I Thought I Heard Something Awesome Out There...

Ahhh, just like old times... staying up all night finishing the Thursday night reviews. I’ve still got it!

Spoilers...

Community – “Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps” (A+)

Wow... considering how good last year’s Halloween episode was I certainly never thought they were going to top it, but “Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps” was a special kind of brilliant. The way it perfectly blended parody with the personalities of this incredible cast of characters, it’s just Community firing on all cylinders. I mean holy crap there were a lot of great one-liners in this one. Trust me, the quotes section of this episode is going to take a page onto itself.

The thing I think I really loved about “Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps” was how each little story told us something about the way these characters think. And I know, I said the exact same thing about last week’s (well two weeks ago) “Remedial Chaos Theory” but this episode took that premise and twisted it to even more hilarious proportions. Actually, just remembering back through all the stories I think it was perfect that in the end they all turned out to be insane. Well all except for Abed, but I think that makes it even better.

It’s tough for me to go through each story individually, because honestly I think they all had something to contribute, but I will point out a few of my favourites. I loved the way they handled Britta’s story by having every character talk in the disjointed way she would likely be telling it. I know they did that in at least some fashion with all of them, but hers was particularly notable in that it perfectly captured the half-baked setup Britta needed to get everybody else to tell their stories.

Definitely my favourite was Abed’s. Anyone who reads this blog with any sort of regularity knows that I’m pretty much the logic police when it comes to these sorts of things, and Abed’s little checklist of what would be required before their deaths seemed earned hit just about every right note in my book. Plus how funny was it to watch Troy dancing along to Abed’s unbelievably long radio interlude.

Of course I couldn’t help but smile at Annie’s story either. Pretty much every line of dialogue that came after Brita appeared from that closet is worth re-quoting endlessly. And then there was Shirley’s  sermon which produced one of my favourite lines of the episode from Troy:

TROY: You ruined a Britta party. That’s like letting poop spoil.

But maybe the most impressive scene in the whole episode was when, after Britta spilled the beans that one of them could be a homicidal maniac, the lights flickered and they all instinctively grabbed weapons. That was a moment I did not see coming and again perfectly set up the ending where they all turned out to be insane.  I mean I’m downright swooning here, but that’s just genius writing. You’ve got to love watching a show really hit its stride like this.

Alright, now for my long list of favourite lines, with some bonus commentary attached! You’re welcome:

ANNIE: There’s nothing in your playlists but spooky party, the Beetlejuice soundtrack, and NPR podcasts.
BRITTA: Oh, we can listen to one of those. I have Michelle Morris interviewing Aril Morris. Don’t worry, they address it.

BRITTA: Extreme Jeff!
JEFF: Like a Dorito?
BRITTA: A sociopathic Dorito. A cool ranch lunatic. Only instead of zest Jeff, one member of our study group has homicidal tendencies.

JEFF: You probably just Britta-ed the test results somehow.

TROY: I want to go to the dance. I heard the Dean got free taco meat from the army! (Great call back!)

BRITTA: That makes sense. I’m turned on by how logical you are. (If only...)

BRITTA: I hope you’re as fertile as I am tonight.
ABED: More.

BRITTA: Should we go check it out?
ABED: No, we should call 911 on my fully charged cell phone, lock the doors, and then stand back to back in the middle of the room holding knives.

ANNIE: You should be proud of how much I’ve changed you!

TROY: That wasn’t even a ghost story. It was like an episode of some show we’re all too young to have heard of.

TROY: Troy and Abed sewn together!

And line of the night:

TROY: Yeah Jeff, what the hell. Why are you always so determined to have us relax and put down our weapons?

Parks and Recreation – “Meet N Greet” (A)

I was just saying a few weeks ago that I would love to see some more of the roommate dynamic between Ben, Andy, and April and then this little episode came along. I think it’s fairly safe to say the writers of Parks and Recreation are pretty big fans of Stuck on a Channel. And I welcome their readership, because I’m pretty a big fan of theirs too. Any show that so openly bashes salads the way this one does has instantly earned a place in my heart.

I’m a little sad we’ve seen the end of Entertainment 720 – you can probably file that twist under storylines we all saw coming – but at least it gave us that sweet ending between Leslie and Tom. I quite enjoyed the scene at the waffle house where Tom lamented over his business mistakes and that video montage – Leslie’s response was just fantastic. I could have maybe done with a touch less of the Entertainment 720 extravagance early in the episode, but hey, it’s their last hurrah, might as well let them have it. I just hope we still get to see Jean-Ralphio around.

Wow, and Ron in this episode. Here’s maybe the best testament to how good a character he is – a line as benign as “yeah, this is my Halloween costume” can get one of the biggest laughs of the night. Nick Offerman has amazing delivery. If he doesn’t get an Emmy nomination one of these days the system is broken.

I also really loved the writers’ decision to pair Ron and Ann together this week. Whenever you put Ron in a teaching position – think Ron Swanson’s Pyramid of Greatness – it always brings out the best in him. Combine that with Ann’s hilarious enthusiasm and you’ve got a pretty lethal combination, certainly the best storyline of the night. It takes me back to a few weeks ago when Ann was trying to get just a minute of small talk out of him. Turns out all she had to do was hand him a toolbox.

And of course I can’t forget to mention Ben and his lovable roommates. My only real problem with this storyline was that I didn’t buy that Ben could be that anti-confrontational. It just doesn’t seem to mesh with what we’ve seen from his character before this. But other than that I quite enjoyed what this storyline gave us. I LOVE that they brought Orin back. He was one of my favourite parts of the fantastic “Fancy Party” from last season. And I mean you’ve got to appreciate Andy’s “maturity” in handling the situation with Ben. The Dwyer method of solving conflict certainly tied everything up nicely in the end.

