Community, Ep. 9: "Debate 109"

As I sat down to write this week I was aware of the impulse to bash this new Jeff-Annie tryst, or at least jerk it mightily with my knee. As strong and dangerous impulses go, however, the real danger would be passing any kind of judgment at all. I don’t know yet where this new development will lead. I don’t even know yet if Community is going to be the kind of show where these things necessarily have lasting consequences. So in the spirit of an awkwardly worded marketing survey, let’s assess it “solely on the basis of the enjoyment it provided this week” and see what we’re left with... (1) Allison Brie is an attractive female and (2) that was mostly pleasant.


But Community continues to be more than just pleasant and chock full of Allison Brie (<---- woeful segue) and so once again this week we were treated to roughly 22 minutes of plot. “Debate 109” opens with our main cast sitting at the table of the library study room that they have, by all appearances, reserved for all eternity. Ignoring the hysterics/fun that ensue, the scene sets up 3 competing storylines: Britta needs Pierce to help her quit smoking before she claws everyone around her to pieces, Abed’s movies appear to be predicting the future, and the triumvirate of Annie, the Dean, and Professor Whitman want Jeff to join the debate team so that they can beat the local city college[1].


The first plot starts off rather amusingly; it’s refreshing to see Britta in a new light, allowed to go for some screwball laughs. And there’s some pleasure to be had with Chevy Chase continuing to be confidently horrible at literally everything, as well as the cast’s reactions to Britta’s many barbs (Roy: “You’re right, my feet are long and stupid. You can’t un-ring that bell.”) Still, make no mistake, this was the lightest of light C-plots and it suffered for it.


Also this episode, Abed’s role as designated meta commentator was further cemented. In another blatant broadside at people who think they can review this show (a group I have much respect for), Mr. Abed’s short films for class begin to mirror the situational comedy situations that make up the heart of “Community” each week. As the future events he depicts start to come true, he explains that everyone in their group has “character”istics that make them more or less predictable. Abed is the equivalent of the player-coach in sports[2]. He doesn’t quite stand to the side, but he isn’t a normal bit player either. The stand-ins for Troy (played by Coolio, right?), Pierce, etc. start out as the only funny thing stemming from this plot, but as the storyline develops it slowly settles into an actual joke-telling device. The use of the werewolf and Shirley’s attendant dread were great simple, funny jokes.


Ultimately, however, it’s all about Jeff’s debate team and in the gymnasium finale towards which all of this was tending, Aaron Himelstein continued “Community”’s streak of excellent recurring guest stars as the city college debater. At this point “Community” is like a medicine cabinet lined with a variety of condoms; regardless of which choice you make, you’re having a good night. The actual substance of the debate (is man by nature good or evil) was typical of the show’s themes and gave us these excellent items to add to the eternally growing pro-con lists:


Pro
- Man is social
- Mother Theresa
- Apu from the Simpsons
Con
- Nuclear bombs


- Abu Graihb
- Ketchup is a vegetable.


As to the related question of whether God is good, may I submit exhibit (1): Allison Brie is really a very attractive female.

Standout Character: Annie (Allison Brie)- o.k., all done with the creepy letch thing
Standout Moment: “Wow, this is a real barnburner… oh God, did say crossburner??”- Pierce, to Shirley
Episode Grade: A-


1. I’ve listed them in reverse order of insubstantiality for your convenience.
2. Or alternatively, any actor-director other than Mel Gibson (that is to say any actor-director who might be critical of his own performance).