New Series INVINCIBLE

 Article first published as Amazon Prime's INVINCIBLE Review on Seat42F.

Amazon Prime has a new hour-long animated series coming next week called INVINCIBLE. Based on the comics of the same name by Robert Kirkman, the story follows a teen boy who begins to exhibit superpowers like his dad. This in a world filled with supers, both heroes and villains, with teams of powered people everywhere you look. But this particular boy is soon drawn into drama between several of them, and some dark secrets make things messy, indeed.

In preparing for this review, I not only watched the three episodes Amazon made available, but also read the first dozen or so issues of the comic. INVINCIBLE is a compelling tale that starts out looking like one thing but then becomes something almost completely different, yet at the same time holding onto a steady core. There are differences in the adaptation from page to screen, with some characters changing ethnicity and gender, and events are rearranged. Also, the comic seems to have more roles that are direct copies or parodies of existing properties from other publishers. But the changes seem to be good ones, mostly made to deepen the story and fit the episodic format length. If you were already a fan of the book, I suspect you’ll like this adaptation.

I can’t think of another hour-long animated show. The episodes, without commercials, come in at forty-some minutes, about as long as a broadcast drama, and double the length of most cartoons. The material in INVINCIBLE justifies it, though. Like Robert Kirkman’s other famous property, The Walking Dead, the story is complex and disturbing, at times graphically violent (as teased in the trailer). Yet, INVINCIBLE also has a cheery optimism because of its lead, Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun, The Walking Dead), that keeps things entertaining.

The voice cast is stacked with huge talent. Yeun stars, and the other two leads listed in the credits are Mark’s superhero dad, Nolan Grayson (J.K. Simmons, Whiplash, Spider-Man), and ‘normal’ mom, Debbie Grayson (Sandra Oh, Grey’s Anatomy, Killing Eve). There’s a shady government type, Cecil Stedman, voiced by Walton Goggins (Justified). And among those playing other supers are Gillian Jacobs (Community), Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place), Zachary Quinto (Star Trek), Seth Rogen (Pineapple Express), Mahershala Ali (House of Cards), Michael Dorn (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Clancy Brown (Lost), Melise (The Vampire Diaries), Lennie James (The Walking Dead), Michael Cudlitz (The Walking Dead), Chad L. Coleman (The Walking Dead), Ross Marquand (The Walking Dead), Khary Payton (The Walking Dead), Lauren Cohan (The Walking Dead), and Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walk-, er, Star Trek: Discovery). Not to mention other characters voiced by Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Chris Diamantopoulos (Silicon Valley), Andrew Rannells (Girls), Zazie Beetz (Atlanta), Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter) and Mark Hamill (Star Wars). Believe it or not, this is not a complete list of recognizable names, and this list should give you an idea of how good the show is that so many pros wanted to be involved.

The world of superpowers has been done to death, and yet INVINCIBLE feels fresh. Partly because it leans on the tropes and familiar archetypes you already know and subverts them. Partly because it sometimes feels like its making fun of the genre it portrays, even while the characters feel grounded. This is a new take, and one worth watching.

As far as the story goes, I can’t say much. There are locks on spoilers, and I wouldn’t want to give anything away if I could because the shocks hit hard and fast. What I can say is this. The pilot starts out looking very much like a late 80s / early 90s cartoon of my youth, and that style never changes, lending an immediate comfort. But by the end of the first hour, this is disrupted, and each subsequent installment only continues the transformation. It is an artistically interesting production with an intriguing mystery and plenty of emotional-moving scenes. I both laughed and cried already. I definitely recommend it.

INVINCIBLE drops its first three episodes on Friday, March 26th, with weekly episodes streaming after that, only on Amazon Prime.

Post-Valentine's LOVE

Article first published as LOVE Review on Seat42F.

Valentine’s Day may be over, but LOVE is just getting started, with a ten-episode freshman season premiering on Netflix this month (and a second one already ordered). LOVE is in the modern genre of quirky relationship dramedy, with two main characters who are a little more neurotic and flawed than the average person, but still manage to feel somewhat authentic in their negativities. Given the heft of those involved in the production and the familiar faces that pop up, at least familiar to those into this niche product, one knows LOVE is going to be good before one even starts it.

