Community/Recap/S1 E18 Basic Genealogy

It's Family Day at Greendale. Slater has dumped Jeff, so he tries to score with a girl named Amber, who turns out to be Pierce's ex-step daughter. Britta tries to prove her tolerance by befriending Troy's ornery grandma. Abed and Shirley are visited by his cousin and her sons.

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The Community episode "Basic Genealogy" provides examples of:

• Bilingual Bonus: Abed's cousin's Arabic is flawless. She probably actually speaks the language.
• Buy Them Off: Pierce's solution to getting a family involves writing checks.
• Care Bear Stare:

Jeff: You're becoming dangerous, Annie. Its those doe eyes. Disappointing you is like choking the Little Mermaid with a bike chain.

• Character Development: Jeff wouldn't have hesitated to sleep with Pierce's ex-step daughter on day one.
• Con Man: Pierce's step daughter is scamming him for money by letting him think they have an actual familial connection.
• Compliment Backfire:
  • Pierce compares his ex-step-daughter's appearance to those of the call girls he frequents. It goes about as well as you'd expect.
  • Britta's comment about the attractiveness of Troy's grandmother ends in her being spanked.

Nana: I ain't no hussy!

• The Conscience

Annie: Well, sounds like you've got it all figured out so why are you talking to me about it? Jeff: Because you’re, y’know... Annie: A decent person? Jeff: Maybe. Annie: And you knew that talking to me about it would make you feel like a bad friend? And you wanted to feel like a bad friend because you want to be a good friend? Jeff: You really suck, you know that?

• Dueling Shows:

Jeff: [in tears] We always used to watch the shows she wanted to watch. I hate Glee. Pierce: [beginning to tear up too] I'm not crazy about Glee either. Jeff: [sobs] *sniff* I don't understand the appeal at all!

• Finishing Each Other's Sentences:

Abed: I hope they’re not twins. Twins freak me out. They always know what the other one is... Troy: Thinking. Abed: Yeah. And they’re always finishing each other’s... Troy: Pie. Abed: It’s creepy.

• Hypocrite: Amber points out Pierce is acting as one.
• Hypocritical Humor: Rabbi Chang.

Rabbi Chang: SENOR Chang? Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds?

• • Although it's worth noting that a Chinese rabbi at least has cultural and historical precedent on his side. Shanghai, in particular, has a surprisingly large Jewish community. Many Jews have immigrated to Eastern countries in the past seventy years or so, due in part to Sugihara, the "Japanese Schindler."
    • Plus, it's also possible that Rabbi Chang knew that Senor Chang doesn't speak Spanish.
• I Was Quite a Looker: Britta unsuccessfully attempts to invokes this to get on Troy's Grandmother good side.
• Insistent Terminology: "Step daughter." "Technically, ex-step daughter."
• Jerkass: Troy's gramma. Britta calls her pretty; she takes it to mean Britta thinks she's a whore and finds this sufficient excuse to deliver a brutal spanking. This seems to be her standard response to any conversation.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Shirley's boys are introduced as being somewhat out of control and a liiiitle bit racist (introducing themselves by pointing blaster guns at Abed's father and yelling "Freeze! Homeland security!"). But then they disguise themselves as Abed's cousin (by putting on her burkha) so she can go have fun. Shirley thought it was Abed's idea, but it was theirs.
• Metaphorgotten: The booty-nator.

Shirley: You know, 'I'll be back' - but with booty.

• Mistaken for Racist: To be fair, Pierce actually is pretty racist, but for once he makes an innocent mistake with his attempt to draw a windmill while playing Pictionary.
• Morality Pet: Annie, to Jeff. This episode takes it Up to Eleven.
• Nakama:

Jeff: As long as you have friends you have family.

• Never Mess with Granny: Britta learns this the hard way.
• Not So Different: Pierce and Jeff both trying to avoid loneliness.
• Off-Screen Breakup: Jeff and Prof. Slater. Well, not quite, but the next closest thing. When we last saw them, their relationship was doing okay, but they break up before the opening credits. Word of God, this development occurred to have Jeff get together with the Guest Star of the week.
• Overprotective Dad: Overprotective ex-step-dad Pierce.
• Pet the Dog: Pierce reveals that he knew all along that his step daughter was scamming him, shares a Not So Different moment with Jeff, then helps Jeff realize that he cared more for Michelle than he let on.
• Playing Pictionary: With actual pictionary.
• Spank the Cutie: Trying to teach Troy a lesson about respecting and "cherishing" family, Britta says something she would consider complimentary but which "Nana" considers offensive. Nana orders her to get a switch, which Britta does. Britta seems to think that the switch was for striking her hand. Nana quickly corrects her ("I ain't no nun!"). She bends over--even though Troy tells her she doesn't have to--and pulls down her pants. She realizes very quickly she doesn't know what she's gotten herself into.
• Stereotype Flip: It is revealed that Señor Chang's older brother is a Rabbi. This is Lampshaded by Dean Pelton (though he also mistakenly assumes that the Changs are Japanese).

Dean: Well, it was wonderful meeting your brother. Adios Señor Chang, Shalom Rabbi Chang, and to both of you, Sayonara.

• Strange Minds Think Alike: Apparently, a lot of people make the same mistake as Pierce when drawing a windmill in Pictionary.
• Symbology Research Failure: Rabbi Chang is wearing a tallit (prayer shawl) out in public for some reason. They are meant to be used during services.
• Take That: Glee
• Totem Pole Trench: How Shirley's sons disguise themselves so Abed's cousin can go play.
• Uncanny Family Resemblance: Discussed.

Annie: [about Abed's female cousin] Does she look like you but with a wig and lipstick? Abed: No that's Halle Berry.

• We Could Have Avoided All This: Ban Windmills from pictionary once and for all!
• When Elders Attack: Troy's Grandmother.
• Whip It Good: Poor Britta!