Here’s a sentence I never thought I’d say: How much do I love Pierce Hawthorne? We both enjoy bottles of wine in our bathing suits and snazzy vests. But that's not the only reason I'm expressing my sudden adoration for the erstwhile villain of season 2.
Let me back up to the beginning of Community’s season finale, the end of the paintball standoff. When last the credits rolled, we learned that the Black Rider was a ringer hired by a certain Western themed ice creamery to win the paintball war and the absurdly large prize. This episode opened with the reveal that City College also has an effeminately voiced dean who enjoys wearing female costumes, but – more importantly – has been behind the contest the entire time. The whole thing was a ruse to get the all too eager students of his rival college to destroy their own school.
It would have been kind of awesome if they’d combined this episode’s sci-fi theme with last week’s western and gone full out Firefly. Did Troy’s tight pants and holsters give anyone else a Mal Reynolds vibe? Anyone? Bueller? Instead we got the iconic Star Wars title crawl and a rebel alliance, comprised of the last men standing and the intriguing campus personality Paradox. This group of misfits must band together to hit City College where it hurts (not their taint, Leonard) – their wallet. Troy proposes that they win the tournament for Greendale, but who cares, because Abed has gone into Han Solo mode. It amazes me how much hotter he gets when in character. He even makes Starburns’ vest look good.
Right when Troy manages to draw Jeff into the alliance and Jeff has managed to insert the term ‘thrust’ into the conversation, City College sends in a motorized paint bomb. Jeff confronts the still be-coned dean, who reveals the depths of deception he has sunk to in order to bring Greendale low. By doing so, he creates his own worst enemy, a put upon Jeff. But Jeff’s own nemesis has just reentered the arena – the City College Storm Troopers have captured one Pierce Hawthone, and that man carries a grudge that can only be soothed with pudding snacks.
Scenes from a battlefield: City College hunts down those still unpainted, and covers the butthole flag with their own appropriate and wholesome pennant. The new regime mocks the loser friendly atmosphere of Greendale at their peril – Han Solo and the Queen of Hearts are on the warpath, and Abed is in full flirtatious rogue mode. Kind of love it, not going to lie.
Troy and Jeff, meanwhile, continue to squabble over just who is leading this little insurrection. With some help from Han, Annie manages to convince everyone to combine the plans of the Super Plumber and Ballerino Hopeful. Troy’s squad lures the henchmen to the library, which has a sprinkler system rigged to gush orange paint, while Jeff’s team charges the Gatling gun hidden in the Creamery’s truck. Jeff even gets his trademark inspirational speech in and reminds everyone that regardless of the battle’s outcome, they will see each other again, at Denny’s (but only the winners).
It’s no use - City College’s defenses are too strong. Our study group sees their compatriots gunned down one by one, and Gareth’s girth has effectively canceled out Troy’s plan for escapay. Our intrepid and insistent hero goes down in a hail of pellets, but not after giving the kill order to Shirley.
And then: the paint flows.
The cleansing orange rain falls on the wounded Troy, takes out the bulk of City College’s troops, and washes away the last vestiges of Han (but only after he goes in for the kiss). Out on the wartorn quad, the paint-covered bodies of the fallen gather to watch the survivors make a last ditch charge at the ice cream truck. Shirley has killer aim, but even that can’t save her and Britta from an ambush. Greendale watches in horror as the last standing Storm Troopers high five in exultation. Twist! One masked soldier plugs the other two at close range, revealing Pierce as the unlikely hero. He dedicates the kill, and the win, to the Human Beings. Maybe now they can buy a less creepy mascot.
All is right at Greendale once again. The study group meets one last time to discuss their new class and Pierce’s involvement. Han is gone, to Annie’s chagrin, but the smell of Starburns lingers. Pierce, on the other hand, chooses to bow out of the suddenly welcoming group. Hopefully he’ll return for his thirteenth year at Greendale, because I can’t imagine this show without Chevy Chase.
Fully reverted to his meta self, Abed generously recaps the episode for the janitor, who wishes he had his time slot competitor Leonard’s sarcasm sign. Anyone want to take bets that next season’s finale will involve a fire hose of paint? Vive le Human Beings! See you all in the fall for a third season.
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