Now that’s more like it. After a pilot that seemed worse the more I thought about it, the only place Community could go was up, and last night’s episode, “Spanish 101,” did just that. There were jokes that actually made me laugh, and the premiere’s mean-spiritedness subsided and made way for (gasp!) a little dose of sweetness. Most importantly, I had the sense that Community was finding its groove. The pacing was less frantic, and the humor was given more time to breathe. If the pilot episode was like a sugar-addicted 6-year-old running around while spitting out every joke he knew, “Spanish 101″ was more like a 16-year-old — still awkward, yes, but well on his way to figuring out who he is and his place in the world. By next week’s episode, who knows, Community could very well make the leap into adulthood.
The show still has some blemishes, though. For one, I don’t get its insistence on calling attention to its own artificiality. This isn’t a Tarantino movie, and while Community is obviously in debt to many prior sitcoms and movies, it doesn’t gain anything by pointing that fact out. This element of the show has so far been handled entirely by Abed (Danny Pudi), and at least Pudi has fun with the tedious observations, such as the one in which Abed explains why he likes the dean’s frequent announcements: “It makes every 10 minutes feel like the beginning of a new scene of a TV show. Of course, the illusion only lasts until someone says something they never say on TV, like how much their life is like TV. There, it’s gone.”
The major highlight of last night’s show was Señor Chang, played by Ken Jeong, who’s appeared in more things this year than Jude Law did in 2004. Chang started his lecture with a monologue about why a Chinese man was teaching a Spanish class, and any speech that culminates with a statement such as “My knowledge will bite her face off” is going someplace special. Also, one of the coolest characters in TV history was attending this Spanish class — Star Burns. Those who watched the episode know who I’m talking about; for the uninitiated, Star Burns is some sleazy guy with star-shaped sideburns. Chang anointed him with the nickname, and Star Burns just shrugged as if it was the first time anyone had noticed that he had ginormous stars for sideburns. Star Burns, keep doing your thing, man.
The bulk of the episode dealt with the strained friendship between Jeff (Joel McHale) and Pierce (the dependable Chevy Chase). The two had to prepare a Spanish presentation, and while Jeff wanted to get the damn thing over with as quickly as possible, Pierce insisted on imbuing the project with costumes and an elaborate story with an apparently anti-Israel theme. After two hours of going nowhere, Jeff decided to abandon Pierce and join his love interest, Britta (Gillian Jacobs), in a protest against the murdering of journalists in Guatemala. Jeff explained his plan in a brilliantly constructed line: “The woman I kind of like is out there in the moonlight caring about something stupid, and this is my chance to show her that I care enough to act like I care about it too.”
Pierce’s feelings were hurt, causing him to make a drunken fool of himself at the protest, and the next day in class, Britta made the observation that Pierce was probably a lonely guy longing for some sort of family. Cue the sweetness. Pierce was about to start his Spanish presentation all by himself when Jeff insisted on joining him. The decision represented the first time on the show that Jeff acted out of genuine concern for someone else, and sure, it was corny or hokey or whatever you want to call it, but it made me smile. The episode’s best line quickly followed. Señor Chang noticed that Pierce and Jeff brought costumes for the presentation. “Guys, why are there costumes involved?” Chang began. “These are short conversations. They’re not supposed to take…” And then Jeff finished Chang’s line with “…your breath away.” McHale’s deadpan delivery clinched the joke, which then transitioned into a one-minute montage set, inexplicably, to Aimee Mann’s “Wise Up.”
PopWatchers, did last night’s episode elevate your opinion of Community? And has anyone ever seen a Star Burns in real life? I’ll leave you with a clip of the Spanish rap by Abed and Troy (Donald Glover) that played during the credits:
Nope did not change my mind, it is getting 1 more episode to give me a reason to watch otherwise I am done with it.
There is something not working for me and it does make me care very much. I think it might have something to do with not being able to relate to the characters because I am not going to community college as an adult so I am trying to figure out how to relate to the characters on some level and I cannot do it.
How do you relate to anything on TV? I still watch shows that have nothing to do with my life. I’m not an old lady in the 80s living in Miami, but I still watch the Golden Girls.
The whole concept feels forced. Maybe as the show goes on we will get more info about the characters but a stereotypical lawyer character (Jeff), an uptight woman who is not willing to let down her guard (britta), a former high school hero, a misunderstood person looking for acceptance (Annie), an older character looking to regrasp some of their youth (Pierce), the obligatory foreigner, and all the others.
They are not clicking together because they are so different and so stereotypical. They need to get away from each being what they are supposed to be and instead let them develop as a group and not as individuals, then you can relate to them and their own personal struggles with overcoming what is expected of them. Just as last night when the discussion about the jack was taking place, do things for yourself and stop caring what others think. I want more of a show like that which allows people to relate and not focused so much on the community college aspect. The cafeteria scene was useless last night, don’t care about his reaction to the hot dogs it was forced comedy and they can do without that.
I almost spit out my cheesecake on that one!
<3 Kyle
me too!
Having to relate to characters in order to enjoy a story is a very shorsighted notion that you hear and read about all the time. Cut it out and enjoy hte show!
and did anyone else think that was Christian Slater in the picture above? Look at it again and it looks just like him, it is very creepy.
I also agree. Britta is so annoying and mean to Jeff. I don’t know why he likes her. I wish he would quit chasing after her. Jeff should go after the brunette–she’s hotter and a more likeable character.
“the obligatory foreigner” Uh, gee, guy, I admit he looks different than Chevy or McHale, but not all brown people are foreigners. Abed, as established in the pilot, is as American as you pretend to be. Perhapos, if we “relating to the characters,” we might see humor in character that are nothing like us. Out of curiosity, Apd09, who are you on Lost? Ben or Hurley?
