Follow TV Tropes

Following

Context Recap / CommunityS3E21TheFirstChangDynasty

Go To

1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/trobed_456.jpg]]
2[[caption-width-right:350:They're just plumbers. Really. In case of doubt, look at their [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros mustaches]].]]
3
4Chang has kidnapped The Dean and replaced him with a Doppeldeaner. The study group attempts to free him on the night of Chang's [[BlatantLies "25th"]] Birthday Party, but the school has become a near-impregnable fortress, and in order to save the day Troy might have to make a great sacrifice.
5
6----
7!! Tropes appearing in this episode of ''Series/{{Community}}'' include:
8
9* ActorAllusion: Creator/JPManoux, who plays the fake Dean says "It's hard out there for a fake Moby." In ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' episode "[[Recap/HowIMetYourMotherS1E11TheLimo The Limo]]", Manoux plays a character that is mistaken for Music/{{Moby}}.
10* AffectionateParody: The heist is planned, acted out, and shot like Soderbergh's ''Film/OceansEleven'' and Pierce even mentions it by name.
11* TheAlcoholic: One of the board members excuses his inability to see the very obvious fact that Chang was nuts with his drinking problem.
12* AnswerCut:
13--> '''Murray:''' And where is that key?\
14''[zoom in on the key on a string around Chang's neck]''\
15'''Troy:''' Well, where is it?\
16'''Murray:''' Oh, sorry; [[ObstacleExposition that]] was clearer in my head.
17** Also here:
18-->'''Annie''': We need somebody on the inside.
19-->'''Troy''': I may know a guy.
20-->Cut to Troy talking to Murray at a restaurant.
21* AntiAdvice: It's pretty clear Jeff considers anything Pierce might have to say on any subject this (not, it has to be said, without reason), as demonstrated when the two give farewell advice to Troy:
22-->'''Pierce:''' Never wear a rubber.\
23'''Jeff:''' Never listen to Pierce.
24* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: If Troy joins the AC Repair School, he will be forced to move out of the apartment, cut off from his friends, be unable to have a relationship and, for some unknown reason, will not be permitted to use the word 'sensational'.
25* BaitAndSwitch: It initially seems like Pierce's racist impersonation was not intended to be part of the plan and ended up foiling it right as it was about to succeed until Pierce gives a MeaningfulLook to Jeff. Jeff in turn gives one back, revealing to the audience that Pierce actually ''was'' incorporated into the plan as a distraction to get Chang out of the throne room and heading to the wrong side of the building while the team successfully extracted.
26* BavarianFireDrill: Plumber Abed pulls this trick on one of Chang's guards, threatening him about a flooding that will happen if they are not granted access to the toilets.
27* BeatWithoutABut: While the group is talking to Officer Cackowski, Britta blurts out:
28-->'''Britta:''' Look, I ''hate'' cops...\
29''(complete and utter silence as everyone else in the room, [[ImStandingRightHere including a cop]], slowly realizes that was the end of the sentence.)''
30* BinocularShot: "They're like telephones for your eyes."
31* BittersweetEnding: The study group expose Chang, rescue the Dean and get themselves readmitted back into the school, but Troy made a deal with the AC Repair Annex to help them do so, and so must move out of the apartment and leave the group to join the AC Repair School.
32* {{Blackface}}: Well, more like "tan face". Pierce uses either make-up or a lot of bronzer to darken his face for the swami costume.
33* BlatantLies:
34** [[SarcasmMode Sure Chang, it's a prescription throne.]]
35** And it's ''clearly'' Chang's 25th birthday.
36* {{Callback}}:
37** Chang's evil scheme is tied to his [[Recap/CommunityS1E24EnglishAsASecondLanguage mad keytar skillz]].
38** Britta is [[Recap/CommunityS2E13CelebrityPharmacology once again involved in the seduction of a middle schooler]], albeit with her knowledge this time.
39** At the end of the episode the board members go out for [[Recap/CommunityS3E20DigitalEstatePlanning yard-margs]].
40** Chang is stroking a stuffed tiger, also known as [[Recap/CommunityS1E02Spanish101 El Tigre]].
41** "[[Recap/CommunityS3E18CourseListingUnavailable Elaborate]] [[Recap/CommunityS3E16VirtualSystemsAnalysis heist?]] [[Recap/CommunityS3E12ContemporaryImpressionists Elaborate]] [[Recap/CommunityS2E15Early21stCenturyRomanticism heist?]]"
