BWW Recap: Paintball is Back in 'Modern Espionage' on COMMUNITY

PAINTBALL IS BACK! In this episode of COMMUNITY, "Modern Espionage," we learn that paintball has been outlawed by Frankie. However, an underground game is going on still. The study group finds out that there is an anonymous server set up with a cash prize for the winner of the game. They trace the IP address to City College, and realize that they hired their own player, a.k.a. "Silver Ballz."

Jeff, wanting to make Frankie happy, decides that they will all find who Silver Ballz is and stop them. Elroy, using his computer savvy skills, finds out that Silver Balls will be making his move at the Gala for a Cleaner Greendale, in which Frankie asked Jeff to make a speech against paintball while introducing LaPari (played by the fantastic Kumail Nanjiani), the custodian receiving an award. They find out it is actually LaPari who is Silver Ballz, and in dramatic fashion stage a shootout, which leaves only Jeff, Dean, and LaPari standing. Jeff and Dean follow LaPari into the Museum of Custodial Arts and where they end up shooting each other for the sake of Frankie, who promises not to fire them. The episode ends with the study group apologizing to Frankie by dressing up like babies every time she comes to the study group.

Being the third paintball episode COMMUNITY has aired (I will never count that Season 4 catastrophe), Modern Espionge definitely delievers. I really enjoyed the Mission Impossible spoof of this paintball episode. From Todd and Starburns' battle in the parking garage, to Jeff taking out a bunch of students in the study group, to the huge shootout during the Gala, there were a lot of great action scenes that were very visually interesting. I think my favorite fight scene was the one with the Dean in the elevator; from an especially large elevator, to the group of custodians who surround him, to the Dean successfully taking them all out--first accidentally and then finally with a lot of power and confidence. I love the paintball episodes primarily for the great action scenes they deliever.

One thing about this particular paintball episode I really liked was how for the first time, Jeff's primary drive to win isn't a prize, but to make Frankie happy. This shows a lot of maturity for Jeff, who usually is very selfish with these sort of things. Unfortunately, his attempt to save the gala ended up ruining it when he mistakenly shot a handicapped man in the eye thinking his crutch was a paintball gun. (Yikes).

This episode also further proves the genius that is Elroy. From asking "what is paintball" to asking Britta, "why do we always get paired together?" Elroy is full of witty quips that make him a great addition to the cast. I especially loved when they play The Ears Have It. and Elroy responds to Jeff's asking, "Do I use echolocation to navigate?" with, "Why would you ask that after learning you're not a bat?"

Finally, the Dean is killing me this season. Usually an oblivious character who makes puns and plans silly themed events, this season we see the Dean as much more vulnerable. He even makes a great speech in this episode that is ignored by the study group--Jeff even asks the Dean to get them water. In his speech, the Dean mentions how he feels like he isn't needed now that Frankie is there. (I mean its true--he bought a giant hand, a virtual reality machine, and way too many Hondas just in this season! But still). It is sad how he felt that way, but the progression of the episode allowed him to become more important, from taking out the men in the elevator to being THE LAST ONE standing with Jeff. The Dean is important in his own crazy way.

Of all the episodes this season, "Modern Espionage" is definitely my favorite. It delivered a great paintball storyline and a lot of hilarious moments. I also really enjoyed the reappearance of many Greendale favorites: Starburns, Todd, and Koogler. With only two episodes left in Season 6, I can't wait to see how Dan Harmon tops this episode.

Little Moments I Enjoyed:

-Starburns and Todd's battle cross-cut against Vicki's show "Veni Vidi Vicki"

-Koogler calling Abed "Aladdin" and "Omar"

-Their use of Batman actors for code names: Jeff-Keaton, Britta-Clooney, Dean Pelton -Voice of Dietrich Bader.

-Dean taking out a whole elevator of custodians sent to take him out a la Captain America in The Winter Soldier

-LaPari mistakingly calling Abed Indian when he's actually Middle-Eastern (Funny because the same always happens to Kumail who is Pakistani)

-Yet another wonderful tag: Grin & Garrett: Monologues about Surviving Veni Vidi Vicki

Favorite Quotes from "Modern Espionage"

-Starburns: "I'm gonna go get a shovel, because theatre is dead!"

-Britta: "Did she break up with someone? Which gender? I don't care, but everybody else does."

-Abed: "Coloquialisms aside, Annie's right, the thing to hate this year is the game."

-Jeff: "If that means what i think it means, we're dealing with gibberish!"

-Dean: "But desperate deans call for deansperate measures."

-Jeff: "we need clean intelligence Abed, no refreneces, no call backs."

-Elroy: "Looks like we'll be renting formal wear." Dean: "I'll measure Jeffrey."

-Jeff: "Cover me." Dean: "Dreams do come true."

-Dean: "A cleaner Greendale, its like a healthier cigarette!"

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Make sure to leave your comments/favorite moments below, or tweet me at @k8linmilligan! I'll see you next time as I recap the newest episode of COMMUNITY, only on Yahoo! Screen!

Photos Courtesy of Yahoo!

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