Visiting ATLANTA

Article first published as ATLANTA Review on Seat42F.

The next half-hour sitcom (and I use the term sitcom very loosely here) to hit FX is going to feel different than what most audiences are used to (although that in of itself shouldn’t be surprising to anyone familiar with the network). Called ATLANTA, it follows a couple of cousins struggling in a poor neighborhood in the titular city, hoping for their turn at fame and fortune, or maybe just to not get shot. It’s a grim, subtle, and well-made series from a perspective that isn’t shown a lot.

Creator Donald Glover (Community) stars as Earnest “Earn” Marks, an essentially homeless young man with a baby girl. While Earn is involved in the child’s life, mother Van (Zazie Beetz, Applesauce) is the primary caregiver, especially when Earn is sleeping in a dumpster.

One might think Earn should go his family for help, but he’s sort of the outcast in the clan. When we see Earn’s relations, they are usually bad-mouthing Earn, disappointed in what he’s done so far in life. Earn is in a very familiar extended adolescence, along the lines of what we see on HBO’s Girls, but without the parental safety net to pay his rent and make sure he gets to eat. Earn’s life is hard, and it’s on him to figure it out, which he genuinely is trying to do, at least a bit.

Earn’s first possible break comes when he realizes his drug-dealing cousin, Alfred (Brian Tyree Henry, Vice Principals), can rap, releasing a self-made video under the alias Paper Boi, which also doubles as a hit song title. Hitching his wagon to Alfred, Earn’s first obstacle is convincing his cousin to let him get involved, no easy task. But viewers will quickly understand that Earn and Alfred are at the center of ATLANTA, and so they must work together, whether they want to or not.

The cinematography and location shooting for ATLANTA is excellent. One thing that will strike audiences right away is how good this thing looks. Just because the story takes place in a shabby neighborhood doesn’t mean the film must be shabby, and the artistic vision allows us to see the dim reality even more clearly because of the masterful way in which it’s presented.

The humor is sometimes obvious, but there are plenty of scenes that won’t elicit audible laughs. It’s not because ATLANTA isn’t funny, but because the material isn’t cheap. There are some LOL-worthy moments, such as when a white friend of Earn’s won’t use the n-word in front of Alfred, although he freely tosses it around when speaking with Earn. But this is the exception rather than the rule, making this much more of a dramedy than a traditional sitcom.

Now, ATLANTA won’t be for everyone. I’m not even really sure it’s for me. I didn’t relate to the world shown, even as I sympathized with the struggles. But even for someone who isn’t signing up to be a weekly viewer, the quality comes through. I cannot help but respect what Glover has done here, and acknowledge that this show is filling a gap that is glaring on television. Glover may not want the series to be important, but it is, and should be seen, or at least made available to see.

You should give ATLANTA a chance. You may like it, you may not. But if you don’t, it won’t be because the show is bad or the story is full of plot holes. Few series make it to air as finely polished and as interestingly original as this one.

ATLANTA premieres Tuesday, September 6th at 10/9c on FX.

"Emotional Consequences" of Watching COMMUNITY

Article originally published as TV Review: 'Community' Series Finale - "Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television" on Blogcritics.

Community wraps up its sixth (and probably final) season today with “Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television” on Yahoo! Screen, posted now. The school year has ended and Elroy (Keith David) reveals he has a job elsewhere, leaving Greendale behind, maybe for good. His departure, combined with other early reveals, sparks other members of the Save Greendale Committee, especially Jeff (Joel McHale), to wonder if their time together is over or close to it.

I absolutely adore Community, but I’m not sad if this is their final season. I will miss it ferociously, but it’s had a very good, almost entirely solid (*cough* season four *cough*) run, and it has fulfilled the ‘six seasons’ part of its popular hashtag, #sixseasonsandamovie. To me, that feels like a very natural end, especially in the way this episode is presented.

Jeff is the one who is most against the group forming in the beginning, but he’s also the one who needs it the most. While others have lives outside of their troupe, evidenced by how, one by one, they’ve all just faded away, Jeff does not. He is in a terrible place when he comes to Greendale, a broken, directionless man. As he says in “Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television,” these people literally saved his life.

It’s not natural for most people to remain stagnant, though, which has been a major theme of season six. As much as Jeff might want to hold the status quo in stasis, no one else spends their life at a community college in this manner, nor do they want to. They came to Greendale to improve themselves and move on. That’s the fate of all of them, and by the end of this episode, Annie (Alison Brie) is heading to an internship in New York and Abed (Danny Pudi) has a job in L.A., removing two more of the original crew.

Much of this half hour is given over to each individual, Annie, Abed, Jeff, Britta (Gillian Jacobs), Chang (Ken Jeong), Frankie (Paget Brewster), and The Dean (Jim Rash), relating their pitch for a seventh “season,” using Abed’s frame of reference. This results in some fun cut-scenes that highlight the personalities of each member, as well as gives us another glimpse of Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), who departed at the start of the season. Jeff is the only one, though, that seems truly bothered that this is merely a thought exercise and not what is going to happen.

