No One Replaces Troy

Community, S04E03

Abed, Troy, and Britta went to an Inspector Spacetime convention, inviting Annie and Jeff along who planned to go skiing in the area.  Abed introduced a friend he had been emailing for a while named Toby, and Troy quickly began to feel threatened by Toby's obvious attempt to replace him as Abed's best friend.  Annie played as Jeff's wife in the hotel, making Jeff's flirtation with a girl seem like adultery.  Pierce and Shirley also came to the convention, even though they weren't invited, and got pulled into a focus group about the American version of Inspector Spacetime.

I wasn't happy to see Toby, who was so pushy and rude, try to muscle his way into Abed's life through their mutual love of IS, but I did love how Troy got jealous in the same way a woman would if someone was trying to steal her boyfriend.  It's not unlike Abed to not even notice that Troy felt like he was being snubbed, especially since Abed was told to expand his his horizons and Troy was now spending his time more often with Britta.  Even though I'm still not loving the two of them together yet, I'm glad Troy wasn't just left to his lonesome.  Britta's no substitute for Abed, but at least she was there to support him and encourage him to "win back his man."  Troy might have gone off in a more destructive way if Britta hadn't been there instead of just screaming at Toby for forgetting his name.

Abed has really made some progress because he realized that although he had a lot in common with Toby, he was no replacement for Troy who is the one who keeps him grounded or "human," if you will.  It might have been nice if Troy had heard him come to that conclusion, but him simply knowing that Troy is his rock no matter how many other friends his makes is enough for me.  Also, Abed didn't need to freak out much being shoved into that phone booth like he would have in the past.  He trusted that Troy would find him, and of course he did.  That was a really cute moment.

Something else that I liked was when Britta asked about the only female inspector.  Somehow his explanation about Minera seemed to be sort of directed at Britta:

Yes.  And everyone hates her, not because they're sexist but because she sucks.

I liked how they kept using Minerva as a point of discord between Britta and Abed.   She seemed to have tgotten that shirt with her on it to sort of poke fun at Abed, who didn't agree much with her thoughts that Minerva was kinda cool.  It really shows you how Abed and Britta are like polar opposites when it comes to taste.

I thought Annie seemed a little delusional when she was pretending to be Jeff's wife, even if it was just for fun or to pass the time.  I mean, she seemed like a bigger psycho when she brought Jeff into it and made him look like a philandering weasel.  Still, I'm glad that she made him stop lying to that Thoraxis fan.  It made him look sleazy, and his accent was terrible.

My favorite part of their story was actually when Jeff stopped acting like he was too good for the convention and let his inner geek out by shouting Thoraxis' catchphrase.  He even ripped open his shirt and stood dramatically.  It was sort of cute that most of the other fans bowed down to him.   He should have done that sooner and had fun with it rather than sulk around the hotel like a jerk.

The only good thing about Pierce an Shirley joining the focus testing was Pierce's contribution to the show.  When Abed saw the Inspector Spacetime that was made with Pierce's suggestions, he had me laughing at his whispered "I hate you."  I wish I could see Abed get some kind of revenge on him somehow.

So far, I like this episode better than the other two.  It's not exactly noteworthy, but I feel like things are starting to pick up.  I hope that they will be able to have a story that makes me like Britta and Troy together better.  Right now I can't see her as much more than a third wheel to the Troy-Abed dynamic.  I'd rather see Jeff and Annie give it a go again, though.  They were sort of interesting as a fake married couple at least.  I don't know if they would really be so great if they were really man and wife.  Pierce and Shirley didn't have a big part in this episode, but at least they contributed to a final laugh in the extra scene.  Can't end an episode much better than Abed quietly furious at someone.

So Tired Of Mindy's Guys

The Mindy Project, S01E13

Mindy realized that even though she was sleeping with Brendon, he wasn't committed to dating her.  She was able to meet someone nice at a party, but she bailed on him and went back to Brendon when the guy was too close with his female best friend.  Mindy later saw Brendon at a movie theater with another girl, making it clearer that their relationship was anything but exclusive.  Danny was surprised when Jillian seemed to suddenly break up with him.  Everyone at the office suggested he do some kind of grand gesture to get her back.