42*** And later:
43---> '''Jeff''': We're done, right? [[RunningGag Done? Done? Done? Done?]]
44** Yet again, the study group's season two-developed skills in making dioramas comes in handy as they build a replica of Greendale. Although Shirley objects to some uneven levels of detailing:
45--->'''Shirley:''' You had time to make a working water fountain, and I'm a pine-cone?
46** Quite a hard one to catch, but this isn't the first time someone in the study group likened Chang to Stalin.
47--->'''Troy''' (''[[Recap/CommunityS1E05AdvancedCriminalLaw in season 1]]''): The only difference between Stalin and Señor Chang is that I know who Señor Chang is.
48--->'''Britta''' (''in season 3, on Chang''): This is just like Stalin back in [[BuffySpeak Russia times!]]
49** Chang's reference to Connie, the twin sister he ate in the womb, is a sort of CallBack[[WhatCouldHaveBeen -that-could-have-been]]; a proposed subplot for Season Two was that Chang would be increasingly haunted by visions of Connie, but it was quietly dropped.
50* TheCaligula: Chang. Under his rule, students are leaving and he spends all of the school's budget on an over-expensive throne and a birthday party for himself. He is willing to burn down the evidence to his crimes, too insane to realize that it would burn down the school and kill everyone involved.
51* CassandraTruth: Officer Cackowski is skeptical when the study group tells him of the "doppeldeaner" and makes it clear he will arrest them if they trespass at Greendale.
52* CharacterDevelopment: Another glimpse of how far Jeff has come; when presented with an option that would easily enable them to enter Greendale to stop Chang but would mean forcing Troy to join the Air Conditioning Repair Annex, Jeff immediately rejects the easy option (something that would have been unthinkable a few years ago) and agrees with everyone to plan an elaborate heist and possibly risk jail if they get caught rather than risk losing Troy.
53* ChekhovsGun: Early on, Troy mentions the [[DealWithTheDevil agreement with AC Repair School]] as an option to get to the Dean but it's voted against. Fast forward to the group being trapped in the basement where Troy remembers the deal and decides to take it.
54* ComicallyMissingThePoint
55--> '''Troy:''' (''after Chang tells his entire EvilPlan'') Chang, [[YoureInsane you're insane]]. [[FelonyMisdemeanor You're still into keytar]]?!
56** Also, earlier, when Officer Cackowski scoffs at their claim that the Dean has been replaced by a 'Deanelganger'.
57--->'''Jeff:''' Well, when you say it that way, it sounds ridiculous.\
58'''Troy:''' Yeah, the word we used was ''doppeldeaner''.
59* ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike: Dean Pelton had his hopes up that Jeff would be the one to personally rescue him, and is disappointed when he sees that it's Britta.
60* CouldSayItBut: Murray at the restaurant helps Troy this way.
61* DeadlyRotaryFan: AC Repair School makes it stop so the group can escape.
62* DerailedTrainOfThought: The Dean gets overly digressive when talking about his plan for a distraction.
63-->'''Dean Pelton''': I've been renting the school out for raves on the weekend... they call it "Academania"! It's mostly hard house -- mm, ''some'' dubstep -- but it's totally danceab--
64-->'''Jeff''': Perfect.
65* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: Chang's method of ruling the school is very Stalinist dictatorship-inspired, with more than a hint of North Korea in particular.
66-->'''Child singing:''' ''[[GloriousLeader Chang eats the sun and drinks the sky /]]'' ''[[GodEmperor and they both go with him when he dies...]]''
67* DressingAsTheEnemy: Annie's disguised as one of Chang's child army.
68* DrunkWithPower: [[CaptainObvious This should go without saying]], but Chang.
69* EpicFail: Chang's guards are all 12-year-olds and only pose a threat to the group when they out-number them. Jeff especially highlights this, lifting one while claiming he weighed nothing and effortlessly disarming another.
70* EpisodeTagline: "Oof baboof!"
71* EvilIsHammy: Lampshaded.
72-->'''Abed''': Chang's started his solo. Knowing him, that only gives us 9 minutes.
73* EvilLaugh: A very disturbing and crazy one when Chang brings up the twin sister he ate [[CallBack in-utero]]: "This one's for ''you'', Connie!"
