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Community – “A Fist Full of Paintballs” (A)

Whenever Community hauls out the altered title music, you know what follows is going to be something special. The original paintball episode is pretty much a hallmark of the series. That’s when this show really cemented itself as one of the finest comedies on television. Needless to say, the sequel had a lot to live up to, and it did just that.

Dragging out the western theme was brilliant. Last year’s “Modern Warfare” was more of a standard action/war movie parody, and while it stills remains my favourite episode from this series, part of what made it so enjoyable was how incredibly fresh it felt. Parodying the western genre was a fantastic way of bringing back the awesomeness of paintball while still giving the writers enough new material to do the premise justice.

And did they ever. Not only was the writing appropriately sharp in this one, but the directing was fantastic. Joe Russo deserves a ton a credit. This episode looked like a western. Not just a TV show trying to emulate a western, but a real, straight of the Clint Eastwood playbook, western. He stylized almost every aspect to make it feel authentic, and he did it right from the first shot. From Annie running down hallways with choppy jilted camera work, to Jeff and Chang leaping over the table to gain cover from the math club, to the extremely satisfying slow motion shoot out with the Black Rider (the perfectly cast Josh Holloway) the episode didn’t need to work to sell a single joke. It had already done so simply by the sheer embrace of its premise.

I was also extremely pleased that Annie took on such a prominent role. There are a lot of great actors on this show, but Alison Brie is one of my absolute favourites, and there’s seldom a scene or storyline she’s involved in that I don’t appreciate. It may just be me, but it seems over the past few episodes she’s been pushed to the background a bit, so to see her in such fine form here was certainly an added perk to this episode. I think Abed put it best:

ABED: She’s pretty awesome today.

And you could tell why her character was so front and center. Annie is the glue that keeps this group together. Sure Jeff makes the speeches, but it’s always Annie pushing them to do more with each other, and it was Annie fighting to keep them together in this one. The potential banishment of Pierce from the group added real stakes to the episode. Sure, they’ve gone to that well a lot this season, but the drama it added was worth the repetition. I actually felt sincere tension when Annie, finally fed up with Pierce’s antics, challenged him to a duel. One, because Alison Brie sold Annie’s heartbreak so incredibly well, and two, because I felt bad for Pierce. He’s finally alienated the one last person who still wanted him around.

Of course, they still managed to nail all the great little character nuances that make this show so funny in the first place. Jeff being incredibly insecure over the handsome Black Rider going to his school. The Dean, not only starting his paintball nightmare all over again (in yet another ridiculous outfit), but perking up just at the sight of Jeff entering the room. And Chang, betraying just about anybody who would form an alliance with him (you had to laugh at his “am I out” question after he was peppered with the paintball equivalent of a chain gun). It’s a testament to how brilliant the writing staff is that they can embrace the parody while still maintaining all the funniest aspects of these characters.

I can’t even wait to see where they take next week’s finale. The evilness in Pistol Paddie’s voice as he barked orders to his white clad army was simultaneously hilarious and ominous all at the same time, and judging by the preview after the credits there’s going to be an all out war at Greendale next week. Something tells me our study group is ready for it though.

My favourite quote/moments:

The Study Group’s Title Card Nicknames

-          Annie the Ace of Hearts

-          Abed the Jack of Clubs

-          Jeff the King of Spades

-          Brita the Queen of Spades (appropriate considering Jeff’s)

-          Shirley the Ace of Clubs

-          Troy the King of Clubs (best title card of them all)

ABED: Jeff wants to see you.
ANNIE: Yeah, and I want pants. A lot of people want a lot of things.

CHANG: The Math club has gotten a lot better since last year.
JEFF: Obviously they were practicing while the rest of us went on dates.

ABED: (in reference to the Black Rider aka Josh Holloway) Does that guy even go to our school? He’s really good looking, like network TV good looking.

JEFF: My forehead’s not that big right?
TROY: It’s not small.