Eventually, Jeff does have to be happy for his friends and accept that they are leaving. Even Annie, whom he briefly wonders if he should marry and start a family with, even though they couldn’t make their relationship work in the past, isn’t destined to stay by Jeff’s side, though they have a wonderful goodbye kiss. That should satisfy most fans, even the shippers.

As “Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television” closes, the remaining five share a toast. It will never be the same, and those left behind are the ones that haven’t grown enough to leave yet. But eventually they might, following in their friends’ footsteps. It’s this hopeful note, combined with the knowledge that Greendale is not inescapable, that gives peace of mind to the viewer.

Oh, and did I mention the episode was funny and meta, too, serving Community well? From finally finding out who the ass crack bandit is, to Chang farting through the fourth ‘cool,’ to Jeff’s glimpse of being at the study table with a bunch of the second-string recurring cast members, and a black screen that said #AndAMovie, there were answers and references left and right. We may not have figured out Frankie’s sexuality, but you gotta leave something for the film, which she deserves to be a part of as much as the original cast, more so than most of those that have come and gone from the table because of the way she so effortlessly slides in and feels like she’s always been there.

Too bad Community screws up the landing slightly with the board game tag. I’m not saying the story should have forced a joke at the end, and barring Troy and Abed being reunited or a movie tease, I don’t know what else could possibly go there. But as has happened repeatedly this season, the tag takes us out of the show. The sort-of-rant (from? about?) Dan Harmon almost saves it, but not quite. I’d rather the series went out without a tag than to use this one.

Still, there’s no denying the impact Community has had on me, nor the almost-perfect sense of closure “Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television” leaves me with. I’ll be ever grateful for Dan Harmon’s brilliant mind and the fantastic way he ends his genius work.

Now, let’s get started on that movie, whether it’s studio-financed or Kickstarter-ed! (I really, really hope everyone has to band together to save Troy and LeVar Burton from the pirates!)

Abed Resorts to "Escapism" in COMMUNITY

Article first published as Abed Resorts to "Escapism" in COMMUNITY on TheTVKing.

The most recent installment of NBC's Community, "Geothermal Escapism," follows in the proud tradition of episodes such as the paintball wars and the pillow fort, turning the community college into a battleground where a hyper reality can play out. It brings some new, creative adaptations to sets, specific terminology to the situation, and some dramatic moments as friends and colleagues die in the lava that everyone pretends the floors of Greendale have morphed into. It's nothing short of fantastic.

The costumes, too, match this futuristic, post-apocalyptic landscape. From Britta's (Gillian Jacobs) black leather and frizzy hair to Shirley's (Yvette Nicole Brown) religious leader robes to Buzz Hickey's (Jonathan Banks) machine that seems to be a part of himself, the references are clear and the tone is firmly set. Chang (Ken Jeong) and his "locker boy" followers are entertaining, and most of the recurring players show up for at least one fun line. It's a total immersion in this new world.

My only real complaint is that the Dean (Jim Rash) disappears early in the episode, and we never seen him participating in the game. One must assume that there is a deleted scene somewhere, and with all of the things that must be served in the half hour, especially the Troy / Abed / Britta plot, there just wasn't room for him. Too bad. He's a character who consistently delivers, and rarely gets too heavily involved in these weird excursions.

"Geothermal Escapism" does make room to show Jeff (Joel McHale) and Annie (Alison Brie) teaming up once more. Is this a sign that they may be sleeping together again? Or forming a real relationship? Or do they just enjoy their games, and haven't been able to make a real commitment to one another yet?

Most importantly, "Geothermal Escapism," is the last one for the character of Troy (Donald Glover). A member of the study group from the beginning, Troy sets sail around the world to fulfill the terms of the inheritance bequeathed to him by Pierce. But before he can depart, his best friend, Abed (Danny Pudi), must let go, something easier said than done

Abed and Troy's friendship has been such an essential part of Community that it's hard to imagine what the show will be like without it. Will someone else replace Troy as Abed's bestie, or will Abed now be alone, as no one else understands him? Will it feel like an essential element of the series is missing, or will this finally give Abed the room he needs to grow and develop?

Abed is an emotionally stunted individual, and so dealing with the strong feelings of grief he has over losing Troy are not something he is equipped to do. As so often has been the case, Abed chooses to ignore reality, putting himself in a fantasy world, hoping that will give him the context he needs to process his sorrow. And, as has happened before, Abed drags the whole school down the rabbit hole with him.

With Abed broken again, the only person who can help him is Britta. Community fans and characters alike frequently make fun of Britta for her ineptitude; her name is even used as a verb meaning "to screw things up." Yet, in the past couple of years, we've seen her mature as a mental health professional. She may not understand how to diagnose and treat Abed, but she is the one that finds a loophole in his created realm that can be used to help him move forward, even if it's not a professional method. She saves the day.

After the action-packed installment of Lava World is mostly played out, Community does leave a few minutes for some very heartfelt goodbyes. Troy gets a moment with each of the study group in turn, and I can't think of a thing I'd change about the words they exchanged. Each player reveals something about themselves and offers at least a glimpse of the depth of their affection. It's a tear-inducing scene, played perfectly by all involved.

And then, icing on the cake, we learn that Troy is setting sail with his hero, LeVar Burton (himself). It's a call back to an earlier story, and one that gives us a hint that Troy won't be miserable and alone on his journey. It provides hope for a fun future for him, even as he leaves Greendale and his friends behind.