Pretty much from start to finish in this episode I was yelling inside at Mindy.  Why is she still with Brendon in any capacity??  It is infuriating.  It makes it worse that it's clear that Brendon plays it breezy with women, while Mindy is always thinking of things getting more serious.  I really wanted her to stab him with that knife she keeps under her pillow when he so casually turned down her invitation to go to the party with her.  Brendon is the worst person for someone so love-hungry like Mindy to be with!  I don't know why she keeps inviting these despicable guys into her heart and bed.

I don't remember the name of the guy she met at the party, but he seemed all right.  I don't particularly like the way that his best friend is such a heavy presence in his life.  The way he chatted with his bestie on the phone right in front of Mindy was worthy of a bed knife as well.  They were having such a good conversation with each other and making a connection.  Once he called his friend, though, it instantly changed from a great date to a waste of time.  I don't blame Mindy for running out.  However, I wanted to slap her for thinking Brendon was a better choice.  I'm almost glad, though, she did go to that asshole Brendon because seeing how he treated her at the movie theaters made the new guy look pretty good in comparison.

It was a little embarrassing to see Mindy dress up like Indiana Jones and accidentally whip herself in front of a Latin class for a guy, but at least she hasn't thrown in the towel yet.  I like that she keeps trying.  After what happened to her in those few days we saw, I would think she would take a little break from dating.  I just hope that making an ass out of herself will be worth it for this new guy.  She's still got to compete with his best friend.  Don't think that issue is going to go away no matter who she dresses up like.

Jillian dumping Danny was very expected.  I felt bad for her the first few seconds I saw her with Danny at the party.  If only that idiot had listened to Mindy about how he was really lucky to have her, instead of taking her for granted.  He might as well been dating a doll if he wasn't going to listen to anything Jillian had to say.  No wonder she felt he was a jerk.  It's a shame because lately I've felt like Danny 's gotten a bit better about looking like an asshole, but obviously he's not quite there yet.  Still, I give him points for trying to get back together with Jillian.  He could have just ignored the advice completely.  Then again, I'm annoyed that he walked out of Julianne in the first place when she was breaking up with him without letting her explain.  No matter who was being dumped, you should listen to the end, jerk.

I didn't hate this episode, but it did make me really mad.  I don't know how many more pieces of trash I can watch Mindy be with.  She really knows how to pick some scumbags.  For once, I'd like her to meet a guy who doesn't deserve to be stabbed with a knife in her bed.  Hopefully this new guy will meet this criteria.  Although, with him having such an overly-involved girl friend, it's not looking too good right now.  Danny is probably hopeless as he is right now.  If he ever wants another girl like Jillian, he's going to need a major makeover with his attitude (or maybe just a girl like Mindy who can tolerate his ways).

Archer's Best Friend

Archer, S04E02

Archer heard about the death of his best friend, Lucas, and refused to accept that he was dead and a traitor.  When Archer went off to find him, Lana and Cyril followed him to stop Archer from wasting his time and putting his life in danger.

I guess I've never really noticed that Archer doesn't have any friends.  He shouldn't, logically, because he's not friendly or capable of thinking of others.  So it was kind of cute that he had this bromance with Lucas.  I hoped that he would be right and find his friend alive, especially after they showed Archer as a kid sitting alone on some bleachers.  It's no wonder that he would take off like he did to find his only friend in the world.

I liked that Lucas betrayed his comrades all so he could be with Archer in a bed and breakfast in Vermont.  Wow, it's already a lot to process that he killed his teammates in cold blood and stole money, but then he was also delusion enough to think that he would just start this new life with Archer there.  If he really wanted a life with him, he should have at least tried to think of a life that would have been attractive to Archer.  I mean, maybe Archer could have looked past his crimes and the fact that he's into men, but I couldn't see Archer living there and checking couples into rooms.  So not his style.

