Community 3.01: "Biology 101"

It’s hard to believe a show that dedicates itself to making pop culture references could be decent, let alone exceptional. But that’s exactly what Community has become. It’s a cornucopia of bliss and laughter. So as you can imagine, when 8 p.m. struck last night and the Season 3 premiere was upon us, I became giddier than a 6-year-old in Toys “R” Us (do kids still go to Toys “R” Us?)

The opening to the premiere was delightful. It epitomized what Community is all about. It seemed like a wacky spoof of a choreographed Glee scene, a show that’s been poked fun at before by Dan Harmon’s cast of crazies. “We’re gonna be more fun and be less weird than the last two years combined.” False. The whole thing turned out to be a Jeff daydream.

No time was wasted in addressing the only thing that could qualify as a cliffhanger from the Season 2 finale: whether Pierce would return to the study group. Just over two minutes in, we had our answer.

“I’m back,” Pierce said nonchalantly, as he stood in the doorway of the study room, literally a second after Jeff said Pierce was never coming back. To me, this was flawless execution. This is not the type of show for a dragged out reveal. Pierce is not The Smoke Monster.

The gang heads to Biology sans Pierce, who wasn’t registered. Starburns is rocking a lizard on his right shoulder now. His complaint about nobody caring about “the human being underneath it all” leads me to speculate about a possible Starburns-centric episode at some point this season. Michael K. Williams aka OMAR makes an immediate impact as Dr. Marshall Kane, kicking Jeff out of the class for his cell phone antics. I can’t wait for more of the new professor. Of course, Pierce was on the waiting list and took Jeff’s spot in the class. The inevitable fuel to the Jeff/Pierce rivalry fire.

Cougar Town has been moved to midseason, and Abed is freaking out. Britta introduces Abed to Cougarton Abbey. It was an unimpressive yet acceptable replacement for Abed, until everyone died after six episodes, cause Abed to essentially shut down. That is, only until he became acquainted with “the best show (he’s) ever seen” Inspector Spacetime. Nothing special happening here. Just a reinforcement of Abed’s obsession of TV and film.

Dean Pelton gets a rude awakening from Vice Dean Laybourne, played by the lovely John Goodman, who absolutely kills it in this episode. Laybourne, who heads the Air Conditioning Repair annex at Greendale, which of course is one of the best schools in the country and brings in 80 percent of Greendale’s funds. Laybourne puts Pelton on notice, seeking a shift in the balance of power and money. He even has a barber slice off Pelton’s raunchy goatee. Dan Harmon has added a studly acting duo with Goodman and Williams, and their supplementary roles will do wonders for an already great show. The bar has clearly been raised.

Senor Chang now lives in the vents where Annie’s Boobs lives (used to live?). He and Jeff get monkey gassed in the vents after a battle over a picture of Pierce and a random prisoner that Jeff thought was Dr. Kane. The gas puts Jeff in an altered state where he sees visions of himself turning into the very person that he hates, Pierce. Chang eventually falls out of the vent onto Pelton’s desk and admits what he’s been up to. Pelton offers him room and board to be a new security guard, after two others resigned due to the new lack of funds issue.

Jeff goes into a craze and tried to put an axe through the study groups table. Only after five swings was he able to put a small hole through it. Dean Pelton walks by and announces that things are indeed going to be the same this year (cementing the opening segment as nothing more than a dream.) He also relays that the school has no money, yet makes no request regarding funds for fixing the table. He was too distraught over the loss of his goatee.

Just when it seemed that Jeff and Pierce butting heads would be a dominant theme once again, they share a moment of solidarity, albeit brief, when Pierce lies about bribing Dr. King just so Jeff could get back in the group’s good graces. Jeff admits that Pierce was right about the table having magic, a magic that spawned the group in the first place and brings them closer time and time again.

It was a solid first 21 + minutes for Community, although it clearly came off a season premiere. It set up the new characters and the new role for Chang. I wouldn’t have minded him meandering through the vents all season, but Jeong is versatile and will remain proficient. Troy and Shirley were a bit underused, but that will happen every now and then. It was a good seed for what should blossom into another wonderful season.


Favorite one-liner: “All hail sir-eats-alone!” – Leonard, to Jeff in the cafeteria.
I love you Leonard. I'm glad you're still alive.

- J_Tasch will be covering Community’s third season. Before you depart, please feed the fish.