Community: Season 6, Episode 5: Laws of Robotics and Party Rights
This was a community episode. This is the type of material that only this show can successfully pull off. I’ve said it before that it is amazing how much this show can fit into its short runtime. There are always multiple stories in every episode, which is why we love these characters so much. They feel complete. Everyone has a personality and reactions to situations that make sense. This week we have Britta’s rebel mentality, Annie’s need for control, Abed’s obsessiveness, Dean Pelton’s ineffectuality, Elroy’s apathy, Franky’s efficiency, Chang’s insanity and most of all Jeff’s ego starring in this episode.
The need for more money means going through with ridiculous schemes. These are definitely situations that only Greendale will be presented with, due to it being such an inane place to begin with. The “robots” the prisoners use to attend college are hilarious and the criminals on them even more so. Willy, Jeff’s newest enemy, comes to hate him very early on and even tries to kill him by pushing him down some stairs. When that doesn’t work for obvious reasons, he goes after Jeff’s reputation.
He easily discredits the formerly cool teacher and gains popularity around the school due to his status as a convict. Of course Jeff’s ego can’t take it, so he breaks Willy’s robot, further destroying his own reputation. He gets banned from campus and the dean even goes as far as to begin a ceremony that will make the convict a teacher at Greendale. That is, until it is revealed that Willy is an innocent man. He instantly loses his popularity and he and Jeff get into an altogether absurd, but hilarious robot fight. It’s a brilliant commentary on how society is interested in the wrong things for the wrong reasons.
Meanwhile, there is a party situation in the Abed/Annie/Britta household. Annie is not a fan of her rules being broken and Britta is not a fan of rules at all. When she gets Abed involved as a loophole, he quickly gets out of her control. Pretty much the same thing that has happened every time they try to get Abed involved in their problems. The resolution is so simple that it’s beautifully hilarious.
Chang’s poop invasion antics round the episode out with just enough extra silliness. His role in this episode is pretty small, but it works perfectly. Another home run for this beautiful show. All praise to Yahoo Screen!
Jonathan Thomas Jones is a speculative fiction author and founder of geekhavenreviews.com. He has been passionate about all things geek for his entire life. See more about him at jonathanthomasjones.com and follow him on twitter @jtgloryjones.
