User Reviews

What I've always admired about this show is the moments when it wasn't afraid to be serious, or tackle heavier subjects with its signature charm. When characters are given chances to really expand and be fleshed out. Most of the time (when it's not.... Chang) it's a pleasure to watch.

That is not the case here. Like the title suggests, this episode is really shallow. Sure we get to see Jeff reconcile with his father, and he's played by YET ANOTHER wasted cameo... this time from James Brolin. You'd expect him to be more like Jeff. But unfortunately, Jeff's dad is ultimately such a dry boring character it adds basically nothing to the overall episode.

I DID however enjoy the "Shawshank" style party going on in Shirley's garage with the rest of the group. It was simple, yet rich. It was one of the only moments thus far in the season where it looked like the show was having fun. But even that felt shallow, due to the show not committing as much as before. Seriously without Dan Harmon this show just feels sad.

The worst part of the episode by far was that painfully unfunny and terrible character played by Adam DeVine. I've never found him funny or entertaining so OF COURSE S4 would feature him as one of their cameos. Just to make matters worse. I understand the point of his character but it was painful to witness.

I think Britta should've been featured in the OTHER plot line. Rather than struggle to find a reason to be in the Jeff's Dad story. We could've had some nice moments between Jeff and his estranged father but unfortunately we got a boring family reunion episode.

Jeff finally meets his father played by James Brolin. Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations is emotionally wrought with Britta by Jeff's side. This episode does fine not as a season 4 episode but also as a whole.

I actually like season 4, having first watched it after the original run ended, so I came into season 4 having read much internet chatter about "reverse engineering" Harmon's success and so on.

Other than the scar that magically appeared on a part of Jeff already seen scarless dozens of times, the worst thing about this terrible episode is the crap about not being well adjusted. He deals with some of, with the possible exception of Troy and Annie, the most awful, self centered, ignorant people in television! Yet, after every betrayal, every selfish manipulation, crippling humiliation, personal and mental violation, the lies, abuse and constant dismissal of his actual thoughts and feelings for their own, he forgives them. He not just well adjusted, he's a saint. He would be phenomenally better off with as much time and space between him and his viscous abusers as possible.

Good casting and writing for Jeff's Dad, not particularly comical but you can see the effect he had on Jeff, with emotional pay off at the end

I must admit that Jeff's father finally being introduced on the show was a major disappointment in both the casting and how he was handled in such a boring and unfunny way. The other part of the episode with Thanksgiving at Shirley's was OK but not funny even with a Morgan Freeman voice-over provided by Abed explaining the roles they all had during the day. Back to Jeff and his father and why it was boring. Firstly they could have done so much with these two meeting other then have them sit down and talk with Britta dealing with the half-brother in the background. Shirley's family Thanksgiving was just plain and while some voice-over lines where funny overall they mostly fell flat and was overused as the group tried to escape from the day with everyone coming together at the end with a Thanksgiving together in Greendale.

EPISODE GRADE: C (MVP: Danny Pudi)