I don’t like this Britta. She is not at all nice or likable. Why is Jeff interested in her? It makes no sense. But I have to say, I think Chevy is the weak link here. His character isn’t funny or interesting. It’s either the writing or him.
I actually think it’s nice to have a strong, no-nonsense female character like hers. It’s a nice change of pace from what you usually get on shows nowadays.
i completely agree. there is nothing appealing about britta and the actress who plays her is a little weak. also, the writers haven’t written chase’s character that well. but i like the 2 women who did the guatemala thing, the black guy (craig?) and abed.
I think he likes her because she isn’t easy to ‘woo’. A character like Jeff likes the chase – he probably used to getting what he wants and can’t stand that she doesn’t want him.
I’m with you about Britta. Why on earth would he be interested in her? She’s cold, unlikeable, and seems pretty full of herself. I disagree with you about Chevy Chase. He is awesome.
That’s the very reason I can’t watch ER, Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, Law & Order, Criminal Minds, or NCIS, being neither a doctor or a cop.
I’m sticking with this. Those scenes of them performing the Spanish presentation were gold. I laughed the entire time.
Me too, the slow-mo montage was hilarious.
I don’t really understand the tone of this review. It’s as if Community wasn’t the funniest show of the year right out of the gate, it doesn’t deserve to be on TV. Whatever happened to letting a show develop over time? Oh, right. That doesn’t happen anymore because magazines like EW are in the business of promoting the “next big thing” just in time to tear it down and make room for the next “next big thing.”
Agreed Tom. Shows are rarely given time to simmer and find their voice before being yanked off. Doesn’t anyone remember that Seinfeld was almost cancelled but luckily was given time to mature? And could anyone on here really imagine a world without Seinfeld? Let me be clear–I don’t think Community is the next Seinfeld. Still I think it has potential to be entertaining. Though I’d lose the love intereste story between Britta and Jeff. Cliched, and following The Office just can never compare to Jim and Pam. Or even Dwight and Angela for that matter. Or even Dwight and Andy of that matter (them singing “Country Road”–classic).
Yes Tom, I agree that the tone of this review is off…I don’t think John Young was the reviewer last week (?) and the comments don’t seem to follow. Personally, I think this show is funny and different. I don’t care much for Chevy Chase and have never found him funny (although I did laugh at the “sausage-fest” line), but Joel McHale is a riot and he has a good cast of supporting characters. LOVE the Spanish teacher.
The irony lies in the situations where the shows the EW reviewers like are taken off the air after not getting enough time to gel and the reviewers are left to complain about the fact that tv shows are not given time to come into their own.
I completely agree with Tom as well, you know the first season of The Office wasn’t that funny to me, but now it’s one of the funniest shows on TV. But after the first season of any comedy show you know the characters and it’s not just about setting up characters. And, honestly, EW, I seriously thought Community’s first episode was way better than Modern Family but for some reason you were brown nosing that show like crazy. Is it because there was a gay couple adopting a child in Modern Family therefore it’s “progressive”? I personally found them somewhat stereotypical, as with everyone’s relationships in that show, and I didn’t nearly laugh as much as I did in either the pilot or followup for Community.
This episode was a huge improvement. I actually laughed-out-loud more than once and I felt like the characters were more fleshed out, rather than fast-talking caricatures.
Ken Jeong was hysterical and I look forward to more of him. Missed John Oliver this week.
Agreed on ALL points, but I’m also looking forward to more StarBurns (and seeing funky sideburns become all the rage)!
I have to say last nights episode really worked for me. I thought the montage was absolutely hilarious, especially the ending with Chase and McHale holding sparklers and Chang failing them both.
Um…I don’t know what you guys are talking about. I LOVE this show.
I feel the exact opposite. I thought last week was brilliant, laugh-out-loud funny. But this week, I didn’t laugh ONCE. I actually cringed several times. I’m going to give it one more episode, but I’m still shocked at how much worse it was this week.
I agree somewhat. I thought last week was really funny and was looking forward to this week, only to be let down. I still thought some things were funny and will still watch but won’t expect it to be as funny as the first week.
Agreed. I LOVED the pilot but this episode didn’t work for me. Way too much time spent on Chase’s character- I thought he was the snooziest of the bunch.
I don’t know…I REALLY want to like this show, but the past two weeks have left me wanting way more. I am a Joel McHale fan, and who doesn’t root for Chevy Chase (the “She’s UGLY!” reference to the first Vacation movie was genius)…but so far, none of the characters are all that likeable. Giving it another shot, though. Don’t let me down, McHale!
I caught the “she’s ugly” line as well; I was wondering if it was done on purpose.
I grew up on Vacation, so when he said that, I was so happy.
I also caught him call Chevy “amigo”… as in Three Amigos?
I almost died of happiness when he said “She’s ugly” in homage to Vacation. Thank you Chevy.
Adam, I think that had more to do with Spanish class than Three Amigos.
Honestly, I was only feeling so-so about this episode until the scene during the credits. The spanish rap was masterful and amazing. That’s the reason I’ll watch again next week!
YES! The rap was impeccable!!!
That was SOOOO funny — I kept the ep on my DVR just to show my 1st-yr-Spanish-class son today…
The rap was outstanding, which I watched twice. Senor Chang’s monologue was also brilliant.
It was funny. It’s just refreshing to watch a show without drama, crime, forensics, canned laughter, forced comedy, talking to the camera, etc. It’s a good follow-up to The Office.
Definitely an improvement, but something still doesn’t feel right. I’m only really sticking with it for McHale, who I think is fabulous. I hope it finds its groove.
I definitely laughed a lot more this week, especially during the presentation. The show still needs a little more time to find its groove, and I have a feeling we’ll know whether this show will sink or swim by the time it gets to the first episode focused on Danny Pudi’s Abed.