Thursday’s episode was really a mixed bag. There was a whole lot of good in it. Unfortunately, there was also a lot of not-so-good. But on the bright side, this is the ninth episode of the season, and I saw this episode as only a tiny dip in quality rather than the status quo. This show’s going places, but you can’t always knock ’em dead. You’re bound to run into some misses.
I didn’t like Abed’s prescient subplot. It was weird, and not that funny after the first or second time it was brought up. Normally, Abed’s one of my favorite characters in the episodes…I was a little disappointed with this one.
Pierce disappointed me again. He’s the new Jeff, in that he just has the exact same character development every episode. He’s just dumb and old, and he tries to be hip. He fails, but his friends feel sorry for him and ultimately accept him for who he really is on the inside. Let’s see some change! Yes, last episode he was different. But that’s the only time that I can think of that he was.
The joke that the Greendale’s mascot is “the human beings” hasn’t gotten old at all, and I’m being serious. It’s so ridiculous and over the top that it’s PERFECT for the show. Every time the mascot is mentioned or shown, it just adds to the principal’s neurotic character.
I’m glad we saw more of Professor Whitman, the debate coach. Ever since he almost failed Jeff for not seizing the day well enough, I’ve had a special place in my heart for him. Plus, he used the word “jackassery,” and that’s just a funny word.
I like the direction Jeff’s character is going. Rather than being pompous and in-your-face, he’s much more passive, cynical, and apathetic toward his own life situation. He’s also much quicker to help people (in this case the ever-adorable Annie), not just for his own selfish reasons but out of real friendship. Jeff has really outgrown his schtick, and he’s doing just fine without it.
The debate itself was hilarious at every point. I can’t sum it up in mere words. Go to Hulu and watch it. It’s easily one of the funniest situations in the entire series so far. I’ll leave you with this quote:
Jeff: “In the Stanford Prison experiment, 21 out of 21 students, when given absolute power, abused and tortured their fellow students. My competitor likened people to pure, falling snow. I would respond: ‘There is none righteous. No, not one.” Now, I realize Mr. Simmons’ quote was from the great Franz Wichmeyer. Mine was just from a simple desert handyman… named Jesus.’”