When the study group's (yam) science experiment is destroyed, the gang tries to find the criminal.
Plot
COMMUNITY has parodied a wide range of shows and ideas but never has it done an entire homage to another show with such precision. Right down to the tiniest beats, musical cues, camera moves, plot devices, and actor/character behavior, this show carries out a faithful and impressive version of its own episode of LAW & ORDER.
In the grand scheme of things, 'Basic Lupine Urology' doesn't deal with too much of a grander story arc, except for the one character death but I'll touch on that in a second. What it does is deliver a purely fun experience of watching characters we love faithfully play in a familiar sandbox. It works because the show has already established that it exists in a world of weirdness where our characters could conceivable carry out these actions without it simply being a straight-up gimmick heavy parody that you see other shows do.
We get Jeff and Annie playing the lawyers parts; Troy and Abed as the detectives who switch off being good-cop and bad-cop; Shirley in the police captain role, because she is an avid fan of these type of shows; Professor Kane acting as judge over the case, seeing as he is the ruling party in what grades are handed out; Britta as the proverbial computer geek who always seems to have evidence that can be manipulated digitally; and even a kickass appearance of Dr. Rodgers from the actual LAW & ORDER show, as the coroner; and Michael Ironside in the role of the defense attorney.
As with any episode of L&O, the second and third individuals the "detectives" interview, who first appear to not be involved, end up being the major players in the end of the story. After war veteran Todd admits to killing the yam, Fat Neil admits his role in the grander conspiracy because of love, and just as everything seems to have worked itself out, a call to the office reveals tragedy.
Starburns is dead. Killed when his mobile meth lab explodes in a car accident.
Though, I wouldn't put it past this show to unkill him later.
Quotables
Narrator: Greendale Community College is represented by two separate yet equally important types of people. The goofballs that run around stirring up trouble and the eggheads that make a big deal out of it. These are their stories.
Prof. Kane: Miss Edison, when you called me down here at midnight, I expected more than a yam. Specifically since you said there's been a murder.
Annie: Our yam was murdered.
Jeff: If it's any consolation, she got me here on a very misleading text message.
Annie: Jeff, technically you are about to be screwed in the biology room because our final project has been destroyed.
Prof. Kane: Alright look, I'm sorry for your loss. I know you guys put the work in so you'll get a passing grade.
Annie: A passing grade?! Like a C?! Why don't I just get pregnant at a bus station? That was gonna be an A+ yam.
Abed: We named the yam Pam. It rhymed.
Troy: Clean-up on aisle busted.
Trying to escape a pursuing Troy and Abed.
Starburns: (to girl) Kiss me!
Girl: What?!
Starburns: I'll explain later!
Girl: No!
Starburns: I'll explain later!
Girl: The explanation isn't the issue!
Troy and Abed go to arrest their suspect who isn't cooperating.
Abed: He wants it the hard way. Tell him what Shirley said.
Troy: Todd Jacobson, you have the right to do whatever you want. Nothing you say or do can be used against you by anyone but we'd really like it if you came with us. Please and thank you.
Prof. Kane: A man's gotta have a code.
Troy: Sorry about my partner. He's been on edge ever since we switched.
Annie: We have proof our yam was murdered and now you find your softness? It's eat or be eaten when that's convenient, but when the going gets tough Winger gets nervous, huh?
Jeff: We have no case, Annie!
Annie: It's too late to get one, Jeff. We only have time to get justice.
Lt. Colonel Archwood: A man who, for all we know, is a Holocaust denying, 9/11 pedophile.
Jeff: Objection!
Lt. Colonel Archwood: Withdrawn.
Annie: Is that why you hit your wife? Withdrawn! Is that why you drink and pop pills? Withdrawn! Are you a virgin? Withdrawn.
After winning the case, Annie gloats as the defense attorney, aka the colonel, leaves.
Annie: That's right! Always have an exit strategy!
Fat Neil: I boiled the yams. Vicki's yam never sprouted and I didn't want her to fail so I threw off the grading curve so she wouldn't have to go to summer school and we could finally have sex in my parents' cabin. God forgive me, I did it for love!
Prof. Kane: Holy crap! We are definitely dissecting pine cones next year!
Rating
If I had to rate this one, and that classic music cue says I do, then I'd give it:
96 out of 100
It was nothing but a joy to watch... four times before I even sat down to write this.