74%%* EvilPlan: See FieryCoverup.
75* FailedASpotCheck: The Board Members end up admitting that they ''really'' probably should have noticed that Chang was a psychotic power-mad nutcase running the school into the ground sooner than they did.
76* FakeoutEscape: The Dean hides in the basement while Chang's henchmen believe he has escaped.
77* FanService: Britta's Goth outfit as an assistant to Jeff, who is disguised as a [[Series/CrissAngelMindfreak Criss Angel]]-esque magician. Also, Jeff as said Criss Angel-esque magician. Especially the eyeliner and leather pants.
78* FieryCoverup: Chang's plan is to burn down the records, eliminating all evidence of his misdeeds. Annie points out this would get him and everyone else in the school killed.
79* ForWantOfANail: If Chang hadn't caught the study group, he would have successfully blown up the school.
80* GambitPileup: Chang foils the group's Plan A, but then Jeff reveals Plan B, which is also foiled by Chang.
81* TheGeneralissimo: Chang dresses in a Napoleonic General's uniform.
82* GuyLiner: Jeff wears it as part of his cover.
83* HeistEpisode: The study group plot an elaborate heist Ocean's Eleven-style to rescue the Dean after Chang replaced him with a doppelgänger and took over the school.
84* HeroicSacrifice: Troy completes his bargain with the AC Repair School despite the personal cost in order save the school from burning down.
85* [[HeroWithBadPublicity Heroes With Bad Publicity]]: The study group.
86* HiddenDepths: The Doppeldeaner has a wife, turns out.
87* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Even if he was charming (which is something Chang only ever manages in very, very short bursts), the Board Members should have still picked up on the several warning signs that Chang was insane.
88* HypocriticalHumour:
89--> '''Pierce:''' Is that me in my swami disguise?\
90'''Jeff:''' No, Pierce. For the last time, you're in the getaway van because your swami act is notoriously horrible.\
91'''Pierce:''' A. That is racist! B. Swamis can't drive; they're Indians.
92** Jeff gets in on the act as well:
93--->'''Jeff:''' Don't get so dramatic, Troy. The answer is simple; ''[Dramatically]'' we just have to plan ''an elaborate heist!''
94* ICanExplain: Of course, when he's finally caught Chang ''can't'' explain. So he just legs it out the door instead.
95* InsaneTrollLogic: Chang believes that fire can't go through doors. Why? Because it's not a ghost.
96* InsistentTerminology:
97** It's a ''prescription'' throne. Chang has back-mumps.[[note]](Don't look them up. They're very obscure.)[[/note]]
98** When Officer Cackowski scoffs at the idea of Chang replacing the Dean with a 'Deanelganger', Troy immediately lambasts him... because the term the study group used was doppeldeaner.
99* JailBake: Shirley plants a note in the sandwich for the Dean to notify him about the FakeoutEscape.
100* JanitorImpersonationInfiltration: Troy and Abed gain access to Chang's room by pretending to be plumbers.
101* JumpingOutOfACake: Well, more like crawling out of it in secret.
102* JustBetweenYouAndMe: Chang can't resist telling the group about his EvilPlan after capturing them.
103* JustInTime: Abed defuses the bomb just in time before Chang's MusicalTrigger could activate it.
104* KansasCityShuffle: The study group intentionally make things look like the plan has derailed in order to obscure the ''real'' plan. Unfortunately, they didn't count on a ''further'' derailment.
105** Arguably a Deconstruction as it turns out to be a needless complication that actually threatens a plan that was running smoothly up until that point.
106* KarmaHoudini: Chang and the Dean impersonator ran out of the school when they were busted.
107* TheLadysFavor: Britta gives Troy a lock of her hair when he leaves to join the AC Repair School. He calls it creepy, but fawns over it nevertheless.
108* LaserGuidedKarma: The Changlourious Bastards suffer this when the study group gets the upper-hand against them, as they're subjected to various indignities common to childhood pranking (stuck in a room suddenly plunged into the dark, menaced by bigger people, getting StuffedIntoALocker, etc). Considering that in their appearances to this point they've basically been acting like insufferable [[DrunkWithPower power-mad]] little [[BrattyHalfPint brats]], it's rather fitting.
