And you thought theme episodes were just for Glee. If and when Community goes off the air, episodes like "Basic Rocket Science" are the ones I'm going to miss the most. Despite having nothing to do with the overarching narrative, the pitch-perfect homage to Apollo 13, The Right Stuff, Armageddon and space movies in general was the type of episode it seems only Community can pull off; in the hands of lesser talents, "Basic Rocket Science" would have been nothing more than Scary Movie Goes to Space. Instead, it was a worthy stepsister to "Modern Warfare."
Despite obvious pressure from fans and, presumably, the network, to replicate the success of season one's action film homage-a-thon, Community took a different track last night. "Basic Rocket Science" was quiet, laid back and isolated. In that regard, it was like any good space movie: In Greendale's KFC-sponsored space simulator, no one can here you scream. (Or reach for a joke.)
From the opening scene (a direct pull from The Right Stuff, complete with a Jeff Goldblum lookalike) to the finale (picture the end of every space movie you've ever seen), "Rocket Science" stayed true to its goals: To pay tribute to space movies without succumbing to the obvious. As such, "Houston, we have a problem" was left on the cutting room floor, but referring to the "ship" as "bucket of bolts" was not. It's that type of audience respect that sets Community apart from its sitcom brethren; Harmon and his staff write and think like fans, which helps keep things from ever seeming forced. (The missteps of the Jeff-Britta-Annie love triangle notwithstanding.)
Much like How I Met Your Mother's theme episode on Monday, the plot of "Rocket Science" had little to do with the narrative arc established this season. In an effort to beat City College in the "space simulator race," the Greendale dean trots out a decades-old machine. It's dirty though -- see: from the 80s -- and, as punishment for entering a picture of a butthole into the school flag contest (that won, p.s.), Greendale's favorite study group is forced to clean the simulator on a Saturday afternoon. Needless to say, everyone but Abed gets trapped inside, the vehicle gets towed and a race against the clock ensues. Can the Greendale "Greenstronauts" make it back for "launch?" They can and will, but not before Pierce gets space madness, Annie makes a speech about what Greendale means to her and Troy does a bunch of hilarious things.
(About Donald Glover: He's the MVP of Community's second season and Troy is rapidly becoming my favorite character on television; he's a comedy wizard.)
If there was a problem with "Rocket Science," it once again illustrated what has become Community's biggest demerit: It does everything exceedingly well. Think about it: From relationship-y angst to zany pop culture zingers to every comedy conceit in between, Community tries to be all things for all tastes. It succeeds most of the time, but that success represents a problem for a show starving for new viewers -- people simply don't know what to expect when they tune in. It's a minor quibble, but if Community has hopes for a season three, more focus is probably needed. Alas, that's an argument for another day (or perhaps for Community's showbituary), so instead, let's all just strap in and watch Troy find his location in the Buttermilk Nebula.