Created by Judd Apatow (The 40 Year-Old Virgin), Lesley Arfin (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), and Paul Rust (Comedy Bang! Bang!), the show stars Rust and Gillian Jacobs (Community) as Gus and Mickey, respectively. Gus is a huge nerd who ‘fakes’ nice (meaning is nice even when he shouldn’t or doesn’t feel like being) with women because that’s how he thinks he’s supposed to be, which leads to his breakup at the start. Mickey does a few too many drugs and is a little too irresponsible, though she manages to hold a job and live in a house, so isn’t too screwed up, especially once she cuts loose her dead-end boyfriend. Can they find love with one another?

The premise is slightly off. If Mickey were as flighty as she comes across, there is no way she’d be as stable as she is. And if Gus were as timid as he appears to be, he wouldn’t be living as well as he is. But I suppose one should overlook the overabundance of income and free time the characters have because it’s a conceit most TV shows and movies use in order to get to the story they want to tell without those distractions.

Focus instead on the two characters themselves. While uncomfortably awkward, they are brilliantly played with complexity and layers. There is a humanity to both that makes the audience root for them, even when they aren’t worthy of our affection. They don’t always do exactly what we expect them to do, but they do act in ways authentic to the established personalities. They are always entertaining to watch, and often witty and charming. This is the makings of a show easy to get into.

Will Gus and Mickey get into each other? The pilot of LOVE finds them in completely different places, and they could not be more incompatible. It’s logical to see the attraction they have for one another when they eventually meet (which takes awhile, the show satisfyingly setting them up as individuals before putting them together). But just because someone is attracted to another person doesn’t mean that they should be together.

Their relationship most reminds me of the lead couple in FX’s You’re the Worst. Those characters make it work, though, because they have enough commonalities to go together. Gus and Mickey don’t have much of anything to start from. Sure, they might hang out and get along OK, but they have totally different frames of reference, and while their opposing views can help the other to grow, I don’t see them ever finding enough middle ground to build a stable union on.

That’s OK, though. In movies and television, love doesn’t have to be perfect, and we don’t need to see what the couple looks like after ten years of marriage. It’s enough to follow them on their current personal journeys and witness how they impact one another in them. Should the writers choose to put them together, that would probably feel good, too, though it certainly isn’t necessary. The title of the show may be LOVE, but that’s not the most important thing going on.

LOVE’s first season is available now exclusively on Netflix.

"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!)

COMMUNITY Wrecks a "Wedding"

Article originally published as TV Review: 'Community' - "Wedding Videography" on Blogcritics.

In the penultimate episode of Community season six, “Wedding Videography,” Abed (Danny Pudi) makes a video record of the show’s second-most-seen-recurring-character, Garrett’s (Erik Charles Nielsen), wedding. The result is a half hour that highlights the main cast as individuals and as a group, and teeing up what could be the series finale next week.

Much of this episode is done in the style of The Office. Not only does Community have the sit-and-chat segments so familiar to modern sitcom audiences, but Abed also refers to ‘Jim-ing’ as a verb that basically means to gesture to the camera, letting the audience in on a joke at the expense of another character. I love this joke and the way this installment is presented.

I love how “Wedding Videography” reveals something about each main player, or at least reminds us of who they are. Elroy (Keith David) is addicted to encouraging white people. Jeff (Joel McHale) loves himself more than anyone else and has a hero complex that must be served. Britta (Gillian Jacobs) blames others for all of her problems and doesn’t see her own flaws, even when away from the distractions of her friends. The Dean (Jim Rash) just wants to be part of the gang, always the outsider. Abed isn’t seen, but he is heard, and staying behind the camera is exactly who his character is.

Annie (Alison Brie) and Frankie (Paget Brewster) have an interesting conversation because a bit of conflict crops up. Frankie reveals that she’d like to get Annie away from Jeff. Is that because Frankie wants Jeff for herself? Jeff and Frankie’s chemistry has been excellent this season. Or does Frankie think that Jeff is dragging Annie down and Annie will be better off without him? Or perhaps, given Frankie’s ambiguous nature (sexual as well as otherwise), Frankie is in love with Annie? I really hope this plot is served in the season finale.