I sort of felt bad that Lucas got killed because like his friend, Archer too was crushed.  However, the best thing about Lucas (besides him telling Archer that he was only gay for him) was him making a confession at his death bed.  He pretty much revealed that he had violated Archer once when he was passed out from drinking.  I liked that Archer begged him that if he loved him to not tell him what he had already suspected.  What a thing to tell someone right before you die.  It's terrible and sad in a way that it worked really well for an ending.  It's like was it better for Archer to have had a friend at all or always been friendless?

I liked this episode.  It was interesting to see someone who loved Archer beside his mother.  Most times it just looks like everyone at ISIS could take or leave Archer, with good reasons.  I enjoyed the short-lived bromance between Lucas and Archer.  Don't think we'll be seeing anyone vibing with Archer like that anytime soon.

Mark Dating A Man Not Much Of A Stretch

Ugly Americans, S02E14

Callie decided to have a gender reassignment so that she could take a new job in Atlantis.  As Dick, Mark was reluctant to continue dating her at first, but he came to realize he loved her soul, not her gender.  Even though Mark tried to be understanding to make their relationship work, it all turned out to be a plot to screw over the people of Atlantis.  Callie finally went back to her original gender, but Mark proved that he was a little more comfortable seducing men than anyone else thought (though, if he were being honest with himself, there was probably no surprise).

Callie as Dick was pretty hilarious from Mark's shoes.  I mean, he went from having a cute girlfriend to a handsome boyfriend who was voiced by none other than H. Jon Benjamin.  Watching him make moves on Mark was so funny, especially with Mark's unease about kissing or having sex with a man.  And no one he worked with sided with him on the ridiculous turn of events, finding Mark to be heartless if he couldn't accept Callie.  I love that they practically cheered Mark on to simply adjust to Dick and embrace his homosexual side.

I didn't think that Atlantis would be a male-only city, nor that Mark would have to seduce the King to help Callie stop the Atlantis people from releasing a big drain on Manhattan.  Mark had his hands rubbing up on the King's ass with much more skill than I would have thought.  His complaints to Dick made it seem like he would be more clumsy and awkward, but the King was ready to take the dive with him within minutes of Mark's nearly expert advances.  I could have stood more of Mark being Dick's pawn in that capacity, but Rusty came along and revealed Mark and Dick's deception.

I liked that toward the end Callie was concerned that Mark was a little too comfortable with kissing men (in particular men that weren't her at the moment).  If Callie wasn't half demon, I would say that she would probably need to keep an eye on Mark.  It wouldn't be a shock at all to see him leave her for another man.  Of course, if he did, she would probably pull out his internal organs and barbecue them.  For a man or woman, I don't think Mark would be so stupid as to push Callie aside.

Another interesting point of the story was when Twayne, Randall, Leonard, and Grimes thought they had found Mark's corpse.  They all act a little selfish and are at different times sort of people who cause trouble for Mark, so I didn't expect them to feel too much remorse for his passing.  However, they were all deeply saddened and started fighting over who was Mark's best friend.  I was really surprised with Grimes because he had a lock of Mark's hair that he kept on him.  What in the world?  But they soon stopped lamenting over their fallen friend and worked together to bring down Atlantis and their evil drain.  In fact, I think when they found out Mark was still alive, they didn't give one damn by then.  That's how I thought they would have acted from the beginning.  I guess at least they're not too horrible of people since they can care about Mark (and not just themselves) for even the smallest amount of time.

I think this was a great episode that showed Mark's commitment to Callie.  She might not be the easiest person to be romantically involved with, but at least there's a genuine connection between them.  And maybe Mark doesn't have the greatest bunch of friends around (he certainly has the dumbest), but they're not all bad and better than nothing.  Admist all the sex and grossness in Ugly Americans, there's also a sweetness at the core, which makes me like this show much more than the laughs it can provide.