This is my first review so bare with me. I’ve been watching Community since the beginning. I love the concept of a diversified crew of friends bonding and forming a surrogate family. After the last few episodes I was worried the series had jumped the shark. It was relaying heavily on gimmicks and parodies. Although the paint ball episode and the zombie parody were fun, relying on that level of ridiculousness too often will loose its pizazz.
Just when I started to falter, “Cooperative Calligraphy” restored my faith. The set up: the gang is going to leave a regular study session when Annie looses her pen. Apparently it’s the eighth or ninth pen she’s lost. Being the high strung maniac, Annie demands that the thief return the pen. As the episode progresses the group becomes more and more paranoid. Barricading themselves in the library they empty everyone’s bags, and strip search each person. We learn some interesting facts about the group. All Troy carries around with him is a pillow. Pierce scratches the broken legs in his casts with slimjims. Apparently Abed has been keeping track of the womens’ menstrual cycle because it helps him figure out how to relate to them easier.
What makes this episode so great is the humor is entirely character driven. They never leave the study room. Each individual gets a great moment to showcase their foibles. I particularly enjoyed Britta’s rant about civil liberties, and how the search for the pen was going to bring about the world of 1984. Emotion runs high and the friendships are pushed to the breaking point. But as always, our surrogate family pulls through, and what should have destroyed our rag tag group of misfits unites them and makes them stronger.
This episode had everything that makes Community great. Funny character moments, ridiculous scenarios, and a warm fuzzy feeling at the end.
On a scale of 1 to Epic, (Epic= 10) I’d give it an 8.5.
PS: An interesting plot point they may bring back: Shirley is afraid she’s pregnant, due to a fling she had with her ex-husband around labor day. According to Abed’s schedule she’d have to have sex around Halloween. During the zombie episode she and Senior Chang gave into a moment of passion. Neither remembers this moment due to being mind wiped by the government agents. Only Troy knows this. Shirley maybe carrying Chang’s demon spawn!