Plot
In the study room, the Save Greendale Committee are going over plans with Annie and Abed about the upcoming alumni dance. The meeting continues with Chang's lousy Power Point presentation and is followed by Frankie's lecture about "Guerrilla Marketing". She explains it's a sales technique which now seems to be a problem at Greendale. This is evidenced by Dean Pelton who announces to everyone his sudden need to buy a Honda. Once the meeting is over, Elroy leaves immediately and Chang suggests it's because he hasn't found his role in the group yet. This leads to everyone commenting on how much they miss Troy. Frankie asks what was so special about him and Jeff lies by telling her he played the steel drums. Later in the hallway, Annie warns Britta that she saw her old boyfriend in the schools parking lot.
Britta immediately rushes off to see him and finds that he's still a corporate tool except this time he's working for Honda. He cuts short a presentation he was giving and reintroduces himself to Britta as "Rick". Although he claims to be here for her she realizes his main purpose is sell his company's brand. Britta watches as Rick convinces Dean Pelton to upgrade a new Honda he bought for a more expensive vehicle. Despite her , she accepts his offer to join him in the backseat of his car. Over at Jeff's office, Annie and Abed tell Jeff that Elroy accepted thier invitation to game night. Back in the parking lot, Rick and Britta's afterglow is interrupted by Dean Pelton. Rick asks Britta to hide while he deals with Craig who just made multiple Honda purchases.
While Rick is distracted by the "level seven susceptible", Britta exits the car and storms off. Over in the study room Jeff finds Annie, Abed and Chang playing a spirited game and enjoying each other's company. Elroy leaves upon his arrival which Chang points out and has Abed speculating that he doesn't like Jeff. At "The Vatican", Britta is tending bar when a customer shows up. She convinces him to buy some scotch only to learn he's in cahoots with Rick who enters the bar. Rick introduces his boss and proposes that Britta becomes his partner in marketing Honda. Even though this will allow them to be a couple in public Britta is reluctant to force people to buy unnecessary things. Ricks boss points out she already does this by bringing up the scotch Britta got him to buy. Britta accepts their offer and seals the deal by kissing Rick.
The next day the new official couple are in the cafeteria and together convince Todd to consider buying a Honda. Annie, Abed, Chang and Elroy were seated at a table nearby watching the pair in amusement. Jeff attempted to join them which seemed to prompt Elroy to want to leave. Before he went, Abed gave Elroy an exclusive CD of his favorite band "Natalie Is Freezing", something Jeff makes sure to remember. Elsewhere, Frankie stops by Dean Pelton's office and finds him surrounded by an overwhelming amount of Honda products. Once Frankie scolds Pelton for his gullibility he breaks down crying and she tries to comfort him. That night, Britta brings Rick over to her parents house for dinner. Things go well until Rick starts trying to covertly sell George and Deb on Honda vehicles.
Back at school, the committe is finishing the Alumni dance decorations in the cafeteria. Jeff shows up and announces he just booked the band "Natalie is Freezing" for the event which infuriates Elroy. He calls Jeff out on his obvious attempts to win his favor and leaves just as the band arrives. Meanwhile, Britta and Rick argue as they drive home from her parents house. She's upset he's always on the job and he's frustrated she can't understand that's who he is. Britta demands to be let out of the car and finds her way back to the Vatican for another shift. Elroy unexpectedly shows up at the bar and tells her their favorite band is playing at the dance. He reveals he had a relationship with the lead singer Julie which ended badly. Because she messed him up he's had trouble letting people in. Britta tells him eventually he has to open himself up to others.
Rick suddenly appears and declares that he'll give up his job for Britta. The two of them go to the dance where Rick overhears Frankie mentioning the Dean wanting to buy a fleet of vehicles for the athletics department. Britta pleads with him to let it go but Rick leaves to do one last big score. Elsewhere, Elroy finds Julie with her band in the Student lounge and finds closure when he tells her how much she hurt him. He also makes up with Jeff and tells him they are going to be good friends. Meanwhile, Britta finds out Rick was set up by Craig and Frankie. Rick apologizes as is he is escorted off campus by security. Rick's Honda boss appears and tries to comfort her only to fail miserably. Afterwards, the committee is attending the "Natalie is Freezing" concert and are surprised to see Frankie playing with the band on steel drums.
End tag
Recurring themes
Continuity
- Returning students:
- This episode features the return of Subway (aka "Rick").
- Leonard Rodriguez and Todd Jacobson also return.
- Familiar face:
- Actor Billy Zane appears as Rick's boss at Honda.
- Musician Lisa Loeb appears as the lead singer of "Natalie is Freezing".
- Actors Martin Mull and Lesley Anne Warren return as Britta's parents, George and Deb Perry.
- A nice gesture: Annie and Abed try out a new version of their handshake.
- Previously: Britta directly mentions hallucinating one of Natalie Is Freezing's music videos in Elroy's RV (Basic Crisis Room Decorum).
- School Song: Natalie Is Freezing give a live performance of "Pillar of Garbage".
- This must be the place: Group Study Room F, The Vatican, and Goerge and Deb's residence is seen again.
Running gags
- Deanotation: In the parking lot, Dean Pelton says "Dean" when he pushes the horn of his new Honda.
Pop culture references
- IMDb:
- Britta and Rick disagree on the quality of Avatar.
- However, Britta and Rick both love Chariots of Fire, with Rick even alluding to one of the movie's lines: "When I run, I feel His [God's] Pleasure."
- Use your allusion: Britta, Rick and Todd discuss going antiquing in a Honda, which comes from a 2015 commercial for Honda Fit. It's one of the commercials shown when watching Community on Yahoo Screen.
- Product placement: The entire episode features many Honda products.
Meta references
- IRL: The frontwoman of alternative band Natalie Is Freezing, Julie, is played by '90s alternative rock singer Lisa Loeb.
Trivia
| In the episode Jeffs line about Troy playing the steel drums is clearly dubbed. On his Twitter account, Community creator Dan Harmon admitted the line was originally "kettle drums" and only realized the object in question was actually steel drums after filming was done. You can read the explanation HERE.
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| Season Six Episodes | ||
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1. "Ladders" |
8. "Intro to Recycled Cinema" |
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| Season One • Season Two • Season Three • Season Four • Season Five • Season Six | ||
