Definitions: Redemption

I think a word may need redefining. I read multiple pre-air reviews for last night's episode of Community and a couple of them promised that those of us worried about Pierce and his downward trajectory (that would be me! See last week's post entitled "Community's Dark Turn") would greatly appreciate this week's mockumentary episode because it would "go a long way" towards redeeming Pierce. I was promised redemption, so before I declare absolutely whether or not it was delivered, let's share one of those really annoying definition moments that you find in high school valedictorian speeches.

Dictionary.com defines "redemption" as: 

1. An act of redeeming  or the state of being redeemed...

Ok, well that is less than helpful and the random underlining is annoying. Next!

2. deliverance; rescue...

Alright, let's use that one. Rescue. 

According to the reviews I read ahead of the airing of the episode (which I already promised I was going to stop doing, see "Expectations and the Greatest Game of Dungeons and Dragon Ever Played"), Pierce should be redeemed, or rescued, at least in part, during the episode. That was the one expectation I allowed myself to have going in, and the "at least in part" basically rendered even that one all but meaningless. Even a little upward movement would qualify as a satisfactory meeting of the expectation. 

What aired last night, though, was an episode full of Pierce's most cruel-hearted attention seeking stunts yet. He pitted the study groupers against themselves and each other and he faked his own death(bed) to make them feel sorry for him! It doesn't get any worse than that. In other words, Pierce hit rock bottom last night. So did he learn something? Was he rescued or redeemed at the end? Not really. 

When Pierce decides to call off his prank on Jeff, arguably the cruelest of his "bequeathments", he does so only out of concern for his own safety after Winger threatens to beat him should the town car supposedly carrying his father arrive with only disappointment. Which, to give Jeff some credit, is exactly what he does when that happens. When Shirley, Britta and Annie learn valuable lessons from their gifts, they have nothing to do with Pierce's intended consequences. And Troy never gets even a cathartic beat down or hidden life-lesson. He ends up with only awed disappointment. 

So where was the redemption? Well, because I was looking for it so hard, I noticed a brief moment during Annie's speech when she returns the tiara. Pierce's face showed a flash of recognition for his own mistakes, but then it was gone again. Even at the end of the episode, when everybody is peering through the window at the sleeping Jeff and Pierce, the study group finds themselves once again completely isolated from Pierce, both figuratively and literally. 

If the group is going to reconnect, Pierce has to genuinely repent for his misdeeds. I just don't see that coming. Yet. I hold out hope. Apparently though, "Televisionary" writer Jace Lacob doesn't think so. He provides a bit of meta-thinking on why Pierce's character has spiraled through the floor this season. If you're interested in a thought-provoking read, go ahead and follow this link.

Just for fun, here are the other 6 definitions of "redemption" found on dictionary.com.

3. Theology . deliverance from sin; salvation.
4. atonement for guilt.
5. repurchase, as of something sold.
6. paying off, as of a mortgage, bond, or note.
7. recovery by payment, as of something pledged.
8. conversion of paper money into specie.

Maybe those early reviews meant to use "redemption" in terms of definition number 5, with regards to the diamond tiara? Even that would be a stretch though.