Community S03E01 “Biology 101”/Parks and Recreation S04E01 “I’m Leslie Knope”
Parks and Rec and Community are the best sitcoms on television, and have been for a while. Since they come on the same channel on the same night (and now, back-to-back), it’s easy to try and compare them and find thematic links between the night’s episodes. Tonight, though, both shows aimed for something similar, and succeeded each in their own way. Both episodes were of about the same quality, and, even more than their season finales did last May, they showed to me why I like one better than the other.
I don’t mean to suggest one show is objectively better than the other; it’s a type of Mad Men/Breaking Bad situation that’s just intellectually stimulating. And, for all intents and purposes, the shows are at the same point in their lives. Parks and Rec had a mini-S1 and a truncated S3, and Community has had two full seasons. So it’s not surprising that both shows would be moving further into sentimentality.
In “Biology 101,” Community goes back to one of its most basic plots - someone gets kicked out of the group and then gets back in. Also, we have a wacky new teacher, and everyone learns something in the end. But what the show was really getting at was the contradiction at the heart of Jeff’s character - the want to be loved but fear of rejection. This is displayed most prominently in Jeff, but it applies to all of the characters, and it’s one of the show’s biggest themes. Hell, it’s even the show’s name.
The final scene, the usual group hug scene, was the most sentimental. It’s also a well the show continues to go to, partially because of the show’s group-based nature. But I feel it’s also out of habit - it’s meta because most classic sitcoms do something different, but it also reflects how Community wants to break away and fit in with those shows Abed knows so well. But I’ve never felt moved by any of these scenes, or really felt for the characters because of them. The show is funniest when the entire cast is in a room, but it’s not the most insightful. In short: I don’t feel anything. I understand what the show’s going for, but it leaves me a little cold inside.
Parks and Rec, meanwhile, leaves its sentimental moments (which it’s hitting at more and more) between two characters and doesn’t worry about Jeff’s central issue. Leslie and Ron’s conversations have evolved all the way back from S1 to now, where Ron can proudly say, completely in character, “I’m Ron Swanson, and you’re Leslie Fucking Knope.” It’s a genuinely affecting moment, built on years of solid character work. When Leslie sits down with Ben, both are obviously close to tears, but the moment isn’t weighed down by that - it’s still terribly funny.
Community can do these moments if it wants to - moments in episodes like “Mixology Certification” and “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas” prove it can. It just doesn’t really want to, especially when it could just hug it out and keep true to everyone’s defensive character. Basically, Community is scared of being rejected, and Parks and Rec is ready for it, but still has its arms open.
A lot of this is reflected in the attitudes of their showrunners. Dan Harmon, in the marathon S2 review interview he gave to the AV Club, was completely honest with himself and the viewers, saying which episodes sucked and how he was nearing a breakdown towards the end of the season. Michael Schur, on the other hand, said in the same type of interview how he wants to imbue the show with his optimism.
I do think Community hits higher highs thematically - Parks and Rec hasn’t hit the devastation evident in the above episodes, or taken on a subject as intense as “Advanced Dungeons and Dragons” did. But it’s steadier. Both shows are similar levels of funny. It just depends which approach you like more. I’m a Parks and Rec guy, but let’s be clear - these are two awesome shows. I’m not sure either is at the high the ended their previous seasons on, but they should provide us with some brilliant, groundbreaking television this year.
Community
- The opening song deals with one of the biggest problems the show has had - trying to appeal to both the people who love the wildly experimental episodes (“Critical Film Studies”) and the more traditional sitcom elements (like, I’d say, this episode applies). We get the big name guest star (John Goodman), the respected guest star (Michael Kenneth Williams), the bizarro few seconds in the middle of the episode, and the more traditional sitcom plot. It’s a lot to pack into an episode, old and new styles crashing into each other. Yet this episode does it really well, never seeming at conflict with itself. I, of course, love the more experimental episodes, so “Biology 101” will never be one of my favorites. But the show, unlike others, has this incredibly difficult line to toe in order to keep its reputation and to keep itself on the air.
- In interviews and even on the episode tonight, it’s been hinted this season will see characters decide more about their future - specifically, their major. There were some leanings towards that tonight, but I would like to see the show move in this direction. This is the type of show that will never be in solid territory for renewal, and it would be terribly unfulfilling if we didn’t know what these characters would be doing once they leave Greendale.
- Does Dr. Who exist in Greendale?
- My favorite gag of the night was Cougarton Abbey, if just because I love Abed’s obsession with Cougar Town. Abed’s screams were also great.
- This episode felt - going back to what I wrote in the first bullet - a little too crafted, a little too refined. I love the episodes - like “Critical Film Studies” - where it feels like a pure creative statement, warts and all.
- Pierce is still the character with the most uncertain way forward, and I was definitely a critic of how he was handled in S2. Let’s hope the show figures out something a little more well-defined and less black and white for him.
Parks and Recreation
- Leslie made the better choice tonight - there are ways to get around dating Ben, but no other ways to run for office. But I like that the show didn’t duck around this question for longer, and didn’t shy away from the incredibly difficult choice. There is no cop out, no reset - in other words, there’s no nuclear bomb in Pawnee’s future. Whatever happened, happened.
- Ben and Leslie are too good together to be apart for too long, and I expect the central issue of the season to be both the political campaign and their increasingly futile attempts to stay away from each other.
- I talked a bit during my S3 finale post about how Tom’s journey mirrors Leslie’s, and it seemed a little awkward to have him just hanging around the office. I know they had to have him in the premiere, and there will be more Tom-centric episodes later, but I hope this isn’t a usual thing.
- Jerry needed something good to happen to him. I’m glad, and I laughed, but the Weiner b-plot was lacking and not close to the importance or hilarity in the main Leslie story.
- Next week seems to be about Tammy One, so it promises to be a classic.
Overall, I’m just so happy both of these shows are back into my life. One thing that’s consistent with both of them is that I would love to hang out with these people; and for a half hour each week, I do.
