*** Welcome to piglix ***

Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations

"Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations"
Community episode
Episode no. Season 4
Episode 5
Directed by Tristram Shapeero
Written by Steve Basilone
Annie Mebane
Production code 405
Original air date March 7, 2013 (2013-03-07)
Guest appearance(s)
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Alternative History of the German Invasion"
Next →
"Advanced Documentary Filmmaking"
List of Community episodes

"Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations" is the fifth episode of the fourth season of the NBC sitcom Community, which originally aired on March 7, 2013. The episode was written by Steve Basilone and Annie Mebane, and directed by Tristram Shapeero. The episode serves as a resolution to Jeff Winger's troubled history with his father. James Brolin guest-stars as William Winger Sr., Jeff's father. Adam DeVine also guest-stars as William Winger Jr., Jeff's half-brother.

During Thanksgiving, Jeff decides to call off plans to visit his father, William Winger Sr. However, Britta forces Jeff to travel to William's house and share Thanksgiving dinner with him after traveling there on her own. Jeff seems surprised to learn that he and William Sr. are quite similar. Jeff also meets his half-brother, William Jr. (Adam Devine), who behaves erratically and fears that Jeff will "replace" him in his father's eyes.

Pierce, Annie, Troy and Abed decide to spend Thanksgiving with Shirley's family. They grow increasingly frustrated by her extended family's behavior and quarantine themselves into her garage. Abed begins to see the situation as reminiscent of The Shawshank Redemption, and begins to narrate the story in a similar fashion to Morgan Freeman's narration in the film.

After spending time catching up, Jeff is taken aback by a comment William Sr. makes, suggesting that leaving Jeff and his mother behind was good for Jeff in the long run, as he is not as emotional or dependent as William Jr. Jeff lets his father know how much this statement offends him. Jeff later confesses that he faked appendicitis while in grade school to gain sympathy from his classmates to cope with his abandonment issues after William Sr. left. He even went so far as to cut himself to simulate an appendectomy scar in order to give proof of his lie. Jeff admits that to this day, he still keeps all of the "Get Well Soon" cards his classmates gave him, as proof that people do care about him.


...
Wikipedia

...