Community "Paranormal Parentage" a little too normal

First published as Community "Paranormal Parentage" a little too normal on TheTVKing.

Two episodes into the fourth season of NBC's Community, and I still feel like something is a little off. The idea that the characters will spend the evening in Pierce's (Chevy Chase) haunted mansion in "Paranormal Parentage" is a solid one, and knowing that he tricks them into coming because he feels left out is obvious, but makes sense. Some of the things that happen during this adventure are great. Others fall a little flat.

For instance, why do we keep seeing shadowy figures following everyone around? We glimpse one behind Abed (Danny Pudi) in the control room, but neither Pierce nor Gilbert (Giancarlo Esposito), whom we learn to be creeping around the place, approaches Abed. Why not? And which one of them (I'm assuming Pierce) somehow manages to be seen in a costume of Pierce's dad behind Annie (Alison Brie), and then disappears by the time she turns around? And what happens to Jeff in the library? Is the liquor laced with something? Why does the episode tell us? Weak sauce.

I feel like Community is still reaching for the weird, but it's not landing in the same way it used to. All the ham jokes at Britta's (Gillian Jacobs) expense are great, and I love that Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) knows what Pierce's dungeon room is when Troy (Donald Glover) doesn't. I also greatly enjoy that Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) manages to match Jeff's (Joel McHale) costume, and that Abed brings up Cougar Town again.

I don't like that Abed completely ignores all the film-references ripe within a haunted house, and instead is simply excited to find Pierce's control room so that he can watch Cougar Town. Or the fact that Gilbert is secretly taking care of Pierce is explanation enough about why he is standing over Pierce in his sleep. Or that Pierce, old man that he is, is able to sneak around the house without being seen. How great would a few background shots of him tripping and almost getting caught be? Or being seen by a character or two who doesn't feel the need to expose his secret? Maybe everyone but Jeff?

Community is known for their Halloween episodes. If they can't deliver one of those, I worry about the rest of the season. I'm already mourning the loss of the best sitcom currently running on television.

Well, that's all I have to say about the episode specifically. On to some season- and series-long arc musings!

I do kind of like that Troy and Britta are dating this year, but I would like some more focus on it. It doesn't feel like it's quite working for me, and I want to see that. When they fall apart, I don't want it to seemingly come out of nowhere.  For fans to accept their inevitable breakup, we need to see why it can't work between them so that there is no doubt about the reasons they aren't together.

As much as I like Annie and Jeff as a pair, and I think that's the direction Community has been going in for awhile, I believe the show would be better served to have Jeff and Britta end up together. The scenes they have in "Paranormal Parentage," where she psychoanalyzes him and they bicker, is a great demonstration of the sizzling chemistry they possess. They won't ever be cuddle-on-the-couch sappy romantics together, but they have passion, and can push each other's buttons like an old married couple already. Wouldn't their union be a satisfying finale?

We all know that Chevy Chase is leaving the show. I see Pierce's departure going one of two ways. Most likely, his character will be killed off, which completely works on a number of levels, and would pay homage to the great Chevy Chase, the legendary comic actor who sort of withered away on a sitcom he never quite belonged on.

Or, hear me out, they should just replace him with Fred Willard and make no mention of the change. They could even adjust his personality, as Abed does in his head when imagining Fred as Pierce in the season premiere this year. Fred is fantastic in his own right, and could add something cool to the show. Plus, this opens up some possibilities and conspiracy theories about how much of what went on over the last four years is real. Since it is unlikely Community will last beyond this season anyway, and Chevy is staying through episode ten (or thirteen), it would be awesome to see an episode of two with Willard and a "normal" school, and then have the lid blown off the illusion in the series finale.

Just an idea. Feel free to use it. :)

Community airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.