1x04 Social Psychology

[7.3/10] You know, it’s a shame that the show more or less stopped giving Shirley that much to do, because she’s such a treat in the early going here. The way that she and Jeff bond over gossip, get in too deep, but hilariously rag on Vaughn is a hoot from start to finish, and it’s packed with some real pathos of Jeff trying to be a good friend to Britta and Shirley being unable to resist her natural pot-stirring nature. Their friendship is an interesting one, and I wish the show had explored it more outside of this and foosball.

I am, as is my wont, less into the Jeff/Britta will they/won’t they stuff, but Vaugn is a great comic creation. The actor does a great job at making Vaugn both inherently ridiculous but so earnest in his faux-hippie lifestyle that you feel bad for him when he gets his feelings hurt. His triple greeting and propensity to take his shirt off are great gags, but when he says silly things like “this is the least tight thing that’s ever happened to me” or “some worries” it manages to be both absurd but also contains just enough pathos to make it land.

Then you have the great story of Annie roping Troy and Abed’s into Prof. Duncan’s waiting game experiment. It’s a great outing comedically, as Duncan’s Britishness and petulance come to a head at the same time Troy’s childlike extravertedness does. But it’s also really the start of Annie and Abed as a pairing, and the understated meaning in Abed sitting through all that just because Annie said she was his friend hits the same mixture of prettytouching and a little insane that is the fuel this show runs on.

Last but not least, there’s Pierce, who’s to the side and mostly inoffensive here with his “ear-noculars” that actually come into play!

Overall, another good outing early in the show’s run.