Community Tells "Herstory of Dance"

Article first published as Community Tells "Herstory of Dance" on TheTVKing.

This week's installment of NBC's Community achieves the great feat of giving something good to almost every main character in the series, and yet still misses the goal or greatness. The main plot is Britta (Gillian Jacobs) and the Dean's (Jim Rash) competition to throw the best school dance, while Abed (Danny Pudi) juggles two dates at said events. But it's the minor details and touches that make the episode, more so than the overall story, as moments soar, but overall, it fails to achieve.

The Dean is often in on the fringes of the show, and rarely gets involved in what the Study Group is up to. "Herstory of Dance" pits him directly against Britta, bringing him more into the central story. Britta doesn't mean to start a feud with him, but an offhand comment she makes gets him all riled up, and he is bent on seeing her fail. He even stands around at the dance, wishing to see Britta screw up more than his own efforts succeed, apparently to protect some sort of amulet, which I don't recall ever hearing about before, though it is kinda of funny.

Plus, that black and white costume, complete with pasty painted skin, as creepy as it is, ends up being hilarious. Few people have tried to actually appear black and white in the real world, but the Dean somehow pulls it off. Sort of.

Britta, for her part, doesn't even realize that she's engaged in the fight, which makes it all the better, as the Dean battles against a perceived enemy. Instead, she's more worried about what Jeff (Joel McHale) will say, since she stages the entire thing just to keep from admitting that she said the wrong person's name early in the half hour. It's stubborn to the extreme, pushing the limits of what we've already seen is in Britta, and in doing so, finding out more about her. She's been beaten down, and she, tired of being the butt of the joke, so desperately needs a win.

Jeff continues his trend this year of being a better person. He doesn't gloat when Britta fails, and he congratulates her magnanimously when things come together for her, even if it isn't by her hand that she pulls it off. This not only shows even more growth for Jeff, but also allows for a bit of peace between the two characters, who have long held tension between one another. Sacrificing using the word "Britta" as a negative verb, admittedly a fun aspect of the show, is a small price to pay to see such a sweet reconciling.

Chang (Ken Jeong) serves as DJ for both dances at once. This is a fitting use for him. He isn't interfering too much, still gets some small, funny bits, and is involved without being overwhelming. Chang tends to be an all-or-nothing character, either dominating or being absent entirely. "Herstory of Dance" manages to put him in a nice supporting role, a good change of pace for the character.

Pierce (Chevy Chase) also has one of the best plots he's had in quite some time. He gets to help Britta, and doesn't seem pathetic while doing so. He gets some great lines, such as when he wants to get on the computer because that particular computer has his e-mail and the post office is about to close. Yes, this means he is inept and elderly as ever, but his character works in this manner, when the material actually suits him, rather than how he is normally wasted, floundering for attention.

Annie (Alison Brie) and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) have their own little rift this week, as they each try to find a date for Abed. They both think that they know what's best for him, and bring girls somewhat like themselves. What's more fun, though, are the scenes where they get in each other's faces, or plot against one another. I like both characters individually, and don't find myself rooting for one side over the other, but I thoroughly dig the competition between them, and what it brings out of each woman.

Abed pledges to start to mature, making references to something other than TV and movies, but then accepts two dates in the same night so that he can live out yet another fantasy, rushing back and forth, swapping clothes. This is typical Abed, and while for some reason his antics have consistently seemed weaker this year than in past seasons, this one actually works OK, even if it doesn't help him get any better.

While I was thinking that perhaps Abed is broken and should soon be fixed, his romance with a third woman this week, Rachel (Brie Larson, United States of Tara), whom engages in shenanigans with him, seems to point in a different direction. If Abed can find a girl who gets him, and whom he can have fun with, he will never change, and will only sink deeper into the psychosis. Yet, Community paints them as well adjusted and well matched. This would have been sweet last year, and comes across as such when this episode is taken by itself, but as much as I like the introduction of Rachel and Larson's take on her, it only contributes to everything that is wrong with Abed lately.

Now that Abed has a lady friend to play his fantasy games with, Troy (Donald Glover) is even more on the outs with his bestie. With no Abed replacement, including his girlfriend, Britta, who is busy with the dance, Troy seems sadder than usual, playing with himself in an odd manner. He may not have as much time for Abed lately, but he also doesn't want to lose Abed completely, and that's what seems to be happening.

Abed and Troy are a linchpin of Community. The fact that "Herstory of Dance," like so many other recent episodes, keeps them apart may be a clue to why Community isn't living up to greatness this season. This is still an enjoyable episode, but it lacks the magic that past seasons have had. I think part of this is the shifting chemistries, which were carefully balanced before. With Troy and Abed growing apart, a vital bond is broken.

That's why, despite the good things that "Herstory of Dance" has to offer, I just can't get too excited about it. It's good, to be sure, but it's not terrific. As we move into the back half of what will likely be the final season, it seems all hope of redemption by finale time is lost.

Though next week does have puppets. That sounds promising.

Community airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.