Quibbling Siblings: Abed as Batman or Community’s zombies?

Debbie:

We’ve both said in past Quibbling Sibling columns that Community is one of our favorite sitcoms. The real turning point, the episode that sucked me in, was season one’s Halloween episode. Abed as Batman was a beacon of brilliance for me, and the ending was when Abed and Troy really gelled as a bromance (Batman eating himself if he woke up as a jelly donut).

This year, Community‘s Halloween episode was another groundbreaker — zombies. It’s trendy, it’s hip, it’s utterly make-fun-able. Do you think they topped last year’s, or will Batman stand out in your memory as the best Community Halloween episode?

Bob:

I don’t know if it’s just my recent obsession with The Walking Dead comics and the subsequent series, but I really, really dug this year’s episode. I thought it was one of the best episodes of the show, right up there with the epic paintball episode of season one. I think I may not have been so impressed with the episode if I had heard that Community was doing a zombie episode, but it came as a complete surprise. I just wasn’t expecting it, and didn’t even see it coming until people started “transforming.”

I just loved every second of this year’s episode. Kona didn’t think it was that funny, but I was downright guffawing during some parts. I really loved the moment when Troy, Abed, and Jeff were all in the basement and the cat kept jumping out at them. The cat scaring people bit is a classic horror movie cliche and I loved the riff they put on it. Heck, they even snuck in a Star Wars reference (with Abed pulling the Han Solo “I know” response to Troy’s profession of love).

Debbie:

There was a lot that was right about this year’s episode. The writers are infinitely clever and it’s easy to miss a lot of what’s funny about this show. I agree with the parts you mentioned (and that the element of surprise was important), and I have to add my favorite line, as Abed was sacrificing himself so that Troy could climb out the window and be “the first black man to make it to the end.” I love that they tossed in that classic joke … if you’re a black man in a horror movie, you might as well be wearing a red shirt.

However, I didn’t think it was as epic as the paintball episode, or naked pool, or any of my favorites. And it certainly didn’t hold a candle to last year’s Blow the Hatch episode. Maybe it’s because I hated The Dark Knight and poking at it with a sharp stick was just what I needed, but last year’s episode resonated with me much more than this year’s.

Bob:

I totally forgot to mention all the ABBA! It was genius, if not a bit reminiscent of my favorite part of Shaun on of the Dead when the jukebox comes on and they end up fighting zombies to Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.”

Of course, I’m guessing you haven’t even seen that movie. Come on Deb, you gotta jump onto this zombie bandwagon while the getting it still good.

Debbie:

Oh, how wrong you are, little brother … I saw Shaun of the Dead ages ago and I love, love, love that movie! Not sure I’m going to jump onto any zombie bandwagon though; Vampires are so much more … interactive.

Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Nov 11, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT