Do you remember watching John Wayne in the Alamo, or John Huston, Audrey Hepburn and Burt Lancaster in The Unforgiven? If a sense of humor is present, then you might have a good chuckle while watching NBC’s Community “The Paintball Game” episode. Being true to form, Joel McHale (also host of The Soup on the EChannel) and his posse, mask relevant societal issues under a haze of superficial behavior. However, one does not have to try too hard to get the lesson(s) being taught.
James Bond or Western?
After hitting the play on the DVR and walking to the kitchen, I paused as I began to hear western type music. The images on screen had a James Bond, 007 feel to them, with guns fading in and out, surrounded by various shapes and colors. I was not sure if the clever NBC Community writers were going for a James Bond or western feel, but the first few seconds had me interested enough to watch and see. After three minutes, I realized I did not need that cup of tea and just sat on my couch allowing myself a few moments of laughter and reminiscing about watching old black and white westerns with my family on Sunday afternoons in the 70’s.
Western Themed Music and Paraphernalia Set the Mood
As in old westerns, the cast had clever names like “Queen of Spades” or “Ace of Hearts”. The “Queen of Spades” was of course the infamous Brita, with Jack being none other than the “Jack of Clubs”. Throughout this episode, western paraphernalia was in abundance. Wanted posters of Jeff Winger, cowboy hats and boot spurs were just a few of the many clever additions to this episode to give it that western flavor.
Outside of the western styled paintball guns and costumes, the western theme music was the perfect touch. Great lead-ins and pauses were given to cause the same western thrill before a duel or show down. It was so creatively choreographed; one cannot help but laugh and be entertained.
Saloons and Chevy Chase
If Pierce is your character of choice, then this episode is sure to please with Pierce ( Chevy Chase) setting up his saloon and “Fort Hawthorne” inside the school’s cafeteria. This clip utilized many clichés to mask the raw emotion behind Pierce feeling secluded and on the outside of his peer/study group. Behavior that we might see in schools or classrooms today. However, in reality, when we feel this way we do not create saloons or our own private forts, but when these emotions are present, one might feel so secluded as to act out against peers.
The cast did a great job modeling in their own superficial way, the importance of how to talk out our emotions and feelings rather than act them out. It is important to think of how others might perceive a situation and realize that we all look and react to any given situation differently.
As a teaser, just as this episode is almost to a close, “Star Wars” type figures exit out the back of an ice cream truck…another battle, but with a futuristic feel? Stay tuned as Part II For a Few Paintballs More airs on May 12th, 2011.
“One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.”
~Mother Teresa