"Geothermal Escapism" is a near-perfect episode, serving Troy, Britta, and Abed, especially, but also squeezing in enough little bits and one-liners, such as Britta and Jeff's knock-knock argument, to make it feel authentically Community, avoiding being too narrowly focused. Let's hope if anyone else leaves, they get at least half the send-off Troy does. Better yet, let's hope Troy completes his voyage and comes back for a (not-yet-ordered) sixth season.

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

COMMUNITY - Truths After the Funeral

Article first published as COMMUNITY - Truth After the Funeral on TheTVKing.

In the latest installment of NBC's Community, "Cooperative Polygraphy," the study group gathers in their usual hang out after Pierce's (Chevy Chase) funeral. Pierce's lawyer, Mr. Stone (Walton Goggins, Justified), shows up and tell them that Pierce has left them all something in his will, but to get the inheritance they must submit themselves to a polygraph to prove they didn't murder him. Chaos ensues as the questions Pierce leaves are as antagonistic as ever.

I love when Community does bubble episodes, just the main cast together in one place. It gives them a chance to show off their wonderful chemistry, usually resulting in fights, but also finding a stronger bond by the end of the half hour. "Cooperative Polygraphy" is no different in that regard, as it's a wonderful character-driven episode with moments of beauty for each of the group.

Most of the conversation is fraught with strife. Pierce reveals secrets about them all, such as Abed (Danny Pudi) having put tracking chips in his fellows. Yet, as always, they find a way to work through it. Jeff's (Joel McHale) voice of reason, constantly trying to prevent a schism, is totally expected, and it continues to work, even if there are bumps along the way

It almost feels like Piece is back, as Mr. Stone serves as his mouthpiece and sits in his seat. At times, Pierce was annoying, but Chase is a brilliant comic actor, and his presence is missed. The instructions he leaves behind are classic Pierce, and his voice comes through in the perfectly crafted dialogue. This the next best thing to having Pierce back, and a fitting way to send off his character.

It's a shame that Pierce won't be returning to Community. Chalk it up to contract junk from all the messiness last year. But at least the show addresses and serves him, even if Chase can't appear, except when filmed alone on an empty sound stage, as he was for the hologram scene in the premiere episode. This satisfactorily explains his absence, but the hologram leaves the door open for more guest appearances in the future.

In fact, given Community's track record, it would be simple enough to bring back Pierce, if the behind-the-scenes stuff could be worked out. Starburns faked his death, and for awhile, it looked like Pierce's father did the same. Why not Pierce himself? That would be a welcome development, indeed, sneaky, insecure Pierce spying on his friends to see if they cared about him or not, then being caught doing so. The viewers would accept it.

But for now, life goes on without Pierce, but his death affects each of the rest of the cast. The sincere moments at the end of the questioning tell us something that many suspected about Pierce, even if it was never obvious - he did care about his friends. And they care about him. His final praise for Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), Annie (Alison Brie), and Britta (Gillian Jacobs), especially, is heartfelt and touching.

The character who is most changed by the experience, though, is Troy (Donald Glover). Pierce issues him a challenge to sail around the world before earning Pierce's millions of company stock. Troy accepts. The two always had a special bond, Troy even having lived with him for awhile. Plus, Troy has always seemed the most aimless character, never quite knowing what he's looking for. "Cooperative Polygraphy" serves as a continuation of this story, and gives Troy a launching point for his departure, one that makes sense and fits his character. He can always come back later, scheduling permitting.

Abed gets nothing from Pierce, other than the obligatory sperm, which is sad. Yes, Pierce says he never understood Abed, so perhaps he doesn't know what to leave him. It's easy enough to accept that they couldn't connect, the two being such drastically different people, representations of their generations taken to the extreme. This is a realistic choice, but one that does hurt, emotionally speaking.

The only weird thing about "Cooperative Polygraphy" is that Chang (Ken Jeong) is included in the questions,  but then walks out without Mr. Stone even trying to stop him. Did Pierce know Chang this well, too? Or did the writers just want to give Jeong a part in the episode and weren't sure how to do it? I feel like there's missed opportunity here, Chang could have been desperate to be part of their club, but it's a minor gripe in an otherwise fantastic episode.

Oh, and where was Gilbert (Giancarlo Esposito)? Esposito is starring in Revolution, which may have made his presence difficult to obtain, but a line mentioning him wouldn't have been too hard to include.

But overall, a terrific installment for an awesome series. Community airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

COMMUNITY Investigates Another Crime

Article first published as COMMUNITY Investigates Another Crime on TheTVKing.

The latest installment of NBC's Community is called "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics." Like the previous Law & Order spoof, this episode, including the lighting, tone, and opening credits, is done in a style different than the typical week. Here, we have the cable version of the genre represented, a higher quality, more ambiguous focus on the characters and how the crime relates to them, rather than the dastardly act itself.

The case at the center of "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics" is simple enough: the butt crack bandit is back, dropping coins down the exposed backsides of the folks at Greendale. Annie (Alison Brie) becomes obsessed with uncovering the culprit as the population goes into a panic. Jeff (Joel McHale) reluctantly agrees to help, as long as Annie doesn't tell anyone he's doing so.

