A really good show and a really good episode. It had drama, fun and of course, the worst idea ever by Abed. Of course, it started slow and after the opening credits, it picked up with Chang's dance. There were a few laughs in between too but, to me, the best part was when Abed and Troy try to steal the letter that sacked Jeff. The janitor comes and Troy says, "I can explain...let me explain..(eyes become big). Then comes Annie, and chloroforms the janitor and all three panic. But, the genius that Abed is comes with a brilliant idea which may sound weird. They fake that they were chloroformed too and wake up at the same time as the janitor. The janitor suspects about Annie when they try to explain him what happened and the Annie chloroforms him again. That scene is great. All, in all, a very good episode.
4 Reviews
In honor of "Community"- a review of every episode. (S2;E02- "Accounting for Lawyers")
TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness23 April 2017
(This is the twenty-seventh installment in an ongoing series. I am in the process of writing brief reviews of each and every episode of creator Dan Harmon's beloved cult-comedy series "Community." This project was originally conceived as a response to NBC's cancellation of the series before its renewal on Yahoo's streaming service. As this is a hobby, updates will come incrementally and it may take some time for me to complete this.)
I have something of a confession to make. Despite Dan Harmon's "Community" having easily earned a spot as one of my favorite television franchises of all time... And despite the fact that in many ways, I view it in the same high regard as other classics old and new... I didn't watch Season One when it first aired. I just didn't.
I was aware of it, sure. I was a regular viewer of co-star Joel McHale's program "The Soup", and he talked about it constantly. And I had heard nothing but ravings and praise for it. But I didn't watch it. I just didn't feel like investing myself in another television series, especially after the crippling disappointment of having followed many a show that that ended prematurely. I didn't want to invest in something, only to set myself up for future heartbreak. And thus, it wasn't until one day in early October of 2010 that I finally viewed my first episode... something a friend put on to watch while I was visiting. I didn't pay attention to the first few minutes, but soon enough, the razor-sharp dialog and boisterous laughs caught my attention. And it was this very episode- my first episode of "Community"- "Accounting for Lawyers."
Jeff (McHale) stumbles upon an old colleague from his former law- firm, Alan Connor (Rob Corddry), who he quickly becomes reacquainted with. However, the rest of the study group doesn't trust Alan and feels he is pulling Jeff away from them and back into his old lifestyle of cynicism and debauchery. Especially Annie (Alison Brie), whom remembers Alan from an NA meeting they had attended together, and realizes that Alan might have been the one who betrayed Jeff and got him fired from the firm previous year. Soon the stage is set as the rest of the group follows Jeff to an office party being held at his former law-firm, where they hope to uncover evidence of Alan's treachery, while Jeff finds himself warming back up with his former boss Ted (Drew Carey). Though as the night progresses, he begins to question his values and loyalties...
The great thing about "Accounting for Lawyers" is how it is an episode that is both fiercely rewarding for long-time fans, but also accessible enough to welcome newcomers to the proceedings. While I do admit I have a degree of "rose colored glasses" regarding the episode as it was my first, I think it's an exceptionally strong example of one of the things that "Community" does best... crafting and developing highly likable and relatable, but from from perfect characters. Writer Emily Cutler and director Joe Russo weave a tale that's quite astonishing and really brings Jeff to a new level in terms of character exploration, while also supplying plenty of great comedic material for the others. (I won't spoil it, but a recurring gag involving Chloroform is still to this day one of my favorite broad gags in the series.)
I also was very taken with the way the cast handled the episode and their continued excellence in their performances. McHale gets a lot of great material to sink his teeth into in particular. And I absolutely adored the guest stars in Rob Corddry and Drew Carey. Both represent the spectrum of individuals you can encounter in a lifestyle such as Jeff's, for both the better and the worse, and both are given some absolutely phenomenal scenes to play around with. (Although I still don't quite get a weird one-time gag involving a "weird hole" in Carey's hand?)
This is a special episode to me, and I might be rating it a point or two higher than I would have if it was not my first experience with the series. But even still in saying that... I quite love the episode and think that as a straight character-centric story... It might be one of Season Two's best! And thus, I really gotta give it a perfect 10 out of 10.
