Ezen Baklattan Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 If I had to take a guess, the sitcom is indicaticve of Abed's inability to want to change, (leave Greendale after senior year in this case) and how going back to freshman year would keep them together longer. (I must admit, the MS Paint line was probably the funniest of the episode) Either way, it didn't feel as effective or smooth as the subtexts in any other episodes, and the episode last night certainly dissapointed. Another thing that annoyed me is the pennies. That scene had great potential to be fleshed out, but they needed its own episode for that, so they just kind of left it hanging here. That bothered me. If this quality keeps up, part of me has a sinking feeling of "why even bother" with this season, especially when the S3 finale would have made a damn fine series finale. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolioD1 Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Basically the meta/pop culture references felt like they were only there because the new guys thought they HAD to be there. The show has tried a little too hard for them in the past as well, but it never felt as forced as that episodes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichWS Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 I hated Britta's "Here's the deal, Jessica Biel" line. It didn't feel like something she would say. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Bacon Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) I watched it again. Further in depth:+ Opening with the sitcom parody was very clever and very Community. I'm sure a few people had almost-heart attack.- The snap back to reality didn't really do much to correct it though. The "Jessica Biel" line, "Lucky Charm", wasn't sure what was in store. - The Hunger Deans was the most forced aspect to me. You had the "toooooooooo" line that would've fallen completely flat without Rash, and all for the concept which was never referred back to and was ultimately a pointless pop culture reference. I was worried about this from some promos, like Abed randomly mentioning Die Hard 3 like some kind of punchline.+ "I'm gonna win with dignity!" *steals glasses and punches Leanord*- Returning to Abed TV served little purpose. The point was that it was a lame sitcom, which worked as a "Gotcha" gag but it wasn't something that warranted revisiting. + Greendale Babies Forever was awesome, though.- Pairing everyone up in unrelated stories hurt the flow, a lot. Especially when a couple were lame.+ There were quite a few nice lines and whatnot scattered through. Jeff and the Dean with most of them.+/- Abed's mental issues are a subject matter that can be brilliant if handled very carefully or just strange if not. The first time they tackled it in the Christmas episode resulted in an incredibly emotional ride that scored both laughs and uneasy tears, and probably my favorite episode. In season 3 they returned to the well while never committing to it quite like before with mixed results. I think this episode's subplot was really rocky but ultimately worked better than some of the stuff last season.- Gopher is right, a lot of these attempts at being meta and pop culture happy were empty and really are the scariest parts about it. I could personally live with a well-written sitcom with these characters while not possessing the former magic a lot better than a show trying very hard to recapture it and falling on its face.+ The episode really tried to establish that the new guys acknowledge the challenge in trying to save the show without Harmon and I felt very much like I as a fan was being told up front it'll be bumpy and that encourages me to keep an open mind and be more forgiving of mistakes because this can really go many different ways.But apparently there's an Inspector Spacetime themed episode coming up that will not be easy to stomach. Edited February 10, 2013 by Kevin Bacon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MovieGuyKyle17 Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) I watched it again. Further in depth:+ Opening with the sitcom parody was very clever and very Community. I'm sure a few people had almost-heart attack.- The snap back to reality didn't really do much to correct it though. The "Jessica Biel" line, "Lucky Charm", wasn't sure what was in store.- The Hunger Deans was the most forced aspect to me. You had the "toooooooooo" line that would've fallen completely flat without Rash, and all for the concept which was never referred back to and was ultimately a pointless pop culture reference. I was worried about this from some promos, like Abed randomly mentioning Die Hard 3 like some kind of punchline.+ "I'm gonna win with dignity!" *steals glasses and punches Leanord*- Returning to Abed TV served little purpose. The point was that it was a lame sitcom, which worked as a "Gotcha" gag but it wasn't something that warranted revisiting.+ Greendale Babies Forever was awesome, though.- Pairing everyone up in unrelated stories hurt the flow, a lot. Especially when a couple were lame.+ There were quite a few nice lines and whatnot scattered through. Jeff and the Dean with most of them.+/- Abed's mental issues are a subject matter that can be brilliant if handled very carefully or just strange if not. The first time they tackled it in the Christmas episode resulted in an incredibly emotional ride that scored both laughs and uneasy tears, and probably my favorite episode. In season 3 they returned to the well while never committing to it quite like before with mixed results. I think this episode's subplot was really rocky but ultimately worked better than some of the stuff last season.- Gopher is right, a lot of these attempts at being meta and pop culture happy were empty and really are the scariest parts about it. I could personally live with a well-written sitcom with these characters while not possessing the former magic a lot better than a show trying very hard to recapture it and falling on its face.+ The episode really tried to establish that the new guys acknowledge the challenge in trying to save the show without Harmon and I felt very much like I as a fan was being told up front it'll be bumpy and that encourages me to keep an open mind and be more forgiving of mistakes because this can really go many different ways.But apparently there's an Inspector Spacetime themed episode coming up that will not be easy to stomach. THAT LAST LINE is something i'm very worried about. I have heard nothing but bad things from the convention episode which scares me a little. It's weird because a lot of the plots for episodes sounds like a Community plot. I do have faith they will find their footing. Like I said its better then Harmon's worst..(I still consider the worst episode of Community "Competitive Wine Tasting") Also I like the Lucky Charm line, thought that was something he would say. Edited February 10, 2013 by MGK17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Bacon Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I am enjoying this one much more. Not a classic, but it feels way more natural. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezen Baklattan Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 It was better than the last episode, but I didn't love it. Still, it certainly feels a lot less forced, and I loved Annie's line about how she hates reference humor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MovieGuyKyle17 Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I thought this was a much better episode and more like Community. Also I loved the end tag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Bacon Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Like I said, I can live with an above average sitcom without the outrageous flair but with the same characters and wrapping up the plot. Much more than a show trying too hard to be something it can't be because it lost its creative genius. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Gary Scott Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Much better episode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezen Baklattan Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 If the season is more like this, then we're good. This episode also showed that they had things ready to go for October 19th. Why else would there be a Halloween special on Valentine's Day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MovieGuyKyle17 Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Community is the only one that could pull this kind of thing off and hopefully the convention episode doesn't screw up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MovieGuyKyle17 Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 How the hell did the ratings drop so much so quick?? 1.9 to 1.1 in one week. I hate people so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichWS Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I actually preferred last week's episode. I hardly laughed at all last night. Kinda surprised by how positive the reaction's been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolioD1 Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 How the hell did the ratings drop so much so quick?? 1.9 to 1.1 in one week. I hate people so muchProbably because the premiere wasn't good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I hated Britta's "Here's the deal, Jessica Biel" line. It didn't feel like something she would say. After last night's episode they DEFINITELY need to retire this joke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolioD1 Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 ^They did it a couple times in the Harmon episodes as well. But you're right, it's never funny. I actually liked this one too. Biggest laugh for me was the fact that Pierce got his panic room installed on the day Do The Right Thing opened. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Bacon Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 Yeah, I hate those jokes. By all accounts next week is the worst episode yet. Hopefully after that we get more like this weeks'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MovieGuyKyle17 Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 (edited) not gonna lie I'm glad we got a warning about next weeks episode because these guys are under so much pressure from the fan base that if they screw up big then this fanbase will turn on them like that. Edited February 16, 2013 by MGK17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted February 16, 2013 Share Posted February 16, 2013 It's clear after last week's solid episode that Megan Ganz is the best thing this show still has going for it. She wrote last season's amazing Documentary Filmmaking Redux. Shame that Modern Family snatched her up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