The suspects are numerous. Could it be Professor Duncan (John Oliver), who has recently returned from a sabbatical spent caring for his ailing mother (she's not dead, he's just wasted enough time on her)? How about Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), whose re-opened sandwich shop is profiting from the ban on change? Or Britta (Gillian Jacobs), hoping to make a name for herself by studying the psychology of the bandit? Or Starburns (Dino Stamatopoulos), who is found to have faked his death and has been hiding in the college stables? Or even creepy Professor Bublitz (musician Ben Folds)?

Well, one can make a strong case for any of the above at first, and while a couple of them are ruled out throughout the course of the half hour, there is no clear answer by the end. Instead, we're left to think the identity of the criminal isn't that important, and perhaps the search for them will make up another episode some time in the future.

It's a bit disappointing that Community chooses not to expose the bandit. After all, viewers want the answers to their questions, and it's unsettling to not be given such. We are fine making our own guesses, but we want to know if we're right or not, especially when the field of suspects is so deep and the clues are so numerous and clogged with red herrings.

However, that's not the point, and it's true to the style of what the episode imitates to not have the mystery solved so easily. Instead, the main plot is what goes on between Jeff and Annie. The Dean (Jim Rash) accuses them of getting into the antics of the investigation just to spend time together and steal a few embraces. He may very well be right. They've never worked as a couple, but there is definitely still strong attraction there, and these circumstances allow them to be brought out.

Could there ever be a future for Jeff and Annie on Community? I do think so, though probably only as a series endgame. A large theme of the show is finding oneself, and it's difficult to do that in a relationship. That's likely why none of the couples on the show have worked out, and it makes sense. I still enjoy their dancing around one another, which is shown sparingly enough to not have grown stale, and by addressing the issue head on, it seems like there is movement, even if it's miniscule.

Despite the dark and serious nature of "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics" it is still very funny. Troy's (Donald Glover) turn as the traumatized victim is hilarious, it's good to have weird Starburns, who has now designed a cat-powered vehicle, back, and Duncan is amusingly creepy. Chang's (Ken Jeong) backwards costume is ridiculous in the best of manners. Scenes make use of many of the minor recurring players, from Garrett (Erik Charles Nielsen) screaming in panic, to Leonard (Richard Erdman) almost kissing Jeff to illustrate a point. Even with an uneasy conclusion, it's a very satisfying installment.

There's also a moment of major sadness when Shirley reveals that Pierce (Chevy Chase) has died. This not only reinforced the more depressing mood this season, but also leads us in to next week's "bubble" episode, set just after the funeral, and pretty much halts all action on the A story for this week. I love that the characters are affected by the passing of one of their own, even if they seemed annoyed with him during his life, and it neatly solves why we can't have Pierce back, while leaving the door open for more hologram cameos from him down the road.

It's worth noting that in the previous crime-themed episode, Starburns is said to have died at the end, only to turn out to be a ruse. Might the same be said for Pierce if the messy issues between Chase and the studio can be sorted out? Plus, Pierce's father faked his own death, so all signs point to an easy come back, should the opportunity arise. Perhaps the fabled movie after seasons six? #sixseasonsandamovie

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

COMMUNITY Introduces a New Teacher Or Two

Article first published as COMMUNITY Introduces a New Teacher on TheTVKing.

If the first half of tonight's Community season five premiere on NBC is all about rebooting and setting up a new premise, the second half, "Introduction to Teaching," focuses on the characters trying to find their footing, the new normal, if you will. In my opinion, it's just a little weaker than episode one, lacking the emotional heft, but overall, it's still a pretty great installment, definitely feeling more cohesive than all of season four.

Jeff (Joel McHale) starts his job as a teacher, and quickly realizes he has no clue what he's doing. Not being educated in the content, he doesn't know what to tell his students, and not having any experience or knowledge about teaching, he doesn't have a methodology as a basis, either. Basically, he's a mess, and he knows it. At least he feels bad about it.

But only at first. It doesn't take Jeff long to bond with his office mate, Professor Buzz Hickey (Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad), who introduces him to the finer points of teaching. They get to bully students, like Leonard (Richard Erdman), drink in the faculty lounge, and the Dean (Jim Rash) must stay away from them. The professors rule the school, and it takes Jeff very little time to adapt to the new position.

Except, Jeff isn't the same person he used to be. In the past, shallow Jeff could enjoy the perks and coast through the job without caring. This Jeff cares, which Annie (Alison Brie) is quick to remind him when she signs up for his class and pushes him to do better. An attempt by Hickey to scare Annie off her quest only convinces Jeff to side with her more strongly. Plus, he really doesn't like that he's suddenly on the other side of the war between teachers and students, his former classmates (other than the study group) treating him differently.

So what does Jeff do about it? At the Dean's urging, he gets Hickey and his friends to form a Teacher / Student Alliance to work towards a better Greendale. This actually demonstrates real growth for Jeff, working on a program that doesn't directly benefit him much. He could keep going along with the divide, but instead, he chooses to make Greendale a better place.

