Community: Course Listing Unavailable

What Happened, Yo!:

-Starburns has died and Annie is concerned that the group isn't handling it well. Britta decides to put the group through grief counseling, but it's ineffectual (Of course), but it does give them the idea to throw a wake. The group gets very upset however, when the Dean shows up to inform them that in the wake of Starburns death, Professor Kane has resigned and Biology has been cancelled, meaning they'll have to make up the credit during the summer. This makes the group angry and at Starburns wake, they make a series of speeches expressing anger at Greendale, which rile the student body up. Nervous, the Dean signs a contract Chang had earlier tried to get him to sign, increasing security's power and giving him the ability to use pepper spray and enforce martial law, amongst other things. The speeches get more and more angry until a riot breaks out. Chang brings in his army to subdue the riot, but it just causes more damage.

-In the aftermath, the Dean informs the group that Subway (Who Shirley had targeted in her speech and who had been damaged in the riot) is threatening to pull out of the school, and the school board is investigating the incident, and the study group (Who are being called the Greendale Seven and the instigators of the riot) will have to meet with them. The group has remorse for the riot, and they decide with the Dean to pin it all on Chang. One of Chang's preteen soldiers overhears however, and informs Chang, causing him to tranq Dean Pelton and replace him with a look-alike. At the hearing, the group begins to testify against Chang, when Chang comes in with a gift basket for the board (Having previously befriended them before the hearing), and with the help of his fake Dean Pelton, gets the board to expell the study group. At Abed's apartment, everyone mopes around, and Abed wonders if this was the darkest timeline after all. But Troy rallies everyones spirits and tells them that they can all get through this, making Abed realize that as long as they're all together, it's the perfect timeline.

I Liked This: Course Listing Unavailable begins in one place and ends in a drastically different one. Chang is in control, the study group has been expelled and things have never seemed darker for our heroes (Even as they find solace in each other.). A lot of the best moments of the episode though happen in the beginning and the end of the episode. Britta forcing the group to go through grief counselling was just wonderful, especially with the meta-commentary on how she seemed smarter when the show started. And the final scene, which called back Remedial Chaos Theory and brought back the creepy pizza boy that Britta became engaged to in an alternate timeline was brilliant, providing a sweet and funny ending instead of ending on the cliffhanger of their expulsion. The wake had some good moments too, like Garrett singing Ava Maria or Pierce assuring that he would calm things down before starting a riot. Chang was used well here too, finally becoming the villain he's been shaping up to be since the start of season 2. And of course, the tag with Abed's video memorial of Starburns (making use of the multi-purpose footage Starburns had provided in his video will) was excellent, providing a lovely send-off to the character (who will be missed.).

But...: The episode felt a bit rushed in order for things to get for where they need to be for the next couple episodes and I wish more time had been spent on certain events (Grief Counselling and the wake among other things.)

The Bottom Line: Course Listing Unavailable was another great episode of Community that changes things significantly (Though maybe a little too quickly) and leaves things in an interesting place for the next couple episodes.

Grade: 80% (Great)

Memorable Moments:


-Jeff to Britta: "You seemed smarter when I met you."

-Pierce: "Let's burn this mother down!"

-Carl Bladt: "...You are hereby expelled from Greendale Community College. May God have mercy on your souls."