“Boiling water is the icicle-stabbing of yam-killing.” – Jeff
I don’t know if it speaks to my personal tastes, or to the impact of the plot device, but all of my favorite television shows boast a significant body count – including the comedies. Not large, mind you, but significant. It was unavoidable on Scrubs, taking place in a hospital, but throughout “Basic Lupine Urology” we are shown that the inevitable character death is entirely preventable, which will undoubtedly come to haunt our favorite study group.
The apparent sabotage of their biology project provides the springboard for Troy and Abed to lead a Law & Order-inspired investigation so that Jeff and Annie can convince Professor Kane (guest star Michael K. Williams) that they still deserve a good grade. The suspicious circumstances surrounding the murder of Pam the Yam ultimately reveal a more sinister conspiracy being undertaken by one of Greendale’s students, though it raises little concern compared to the matter at hand.
Instead of confronting Star-Burns over the stolen biology equipment being used for a meth lab in the trunk of his car, Abed gives Troy the go-ahead to pinky-swear themselves to secrecy, hinging on the information he has about the smashed yam. In their minds, the real culprit is the hated, gentle war-hero, Todd, who was seen fleeing the scene. Although he might have dropped the jar containing the yam, someone heated the water it was growing in, which Jeff catches during Todd’s testimony.
When Todd’s commanding officer (guest Michael Ironside) arrives from the army to defend him in the not-trial against not-prosecutors Jeff and Annie, Star-Burns flees for the final time. Jeff manages to conclude that Neil was actually boiling everyone else’s water in order to afford Vicki the passing grade needed for his plan to woo her over the summer outside of school – a misguided romantic gesture, what a surprise – thereby causing Todd to drop the softened sweet-potato. The study group ultimately gets their passing grade, but at a greater cost than some spoiled yams.
“My name is Alex” Star-Burns was more of a growing prop than a secondary character. Adding a top-hat and a lizard to his namesake facial-hair certainly made him more noticeable, but no deeper of a character. At least to the study group. Lest we forget, Starburns was part of the “cool” study group with Owen Wilson and Jack Black, he sold marijuana – possibly to Britta – and he leaves behind a son following his demise. Rest in peace, Alex: every star burns brightest in a meth-lab explosion.
Sorry, it needed to be said.
Some stats and info about Community, “Basic Lupine Urology”
TV SHOW – Community
SEASON/EPISODE – Season 3, Episode 17
AIRED ON – April 26th, 2012
NETWORK/STREAMING SERVICE – NBC/Yahoo! Screen
GENRE – Comedy, College Shows
CREATED BY – Dan Harmon
CAST – Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Donald Glover, Chevy Chase, Gillian Jacobs, Alison Brie, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ken Jeong, Jim Rash
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.