109* MasterActor: Jeff pulls off a convincing stage musician. Chang and the kids are fooled.
110* MusicalTrigger: Chang has the documents incriminating him in his brutal takeover of the school rigged to be set on fire when he hits the high note in his awesome keytar solo. The plan is foiled by the heroes.
111* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Jeff is disguised as Ricky Nightshade, a rock 'n' roll magician with obvious overtones of [[Series/CrissAngelMindfreak Criss Angel]].
112* NonFatalExplosions: Annie tries to warn Chang, but apparently, he has ''no idea'' how fire works.
113--> '''Annie:''' You're going to burn down the school and kill everyone!\
114'''Chang:''' Fire can't go through doors, stupid. It's not a ghost!
115* NoOneGetsLeftBehind: Jeff refuses to consider the option of Troy surrendering himself to the AC Repair school, even though they'd have powerful allies and a one-way ticket to the Dean. He says that Troy shouldn't be sacrificed in such a way and is saddened when Troy chooses to take the deal.
116* NotSoStoic: Lampshaded. After Troy's goodbye, Abed apologizes for "getting so emotional." His facial expression has not changed at all. Not that that makes it any less of a TearJerker.
117* ObstacleExposition: Murray at the restaurant provides one, explaining to Troy all the obstacles they have to overcome to free the Dean.
118* OnSecondThought: Jeff vetoes Abed going for a heist plan, because it is dangerous. Then Troy points out the only other solution is him joining the AC Repair school. Jeff announces they're doing a heist.
119* PaperThinDisguise: The beards on Abed, Troy and Shirley look fake but nobody takes notice.
120* PerkyGoth: Britta's magician assistant persona.
121* PoliceAreUseless: The study group goes to the police first to try to report Chang kidnapping the Dean and taking over the school. Not only does the cop refuse to believe it, but warns them that he'd arrest them if they went anywhere near the campus. Although in his defense, the [[CassandraTruth scenario was pretty difficult to believe]]. One look at the disturbing commercial or heck, just one look at the campus and it should have been obvious that something was wrong; on the other hand, the Dean signed off on that before he was kidnapped.
122* {{Portmanteau}}: Doppeldeaner, Deanelganger, copera and policical. Chang manages to go even further with Dean-el-Chang-er.
123* PropagandaMachine: Chang's posters and TV ads.
124* PunBasedTitle
125* RaceAgainstTheClock: The group marks time at the beginning of Chang's big solo: they have only nine minutes left.
126* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Office Cackowski tells the group he doesn't believe them because the story is ridiculous; plus, he caught Abed sneaking around campus a few episodes earlier. With that said, he gives them fair warning they can't just appear on campus because he'd be obligated to arrest them for trespassing. All in all, he's quite reasonable and even talks about his cop opera.
127* RunningAwayToCry: Abed at the end when he gets emotional over Troy's parting words.
128* SarcasticClapping: Chang, when he captures the group, which he lampshades.
129* ShipTease: Troy/Britta gets teased a few times.
130-->'''Britta:''' Troy, we are not losing you to save the Dean or Greendale. ''[Meaningfully]'' Or anything. ''Ever''.
131* ShoutOut:
132** Officer Cackowski's singing into his tape recorder is reminiscent of the vocal stylings of erstwhile Doobie Brother [[WebVideo/YachtRock Michael [=McDonald=]]].
133** Officer Cackowski being a fan of ''Inspector Spacetime'' is a nod to his ''Podcast/ThrillingAdventureHour'' character Colonel Tick Tock, who is also a parody of ''Series/DoctorWho''.
134** Abed exaggerates that flooded bathroom will turn the party into ''Film/ThePoseidonAdventure''.
135** Chang's keytar solo begins with "[[Film/BeverlyHillsCop Axel F]]."
136** Jeff and Chang face off with [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience color-coded]] stun batons; Chang's is red and double-sided like [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Darth Maul]]'s.
137** The mustaches Troy and Abed wear as part of their disguises as plumbers are very similar to those worn by [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros a couple of Italian sibling plumbers who star in a series of video games you may have heard of.]]
138*** This is a very subtle one, but also, their name tags say "Barry" and "Rod". Or, you know, [[Creator/GeneRoddenberry Rod and Barry]].
139*** [[VideoGame/HotelMario "Here's the problem!"]]
