Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking
| "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking" | |
|---|---|
| Community episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 16 |
| Directed by | Joe Russo |
| Written by | Megan Ganz |
| Production code | 215 |
| Original air date | February 17, 2011 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
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"Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking" is the 16th episode of the second season of Community. The episode originally aired on February 17, 2011 on NBC. In the episode, Pierce pretends to be dying after a drug overdose and takes psychological revenge on the rest of the study group for not taking him seriously. He stages a documentary with Abed and plays on the rest of the study group's sympathies by giving them gifts and promises that torments them with their insecurities.
The episode was written by Megan Ganz and directed by Joe Russo. It parodies mockumentary sitcoms such as The Office, Parks and Recreation and Modern Family. It was very well received by critics, and is regarded as one of the best episodes of the series.
Pierce (Chevy Chase) is found unconscious on a park bench after nearly overdosing on his painkiller medication and is admitted to a hospital. The study group rush to the hospital to be with him. He pretends he is dying and asks Abed (Danny Pudi) to film a documentary on the "final" moments of his life. Unbeknownst to them, the documentary is in fact revenge – in the form of psychological torture – on the rest of the group for not taking him seriously, with varying results.
Pierce summons each member of the group to his room one-by-one for his "bequeathals":
During Jeff's confrontation with Pierce outside the hospital, the group gathers round to stop Jeff. Pierce has an outburst where he chastises the group for not taking him seriously and neglecting him throughout the year, though Jeff points out that the whole episode has made the group's relationship with him worse.
Abed wraps up the documentary by pointing out that it was not as easy to make as he imagined it to be but finishes it off saying that the documentary format of storytelling works.
The episode was written by Megan Ganz, her second writing credit of the show. It was directed by executive producer Joe Russo, his 12th directing credit of the series.
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