JEFF: I’m not risking my but hauling ammo back for the guy who has Vicky dancing for Twinkies.
PIERCE: She’s a dance major Jeff! She loves Twinkies, and if you ever took the time to get to know her...

CHANG: Guys you don’t have to do this. I betrayed the math club for you.

BLACK RIDER: Sorry, I get paid to shoot paintballs honey, not the breeze.

JEFF: You think you’re good looking, but you’re not. You’re average. You’re just an average looking guy with a big chin.

CHANG: Hello? Anybody? Does anyone have an alliance I can join? I’m really loyal.

And line of the episode:

TROY: We just call him the Black Rider.
ANNIE: Okay, but he’s not really riding anything.
TROY: Look I don’t name people Annie. I’m a deputy. I deputize.

The Office – “The Inner Circle” (B-)

The first episode of the post-Michael Scott era.

Make no mistake – The Office is a different show now, and much like any new show coming onto the airwaves it still has a lot of questions left to answer. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks we’ll get a clearer picture of just what exactly the writers have planned for us. But while it’s important not to judge this new incarnation too harshly simply for not being the same show it used to be, from this episode it was obvious that Steve Carell’s absence has left a huge hole in the fabric of The Office.

It was visible right from the opening credits (literally). It’s like that old adage – you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone (or was that just a song lyric...meh). Not to imply I didn’t appreciate Steve Carell while he was around, but I didn’t realize how integral his energy was to the show. Michael wasn’t just a character, he was the setting of the show. Think about it... what made this office different from any other boring office out there is that the man in charge was a goof. You take away the goof and you’ve got any old office.

Now Will Ferrell’s Deangelo was a bit of an idiot himself, but not in the same way that Michael was, and it doesn’t matter because this was his last episode anyway (I was surprised the way they wrote him off to be honest). Michael was already established as the boss when we were first introduced to this series, and whoever they bring in will have to go through a feeling out period, which is going to be a very difficult balancing act for the writers.

I think the scene where I really noticed Michael’s absence was the lunch room scene between Andy, Jim, Pam and Angela (forgive me if I missed someone). It’s the kind of scene that would normally be interrupted by a curious Michael killing the vibe of the room, but instead it was just a typical lunch between coworkers. No one did anything too weird or inappropriate. They just talked about their new boss, which is kind of my point.

I’m jumping too far ahead of myself though. Until we find out Michael’s permanent replacement it’s almost impossible to judge whether or not this show can succeed without him. I’m sure the new boss will share at least some of Michael’s quirks, and hopefully they’ll also bring a few of their own. That’s the thing about this whole transition – while there’s a chance The Office will never recover from the loss of Steve Carell, there’s also a chance this new boss could completely reinvigorate the show. No one was saying The Office was in its prime when Michael left. New blood means new story possibilities, new relationships, and the rare opportunity to add a fresh perspective to a show going into its eighth season.

I mean as much as I’ve complained about this episode, it wasn’t without a few charms. I quite enjoyed Ryan and Kelly’s little story. Maybe now that Michael’s gone Ryan will get an expanded role. It’s no secret we’ve been seeing less of him over the past couple of seasons – I assumed it was because the writers didn’t know what to do with him anymore – but his storyline with Kelly this week made for probably the best Ryan episode I’ve seen in a very long time. It could be the start of the something.

My favourite quotes:

DEANGELO: (yelling) I don’t care what your favourite flavour is, here’s a bowl of ice cream. You either like it or you don’t. That’s my attitude right now in this room, that’s my attitude on ice cream Thursdays.

DEANGELO: Dwight, what’s your take?
DWIGHT: What’s the argument here? NBA or WNBA? One is a sport, one is a joke. I love sports, I love jokes. Room for all.
DEANGELO: Man you are smart.

RYAN: So I am the new customer service supervisor --
KELLY: When Deangelo’s around.
RYAN: And I am also a very dutiful boyfriend when --
KELLY: All the time.
RYAN: All the time.

And line of the episode:

ANDY: I wrote my own companion piece to the Vagina Monologues called the Penis Apologies.

