Dash on... Community "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux"

Community Season 3 Episode 8 : "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux"




With the recent news that NBC has put the show on 'indefinite hiatus' fans are hoping the remaining episodes can prove just how good the show is and I believe that last nights episode does that, but maybe not in a good way.


Like the previous episodes, 'Introduction to film' and 'Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking', 'Documentary Filmmaking: Redux' parodies a mockumentary style sitcom as Abed follows the study group around as they film a commercial for Greendale. Just like in 'Hearts of Darkness' the film the episode takes most reference from Abed films the slow decent of a director driven mad by his own film, or in this case commercial. 

"Now the bold man is awake"

Annie is chosen to be the 'script girl' sorry the 'supervisor girl' sorry the 'Script Supervisor'. As it turns out, not too long ago 'Script Girl' was actually the correct term for this role. This is the perfect position for Annie as it allows her to use her hyper organisational skills and anal personalty for a productive reason. As filming went on Annie's state of mind went with it. As more pencils get added to her ever more dishevelled hair she eventually turns into a neurotic mess with Stockholm syndrome.


Jeff is subjected to the next logical step in the Deans obsession with him: He is chosen to play the role of the Dean. Of course he hates the whole idea so tries to get out of it by acting like Dean Pelton on crack. But this backfires as the Dean loves Jeff's portrayal and gives him even more screen time. If there was just one thing I could see from this episode it would have to be Joel Mchale in a bold cap and glasses. Community never fails by taking itself too seriously and its moments like this that really set it apart.


Jeff in a further attempt to sabotage the commercial convinces the Dean to film his scenes in front of the statue of Greendale's most famous student, Luis Guzman and informs the actor's lawyers, because the college didn't have the right to use Guzman's image. But this again backfires as it turns out Guzman has a soft spot for the college and actually wants to be in the commercial. 

"Stop saying I'm different"

This is when the Dean really starts to loose it. He decides that all the scenes will be rewritten and re-filmed in preparation of Luis Guzman's arrival. Britta and Troy are subjected to a hugging marathon for 12 hours so that the Dean can add a 'message' to the commercial and what better message than that of race. This results in Britta and Troy not even being able to touch each other without freaking out all so the Dean can "pull a 400 year old dagger out of the nations heart". The choice of these two to be the ones hugging adds to the sexual tension that has been building up between the characters for a while now but what will this traumatic experience do to their potential love?


Jeff, having now spent days in his bold cap had almost merged into the Dean. Jeff was dead and now his role of the Dean would no longer be played in irony. But as his casting call finally arrived the Dean decided he wanted to be seen with hair and told Jeff to take the bold cap off as that would be reality. Jeff refuses saying "I have worn this stupid thing for 12 days...I've made bold friends". The Dean's saviour comes in the form of Chang, meaning the role of the Dean will be played by "a Chinese man in a blonde wig". The cast and crew now abandon the Dean just before the arrival of Luis Guzman.


Guzman arrives to find Greendale deserted and finds the Dean living in his own filth with a live opossum editing the insanity which is his commercial. Guzman has no problem expressing his love for the school saying he got laid like crazy there, but he wont work with the Dean. It's revealed that Pelton is ashamed of his own school.


The time comes to show the school board the commercial and surprisingly it's not bad. In Hearts of Darkness director Francis Ford Coppola is shown strung out on cocaine thinking he wont live to finish his film. The plan was to pass the film to George Lucus to finish if Coppola should die. Thankfully that didn't happen. But here Abed uses his filmmaking super powers and becomes the Lucus to Dean Peltons Coppola and makes the commercial not just good...good enough. 

"Some flies are too awesome for the wall"

While all this is happen Pierce has locked himself in the trailer he rented until the college rents him a new one. A trailer arrives for Guzman which Pierce commandeers and is unknowingly taken to Hollywood. Turns out the trailer was going to the on set home of actor Jeff Garlin, who after discovery Pierce proves himself to be no more mature and says he wont be leaving that trailer until he gets a new one.


Overall this was an amazing episode, capturing everything that makes the show great. It was quirky and didn't take its self seriously. There weren't a lot of obvious jokes allowing for some genuinely funny moments. But the very thing that makes this show great could be the very thing holding it back. Community refuses to conform to traditional sitcom tropes and instead pushes the boundaries. This is possibly alienating its audience as unlike with 'The Big Bang Theory' which pokes fun at the geeks, Community requires some actual knowledge about the subjects that it is parodying.


There are many people out there that want to save this show and if your one of them sign this petition, do it now don't wait, get other people to sign it to. Of course it has just been put on hiatus and hasn't yet been cancelled but I think we all know unless something big happens we wont be seeing much more Community.


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