The episode is titled "Cooperative Polygraphy."
This one's a little less complex than last week's title - the study group (plus Jeff & Professor Hickey, who aren't really "studying", but whatever) is taking a polygraph test being administered prior to the reading of Pierce Hawthorne's will. So, I think we can assume they'll deal with the fallout of Pierce's death this episode (which was sorta a necessity, since Chevy Chase is LEGALLY BARRED FROM BEING ON THE SET EVER AGAIN).
The title's likely a take on season 2's Cooperative Calligraphy - a bottle episode that dug into the psychology, secrets, and relationships of the group. Here's one secret from the season 5 trailer!
The episode is written by newcomer Alex Rubens.
Rubens previously wrote for Key & Peele and Blake Shelton's Not-So-Family Christmas and pretend we didn't say anything after "Key & Peele."
Here's a little something to get you excited about tonight's episode of COMMUNITY! (This scene may have been cut.) pic.twitter.com/KKlm42UW8z
-- Alex Rubens (@atrubens) January 9, 2014
That explains why Blake Shelton's Christmas was Not-So-Family.
This is the official description from NBC:
A MYSTERIOUS TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS ARRIVES AT GREENDALE TO POLYGRAPH THE STUDY GROUP AFTER PIERCE HAWTHORNE'S UNTIMELY PASSING - WALTON GOGGINS GUEST STARS - After Pierce Hawthorne's (Chevy Chase) unexpected passing, a team of investigators headed by the no-nonsense Mr. Stone (guest star Walton Goggins, "Justified"), arrives at Greendale to submit the study group to lie detector tests before they can be considered for distributions under the will. Tensions mount as Mr. Stone digs in with the questions and the group members learn a little more about one another than they wished.
Probably pre-that gif from before.
Here's what they AREN'T telling you:
Apparently most (if not all) of the episode will be confined to the study room, although promo photos show the group going out for drinks with Mr. Stone and a proper Reformed Neo-Buddhism funeral, harkening back to Pierce's mother's funeral in season 2's The Psychology of Letting Go. So. Expect Pierce's life energy to be stored in a lava lamp.
Also, this is Donald Glover's 2nd to last episode as a regular on the show. Next week will be his final bow, Geothermal Escapism. Probably unrelated: Levar Burton is due to cameo at SOME point this season. HMMMMMM.
Here's what you should know about guest star Walton Goggins:
Oscar winner (for Best Live Action Short, but whatever) Walton Goggins is amazing. If you've seen The Shield, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, or pictures of his insane hairplugs, you already know this.
Pictured: A Frank Miller drawing come to terrifying life
Oh, and this is supposedly the best episode of the season so far:
"The loss of Pierce Hawthorne is not too deeply felt, partly because the show doesn't just sweep him under the rug. While there are plenty of jabs at some of the wackier plotlines of the fourth season ("Changnesia" is quickly put to bed), Harmon isn't one to let the loss of Chase go to waste, and makes it the focus of the fourth episode of the season, "Cooperative Polygraphy," easily the best of the batch provided to critics." - The A.V. Club
"...the fourth episode again proves just how much comic and emotional value there is in placing these characters in one room together to see what happens." - HitFix
Even notoriously self-loathing, overly self-critical pessimist Dan Harmon thinks you'll like it:
In a good mood tonight. I already know you're going to love tomorrow's Community and the rest of Rick and Morty will tickle you senseless.
-- Dan Harmon (@danharmon) January 16, 2014
