First, let's just all pause and appreciate the genius of inviting Martin Starr to make a guest appearance in this week's episode, and as Annie's political science professor nonetheless. He is absolutely perfect in this role, and despite the relatively small part he played, managed to stand out as yet another oddball, half-inept teacher at Greendale.
I really liked that this episode took the time to focus a little on Annie as a character, and particularly that it took us back to her roots, rather than using her primarily as eye candy for the men involved. However, the interactions between Jeff and Annie were a little weird, especially his insistence on fighting Annie's battle for her. And yeah, he explained it later, but it seemed to be in the name of another gratuitous Jeff/Annie fakeout more than anything else. The "Model UN-Off" was pretty fantastic, though, especially Annie's meltdown. This was one of the first times we really got a glimpse of what she must have been like during her adderall phase, and it was pretty darn compelling.
The B plot had Britta struggling (and I do mean struggling) to return to her would-be anarchist roots, protesting just about anything she could think up. Add in Chang as the newly minted security guard she's chosen to target, and an oddly fantastic (though random) Lionel Richie track, and you've got a pretty hilarious subplot. I have to admit that Britta got a little tedious during the show's second season, so I was glad to see her going back to being her somewhat strange self, the version we saw back in the beginning of season one.
So even in the aftermath of last week's shaky premiere, we got a fresh-feeling episode, jam-packed with laughs and even surprisingly astute political commentary. And that's what this show specializes in: surprising you with just how well it can deliver the things you didn't even know you wanted from it. Now let's hope the ratings match the effort just a little bit better this week.
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