Besides being about the individuals that make up the Save Greendale Committee, “Wedding Videography” is also about showing us the makeup of the group as a whole. Sometimes this is positive, such as when they are all having fun at Annie and Abed’s apartment, getting ready and playing games before hand, or when Chang (Ken Jeong), who has often made bad decisions on his own, saves the day because of the confidence he has as part of the gang. Other times, though, this is a negative, such as when the group shows up late and interrupts the ceremony, and then proceeds to ruin the reception. Other characters have commented before that this clique always makes things about themselves, and never is it more obvious than this week.

So, with a single episode of Community left, does that mean it’s time for everyone to go their separate ways? The negative aspects listed above are brought to their attention, and most of them (Chang excepted) begin to think that maybe they aren’t better off with their friends. Has the series been a tale of a bunch of people growing up with the help of one another, or has it just been showing us the stunted development that encasing oneself in a bubble causes? I believe it’s the former, but it will be interesting to see how this week’s revelations play into the finale.

The end is a bit disappointing. Since this is the “incest” episode of Community, the “writer” comes out to deliver a sort-of PSA about ignorance surrounding incest. Community has opted to have these stand-alone tags often in season six, and it really makes me miss Troy and Abed in the Morning and other in-story jokes that have been replaced. I think it makes for a more solid overall presentation when the last scene is part of the story, or gives us glimpses of other parts of the main characters’ lives, rather than something like this fake PSA. But it’s only about thirty seconds long, so it doesn’t affect the enjoyment of the episode much.

Community‘s sixth season finale can be found on Yahoo! Screen next Tuesday.

"Basic" COMMUNITY

Article first published as TV Review: 'Community' - "Basic RV Repair and Palmistry" on Blogcritics.

 

In the latest episode of Community on Yahoo! Screen, “Basic RV Repair and Palmistry,” the Save Greendale Committee is riding in Elroy’s (Keith David) RV on their way to deliver a giant hand sold on eBay. Why is this happening, you may ask? Well, if Abed (Danny Pudi) ever gets his longed-for flashbacks, you just might find out. Or the characters eventually explain things.

Community has done “bottle” episodes before, where the entire cast is trapped in a single space together, and they’re always good. The reason for this is a large part of the show’s success hangs on the chemistry of the cast. Putting them in a tense situation and allowing their conflict to fester makes for great entertainment, delivering the definition of a situation comedy, or sitcom. “Basic RV Repair and Palmistry” is another example of this.

On the whole, though, it is a pretty tame half hour. The tensions arise because The Dean (Jim Rash) does something stupid, purchasing a giant hand for the community college. Because the college really can’t afford the thing, the Save Greendale Committee decides they must sell it. The Dean is against this, but comes along anyway as they strap it to the roof of the RV and attempt to deliver it. Unfortunately, the RV gets a dead battery and cannot make it.

The logic behind why the entire Save Greendale Committee, except for Chang (Ken Jeong), must be on this trip escapes me, and is never discussed in the episode. I assume The Dean joins them because he doesn’t like to be left out and it’s his hand, but why just two or three of them couldn’t go is beyond me. I don’t mind this leap because, as I’ve said, I enjoy the chemistry of the cast, but “Basic RV Repair and Palmistry” would be a little better if it offered an explanation.

The details of the situation are revealed in snatches. Abed tries to set up a flashback to three weeks ago to establish the scenario, and later tries to save the day by going back in the flashback and changing things. Neither work. Abed’s delusions used to have real meaning that has slowly been drained away from them over the years as he becomes more and more grounded. In this installment, I think Abed is trying too hard to hang on to the device, as in most of season six he has a decently firm grasp on reality.

Typical parts of everyone’s personalities do come up in this episode, and I love how these things are pointed out and picked apart, a bit of tongue-in-cheek self-referencing that is always welcome. Britta (Gillian Jacobs) uses the word brittad as a verb and then acknowledges it. Jeff (Joel McHale) calls The Dean out on his non-apology apologies. Elroy wants to be helpful, but doesn’t want everyone looking at him too closely, preferring to remain a semi-private person. Jeff tries to act like he knows everything. Annie (Alison Brie) and Frankie (Paget Brewster) show their similarity when they both follow the same method to try to get roadside assistance. Chang shows up only at the end, covered in feathers, and no one has noticed his absence.