140** The acadelmania/rave music the group uses as a [[WeNeedADistraction distraction]] is that of the Blood Bath vampire rave from the film ''[[Film/{{Blade}} Blade]]'', doubling as a CallBack to "[[Recap/CommunityS3E15OriginsOfVampireMythology Origins of Vampire Mythology]]".
141** Troy's [[SilentWhisper goodbye whisper]] to Abed is inaudible like Bob's to Charlotte in ''Film/LostInTranslation''.
142** The Dean is likened to Music/{{Moby}}, [[Recap/CommunityS1E06FootballFeminismAndYou again]].
143** Jeff and Pierce's signaling to each other by touching the sides of their noises is lifted from Robert Redford and Paul Newman's characters doing the same thing in ''Film/TheSting''.
144* [[ShowSomeLeg Show Your Boobs]]: [[DirtyOldMan Pierce]] immediately suggests Britta and Annie do this to divert the guards when Shirley points out that WeNeedADistraction, much to their disgust. Although considering the guards [[JerkassHasAPoint they're trying to distract are twelve-year-old boys...]]
145* SilentWhisper: Subverted, Abed immediately tells everyone that Troy whispered, "I know you hate when people do this in movies."
146* SkewedPriorities: The AC Repair school would rather watch Chang blow everything up in a bid to recruit Troy. If they were playing poker, they were bluffing with a bad hand.
147* SpiesInAVan: The study group operates out of a van during the rescue operation.
148* SpinningPaper: Effect during the OpeningMonologue, a spinning sheet of the Greendale 7.
149* SpySpeak: One of Chang's guards announces the Dean's escape with "The pixie has left the toadstool!"
150* StrangeMindsThinkAlike:
151** Troy and Britta agree that binoculars are "like telephones for your eyes."
152** Upon learning that Officer Cackowski is writing a 'cop opera', seconds later every member of the study group [[LateToThePunchline except Pierce]] yells out "Copera!" as a possible title.
153** Cackowski's "Deanelganger" and Chang's "Deanelchanger"
154* StuffedIntoALocker: One of Chang's guards suffers this fate when the study group gains the upper hand over them.
155* SuddenDownerEnding: The goodbye scene with the whole group.
156* SweetPollyOliver: Annie disguises herself as one of Chang's boy guards.
157* TeamPowerWalk: The study group power walks down a hallway after they rescued the real Dean from the basement. It was a bit premature; they should have done it once they were off-campus.
158* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Subverted. During the argument with Officer Cackowski at the beginning, Britta at one point interjects "Look, I ''hate'' cops..." [[BeatWithoutABut There's no 'but'.]]
159* ThisIsReality: Something pointed out by Annie; she says that if Chang launches fireworks in the records room, he'll burn down the school and kill everyone inside, including himself.
160* TooDumbToLive: As Annie points out, Chang would get ''himself'' killed in his plot to set off fireworks in the records room because it would blow up the school. Chang believes fire can't go through doors so he dismisses her.
161* UnfoldingPlanMontage: We see the heist unfold as Jeff explains it.
162* VillainExitStageLeft: The last we see of Chang is him legging it after his scheme has been exposed and ruined.
163* WeNeedADistraction: Used word-for-word by Shirley. [[DirtyOldMan Pierce being Pierce]], he immediately suggests Annie and Britta employ ShowSomeLeg on the guards.
164* WhamEpisode: Chang's season-long subplot is finally resolved, and as a result of the HeroicSacrifice, Troy completes his deal with the AC Repair group and has to leave the group to go the AC Repair School.
165* WhatTheHellHero: Subverted. Pierce's appearance foils the caper but then it's revealed it was part of the plan.
166* WhereItAllBegan: Chang's hammy line "It ends as it began," puzzling Jeff.
167-->'''Jeff''': It didn't begin like this!
168* WimpFight: The Dean versus Faux-by.
169* WireDilemma: Parodied with a single wire.
170--> '''Abed:''' Which wire do I cut?\
171'''Troy:''' There's only one.\
172'''Abed:''' I hope to God I'm right.
173* WrongGenreSavvy: Jeff agrees with Abed to create a heist so as to extract the dean and prove to the cops that Chang has taken over the school. It almost goes off perfectly...except they celebrate too early rather than hightailing it out of the school or calling Officer Cackowski with the Dean on his phone.

Top