That seems to be the whole point of season five: Jeff saving Greendale. The Dean mentions that Jeff's Save Greendale group is fake, but the alliance is a version of that, a realistic way to effect change. Perhaps this doesn't solve every problem the community college faces, but at least it seeks to unite those who have a vested interest in the place, and could definitely come in handy when the hammer comes down.

And this gives the main characters a great, believable reason to stay together as a unit, with Hickey replacing Pierce (Chevy Chase) at the table, albeit in a very different type of role.

I really dig Hickey. Jeff needs a new buddy that's in the part of his life that his pals can't follow. Hickey is also a very fresh role, not being anything like any other character on the show. He's not just a threatening stereotype, with layers already peeled backed in his first appearance. There is some real potential for him to be a main character and bring something new to Community, and that appears to be the direction the show is taking him in.

The dynamic between students and staff in "Introduction to Teaching" is interesting. It's not something we've really seen before, with Chang (Ken Jeong) the most developed teaching character up 'til now, and surely not a typical representative of the faculty. Now we see how Chang got by, but it also explains a lot about why the education provided at Greendale is as sucky as it is. The teachers don't care about their charges, but Jeff does, and he wants to change it.

While Jeff is settling into his new position, the rest of the study group take an "easy" class from Professor Sean Garrity (Kevin Corrigan), someone we've seen before. The course poses the question "Is Nicholas Cage good or bad?" It's just the type of bizarre subplot Community is known for, and it's quite funny.

Abed (Danny Pudi), predictably, becomes obsessed with finding out the answer. Surprisingly, he isn't able to. We all know Cage is a weird man who takes on a variety of roles and is both revered and hated by moviegoers. So why does he exist in this pocket universe, with individuals having such varying perspectives on his talent, and his skill seemingly very uneven across pictures?

Not being able to definitively find a conclusion, Abed snaps, becoming a crazy Cage himself. Abed has been more fragile in the later seasons of Community, and something like this shakes him to his very core. Abed bases all his faith and framework of understanding life on the movie world, and to come across such an unexplainable mystery practically destroys him.

It's easy to see the parallels between Abed and a religious person, and so it has to be Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) that saves the day. After all, who else understands belief the way she does? Abed and Shirley rarely get screen time together outside of the group, so this is a pleasant twist that I'd like to see explored more, though it's hard to imagine it will be, as Shirley will never accept Abed's ideas as a true religion.

Other little bits are also entertaining. The Dean attempts to learn Excel, and feels left out when Jeff finds ways to cut the Dean from his life. Britta (Gillian Jacobs) has some choice one-liners, including one about an Asian. Familiar recurring parts are seen in the riot of the students, a scaled-down epic event on scale with other Community disasters. As much as I love the main story, it's the details that were missing last season, and by getting them right, it restores the high quality of the show once more.

My only complaint is that Troy (Donald Glover) seemingly has had less to do than anyone else in the first two episodes back, and with the actor only signed on for three more installments, his time is dwindling. Hopefully, the rest of his run will give him his due.

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

COMMUNITY Nails The "Repilot"

Article first published as COMMUNITY Nails The "Repilot" on TheTVKing.

NBC's Community finally returns tonight with "Repilot." It's been months since the study group graduated from Greendale Community College, and all find their lives much worse than when they enrolled. Jeff (Joel McHale), a lawyer again, has an idea of what they can do about it. But confronted with his friends in the place they called home for the past four years, Jeff's first plan may not be the one he ultimately chooses to carry out.

"Repilot" is a reboot in a lot of ways. Things can't just return to normal from the first moment the show comes back. These characters have moved on with their lives, not very well, but still, away from the security of the school. It takes a twist to bring them back together.

What's remarkable about said twist isn't that it happens but that it unfolds so easily. Everything about this initial half hour makes complete sense. These people aren't ready to build professional careers for themselves, and so they can't move on. What else can they do but to re-enroll, bringing themselves back to the place where they actually felt like they could accomplish something?

Jeff's law office, which promises to help "good" people, goes under. Shirley's (Yvette Nicole Brown) business has failed and her husband has left her again, the working mother losing both things she has worked towards. Annie (Alison Brie) is selling pharmaceuticals, something she herself struggled against. Britta (Gillian Jacobs) has been reduced to being a bartender. Abed (Danny Pudi) still can't relate to people, making it hard for him to find work as a filmmaker. And Troy (Donald Glover) seems to be doing nothing. Yet, rushing to aide Jeff and the school, they find purpose and hope again.

This seamless plot is the first surefire sign that creator Dan Harmon has returned. While season four floundered about, extremely uneven, season five picks up right where season three left off. The story from last year counts (a "gas leak" explains why it was off), but the magic that had been lost has been found again, a brilliant mind tying everything together in a way no one else would have quite seen, no matter how hard they attempted to look.

Heart is bursting at the seams. The way the study group puts their faith in Jeff, letting him to decide how to handle Greendale, is both sweet and a culmination of a long arc, with their trust in him finally earned. Jeff getting advice, somewhat unintentionally, from hologram Pierce (Chevy Chase, no longer a main character) fills a void that I didn't realize I was missing until that scene. He just had to be included, and it hurts less to lose him because he comes back now. Watching the gang build a new table feels perfect.

