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Recap: Community S1 E02: Spanish 101
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In Spanish Class the students pair off to do a oral presentation involving simple Spanish phrases. Jeff's attempt to be paired with Britta backfires when he finds himself partnered with Pierce instead — and Pierce's unorthodox presentation ideas threaten to drive a wedge between them. Meanwhile the ladies in the study group get into activism to raise interest about freedom of speech in Guatemala — however, Britta finds that Annie and Shirley have much different ideas about activism to her. Has a YMMV page.
The Community episode "Spanish 101" provides examples of:- Actor Allusion: Pierce's play is entitled "Two Conquistadors".
- Big Man on Campus: Jeff's introduction in this episode definitely plays on this trope.
- Broken Pedestal: Britta, for Annie and Shirley. They arrange their protest because they're inspired by her commitment to social justice, only to realize when Britta objects to their protest being 'lame' that her commitment is largely for appearances.
- Crosses the Line Twice: In universe: in their protest, Annie and Shirley decide to commemorate a murdered Guatemalan journalist... with a pinata. Britta is not happy.
Britta: You guys realize he was beaten to death, right?
Shirley: That's where we got the idea from. - Destined Bystander: Star-Burns is first mentioned by nickname in this episode.
- Establishing Character Moment: Within the first minute of meeting him, Chang shows the study group just how crazy he is.
- F Minus Minus
Chang: (points to Pierce) F. (points to Jeff) F Minus.
Pierce: What? Did you say 'S'? - Foreshadowing:
- Chang seems awfully desperate to convince everyone that he's a "Spanish genius."
- Pierce doesn't adequately answer his own question, "What's the moist towelette business like?"
- Getting Crap Past the Radar: Chevy's section of the opening credits cootie-catcher has a drawing of a woman with bare breasts. The censors caught this later on and his drawings were changed to lips and "eyeballs" for the next episode.
- Global Currency Exception: Jeff tries to bribe Abed with $50, but Abed instead wants his shirt.
- Hypocrite: Britta is forced to confront the fact that, while Shirley and Annie's protest fundraiser is undeniably cheesy, it's still more than she's ever managed to accomplish despite all her self-righteous posturing about various social issues, and her objections to them are ultimately superficial and hollow. Her frequent accusations and condemnations of Jeff as being a phony are thus also blunted by the fact that, because of this, she's ultimately little better.
- Hypocritical Humor:
Pierce: You know, Jeff, you can't pursue people so desperately; it creeps them out. (pause) What don't we go get a beer, I'll give you some advice, and we can have what the kids are calling a sausage fest? - Large Ham: Jeff
- Lying to the Perp:
Dean over P.A.: To whoever is growing a small patch of cannabis behind the gymnasium, congratulations you have won a cruise. Report to Security to claim your tickets. - Man on Fire: Pierce
- Mundane Made Awesome: Pierce and Jeff turn a five sentence long conversation assignment into an epic saga with props, songs, dance and multiple costume changes. They get blank stares from everyone except an obviously impressed Abed.
- My Hovercraft Is Full of Eels: The Tag. Here's a link.
 - Second Episode Introduction: Chang
- Spoiler: invoked
Britta: Believe me, everyday in that country people are being killed for speaking out, and the worst part is when it's all over—
Abed: Spoilers!
Britta: —it's going to be as if it never even happened. Hey Abed, real stories—they don't have spoilers. You understand that TV and life are different? Right? - Soapbox Sadie: Britta, much to the admiration of Annie and Shirley. It backfires, however, since Annie and Shirley plan their protest / fundraiser because they're impressed by her only to discover that she's mostly talk and no action.
- Soundtrack Dissonance: Aimee Mann's somber "Wise Up" plays over Jeff and Pierce's Spanish surreal presentation, complete with robots and silly string.
- Strange Minds Think Alike: Abed really gets Pierce and Jeff's presentation. No one else does.
- Abed is half Palestinian, watching a presentation that is "surprisingly and gratuitously critical of Israel".
- Strawman U: The entire candle light vigil/silent protest subplot.
Shirley: I never went to a real college; I want to be political. - Trope Overdosed
Chang: Every once in a while, a student will come up to me and ask, 'Seņor Chang, why do you teach Spanish?' They say it just like that. 'Why do you teach Spanish?' ( Beat) 'Why YOU? Why not math? Why not cryptography? Why not martial arts?' I mean, surely, it must be in my nature to instruct you in something that's ancient and secret, like, oh, building a wall that you can see from outer space. Well, I tell you why I teach Spanish: it's none of your business, OK? And I don't want to have any conversations about what a mysterious, inscrutable man I am. Oh heehee, oh huh huh. I am a Spanish genius! In espaņol, my nickname is El Tigre Chino. - What the Hell, Hero?: Shirley and Annie quite accurately peg the hypocrisy in Britta's objection to their protest about Guatemala:
Shirley: Sounds like someone has a case of 'likes to use politics to be make themselves feel special but doesn't ever want to do anything'... itis. - You Need a Breath Mint
Abed: Conflicts like this will ultimately bring us together as an unlikely family.
Troy: You have horrible breath right now.
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