Parks and Recreation – “Eagleton” (A-)

God I hate those Eagleton bitches.

A rival town is exactly what Pawnee needed. It makes so much sense. Pawnee is already full of hilarious landmarks and colourful characters, they’re a huge reason why this show is so awesome. Why not give them a snooty neighbour as well? And if that snooty neighbour happens to have a parks department run by Leslie’s ex-best friend, all the better.

That ex-best friend of course was Lindsey Carlisle-Shay (Parker Posey), who acted as the perfect ambassador as we toured through what Eagleton was all about. I loved what the writers did with the snooty town. Sure it was over the top, but if you can’t laugh at something like the Eagleton holding cell than there is seriously something wrong with you.

POLICE OFFICER: We hope you enjoy your evening here at the Eagleton holding cell. Can I offer you anything? Herbal tea, Greek yogurt?

One of my favourite parts of the episode was the contrast between the two cities’ public forums. Pawnee’s was the same old crackpot convention we’ve all come to know and love, with one resident suggesting they burn down the fence and another suggesting they encircle the Eagleton fence with two of their own fences, so the people of Eagleton won’t be able to reach theirs. The Eagleton forum on the other hand... applause whenever somebody talked, valet parking, and what looked to me like a crepe bar.

And yet despite how much more high class the Eagleton’s townspeople are, it’s almost as if Eagleton and Pawnee are two sides of the same coin. Both cities have their eccentricities. The people of Pawnee may have shorter life expectancies and lower incomes, but Eagleton is so high strung they take decadence to the extreme.

TOM: Did you guys get your public forum gift bag? There’s an iPod Touch in here!

I really hope the writers haven’t finished with the great rivalry between these two towns. I would love to see Eagleton pop up again, whenever the writers can think of some sort of new, ridiculously lavish way for the citizens of Eagleton to flaunt their money.

And yet despite how fun it was watching the two towns go at it, watching Ron implode over Leslie’s discovery of his birthday was equally, if not more, satisfying. This was a fantastic idea for a Ron storyline, and every bit of the promise of its premise was paid off in this episode. The fact that Leslie decided to mess with him after her birthday discovery was just awesome. His scene with Ann especially (who also had a great episode in a supporting role) was a fantastic way of showing off his growing paranoia. I laughed out loud when he popped her balloons, and the way he kept cringing and swearing as she gleefully told him about Leslie’s birthday party for her was hilarious.

But just as Ron accepted that he was going to have to endure one of Leslie’s elaborate parties, she reminded us of exactly why these two make such a good team with a scaled down affair customized exactly to Ron’s character. Meat, violence, and absolute solitude. They may be two very different people, but what makes their relationship so great is the way they complement and respect each other.  That’s something those Eagleton bitches wouldn’t know anything about.

My favourite lines (there are a lot, sorry):

LESLIE: Ron refuses to tell anyone when his birthday is. He’s even had it redacted on all government documents. Three years of investigations, phone calls, freedom of information act requests, and still I had nothing. Until, a well place bribe to a gentleman at Baskin Robbins revealed... Ron’s birthday’s on Friday.

RON: Plus the whole thing is a scam. Birthdays were invented by Hallmark to sell cards.

BEN: Is the Eagleton side really that much better than the Pawnee side?
LESLIE: To be fair yeah. Our side is this scrappy piece of land where kids go to smash florescent light tubes... but it has a lot of heart.

RON: Whatever’s going on here stop it immediately.
APRIL: I was just talking on the phone.
RON: To whom?
APRIL: It was personal. I would never make a work related call, you know that.

LESLIE: What!?! I’m not asleep. I’m awake! I’m wide awake and I’ve got my eyes on you. That’s what I would have said if I... had thought of it in the moment. What did I say instead?

LESLIE: Yes Eagleton is nicer than Pawnee. And yes, because of their cupcake factory the air always smells like vanilla.

LINDSAY: And to every Pawnee citizen who might have a bright future if they fundamentally change everything about themselves.