I can’t say “Basic RV Repair and Palmistry” is one of my favorite episodes, even just within this sixth season. It’s decently fun, but it feels unnecessary and not all that deep. Other episodes have explored character development more fully this year, whereas this one simply points out things we already know about the characters, not changing or deepening anything. It’s funny enough, but because there are only a few episodes left in the season, most likely the series, I do feel like this kind of wastes a half hour.

New episodes of Community post every Tuesday on Yahoo! Screen.

"Grifting" COMMUNITY

Article originally published as TV Review: 'Community' - 'Grifting 101' on Blogcritics.

On this week’s episode of Community on Yahoo! Screen, a grifter (Matt Berry, The IT Crowd) comes to Greendale and decides to swindle the students by teaching “Grifting 101.” If that sounds a little meta, well, this isn’t the first time the series has gone in that direction, and couching the whole thing in the community college’s version of The Sting, complete with simple piano music (including for the theme song) and sketched images, gives a stylistic, enjoyable experience. Though he leaves sans tar and feathers, let’s hope the grifter doesn’t darken the halls of the institution again.

Much of the plot of “Grifting 101″ is pretty easy to see coming. Jeff (Joel McHale) declares the class a hoax the moment that the Save Greendale committee brings it up. Despite this, five of the seven members fall for the scheme, Jeff and Frankie (Paget Brewster) being smart enough to abstain. But of course the gang comes back to Jeff for help when they realize he is right. And Jeff makes it seem like he’s losing to the huckster over and over again, even though intelligent viewers know that has to be a part of his plan.

The only time Community has me doubting the certainty of the outcome is when Jeff is forced to admit in the storage closet that he doesn’t have a plan yet, which probably ends up being part of the plan (I think; or maybe the plan is solidified after this?). The Save Greendale Committee and the school at large are not the most clever bunch, even given the way Jeff cheats at being a lawyer for years. (Community did it before Suits, for the record, though I love Suits, too.) A real grifter could come easily in and take full advantage of them. For a second, it looks like that might happen.

It all comes together in the end, though, as it must. Community sometimes gets dark, especially this season, but a loss in “Grifting 101″ would be worse somehow. Perhaps because the failures of the characters are almost always internal, found when a person tries to overcome something within themselves. To have a villain from the outside get one over on the cast is intolerable. Greendale exists in a protective, delusional bubble, and that’s the way it must stay. At least until the end of the #sixseasonsandamovie

The finale of “Grifting 101″ is pretty awesome, keeping with the tone of the show and serving the premise. Leonard (Richard Erdman) wheels a hotel cart full of briefcases in the professor’s way, and a briefcase parade taunts him. It’s goofy stuff, to be sure, but I like that this is Greendale’s version of an elaborate set and a host of extras. The flashbacks to the briefcase switch, with Abed (Danny Pudi) loudly banging the cases and the professor not noticing as he makes out with Britta (Gillian Jacobs) is icing on the cake, even if it stretches the believability that the group gets away with the scheme a little bit.

“Grifting 101″ doesn’t do much for the overall continuity or character development of the show, but I find myself OK with that. Most of Community‘s episodes this season have served the whole, and it’s acceptable to have a stand-alone adventure once in awhile that is merely fun for fun’s sake.

My only disappointment with the half hour involves the tag, in which we learn that Jeff has been basically using a gym buddy as a slave all these years, possibly inadvertently. It’s a humorous concept, and it’s even OK that it’s introduced this late in the game. My issue is that it probably won’t be followed up on, and that’s a shame.

Also, Jeff gets a new office mate and no mention of Hickey? C’mon!

Community posts new episodes every Tuesday on Yahoo! Screen.

COMMUNITY Doesn't "Recycle" Characters or Story

Article originally published as TV Review: 'Community' - 'Into to Recycled Cinema' on Blogcritics.

