With the first two seasons of Community, there was a pattern in the Halloween episodes — very character-specific costumes, they go to the school Halloween party and something crazy happens. First season it was Pierce going nuts on drugs, next season was everyone turning into zombies. How do you top in-canon zombies? While pretty risky, it was also rather smart that the writers focused on the character driven pre-party. Plus, I am so glad we got to see Abed and Troy in their “not Halloween costume” Inspector Spacetime and Constable outfits. I so called this back in September.
The stories were all really telling of the characters. Shirley’s story shows the strong contempt she has bubbling underneath the surface for her more secular friends — I also loved that she dressed them in very My So Called Life/Party of Five outfits and imagined weed to look like and be stored like oregano. As the writer of the True Blood virgin diary, Annie’s story was a nice ribbing at the struggling vampire and innocent but understanding maiden trope. The montage of her teaching vampire Jeff to read had me howling with laughter (yes, that was a horrible pun. I apologize for nothing). I find it pretty interesting that Annie imagined Britta as the trollop the vampire Jeff is just using for his most base desires. Like I said, the stories were very telling.
What’s hard about reviewing episodes like this is adequately expressing how much I love the little details and giving them their just due. The Dean’s sexy witch (and devil) costume, Britta “Brittaing” her scary story, the Human Centipede parody, Troy’s Coolio hair and Abed saying, “Jive mother,” Shirley’s “Any-hoo!” coming from Britta’s mouth, Pierce assuming he was Jeff-doppleganger Jango, Troy’s excitement for the Dean’s army taco meat that the group doesn’t remember from last year, Troy making pencils into Wolverine claws … there were just so many great moments hidden within the episode.
Obviously the Jeff story was weakest, but he is the laziest of everyone in the study group so it worked for the story, especially when the rest of the group called him out on it. And I’m pretty proud of myself for figuring out who the “sane” person was. Yes, the only non-psychotic friend is the one with an (alleged) social disorder. The moral of the story? To quote the eloquent Sam the Eagle, “You are all weirdos!”
All the best quotes:
“I had the lights rigged to flicker because it’s Halloween!” — Dean
“It’s been happening for a week.” — Jeff
“Halloween week!” — Dean
“So the lights will work on November 1st?” — Jeff
“All Saints Day! … month.” — Dean
“You should be proud of how much I’ve changed you!” — fantasy Annie
“What did I do to deserve that? Keep me out of your stupid stories.” — Pierce
“I didn’t say it was you. I said he was a crazy, old, racist doctor.” — Troy
“Yeah, and I’m your crazy, old, racist friend. … I was, anyway. Now I’m not so sure.” — Pierce
“That wasn’t even a ghost story. It was like an episode of some show we’re all too young to have heard of.” — Troy about Pierce’s story
“GAY MARRIAGE!” — Shirley’s chainsaw-wielding devil Dean
Clacked by Katie Schenkel 
on Oct 29, 2011 @ 23:51 EST5EDT
This week’s episode was easily one of my favourites. The stories they tell shows a great deal of their personalities and uncertainties that one wouldn’t pick up easily (Annie’s story was hilarious too, especially the way she portrayed Britta) and their real thoughts (Shirley’s was actually kind of dark: she basically rubbed her salvation in their faces and then departed, with the Devil hanging around). Some were very obvious of course (Pierce’s racism and stereotyping vs Troy and Abed’s weirdness), but still equally funny.
I also found it interesting that in Jeff’s story, Chang was the murderer, rather than one in the group being a “homicidal maniac”, which might just reveal how much Mr Winger really cares about his friends.
I don’t know if this season’s Halloween special was better than the two previous ones, but the characters and stories keep getting better. Especially the Dean and his many, many outfits.