Community is back!!!

[next_to_normal]

I was gonna do up a Thursday TV Round-up post yesterday, buuuuuut... between completely losing my shit Thursday night and then spending the entire day Friday trying to work around people who are incompetent at their jobs, thus making it impossible for me to do mine, thus causing me to lose it further... yeah, didn't happen. So here's my thoughts on Community, with Fringe, The Office, and Being Erica coming up... eventually.

AAAHHH COMMUNITY, I MISSED YOU SO MUCH! OMG BRILLIANT. I love how self-aware this show is. I love how they've managed to take the premise that wasn't working in season 1 (a serious Jeff/Britta relationship) and completely subvert it by putting them together, not because they're actually in love, but because they're totally swept up in this spiteful one-upmanship (which, let's be honest, is the defining characteristic of Jeff/Britta). I was a bit concerned over how they would handle Britta's "I love you," because it seemed like such a typical sitcom thing, but because of that, I figured they'd skewer it somehow, and this is better than I could've hoped for.

Also liked the resolution of the Jeff/Annie kiss - they're hanging a lantern on the age difference by having everyone else be disgusted that Jeff "stuck his tongue in a teenager" (btw, LOL Britta). I didn't really expect Jeff and Annie to suddenly be a couple now or anything, nor do I need that to happen right away (even though I TOTALLY ship them), but I loved her horrified screams at all the Jeff/Britta stuff (especially next to Shirley's screams of joy). I think it's a way to get back to their usual UST without it feeling forced, but I certainly don't think this is the last we've seen of Jeff/Annie.

And Abed's speech about TV vs. real life was BRILLIANT. "TV makes sense. It has logic, structure, rules. And likable leading men. In life we have this. We have you." Abed is, of course, a lot of what makes the show self-aware, with all his meta references, which usually get played for humor, but I loved how here it's used instead to show Jeff what an asshole he's being.

Other things I loved: Brittamania! That snake dance move! Betty White with self-made weapons! "High on your own drama." Heh. That... reminds me of someone I know. :) Mocking "Shit My Dad Says" - this show sure doesn't hold back when it comes to going after other shows, does it? ("I HATE GLEE!") OMG GOLLUM CHANG.

Of course, the tag raises a very serious question - which "Africa" is awesomer?

OR...

Comments

[carnivorousgiraffe]

EEEECOMMUNITY.

I love how they seem to have realized that Jeff/Britta just simply wasn't going to work the way the characters are now, and rather than just dropping it they turn it on it's head and have some fun. That kiss was simultaneously one of the grossest and most awesome things I've ever seen. XD

The meta stuff was awesome, Community is really great at that sort of stuff--I really liked how they didn't just use it as a throwaway joke or to brush aside legitimate concerns viewers might have like most other shows I've seen(*coughcoughGLEEcoughcough*), but as a way to rein the characters back in, have them realize the insanity of their actions and bring it back a bit. So it can build into an even more awesome season finale this year, of course. :D

And my love for Abed continues to grow in leaps and bounds. ♥

The only thing that really bugged me was how Jeff was held accountable for all the stupid shit he did and more and Britta, who was arguably to be blamed for most of the situation, got...to watch...? I'm assuming it's because he's the main character and thus gets most of the character development, but still. Annoyed me. XP

Dude. Jeff/Annie will never die. Mostly because it's only season two...but also because it is AMAZING.

[next_to_normal]

The only thing that really bugged me was how Jeff was held accountable for all the stupid shit he did and more and Britta, who was arguably to be blamed for most of the situation, got...to watch...?

Oh, I would definitely argue with anyone who says Britta was mostly to blame. :) Maybe it's because I identify with the whole "confess your feelings and get rejected" thing, but Jeff complaining that Britta embarrassed him completely did not fly with me. You've got THREE beautiful, smart women attracted to you, and two of them are willing to fight over you in public. I have ZERO sympathy.

So yeah, Britta went along with the one-upmanship, but Jeff started it by being a jerk and turning her popularity into a competition. Besides, Britta didn't make out with a teenager (which is what actually got everyone upset at Jeff), and she didn't go out of her way to be cruel to everyone in the group. She mocks Annie, but Jeff goes after Shirley, Troy, AND Abed, none of whom are even involved in the "love" triangle.

[carnivorousgiraffe]

Oh, the competition was definitely both their faults. And maybe it's because I've dealt with it before, but having people confess that they like/love you when you don't have those feelings for them (or are unsure if you do) is not all it's cracked out to be. I would be horrified if someone declared this too me in front of everyone I knew and had to interact with on a daily basis, because suddenly there are a lot of people involved in something that is not at all their business. And two people at once? *shudder* No matter what you do, you're the bad guy according to someone. Just because someone says they're in love with doesn't make it your responsibility to love them back.

Not to mention that Jeff at this point wasn't acting interested in either of them and was pretty clearly being used as a trophy between two women who simply didn't like each other.

And I think Jeff was more annoyed by being turned into the bad guy for something he had no control over than Britta suddenly being popular.

And yeah, Jeff is totally a jerk, no argument here. :P But usually he does bring his comeuppance on himself, which did happen here, but Britta got pretty much nothing for using Jeff as a way to get back at Slater for insulting her and allowing the student body to turn Jeff into the villain just so she could stay popular.

[next_to_normal]

having people confess that they like/love you when you don't have those feelings for them (or are unsure if you do) is not all it's cracked out to be.

Well, sure, it's awkward, but I think it's telling that Britta expected to be the humiliated one when school started again, and the joke hinged on subverting expectations. It's definitely easier to be the rejecter than the rejectee, so I don't mind Jeff being the bad guy.

Not to mention that Jeff at this point wasn't acting interested in either of them and was pretty clearly being used as a trophy between two women who simply didn't like each other.

God forbid Jeff should be objectified, lol. It's not like he organized an entire study group just to sleep with someone. :)

[carnivorousgiraffe]

Oh, the writing was clever, yeah, but it bugged me that in the end Jeff was the only one who was punished, while Britta humiliated him, used him, and joined in the relationship competition but came out pretty much scott-free. They were both in the wrong for a lot of it, but only Jeff is really called on it.

XD I think by that point he'd been objectified plenty, long after he stopped harassing Britta, such as when Annie used him to win the debate or when Britta slept with him and then pulled a paintball gun on him (though that was admittedly mutual betrayal-wise). I dunno, it's just starting to feel like Jeff is being treated karmically as though he's the same person he was at the beginning of the show, which he's not.

I love Dreamwidth. Where else can one analyze a half-hour sitcom and have an interesting debate about it? XD

[next_to_normal]

I love Dreamwidth. Where else can one analyze a half-hour sitcom and have an interesting debate about it? XD

LiveJournal :)

Actually, in all seriousness, if you don't already, you should check out What's Alan Watching. I end up quoting his reviews a lot. :)

[carnivorousgiraffe]

Livejournal and I aren't on speaking terms right now. XD

Ooh, I could use a new review/recap site. And his views on Outsourced have confirmed all of my suspicions.