Okay, now for the quotes. Yeah, there’s a lot for this episode too... just in case you were wondering why it got an A:

JERRY: Look at you, you’re just beautiful!
CHRIS: You’re beautiful! On the inside, where your spirit lives.

ANDY: Weren’t you a pirate last year?
RON: Yes, this is my Halloween costume.

LESLIE: I have personally patronized each and every one of your establishments.
TANYA: Ummm, I’ve never seen you buy a salad from Sue’s Salads.
LESLIE: That’s because I don’t hate myself Tanya. I’m sorry, I know I should be chasing your vote but I stand behind my decision to avoid salad and other disgusting things. And I think I have a lot of support in the community for that.

ANDY: Where’s your costume?
APRIL: Honey, he’s wearing a costume. He’s going as lame.
ANDY: That’s a pretty good costume actually.

ANDY: See you’re angry at me and you’re not talking about it and I’m going to beat you up until you do because I’m mature.

ANDY: I grew up with 5 brothers and we fought using the Dwyer method, which was yelling, wrestling, crying, followed by lots of hugs... and then more wrestling but the fun kind... and then crying when the fun kind of wrestling got out of hand.

RON: Nice form son, make sure you keep a firm pressure on the cranium.

ANN: We’re gonna go dark people, bear with us okay. We’ve gotta switch off the main fuse hose.
RON: It’s just a fuse.
ANN: It’s just a fuse people, just a fuse.

TOM: Well hindsight is 20/20.
LESLIE: Kind of seems like regular sight should have caught that one.

BEN: Alright, maybe you have to start thinking about how your actions affect me. Like tell me about stuff happening in the house. Stop referring to my bedroom as a common space. Stop using my comforter for your pillow forts.

APRIL: We should go, I’m blocking an ambulance.

LESLIE: (through tears) I loved it. I’m going to watch it every day for the rest of my life and when I die I’m going to project it on my tombstone.

And line of the night:

LOWE’S EMPLOYEE: Hi there, is there a project you’re working on.
RON: I know more than you.
LOWE’S EMPLOYEE: Alright.

The Office – “Spooked” (A-)

Aww, poor Erin. She’s such a nice well intentioned girl. How can you not want to root for her? I was kind of wondering when the writers were going to bring back her relationship with Andy. Especially with Andy getting all this new screen time it only seems like the next logical step. They probably won’t get together for a while, but at least in the meantime you add a little sexual tension into the mix. Although I don’t know if Erin’s knows how to pick up on sexual tension, so... maybe just the regular kind of tension.

I kind of want to meet this girl Andy’s been dating. That really came out of nowhere, didn’t it? It would be a heck of a guest spot to land. I hope they get someone good to fill that role. It’s like that role that Roy guy played on that other show. What was it called? Oh wait no, that was still The Office. Seems like a long time ago though doesn’t it.

Anyway, Ellie Kemper really had a great episode. She’s what makes Erin so lovable. She’s just so positive sounding about everything. Even when she’s talking about working with her ex she makes it sound lovable. Oh, and fun fact – this episode was written by Kemper’s sister, Carrie Kemper. See, wasn’t that fun!  ***Pats self on back***.

Erin wasn’t the only one having a standout week though; this was really Robert California’s coming out party as well. I mean he’s had a few good bits in previous episodes, but he really left his mark on this one. I think my favourite scene in the entire episode was when Andy, Erin, and him had the dreaded talk in Andy’s office. He was the highlight of the whole thing and all he did was sit ominously in background.

ANDY: I’m sorry this must be really uncomfortable for you.
ROBERT: I’m never uncomfortable.
ANDY: Mmmkay.

I also quite liked the culmination of the little running bit they had where he collected everybody’s worst fears. The collective silence of the entire office after he finished his horror story was pretty great. I especially loved how he had to explain to Kevin that he was talking about mummies before it registered with him that he should be terrified.

I think the trick to his character is to use him sparingly. The writers did an excellent job keeping him in background of the episode and just having him pop in here and there to give a scene an extra little kick. If this is the Robert California we’re going to get for the rest of the season than you can consider me a fan.

To the quotes!

ERIN: When they talk about all the nice things about dating a co-worker they don’t mention one of the best parts – after you’re done dating you still get to work together! Every single day...

JIM: (wearing a Chris Bosh Miami Heat jersey) I know, I know, I know, but Darryl and Kevin needed a third. They bought this jersey, I said no, Kevin started crying, so... I am Chris Bosh.

PHYLLIS: Bob and I are doing this Scranton haunted walking tour.
OSCAR: I always wondered what kind of people went on that thing.

ROBERT: Bert this is a... paper company.

ROBERT: Extraordinary. Did you plan this?
KELLY: Well Toby and I did, yeah.
GABE: And I overheard and thought hey, that’d be fun, don’t mind if I do.

ERIN: Remember that Halloween party you took me to once, the one where I started crying as soon as I walked in and... I didn’t stop crying.
GABE: Yes.

KEVIN: Why on Earth would a museum put a mummy in it!

PHYLLIS: Is she Asian?
ERIN: I don’t know. She’s from somewhere I bet. Maybe from the forest.
PHYLLIS: The forest? Did Andy say his girlfriend’s from the forest?
ERIN: I don’t know Phyllis, maybe she’s from the city.

And line of the night:

ERIN: Pam how would you rate me as a receptionist on a scale of 1 to 3?
PAM: Um, 2...
ERIN: That’s like the second to last thing I wanted to hear.