It's also super funny. There are some wonderful in-jokes, especially concerning Scrubs and Glover's imminent departure from the series. Every character is back to acting authentically who they are, with terrific lines such as Britta's about owls and analogies. Seeing what the study room has been turned into and why ought to elicit a chuckle or two.

There's a lot of debate in "Repilot" as to what Greendale is. There is no arguing that there is a lot of dysfunction at the institution. The question is, is that a good thing or a bad thing? Is it a safe place where people can take the time to figure themselves out? Or is it a crummy hall in which losers are taken advantage of? The viewpoint of the main study group is clear, but the jury is out on what the public may say.

The public may very well get a say because Alan (Rob Corddry) plans to sue Greendale. His first effort is thwarted when the Dean (Jim Rash) shreds the records of an alum who designed a faulty bridge. His second chance is blown when Jeff turns on him. But Alan may still show up to make trouble in the future.

What could save Greendale is Jeff, who, unlike the others, decides to come back as a teacher, not a student. Jeff has always been a leader of his peers. In the group, everyone listens to him, as they continue to do in "Repilot." It makes sense for Jeff to step up and take a larger role in the new year, and besides, he doesn't need more education for what he is doing with his life. Now, he'll be assisting the Dean in protecting the school, while also bettering his career.

This actually puts Jeff on a different path than the others. He'll still be their friend and he'll still care about them, but he also will relate to most of the characters in a new manner. He is working with the Dean instead of against him, wanting to give Greendale what Greendale gave him. Namely, a heart and soul and people to care about. Jeff may not be successful as a lawyer, but he has a place where he fits in and is (mostly) happy and that place is Greendale.

"Repilot" is a dark episode. It forces self-examination and characters, especially Jeff, consider doing things fans won't like to believe they'd do. It shows us our beloved protagonists at their lowest points. Raw pain and struggle are exposed. It's sad. It grows the series in a new and interesting way that remains entertaining and fresh.

It also makes one look at the Dean in a different light, one in which his incompetence is not just goofiness, but actually damaging. He has rehired Chang (Ken Jeong) as a math teacher, although Chang can't do math (insert Asian stereotype joke here). Why would the Dean do such a thing? Did he grow depressed when Jeff left and his ill-behavior is a self-destructive cry for help? Or is he really much more terrible than many assumed all along?

It's hard to think of the Dean as a bad guy or someone who hurts the group, but that may just be the direction Community goes in. There's a real heavy sense of reality in "Repilot," something not always existing (that's not a complaint) in the rest of the show. Will season five be when the series really takes a long look in the mirror, as Jeff sort of does here? If so, sign me up, because this is a very interesting concept.

Even with the new or enhanced elements, by the end of the episode, I was filled with a supreme sense of satisfaction and feeling of being back with an old, familiar friend. "Repilot" feels like the best of Community, with the spirit and depth returning intact and better than ever. This is exactly the kind installment viewers longed for throughout last season. Thank goodness it's back!

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

#sixseasonsandamovie

COMMUNITY Season Five Preview

Article originally written for Seat42F.com

NBC’s COMMUNITY is back this week! And so is creator Dan Harmon! After three fantastic seasons, Harmon and the show parted ways, resulting in a not-so-good fourth year. But as the story picks up for round five, months later, it’s quickly clear that Harmon’s return heralds the show getting back to form quite quickly.

***This review contains light spoilers, with much more focus on tone and quality than plot. There are some fantastic, surprising bits in the hour, and those will NOT be revealed in this article. Still, if you’d rather not know anything ahead of time, please check back here after the show airs.***

Two episodes are presented this week: “Repilot” and “Introduction to Teaching.” Rather than throwing out a whole batch of episodes that aired in 2013, these installments attempt to reset the tale, taking into account developments such as Jeff (Joel McHale) graduating, and finding a way to move the story forward again. The first half hour is concerned with a realistic way of bringing the characters back together, while the second strives to establish a new normal, which should carry on for the rest of the season.

The biggest change by far, and it’s one made pretty early on, so I don’t feel it’s a big spoiler, is that Jeff becomes a teacher at Greendale. I won’t go into the circumstances that lead him to this point, but suffice it to say, he must return to the place he couldn’t wait to escape from. And he’s not alone.

It’s no secret that Greendale Community College is a haven for losers, those that failed at life in general, and have few options to better themselves. Still, it takes a bit of spirit and drive to go to college at all, and through this, we’ve found reasons to care about the students enrolled, making them underdogs to root for, instead of failures to pity.

Leaving the safe walls of the school, though, it turns out that our ‘heroes’ may not be exactly prepared for the real world yet. Jeff sure isn’t, and Annie (Alison Brie), Britta (Gillian Jacobs), Troy (Donald Glover), Abed (Danny Pudi), and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) aren’t, either, leading them all to make their way back early in COMMUNITY’s return.

As one might imagine, this makes “Repilot” extremely depressing. COMMUNITY is first and foremost a comedy, and there are funny parts even in this premiere episode. However, there’s also a sadness that has always underlain the story. “Repilot” brings that up to the surface, really digging into who these people are and what they need. It’s gloomy, but there is also hope. More than most installments of the show, this one is a dramedy.

