ESL is fun throughout with some of the best bits of Community ("you didn't get hot until after high school"). It even sets up a number of future plots involving Chang, Troy and Annie in a way that feels natural. The silly Good Will Hunting misdirect and parody cracked me up, as did the reveal with Pierce at the end.
3 Reviews
In honor of "Community"- a review of every episode. (S1;E24- "English as a Second Language")
TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness20 January 2017
(This is the twenty-fourth part in an ongoing series, in which I am writing brief reviews of each and every episode of Dan Harmon's beloved cult- comedy "Community." Originally conceived as a response to NBC's cancellation of the series before it was revived for its final season on Yahoo.)
Really, the problem with "English as a Second Language" is poor timing. It's not a bad episode by any means. In fact, I find it quite enjoyable. But coming in on the trail of the previous week's exceptional "Modern Warfare"... virtually anything was going to feel like a drastic letdown. And that fact that it's really just a plot- centric episode created to wrap up a few leftover story threads before the season finale lend to it feeling completely forgettable and merely passable in the overall scheme of the series.
As the end of the semester approaches, Annie (Alison Brie) worries about the study group drifting apart once their Spanish class is over. Upon accidentally recording audio-evidence that Spanish teacher Chang (Ken Jeong) doesn't have a teaching degree, Annie uses the information to get him fired, hoping that the study-group will have to retake the class again next semester. However, things become tense when her deception is made clear to the rest of the students. At the same time, Troy (Donald Glover) discovers he has an odd talent for plumbing and maintenance work, putting him on the radar of a Greendale employee (Jerry Minor) who pushes him to pursue a career in the field.
There is a lot to appreciate about "English as a Second Language." Not the least of which is a strong focus on the talented Alison Brie for much of its runtime, and for its expert handling of Donald Glover's wonderfully humorous sub-plot that pays tribute to the 90's classic "Good Will Hunting." There's a lot of fun moments with both characters, and it's nice seeing an episode told more from their perspective. The episode also handles several leftover story threads established earlier in the season with relative competence, and without spoiling anything it does plant the seeds for future story lines in later seasons.
Still, it's just not a particularly compelling watch. It's an episode that oftentimes feels set to autopilot as things wind down for the season finale in the following episode. Humor is ratcheted down quite a bit to put the focus more on story. And the story, while solid, feels more like an obligation than a chance to develop the series. It's all a bit too plain and blasé. Thankfully, it's salvaged by the likable Brie and Glover and for a few standout gags. So long as you don't go in expecting another classic like "Modern Warfare", chances are you'll enjoy "English as a Second Language." And so, I give it a solid 7 out of 10.
Really, the problem with "English as a Second Language" is poor timing. It's not a bad episode by any means. In fact, I find it quite enjoyable. But coming in on the trail of the previous week's exceptional "Modern Warfare"... virtually anything was going to feel like a drastic letdown. And that fact that it's really just a plot- centric episode created to wrap up a few leftover story threads before the season finale lend to it feeling completely forgettable and merely passable in the overall scheme of the series.
As the end of the semester approaches, Annie (Alison Brie) worries about the study group drifting apart once their Spanish class is over. Upon accidentally recording audio-evidence that Spanish teacher Chang (Ken Jeong) doesn't have a teaching degree, Annie uses the information to get him fired, hoping that the study-group will have to retake the class again next semester. However, things become tense when her deception is made clear to the rest of the students. At the same time, Troy (Donald Glover) discovers he has an odd talent for plumbing and maintenance work, putting him on the radar of a Greendale employee (Jerry Minor) who pushes him to pursue a career in the field.
There is a lot to appreciate about "English as a Second Language." Not the least of which is a strong focus on the talented Alison Brie for much of its runtime, and for its expert handling of Donald Glover's wonderfully humorous sub-plot that pays tribute to the 90's classic "Good Will Hunting." There's a lot of fun moments with both characters, and it's nice seeing an episode told more from their perspective. The episode also handles several leftover story threads established earlier in the season with relative competence, and without spoiling anything it does plant the seeds for future story lines in later seasons.
Still, it's just not a particularly compelling watch. It's an episode that oftentimes feels set to autopilot as things wind down for the season finale in the following episode. Humor is ratcheted down quite a bit to put the focus more on story. And the story, while solid, feels more like an obligation than a chance to develop the series. It's all a bit too plain and blasé. Thankfully, it's salvaged by the likable Brie and Glover and for a few standout gags. So long as you don't go in expecting another classic like "Modern Warfare", chances are you'll enjoy "English as a Second Language." And so, I give it a solid 7 out of 10.
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