written by Dan Guterman | directed by Tristram Shapeero
After a month's hiatus, Community returned with another good episode, although something of a patchwork of ideas thrown together. One thing I've noticed this year is how the show is giving a lot of material to second-tier characters, perhaps in an effort to cope with the losses of Pierce and (just recently) Troy. So while this episode wasn't a big one for Annie (Alison Brie) or Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), the others each had an opportunity to shine, including Professor Duncan (John Oliver).The lead story was a continuation of the fun idea that stiff-Englishman Duncan fancies wild-American Britta (Gillian Jacobs), so enlists alpha male Jeff's (Joel McHale) help in winning her heart. Unfortunately, inviting Britta to a benefit for children born with cleft palates was only half-successful, as the rest of the study group invited themselves along and Jeff redeveloped feelings for Britta after she made an impassioned speech to some of her activist pals. It was a fun story, and I appreciated how it was ultimately about Duncan forging a deeper connection with Jeff as his friend, rather than futilely chase the out-of-his-league Britta.
Elsewhere, I actually preferred the B-plot with Abed (Danny Pudi) incurring the wrath of Professor Buzz Hickey (Jonathan Banks) after he accidentally ruined some of his cartoons with his Kickpuncher costume's inbuilt foam spray. Abed found himself handcuffed to a filing cabinet as a punishment, and this resulted in some interesting characters moments as Abed and Buzz voiced their grievances and, naturally, came to bond over their shared creativity.
It's rare on the show for "man-child" Abed to be ridiculed and condemned for his playful attitude towards life, as everyone either finds it charming or an unavoidable part of his condition (if we're still sure he's on the autistic spectrum). Banks and Pudi worked really well together, and the resolution of their conflict was very satisfying and suggests Abed's found a new "friend" who, unlike Troy, may actually be helpful in his growth and development. Troy pandered and colluded in Abed's fantasy worlds, but Buzz won't be doing that. I hope their screenplay collaboration will be returned to.
Finally, the least successful storyline belonged to Chang (Ken Jeong) because it was only really one joke the episode stretched too far. I liked the idea of Chang being mistaken for a compelling dramatic actor when he wandered onto a stage during an argument on his phone, and the twist that the audience were (maybe) ghosts of people who died in a fire was amusingly crazy.. and then it just fizzled out, although The Shining-inspired final shot of Chang in an "old photograph" with the ghosts made me giggle.
Overall, Community's strength is that is has many different gears and styles at its disposal, and "Introduction to Male Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality" offered something slightly loopy but with something clever and serious to say about the characters of Duncan, Abed and Buzz in particular.
27 February 2014 | NBC
