Occupy Greendale!

The characters on Community have an amazing ability to divert any attention away from others and to themselves. The group seems to proceed as if they actually are the main characters of a sitcom—recall last week when the smashing of their biology yam brought the entire school to a screeching halt. This week, as they attempt to cope with the death of Star-Burns, Britta tries to save the day with her “psychology training,” before they’re interrupted by the Dean (who finally reveals that he picks out his outfits before visiting the group). Apparently due to grief over Starburns’ death by exploding meth lab, Professor Omar from The Wire has resigned, leaving their grades incomplete and forcing them to make up the credit over the summer. Jeff nearly Hulks out over his summer being shot. Shirley wants to have a memorial service—so she can bake some brownies and sing “Ave Maria.” At the wake, everyone’s eulogy turns into an anti-Greendale screed based on their personal instances of being wronged by the school. A riot ensues where the cafeteria is destroyed. The Dean, worrying about things like Subway’s business and the fate of $50 microphones, authorizes Chang to declare martial law. The Changlourious Basterds return (Annie: “awww, tiny riot gear”) and pepper spray the hell out of everyone.

Because they’re the main characters of the show, the group (now the “Greendale Seven”) faces expulsion for inciting the riot, even though none of them participated in the violence. They make the logical decision to try to pin the horrors of the morning on Chang, who gave pre-teens riot gear and pepper spray. The Dean decides to back them (he knows if they’re expelled, he’ll never have another opportunity to stand between Jeff and Troy in a group hug again), but he accidentally gives his testimony up to Chang. Greendale’s new presumptive dictator has already manufactured a fake dean, and he knocks the real one out with a tranquilizer. The group gets expelled, goes home, orders pizza, and Annie starts drinking. Troy rallies them, and there’s a classic sitcom “at least we have each other” moment where everyone glances around meaningfully and chomps down on pizza.

This is another instance of Community falsifying a moment and misdirecting its audience. Yes, it's nice to see that the group loves each other, but they've lost their only real reason for hanging out together. From the upcoming episode titles (this week was “Course Listing Unavailable,” next week is “Curriculum Unavailable” followed by “The First Chang Dynasty”), it’s hard to think that this will be resolved as quickly as the Troy and Abed Civil War.

It’s impossible to watch this episode without thinking about Occupy Wall Street, particularly Occupy Oakland. The study group is angered by a circumstance they can’t control—their credit is only invalid because the Dean doesn’t know how to administrate a school. It’s not like Professor Omar from The Wire is the only biology professor on campus. Another professor could step in and administer a final exam. Not hard. At the wake, Shirley is angry because she had an idea to open a sandwich shop in the cafeteria. Shirley is at Greendale to learn how to run a business, and when presented with an opportunity, she’s outbid by a giant corporation so ominously powerful they’ve actually possessed a human being. Troy and Abed are our equivalent of Occupy drum circlers—they don’t really have a horse in the race, they just want to do the rather 80s chant of “When I say ‘Greendale’, you say ‘sucks!’” Pierce is That Guy, the one who doesn’t know what he’s mad about, but he’s been mad for a long time, so he just yells “Let’s burn this mother down!”, which is what prompts the cafeteria to explode with violent students.

The Dean, completely unable to admit his mistakes and nervous of the consequences, makes no effort to understand the students’ grievances or even talk to them. He can’t understand why anyone would be unhappy at his school, and to be fair, there is no one specific demand that the rioting students make (much like OWS and its many factions). They just want bureaucratic competency, decent opportunities, and their summer back. This being Greendale, that just ain’t gonna happen.

While this week’s episode was excellent and leads to some intriguing plot developments, it begs a few questions. Is it not too soon to make jokes about the merciless pepper-spraying of peaceful protesters? I think Harmon and crew did it subtlety enough, but it could’ve used more development and maybe less frivolity. And the question that applies to Occupiers also applies to the “Greendale Seven”: what’s your next move? Winter is over and it’s an election year—are the protests still relevant and necessary? (Yes). Chang may have manipulated the school board and gotten you expelled, but are you going to let your lives “get double-ruined,” as Annie says before taking a shot? Harmon and crew seem to be gearing up for another epic end to the season. It will be interesting to see if they can deal with a more contemporary setting, rather than mimicking genre pieces.