The Committee is planning an alumni dance, which is going pretty disastrously, since half their alumni appear to be incarcerated. They're also planning a city council meeting, but this has been foiled by Chang's disastrous ineptitude at PowerPoint. Exasperated with them all, Frankie turns to her latest pet project - guerrilla marketing. Specifically, she's worried about its use by rival schools, and wants everyone to be vigilant for examples. Abed, of course, mistakes this for the giant apes. Annie is concerned about the ethics of this sort of advertising (heh), and of course you have to look carefully, because this episode will definitely have examples. The Dean arrives, having clearly fallen prey to the tactic already - Honda Fit forever!

Meanwhile, Annie's concerned that Elroy doesn't seem to like them, though I would argue it's just your usual Resting Bitch Face. Chang isn't sure what Elroy's "role is" (ie which character he's replacing), and Abed is still deeply grieving Troy's departure (aren't we all). Frankie, callously, asks what makes Troy so special and why they like him so much. Jeff gives her a bullshit answer (which she falls for). She leaves abruptly, confusing them all. Chang, on a belated gag from his Powerpoint presentation, smashes an egg on the table. Opening credits.

Annie asks Britta about Subway, her ex-boyfriend/a human incarnation of the fast food chain of the same name. Britta is still traumatized by the relationship's end, which is why Annie has come to warn her that Subway has apparently returned. She is in the parking lot in five seconds flat. Subway, who looks like Jeff with a beard, has now gone back to being called Rick, though he still talks like he's in an advertisement. Britta delivers an impressive slap to the face - no, three - for breaking her heart. He explains that he's been gone this long so that he could win his freedom from the corporation and return to his beloved Britta. The Dean arrives in his Honda Fit, whereupon Rick immediately begins shilling the virtues of his own car. Britta is immediately suspicious.

Turns out he's gone into marketing for Honda, but he thinks it's totally different, since he has a beard and name. The principled Britta storms off - but gets hooked into a sales pitch/sex in the back of an SUV anyway. Smooth, Rick.

Annie and Abed invite Elroy to join a Game Night as part of their "Please Like Us" campaign. The game is ear-based and looks terrible. Jeff scorns this endeavour, claiming that it should be more organic in nature, and also involve copious amounts of alcohol. Annie sticks her tongue out at him and scuttles away.

Britta and Rick have enjoyed their little reunion, but now things are getting serious. She maintains that she wants a proper relationship, not one controlled by corporate interests. He says the restrictions will be few and unobtrusive. The Dean keeps hammering on the window asking questions about Hondas. Rick goes out to investigate and finds that the Dean has purchased several new vehicles. Guerrilla advertising, it really works. Even the corporate shill has to suggest that he back off a little.

Jeff hears raucous noise coming from the study room, and discovers that the whole group (including Elroy) loves the ear-based board game. However, once Jeff arrives, Elroy decides to leave. So - maybe he just doesn't like Jeff?

...and in fact Abed says the same thing two minutes later. They go back to the ear game while Jeff wonders.

Britta serves a mysterious customer at the bar, who is soon revealed to be a corporate executive pulling Rick's proverbial strings. They offer her an alternative - if she and Rick work as a couple selling things, then they will be able to have a public relationship. However, this goes against Britta's principles, so she declines. They convince her that she's a born saleswoman. Between this and her lingering feelings for Rick, Britta gives in. Nooooo Britta stay strong.

And so they run around the school holding hands and trapping acquaintances into their sales pitch. Bad luck, Todd. The two are more in love than ever, with both themselves and Honda.

...meanwhile, sometime in the 1960's, Don Draper awakens with an idea.

(Okay, I may have added that last part.)

A few tables away, the study group laughs at Britta and Rick's ridiculous shenanigans, and Elroy once again makes an excuse to leave when Jeff arrives. His friends claim it's because he won't open up; Jeff just rolls his eyes.

Frankie walks in on the Dean's office, now overflowing with Honda merchandise. Frankie immediately figures out what's going on, and though flabbergasted, you know she's going to put a stop to it. She also keeps accidentally insulting the Dean, which does not exactly help matters. The situation winds up in a cry-hug.

Britta brings Rick home to meet her parents, which utterly delights them. Of course, in seconds they are pitching Honda. Amazingly, they fall for it. This is a step too far for Britta, especially when she has to pretend she likes Avatar as part of it.

The dance is going along smoothly, as well as the planned "degree raffle" to accompany it. Jeff announces that he's hired Elroy's favourite band, Natalie is Freezing, as the main act. Elroy goes berserk, accusing Jeff of kissing up to him. He will never like Jeff. End of story. On the way home, Britta and Rick argue about their public face/having to wear it all the time, even with their loved ones. She demands to be let out of the car and tells him that the relationship they have now is totally fake.

Later, at the bar, she finds herself serving Elroy. Over a g&t, they discuss their various problems. Britta wonders why he's not more excited about Natalie is Freezing. Elroy admits he used to date the lead singer, Julie, and it ended badly. While Britta's going on about opening up to people, Rick shows up and begs Britta to take him back, even offering to quit his job for her. She awkwardly climbs over the bar and they reconcile. Elroy watches them leave with a wry look.

At the dance, Rick overhears that the Dean is considering buying a fleet of vehicles and wants to go for one last sale. Britta tries to talk him out of it. She elects to stay behind, and they sadly part, irreconcilable in the face of Honda.

Elroy goes backstage and confronts Julie for ruining his ability to have a relationship. She is almost completely indifferent. Walking out, Elroy runs into Jeff, who begs him to like him. They hug it out. Elroy now loves everyone. Or at least he can.

Britta goes looking for Rick and finds Frankie with Security. They kick him off campus. Rick's boss tells her that he will never be back, and offers her a job with the company. Needless to say, she is beyond uninterested. The dance goes on without a hitch, and Frankie is even brought in as a temporary drummer for the band. As he drives home, Rick cries all over his Honda. D'awww.

Tag scene - Britta and her parents play the ear game, but the Perrys don't quite get it. This drives Britta crazy. Then they get the hang of it and it's even worse.

There were exactly two highlights to this episode - Elroy's personal journey, and the Dean's strange Honda obsession, mostly due to the extreme talent of Jim Rash. Other than that - well, you know how I always complain when the Greendale-verse gets hung up on its own mythology? I'm going to complain again. Did we need another Subway episode? Was this character even interesting the first time? So in the end, yeah, the episode did lose its way a bit. However, though not a classic outing, it wasn't really a disaster. Up your game, guys!

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