Shirley Bennett/Jeff Winger
| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Shirley Bennett/Jeff Winger |
| Alternative name(s): | Jeffshirley |
| Gender category: | Het |
| Fandom: | Community (TV series) |
| Canonical?: | no |
| Prevalence: | Rare |
| Archives: | |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Shirley/Jeff is a Het rarepair in the Community fandom.
In Canon
As members of the Study Group, Shirley and Jeff interact often, but they are only occasionally paired up for plot lines. They are prone to gossip whenever they get together, such as when they habitually make fun of Britta's boyfriend.[1] Though they are much closer in age than Jeff is to Britta or Annie, he often gets seen as a sexual prospect in the group whereas Shirley, as a mother and divorcée, rarely gets the same attention. They tend to bring out each other's competitive and petty sides, such as when Jeff accidentally-on-purpose excludes Shirley from group activities and it escalates to Jeff exposing Shirley's fake niceness and destroying her social standing.[2] It is revealed this partially stems from the fact that unbeknownst to them, they were rivals as children and Shirley made Jeff pee himself in public, humiliating him.[3]
In Fandom
Shirley/Jeff is a rarepair, and yet it is the Shirley pairing with the most fic on AO3 as of 20 June 2023, at 22[4], more than for her canonical relationship with Andre Bennett. This is partially due to the fact Shirley is generally not included in fic, and when she is she is rarely at the centre or paired off. Even then, a substantial portion of Shirley/Jeff fic feature Jeff getting intimate with everyone, not just her. Nevertheless, their canon interactions and their similar ages can make this pairing attractive for those who want to pair Shirley with someone. In a panel interview, Joel McHale once said, in response to a question about shipping, "I'm just offended that no one thinks that Jeff and Shirley should be together," to which Yvette Nicole Brown added, "I am too."[5]
Notable Fanworks
fanfiction
- Seize the Day, by clio_jlh
- Serious Relationships 101, by lynabelle
- you don't have to call me lieutenant (and i don't want to be your son), by Neigedens
Resources
References
- ^ "Social Psychology." Community Season 1, Episode 4, 8 Oct. 2009.
- ^ "App Development and Condiments." Community, Season 5, Episode 8, 6 Mar. 2014.
- ^ "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism." Community, Season 3, Episode 9, 1 Dec. 2011.
- ^ https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Shirley%20Bennett*s*Jeff%20Winger/works
- ^ Paleyfest LA, 2011. https://www.tumblr.com/vampiregrrrlll/709463348868235264/found-this-clip-and-thought-id-share-it-for-you?source=share