Community is not your typical sitcom, seemingly normal at glance but hiding a warm gooey center that includes a ventilation shaft dwelling monkey named Annie's Boobs. The humor in Community stretches from ludicrously absurd, hilariously racist, uncomfortably awkward, wildly random and even surprisingly poignant. Community gets away with a lot of insanity because it has a big heart whether for its lovable characters, general pop culture or even weird twisted sense of humor. Community is one of the few shows on television that is actually funny, like legitimately funny. Its absurdity and brazenness allows it to mine jokes from places other shows wouldn't dare attempt including but not limited to alternate universes, dungeons & dragons, paintball massacres, pan-sexual principle, and a character with Aspergers. But Community thrives on the genius minds and massive cojones of its writers and talented cast.
"Digital Estate Planning" (5 out of 5)
Community has done visual gimmicky episodes in the past, with the clay-mation Christmas episode but "Digital Estate Planning" attention to detail and hilarious dissection of videogame tropes makes it an instant classic. Though wildly out of place falling in between the Greendale Seven's expulsion and the actual finale its easily forgiven for its clear loving lampooning of videogame culture. Whoever worked on the visuals for this episode deserves most of the credit, the attention to detail, the visual gags, and the inside humor was all spot on. The videogame designed by Pierce's blatantly racist father is stuffed to the brim with culture insensitivities and yet is surprisingly in-depth and the groups exploration of these two aspects are where the laughs originate. Troy constantly jumping around in the background, Abed falling in love with an NPC, even the nods to particular videogames from graphics to sound everything is handled with an obvious affection by writers and actors who clearly know and love the same pop-culture as its audience. The cameo from Breaking Bad baddie Giancarlo Esposito was also a fun if hamfisted addition.
"The First Chang Dynasty" (5 out of 5)
"The First Chang Dynasty" did two things exceedingly well, watching Chang's insanity come to fruition and a wonderful riff on heist movie style and cliche. Chang's Greendale is about as insane as I could have hoped, thrones and tiger statues, pre-pubescent security and keytar solos. Mix the insanity with another in a long line of Community cinematic homages and you've got another classic episode. The Ocean Eleven references were on in full effect, and watching the study group fill the standard heist rolls was great. As usual Troy and Abed were gold as fast talking plumbers and even the Dean who is holed up most of the episode shines when he gives is response for retaking his position at the school. The thing that I have always respected about Community is its respect for whatever happens to be the butt of the joke each episode, they don't simply point and laugh, the jokes come from personal experience and even unadulterated adoration. The heist spoof goes as far as to riff on typical heist editing style, the plan being explained while simultaneously being executed and even the surprise twist ending that doesn't go as planned. The end was fitting bringing back the season long plot of the air-conditioning repair school courting Troy to join their program in exchange for their help in part of the heist.
"Introduction to Finality" (2 out of 5)
This episode was boring, there I said it, I mean wow, after the two previous absolute killer episodes the actual final episode was a major letdown. While it wrapped up season long threads including Troy's trail and tribulations with the air-conditioning repair school as well as the evil Abed from the alternate timeline. It all just felt lacking, and the sidebar *pun intended* of the courtroom storyline felt forced and only lead to the now tepid and predictable Jeff motivational speech. What this episode lacked in innovation or interesting plot it made up for in generally great Community humor and a nice montage that could have served as a series finale wrap up. Though since getting a 13 episode fourth season it now seems out of place. Overall Community overcame its hiatus and season long high-wire balance between renewal and cancellation with its strongest season yet. #6SeasonsAndAMovie
BREAKING NEWS: BEEP ... BEEP BEEP BEEP... BEEP
I am receiving confirmed reports that Dan Harmon, creator of Community has been fired by Sony(the rights holders of the show). Sony has appointed two new "who-gives-a-fucks" to head up as showrunners for the upcoming fourth season. Sony has not released a full press-release and Dan Harmon has since had to respond in a non-official capacity on his blog which you can read here: (Dan Harmon: "Hey, Did I Miss Anything?" ) This does not bode well for the critically beloved show and its devoted fan following. Dan Harmon was an integral part of the show as it exists, sorry existed, his demented mind touched every script and his influence made Community the ridiculously absurd show we all knew and loved. It remains to be seen how this will effect the show moving forward into next season, but rest assured Community will not be the same.
P.S. <FUCK YOU, SONY>
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