Written by Marley Ghizzone
Queer Studies & Advanced Waxing Plot Summary:
Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) is asked to be on the school board as long as he comes out as openly gay to prove that the board is tolerant. Meanwhile, Elroy (Keith David) and Abed (Danny Pudi) try to save baby birds that made the Greendale Internet router their home and Annie (Alison Brie) helps Chang (Ken Jeong) audition for a stage adaption of The Karate Kid.
Community has always pushed a few buttons but this is the first time I feel like they have taken an issue almost head on. The Dean (Rash) is asked to be part of the school board, but only if he is their token gay member. When a person is a minority, whether it be gender, sexuality, or race, their decisions are explained in reference to their ‘difference.’ The jokes didn’t beat around the bush, having a montage of magazines and newspapers quoting the “gay dean.” It was hilarious and poignant.
I wanted to say that Annie (Brie) and Chang’s (Jeong) foray into the performing arts was my least favorite part of the episode. The berating of Chang was painful, and at first, contrived. However, the insults from the director, played by Jason Mantzoukas, were too creative. I couldn’t stop laughing. Another redeeming factor was the reason behind Annie being cast as Daniel and Chang as Mr. Miyagi. At first the audience thinks Annie was cast because the director thinks she’s attractive. Annie thinks she was cast, as the lead, because of her amazing talent. However, it is revealed that she was cast because she fits the costume from last year and that the director believes Miyagi, not Daniel, was the lead of The Karate Kid. His extremely rude treatment of Chang was because he knew Chang could do better and had talent.
The C-plot with Evory (David) and Abed (Pudi) was probably the least strong. It mostly served to bring the Dean’s storyline to a close. That aside, it still had its moments, particularly near the end when they have to take the birds off the router and in a musical montage we see them caring for the birds and then moments later, Abed covering a hole in the garden.
I loved this episode. I thought it was amusing and smart. Thank you God, to the powers that be (Yahoo) for allowing Community to come back to us. I am eternally grateful. This season so far, and this episode in particular, is proving that this show is more than worthy of being reincarnated. Huzzah for Dan Harmon for making yet another superb 30 minutes of television.
Rating 8.5 out of 10
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