ANN: You okay?
LESLIE: It was a rough night but I survived. Scone? They only have maple walnut.

LESLIE: But in my defence, I believe that assault should be legal if a person is a jerk.

LESLIE: Let’s go
ANN: Okay, can we just stop off at the lobby because the prison gift bags are amazing?

LESLIE: Introducing the Pawnee wiffleball league. It’s an idea that I came up with after my best friend Ann over there said she wanted to bash your head in with a baseball bat.

And line of the episode:

ANN: Oh my god Ron, it’s your birthday. Happy birthday!
RON: Shut your damn mouth.
ANN: This is a fun conversation.

30 Rock – “Respawn” (B)

This was a more scaled down season finale than I’m used to seeing from 30 Rock. Normally they have at least a few big guest stars to mark the occasion (like Matt Damon last season) and other than the exception of Victor Garber, “Respawn” was pretty tame in that regard. Of course that shouldn’t be too big of a surprise with the 100^th episode still a recent memory.

That’s fine though, because despite lacking the star power of some of the show’s previous season finales “Respawn” was still enjoyable. Liz and Tracey’s storyline was by far my favourite. Tracey was in fine form here as Liz Lemon’s summer house neighbour, coming up with all sorts of hilarious ways to unintentionally ruin Liz’s much needed vacation.

And I love that Liz didn’t take it lying down either. With Tracey threatening to cause problems for her if she moves out of her summer home, Liz took a page out Frank, Lutz, and Toofer’s playbook (and another unnamed writer who finally gained the courage to speak) and decided to “Respawn” by insulting a judge and getting herself sentenced to community service. Tina Fey was awesome in the aforementioned court room scene, and I loved the general upbeat nature of Lemon as she discovered that community service still satisfied all four of her criteria for a good summer.

I was a little more mixed on Jack and Kenneth’s story. I really loved Jack McBrayer’s impression of Elizabeth Banks (he was dead on) but there were times when Jack’s replacement of Avery was almost too creepy. When Jack had Kenneth wearing earrings or spooning on the couch it very nearly went past the point of being funny to an area where I was relating a little too much to how Kenneth was feeling in that situation.

Jenna’s wool council story however captured just the right amount of weirdness. Having Jenna try to follow a morality clause was a fantastic idea for an episode and Victor Garber played a great part as the head of the wool council. I loved how his character kept calling everything “very wool”. But more than anything, it was just great to get a glimpse into Jenna and Paul’s private lives. In some crazy, demented way it was kind of a sweet love story in the end... right?

My favourite quotes:

LIZ: All I have left is to pay the fine that I incurred for committing a hate crime against what the city is now claiming was a Jewish tree.

KENNETH: It’s an old Parcell family recipe. But I like to replace the Union soldier meat with boiled potatoes.

TRACEY: If I start screaming in my sleep, do not wake me up. I will attack you... (goes to sleep) Ahh, wake me up! Free me from this.

JONATHAN: You just made a very dangerous enemy Kenneth!
KENNETH: Thanks for the heads up Jonathan. Do you want to come to my birthday party?

TRACEY: Can I borrow a cup of sugar? I’m trying to get a humming bird to drink out of my penis.

TRACEY: Oh, I’m sorry. You didn’t want to live next door to your friend. After all I’ve done for you. How many times have I come over and painted your apartment?
LIZ: Three! And by the way stop doing that.

KENNETH: Now maybe I haven’t had a wife who was kidnapped but I have seen the Brady Bunch where Tiger runs away. We’ve all been through some bad stuff Mr. Donaghy.

JACK: I had the perfect woman. Gorgeous, brilliant, always let me be the hat in Monopoly.

JACK: God, are you punishing me because my hair is better than yours.

JACK: Sheri, put Liddy’s baby pant suit on, I’m taking her to work with me today.

JACK: What are you doing?
TRACEY: I hooked the ball into a truck on the Long Island Expressway, and Tracey Jordan does not take mulligans.

And line of the episode:

TRACEY: Hey guys, it’s me Tracey. The black guy from work.