Now, many shows would have to do something hokey to contrive to keep a group of people together whose time has naturally come to an end, in this case through graduation. COMMUNITY does not. It builds upon who the characters portrayed in the show are and how they’ve grown, as well as how far they have yet to go. The way everything comes together makes total sense and promises that, while the series will still be what fans love, there is a trajectory that is being followed, and there has been movement on that path.

The Dean (Jim Rash) and Chang (Ken Jong) are back, too, of course, with the former taking a big role in “Repilot” and “Introduction to Teaching.” There is a definite arc to season five, which is only just getting started, and it will involve the Dean. We also get to see a side of the Dean we haven’t seen before, a raw, exposed nature that has always existed, but never focused on until now. It’s not that pleasant to think about, but it makes sense, and it makes me wonder what the endgame will be exactly.

“Introduction to Teaching” introduces one of this year’s big new players. Besides the return of Professor Duncan (John Oliver), which does not happen this week, another teacher who will fill a major role in year five is Buzz Hickey (Jonathan Banks, Breaking Bad). He’s gruff and stern, hinting at Bank’s infamous AMC character, but he’s also someone of layers. Intriguing from the start, Hickey lends a new dynamic to the cast that should shake up interactions for the foreseeable future.

All of this is great, but what viewers want to know is, is COMMUNITY fixed? After two episodes, I feel confident in unequivocally saying yes. The series was still funny and the characters remained the same people in season four, but the stories lacked depth and cohesion, with that intangible spark absent. Both “Repilot” and “Introduction to Teaching” are much improved, with the feeling one gets when watching the best of COMMUNITY fully restored. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why the Harmon-led installments are so much better than the others, but there’s just an overall depth and charm to the early years, and that is definitely back now, in a darker manner befitting the changes that have occurred.

COMMUNITY premieres Thursday, January 2^nd at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

Community's Almost Finale

Article first published as Community's Almost Finale on TheTVKing.

For all of the complaints I've had about this fourth, Dan Harmon-less season of NBC's Community, and those complains have been numerous, as you'll see if you read my weekly reviews of the show, the one character that the writers have totally gotten right is Jeff (Joel McHale). Jeff, who starts out as a self-centered ego maniacal jerk, has grown into someone who is a true leader and team player. Working out the inner pain that causes him to be bad, Jeff is able to become good.

The fourth season finale, "Advanced Introduction to Finality," is a Jeff-centric story. Having taken the required number of credits, Jeff is graduating early, halfway through the school year. His former colleague, Mark (Joe Lo Truglio), offers him the chance to get his old life back, becoming a lawyer again with a fat paycheck, relying on his lack of scruples to make him rich and powerful.

When Community begins, this is what Jeff wants. He's annoyed at having to attend college, and is fine with using the people who can help him skate through, biding his time until he can return to his old life.

But along the way he has come to value those around him. His study group has become his family. These people see something in him that no one in the legal world did, and like Jeff for who he is, not just what he can do. That wouldn't have mattered to the old Jeff. The new Jeff, however, sees that his life is better for his friends, and resists turning back to his old ways, deciding not to take the job.

Which is why "Advanced Introduction to Finality" mostly takes place inside of Jeff's head as he battles with himself over the path to take. He imagines Evil Jeff and Evil Annie (Alison Brie) invading his world, soon joined by their evil companions, trying to make him go back to the law. They destroy his relationships and attempt to wreck everything he has built.

Jeff does build himself an escape hatch in the form of Abed (Danny Pudi) and Evil Abed, whom are now both good, working together to stop the Evil Study Group and save Jeff's soul. Together, they not only give Jeff the weapons he needs to fight back, but help him come to terms with why he should not go back to who he was.

Taken by itself, the main meat of the episode is goofy. Sure, it combines some fan favorite elements of Community such as paintball guns, the imposter Dean (J.P. Manoux), alternate realities, and both Annie and the Dean's (Jim Rash) crush on Jeff. Many of the recurring players attend Jeff's graduation / wedding, so they get to be present. But the story falls flat, especially in the paintball fight, in which everyone spends more time delivering witty banter than actually struggling to win. For all the great gags, such as hearing about The Cape season three, it doesn't add up correctly overall.

Since it's all in Jeff's head, though, it's OK. There was a time Jeff wouldn't even have engaged in fantasies, but now, influenced by his friends, this is how he chooses to work out his internal monologue. It's a testament to his maturation and development, and once the basic premise is understood, "Advanced Introduction to Finality" raises itself up as one of the best installments of the season.

That being said, I am very grateful it isn't a series finale. Choosing to put the spotlight completely on Jeff's own journey robs the rest of the cast of any sort of ending. Annie doesn't get to be with Jeff, Britta (Gillian Jacobs) barely gets any validation for her talents, Chang's (Ken Jeong) moments are wonderful, but too brief, and the Dean only gets a small, public exchange with Jeff, rather than the heartfelt, open discussion of feelings he warrants. And Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) and Troy (Donald Glover) get even less than most anyone else.

The one other character, besides Jeff, who does get an ending is Pierce (Chevy Chase). Utterly wasted the back half of this year, with his absence of several episodes having to be explained away, Pierce grows jealous of the attention Jeff gets when graduating, and decides he wants to do so, too. So the Dean lets Pierce graduate from Greendale, too.

