest episode of the night yesterday. Using Britta's psych evaluations as an excuse to interrogate everyone in the study group, trying to single out who out of their friends is homicidal, the episode was — to me — really just an excuse to explore the dysfunctional nature in which the group thrives on, even if the characters have acknowledged and decided to dismiss this fact countless times before. It allowed for another seven stories to be told in one, just like "Chaos Remedial Theory," but instead of seeing how the group is affected by the lack of one character, we delved into how the group is affected by the inclusion of every character. And besides being a deliberate study of what everyone offers to the group, it was also just pretty friggin' hilarious.
Everyone came to work the week this episode was shot completely game. The sheer comedic timing and chemistry between Gillian Jacobs (Britta) and Danny Pudi (Abed) was probably lost on just about, oh, no one. Jacobs's
[*] smile while listening to the radio was so perfect, I'm still laughing about it. And Abed's idea to be back to back with knives is so outlandish and yet duh-inducing that it's no wonder he's the only one who isn't homicidal from the group.
[*] Jacobs was without a doubt the MVP of yesterday's episode. Every line of hers was executed perfectly, just like her smile or when she reveals to Jeff that someone is homicidal, cue lights flickering, or going outside during a rapture because she's from New York or telling Jeff while he was getting stabbed that she was right. All of her lines were just beautifully done. Alison Brie's accent was also a huge plus.
But Jeff's villainy was explored a bit, and then retracted. While the group is ready to stab each other with different inanimate objects, he declares he didn't take the evaluation seriously to which everyone groaned and cast him as disgusting. But he later gives a speech (what else is new?) that gets everyone to retread and lower their sharp objects. After a few episodes of exploring what Jeff brings to the group, it seems we may be back to Jeff being the speech guy and important in keeping the peace.
Meanwhile the latest
Parks and Rec was fun, but I don't think I laughed once. I've been reading around that many thought it was one of the funnier episodes this season, but I just didn't find much funny in it. It was also a reiteration of stories, much like
Community, but to a point where I was just bemused and nothing else. Chris saying he doesn't want to date Jerry's daughter in front of him while getting the go ahead signal to only disgust Jerry is almost out of character for him. Although, I suppose Chris is the only person to go all out when dating someone.
Li-tra-ly. Tom's Entertainment 720 story line was maybe amusing at first, but I can hardly believe that he wouldn't know that you have to make revenue to keep a business alive and disregard the very good advice Ben gave him previously. And his crashing Leslie's function with his company's paraphernalia only annoyed me further either because Leslie is basically the best human being to roam the fictional TV world or because it was just annoying in its own right. Regardless, the story allowed for a sweet moment between both characters and a funny crying Leslie who swears she'll watch her own biography every single day.
And even so, we got a good contrast of two different disfunctions: Ben keeping his quibbles bottled up and Andy beating him up until he finally talks, only after he breaks Andy's nose. That in addition to Ann sharing a connection with Ron over fixing up April and Andy's house paid off really well in as far as the pairing of two opposite characters can. But I want Ben and Leslie to at least share a scene together at some point. If they keep them apart any longer, there better be a really good reunion.
Meanwhile yesterday's
Whitney was quite un-funny. Regardless of how much I may be able to relate to never washing jeans (did I just admit that?), this marks about the umpteenth time Whitney has gone out of her way to prove a point, which has become ludicrous. Every episode of
Whitney is like a less funny episode of "The One Where They All Find Out" — the episode of
Friends where Phoebe and Rachel decide to confront Monica and Chandler's secret relationship through a series of elaborate games and pranks. So much so that the show even acknowledged this in the end. The show could have utilized its story well; how many times do we want to show someone that
yes, you're using a tone? Always. But I think it failed where past episodes haven't. Though, I did appreciate Whitney's lap dance.
And there. A full night of basically the same stories. One executed flawlessly, another bemusing if nothing else, and a final one that just didn't work on the important levels.
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