TV Review: Community 3.11, 'Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts'
Community makes a triumphant return with a concept-less, Chang-less and relatively normal episode.
rating: 4.5
Community makes a triumphant return with a concept-less, Chang-less and relatively normal episode. Shirley is getting re-married to Andre whilst beginning a business venture with entrepreneur Pierce, Jeff is worried he wont be able to say anything at the wedding without being sarcastic, Britta finds it hard to deny her true calling whilst Troy & Abed try to purge the weirdness from their systems for the wedding. Not to mention a cameo from Annies Boobs (the monkey). The first half of season three dived in an out of concept episodes with a few puzzling episodes in between (Jeff and the Dean singing karaoke), so it was refreshing to see one of the strongest episodes of this season so far being carried purely by our beloved characters, and was very much reminiscent of the first season. Its astounding how much the writers have squeezed into 22 minutes, no character was put on the back-burner this week (except Chang). If theres any episode to attract a new audience after the hiatus, its this one. After the coffee shop in the cafeteria closes, Britta encourages Pierce to invest in Shirley to open a sandwich shop, which makes much more sense than Pierces latest venture, racist security cameras. Andre then makes an impromptu musical entrance to declare his love for Shirley, I have loved you since there was a Soviet Union and only one Damon Wayans and asks for her hand in re-marriage, to which she accepts. Shirley asks Jeff to give the toast, obviously hoping for a Winger speech to bring it home, whilst also telling Troy & Abed to be normal for the day, to which they begrudgingly accept. Not without Troy hitting back though, Well try not to embarrass you at your community college library wedding. Pierce also reveals his second failed venture of the episode, the trouser bench, which in no time at all becomes lodged in his rectum. The wedding planning is left to Annie and Britta whilst Pierce and Shirley begin the pitch for Shirleys Sandwiches. Shirley is close to walking out before Pierce reveals that Hawthorne Wipes fired him after his father died, now hes just a kid with a bunch of money, but he sincerely wants to invest in Shirleys business. Britta finds out she has a natural talent for floral arrangements, but refuses to acknowledge her roots, I come from a long line of wives and mothers. The activist forever rages against herself. Were treated to a glimpse, via sound effects, of the power of the Dreamatorium as Troy & Abed spend a day in there to get all of their weirdness out in time for the wedding. Annie tells Jeff to look into his heart to find something to say at the wedding, he finds whiskey. Good to know Annies boobs (the breasts, not the monkey) are second to whiskey, and also that his heart is shaped like a heart. Shirley presents her thorough business pitch to the Dean, who is easily won over by a cartoon picture of himself holding a bag of money. The Dean later informs Shirley the space was sold by the Greendale Board to Subway. Britta continues to be disgusted at herself by how great the wedding looks in the study room, and proceeds to drown her sorrows, Jeff joins her. Troy & Abed appear in grey suits, now de-whimsified. Abeds normal voice is always a joy to hear, last heard in Critical Film Studies. It doesnt take too long for Troy to be concerned that they cannot go back from being normal. Andre gets angry at Shirleys lateness, which leads to the climax of the episode as they publicly air out concerns and changes that have to be made if theyre going to remarry. Shirley makes it clear that shes going ahead with a business venture and wont be going back to being a house-wife. We also learn Shirleys high-pitched voice was her sexy voice all along, another mystery solved. Meanwhile drunk Jeff reveals his hatred of marriage boils down to another Daddy issue (please Bill Murray sign on to play Winger Senior), which leads to he and Britta, who believes shes destined to be a wife, to get married. Shirley and Andre simultaneously resolve their issues and stop the sham wedding, before marrying each other. It only takes an Annies Boobs cameo and a few Inspector Spacetime references to get Troy & Abed back to normal, normal in this case being weird. Overall it was a fantastic episode and maybe the best episode for Shirley as a character since her drunkard past was revealed at Troys 21st Birthday, and further shows shes more than a target for religious jokes. We see how shes grown since her first marriage with Andre dissolved and leaves the viewer confident theyve made the right changes to make it work this time around. Annie was slightly misplaced in this episode, often jumping between everyone elses problems, however it was great hearing her humming a few seconds of Abeds Halloween song as she walked past Jeff. It was a good call to get the wedding proposal and actual wedding all done and dusted in one episode, theres no reason to drag this out, it isnt a studio audience sitcom, and a wedding arc would be a bit boring for a show of this magnitude (Pop Pop). Were halfway into the season now, and so far its been a blast. Jeff Winger insult of the week; To Leonard Shut up Leonard, those teenage girls you play Ping-Pong with are doing it ironically. Community returns next Thursday on NBC with Contemporary Impressionists.