I can't say this is a satisfying way to let the old codger go. Having him lost in the woods would have been better. This is with little fanfare, and shows no growth for his character whatsoever. It's assumed Pierce won't return next season, since Chase quit the series, so this is probably the last we'll see of him. What a shame.

As much as it sucks to lose comedy legend Chase, and admittedly he is lost for much of the time he is actually on Community, his departure could be what saves the show. With Chase out, NBC is rumored to be interested in wooing creator Dan Harmon back. Considering how brilliant the show was when he worked on it, and how this season has been so comparatively weak, a Harmon return could be just would the series needs to revitalize and fix itself. Let's hope it happens.

"Advanced Introduction to Finality" is an almost solid episode, but not a fitting series finale. Since it doesn't have to be, it works well. The window is still open for the famed #SixSeasonsAndAMovie, if fans are lucky. For now, they can count their blessings regarding the unexpected renewal of season five.

Community has been renewed and will return to NBC, likely in early 2014.

Community Delves Into Their "Heroic Origins"

Article first published as Community Delves Into Their "Heroic Origins" on TheTVKing.

I understand what NBC's Community is trying to do this week with "Heroic Origins." By using the comic book-style transitions and frequent references to superheroes, like Spider-Man and the film Unbreakable, they're trying to present a weird episode in yet another genre-busting format. But like most of this fourth season, it fails to find the perfect pitch, and while it's somewhat entertaining, the story falls far short of the emotional impact that it should have.

Abed (Danny Pudi) decides that, instead of working on his history assignment, he'll track the history of how the study group is destined to be together. This leads to a series of flashbacks to 2008, and various members of the cast influence one another's lives without knowing it. Mysti (Natasha Leggero, Burning Love), the prostitute that Jeff (Joel McHale) successfully defends in court, ends up being the same one that Andrea (Malcolm-Jamal Warner, not appearing in this episode) cheats on Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) with, after Shirley ditches on Andrei on their anniversary because Abed scares her kids. Annie's (Alison Brie) drug-fueled rant makes Troy (Donald Glover) rethink his future and inspires the creation of Magnitude's (Luke Youngblood) catchphrase.

There are plenty of other connections, some obvious, such as Britta's (Gillian Jacobs) rescue of Annie's Boobs (Crystal the Monkey), while some are more subtle, such as the pictures of Annie as Citizen of the Month in the courthouse where Jeff's case goes down. There are a variety  of allusions, both big and small, which come together to form a complete story.

And yet, it feels hollow. It isn't believable that these characters have so much influence on one another prior to meeting. When Jeff and Shirley's childhood history is explored in a previous episode, that's one thing, and so an acceptable coincidence. "Heroic Origins" just takes the concept way too far. Not to mention, the guest stars, Leggero, Glee's Iqbal Theba as Abed's father, and Joe Lo Truglio as Jeff's boss, detract, as Community has never been big on lots of stunt casting, and using several in this one episode doesn't work for them.

Some of the contrivances, such as the Dean (Jim Rash) discovering his love of cross-dressing because Shirley tosses her lingerie near him, are ridiculous. Surely, based on the Dean's extensive wardrobe, he is aware of this part of himself prior to the incident. Why try to explain it away here?

The Chang (Ken Jeong) story is even more confusing. Supposedly, Chang is the one that influences each of the six main group members to attend Greendale in the first place, so Abed invites him to join them for frozen yogurt, which somehow makes Chang feel warm and accepted, fulfilling a yearning he's expressed since at least season two to be a part of their gang. But that cures his crazy money fever that Annie's Boobs has given him to make him evil? And he's a jerk before he's bitten, so I really don't understand how this is supposed to work out.

On this topic, there are a couple of very odd edit points, one occurring when Chang sticks the Dean's envelope in his pocket, and the other where Chang, while leaving the library, tells Abed that he needs to mail the envelope. Neither feel in place with the scene they occur during, and seem to have been poorly added in after the fact.

I think the biggest problem, though, is that this episode relies so heavily on Abed and his eccentricities. Abed has been so badly handled this season, the current writers not seeming to get his character, and that continues this week. Many of the problems can be explained away just because this is an Abed-heavy episode.

"Heroic Origins" again tries to make Pierce (Chevy Chase) a presence without including him, going so far as to even have someone who sort of resembles him from the back slip on ice-cream in a 2008 scene. I don't understand why he's in here at all, especially when he's completely absent from the various plot threads that come together, thus making him seem less a valid member of the study group than Chang is. It's a shame what this character has become.

We still get a bit of the Jeff-has-changed plot in this episode, which has been the highlight of the fourth season. However, it's not central enough to this installment to matter much.

The end of this episode sets up the season finale, where Abed will try to be the villain of the story, and the alternate universe evil versions of the characters will intercede. Presumably, this will be tied into the scheme City College has been trying to use Chang for, an arc awkwardly abandoned on a whim in this episode, which could have been a late-production decision, based on the aforementioned weird edits. I can't say I'm looking forward to it, especially if it turns out to be the series' end. But at least it will put this lackluster year out of its misery.

Community's fourth season concludes next Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.