Halloween usually means that the overall arc of the season takes a break while the writers get to have fun with hijinks. While the latter is true, there are a couple of moments that add to the overall character arcs of three characters.
Again, same deal as the past. Jeff is the focus of the main plotline. This time, he’s trying to sleep with Professor Not-Britta (IMDb says her name was Professor Slater, but are we going to split hairs? That’s who she is this episode.). But his friends get in the way as they need him to come to Annie’s party so it’ll be a hit. So Jeff’s dilemma is “hot girl or friends?” You got 3 guesses on a 50/50 question to guess who he picked.
The subplot concerns Pierce who, dressed as Beastmaster to be hip, switches pills with recurring background character Starburns (because he has sideburns….shaped like stars [I know I’m being unfair her because the writers are trying to add some background characters to this world and Starburns isn’t an annoying character, but really?]). Pierce gets (heavily implied, though never said) esctacy while Starburns gets prostate medicine. Hilarity ensues.
The writers again prod with Jetta with Shirley asking Britta if she minded Jeff going after Professor Not-Britta. Britta says she doesn’t. Then later in the episode, Britta breaks a statue in Professor Not-Britta’s office. Okay. She has feelings for her but doesn’t want to admit them? Or does she just like breaking things? Either way, I don’t really care, and the series never really gives you a reason to care except “Hey, they’re pretty and blonde(ish). They should be together.” And I would discount this as a fault of the series except the show is so self-reflexive that it might be the point.
But back to the plotlines. They converge when Pierce, in his bad trip, traps himself in a precarious fort made out of chairs and desks. And Jeff, naturally, is the only one who can get him out. Jeff manages to convince Pierce to get out, but not before he accidentally breaks the fort. I could describe what happens next, but visuals are better than words.
Yes. Abed dressed as Batman saves the day. Yes. Yes. So much yes. And actually, that scene is a perfect metaphor for the series up to and including this episode. Typical sitcom saved from banality by Abed.
Also in that scene with Abed’s bat voice-over (only through hindsight, though), is the pairing up of Annie and Jeff which we see culminates two episodes later. Also, Troy is narcissistically oblivious which plays a heavy role in the next episode.
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