I have something of a confession to make. Despite Dan Harmon's "Community" having easily earned a spot as one of my favorite television franchises of all time... And despite the fact that in many ways, I view it in the same high regard as other classics old and new... I didn't watch Season One when it first aired. I just didn't.
I was aware of it, sure. I was a regular viewer of co-star Joel McHale's program "The Soup", and he talked about it constantly. And I had heard nothing but ravings and praise for it. But I didn't watch it. I just didn't feel like investing myself in another television series, especially after the crippling disappointment of having followed many a show that that ended prematurely. I didn't want to invest in something, only to set myself up for future heartbreak. And thus, it wasn't until one day in early October of 2010 that I finally viewed my first episode... something a friend put on to watch while I was visiting. I didn't pay attention to the first few minutes, but soon enough, the razor-sharp dialog and boisterous laughs caught my attention. And it was this very episode- my first episode of "Community"- "Accounting for Lawyers."
Jeff (McHale) stumbles upon an old colleague from his former law- firm, Alan Connor (Rob Corddry), who he quickly becomes reacquainted with. However, the rest of the study group doesn't trust Alan and feels he is pulling Jeff away from them and back into his old lifestyle of cynicism and debauchery. Especially Annie (Alison Brie), whom remembers Alan from an NA meeting they had attended together, and realizes that Alan might have been the one who betrayed Jeff and got him fired from the firm previous year. Soon the stage is set as the rest of the group follows Jeff to an office party being held at his former law-firm, where they hope to uncover evidence of Alan's treachery, while Jeff finds himself warming back up with his former boss Ted (Drew Carey). Though as the night progresses, he begins to question his values and loyalties...
The great thing about "Accounting for Lawyers" is how it is an episode that is both fiercely rewarding for long-time fans, but also accessible enough to welcome newcomers to the proceedings. While I do admit I have a degree of "rose colored glasses" regarding the episode as it was my first, I think it's an exceptionally strong example of one of the things that "Community" does best... crafting and developing highly likable and relatable, but from from perfect characters. Writer Emily Cutler and director Joe Russo weave a tale that's quite astonishing and really brings Jeff to a new level in terms of character exploration, while also supplying plenty of great comedic material for the others. (I won't spoil it, but a recurring gag involving Chloroform is still to this day one of my favorite broad gags in the series.)
I also was very taken with the way the cast handled the episode and their continued excellence in their performances. McHale gets a lot of great material to sink his teeth into in particular. And I absolutely adored the guest stars in Rob Corddry and Drew Carey. Both represent the spectrum of individuals you can encounter in a lifestyle such as Jeff's, for both the better and the worse, and both are given some absolutely phenomenal scenes to play around with. (Although I still don't quite get a weird one-time gag involving a "weird hole" in Carey's hand?)
This is a special episode to me, and I might be rating it a point or two higher than I would have if it was not my first experience with the series. But even still in saying that... I quite love the episode and think that as a straight character-centric story... It might be one of Season Two's best! And thus, I really gotta give it a perfect 10 out of 10.
In top form
safenoe14 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I don't think I can ever really tire watching Community over and over again. Accounting for Lawyers flowed on several levels: the bonding of the Magnificent Seven, Jeff finding his place in Greendale, the gradual set-up for Chang to join the study group, redemption in the dance competition.
One of the biggest laugh out loud scenes was the janitor and the chloroform big time.
"Nothing's impossible in here. Animals can talk, your heart is shaped like a heart, and the smell of pie can make you float." That line from Abed to an innocent Troy was one of the best in the end credits without a doubt.
Drew Carey and Rob Corddry guest starred in this fine episode. The hole in the hand scene was surreal.
Please six seasons and a movie.
One of the biggest laugh out loud scenes was the janitor and the chloroform big time.
"Nothing's impossible in here. Animals can talk, your heart is shaped like a heart, and the smell of pie can make you float." That line from Abed to an innocent Troy was one of the best in the end credits without a doubt.
Drew Carey and Rob Corddry guest starred in this fine episode. The hole in the hand scene was surreal.
Please six seasons and a movie.
Uninteresting activity of the week
anarchistica21 August 2022
A lot of Community episodes involve some sort of celebration or other event at the school. Here it's a dance contest that is barely there. Not a lot to go on. The same goes for the lawyer party the group attends.
The whole bit with the chloroform is just enough to make up for it.
The whole bit with the chloroform is just enough to make up for it.
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