So, last week I was pretty harsh with the pilot of Community. I decided to give the show another shot, if only because it wasn't awful, just a bit middling. Tonight's episode fared a lot better, so I'll be sticking around for a few more weeks to see if the quality continues to improve. I suppose it's just an issue of a series finding its tone. Community still has a ways to go, but the picture grew considerably clearer with "Spanish 101".

Most network comedies settle into a formula, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Take, for instance, Better Off Ted, a show I thought I had a rocky start until it proved to be brilliant a few episodes into its stunted first season. BoT gives an A-plot to its title character, splices in an amusing but tangential B-plot to super-nerd scientists Phil and Lem, then passes off interstitial duties to a reliable cluster of minor characters. It's a formula, but it works. Tonight I felt like Community gave us glimpses of its own formula and I think it might just work.

Our central characters are certainly Jeff and Britta, which is reassuring considering how easy it would be to turn Britta into the straightwoman love interest, which was basically her role in the pilot. "Spanish 101" did a good job of knocking her down a peg and fleshing out her character. Her off-hand comment to Shirley and Annie about social injustice in Guatemala resulted in an absurd campus political demonstration. When Britta tries to pull the plug, she realizes that she's never actually tried to do anything important, even if it means doing it wrong. It was a smart move to relieve Britta of her smugness. Maybe now she'll be free to engage in some silliness.

As for Jeff, he gets stuck doing a small Spanish assignment with Pierce that quickly escalates into a drunken brainstorming session that has nothing to do with where one might find the library in a Hispanophone country. Amid much flabbergast and dry jokes, Jeff learns a questionably valuable lesson about friendship. I guess. Community does better with cynicism and meta-humor than it does with heart.

This episode also introduced us to Ken Jeong's character, Spanish professor Senor Chang. Jeong has been bouncing around scene-stealing bit parts for several years now, perfecting his particular brand of angry humor. He was pretty amazing in his premiere tonight, just more proof that Community needs its teeth more than its valuable lessons.

Best Moment: The long string of meta jokes in the opening scene. Abed undercutting the entire setup was nice, but the study group's subtly surreal affection for Jeff was just too smart for a show like this.

Biggest Laugh: Senor Chang's monologue about the frustrations of being an Asian Spanish teacher. Bite your face off, indeed. It seemed a little strange for him to make this speech three weeks into the semester, but whatever.

Episode Rating: 3.5/5- I liked this episode more than the pilot on a fundamental level, if not in the final product. Last week was disappointing, but this week proves the show has potential. I'm going along for the ride.