Community 3.14 "Pillows and Blankets" Recap
Ready, aim...fire! The second half of Community's epic battle kicked off with the conclusion of its two parter, 'Pillows and Blankets.'Akin to season one's 'Modern Warfare,'this episode was heavy on the parody (probably more so than any other themed episode so far) as it staged a Civil War documentary, Ken Burns/PBS style, in the form of Troy and Abed's blanket/pillow fort feud. I know there are lots of people who are divided on the way this episode was executed, but my personal opinion? Brilliant.
Opening with a documentary-style recap of last week's events, the episode progressed into the Dean appealing to Jeff for help with Troy and Abed's feud. Jeff takes them into the principal's office, where he gives them imaginary friendship hats and attempts to talk some sense back into them. He tells them that they are 'grown-ups acting like children'but Troy is surprisingly serious about the matter, insisting that it's more complicated than that. Meanwhile, Dean Pelton makes sure to note that the camera crews from the Guinness Book of World Records are there in order to document.
Between Fluffytown (later to be Pillowtown, as Abed needs to be historically correct) and Blanketsburg, epic battles ensue. In between a few dead pillows and disgruntled Human Beings, we had Annie Edison the Humanitarian, Shirley 'Big Cheddar'Bennett, and Britta the Photographer offering opinions and joining sides (Britta, of course, can't help but 'Britta'her simple task of taking pictures, something that is noted several times throughout the episode. I have a feeling if we had any side anecdotes from Britta, there would be a lot of indigent defending going on.) Dean Pelton complains to Jeff that he's not mediating well enough, while Troy says that Blanketsburg will surrender with an ultimatum. Abed refuses to take it, and the two sides return to fighting while Jeff continues to rally troops in a desperate attempt to keep the school from returning to classes. Annie, in her humanitarian relief role (on both sides!) texts Jeff to find out about the status of the battle, getting annoyed when she realizes he's trying to exploit Troy and Abed's fight for his own gain of keeping classes cancelled.
Wanting a chance to redeem himself, Pierce goes to Abed while Troy turns to Chang and his young army, The Changlorious Bastards. The kids wreck havoc on the battlefield, until secret weapon Pierce Abed's 'doomsday device'- shows up having transformed himself into a giant pillow. Like Sauron on Mount Doom, he all but 'slaughters'the fighters, bringing victory to his commander. In a quieter moment, Jeff goes to Annie, and its her words about his actions that cause him to go back to attempting to mediate his friends. Meanwhile, Troy's camp intersects an email from Abed to one of his commanders, which, like a laundry list out of Regina George's Burn Book, touches on his flaws and insecurities. Troy retaliates angrily, writing a nasty email in return where he calls Abed out for being weird and insists no one has the patience to put up with him. Clearly realizing this is getting out of hand and more serious than a simple disagreement, Jeff stages an intervention during a mutually agreed upon TV night where he attempts to get the two to talk it out but still, it's a no go. Abed says the friendship is dead, which invokes one more big battle.
Dean Pelton eventually shows up, calling for the end of the battle as the camera crews for the Guinness Book of World Records have gone home and therefore there's no need to fight anymore. But because this really isn't about pillows and blankets, Troy and Abed continue to feud, their feelings still stung. Yet again, Jeff again tries to mediate. Troy tells him that, 'we're grown-ups now who have grown-up problems' and Jeff notes that while that may be true, they don't have to change who they are. And growing up doesn't mean that they have to give their friendships up. Jeff gives them their magical friendship hats and as he journals about his experiences, Troy and Abed reunite and make up. Our tag is the duo back together, everything seemingly back to normal as they make a pledge pitch to 'keep Greendale Television on the air.'Yes, Harmon, I see what you did there...and I completely approve of your sly ways. Six seasons and a movie!
Reactions I've read so far on twitter and otherwise seem to be divided, something I can completely understand. I'm a fan of Community on both ends I enjoy the original stories, but some of my favorite episodes are the theme episodes that deal with human emotions, as tonight did. And whatever way you slice it, it's clear that whether you're a blanket or a pillow, Greendale won this war (now hopefully, tomorrow's ratings will back that statement up.)
What did you think of the episode? Did you love it? Hate it? Sound off!