 

“Ham, girl!” This week’s Community on Yahoo! Screen, “Intro to Recycled Cinema,” finds Chang (Ken Jeong) making a big name for himself in Hollywood after a memorable commercial. To capitalize on his success, the Save Greendale Committee decides to complete a film that Abed (Danny Pudi) started making starring Chang. Creative differences threaten to derail the project, but there are also deeper insecurities at work.

I admit, I did not see the twist coming in which Jeff (Joel McHale) admits to Abed that he fears being left behind by himself at Greendale as the others move on. This moment is great payoff for Jeff’s arc through the series, finally being comfortable enough to come to terms with his deepest emotions and share them with a trusted friend. This one scene explains pretty much everything you need to know about Jeff as a character, and makes up what I hope will be his arc into the end of the series.

Because of what Jeff says in “Intro to Recycled Cinema,” I’m kind of disappointed that Chang returns to the group at the end of the half hour. Jeff’s prediction that everyone is moving on could and probably should come true, though with Jeff included. Chang has his best chance to escape the community college this week and he blows it. This almost cheapens the dramatic parts of the episode.

On the other hand, Chang’s return could serve as reassurance that Jeff will not be left alone. While other members of the gang have gone away and not yet come back (though they have to for the ultimate conclusion), Chang’s absence is temporary, and the group numbers seven again at the end. Perhaps with all of the darkness present this season, this is a bit of comfort for Jeff and for the fans.

“Intro to Recycled Cinema” also highlights the growth of Abed as a character. At the start, it’s clear his vision will be steamrolled in favor of a quick release, which Maury (the Steve Guttenberg, Police Academy) promises will result in major money. Abed does resist some, his soul hurting, but Jeff helps Abed understand that one can let go and move on. The gym analogy is a little awkward, which works for “normal” Jeff trying to relate to the oddest co-star. Abed’s acceptance of it, though, shows that not only have his friends learned to understand him a bit, but that Abed is willing to expand his way of thinking as well.

Abed’s gradual grounding has led to much less weirdness on Community, which is often regrettable, but not in this case. “Intro to Recycled Cinema” is the most bizarre installment of the past season or two, our core group and several recurring players participating in a sci-fi film that is cheesy and hilarious, making good use of copious amounts of tin foil and Frisbees left over from the season premiere. The costumes and hastily constructed sets make this highly enjoyable.

The whole episode is great, to be honest. I’m not a big Star Wars fan, but I can appreciate the tributes stuck in here. Leonard (Richard Erdman) makes a great villain in the surprisingly moving climax. Elroy (Keith David) has some strong one-liners. Frankie (Paget Brewster) gets to show off her steel drum skills again, continuing a joke that deserves to have legs. And can we talk about how great it is that Annie (Alison Brie) can now toss “Pay your rent!” in Britta’s (Gillian Jacobs) face whenever Britta acts ridiculous? Genius!

Community has been my favorite sitcom for awhile primarily because of its originality and willingness to take chances. This episode kind of lacks both of those, with aping Star Wars and having Chang reset. Yet, in somewhat removing the elements I generally consider its best, the depth the characters have achieved is revealed and makes the show fantastic all over again for different reasons. I still think they should end after five more episodes and a film (unless Yahoo! orders what they could call a “second half” of season six), as the hashtag must be satisfied, but Community is on track for a fitting conclusion and a solid legacy.

Well, except for the year of the gas leak, but that’s perfectly acceptable because of the in-canon explanation.

Community drops new installments every Tuesday on Yahoo! Screen.

COMMUNITY "Features" Character Development

Article first published as TV Review: 'Community' - "Advanced Safety Features" on Blogcritics.

In the latest installment of Yahoo! Screen’s Community, Britta’s ex-boyfriend from season three, Rick (Travis Schuldt), returns. This time, he’s working for Honda and is guerrilla marketing at Greendale. Britta (Gillian Jacobs) can’t help but fall for him all over again, but can they make their relationship work while serving Rick’s Honda overlords? Also, Jeff (Joel McHale) tries to win Elroy (Keith David) over.

“Advanced Safety Features,” the name of this episode, is a terrific look at Britta, highlighting her various sides. It doesn’t really reveal anything new about her; fans already know she is easily influenced, especially by handsome, charming men, and also that she attempts to be a rebel against corporate interests. But by letting these two sides of her go to war in her heart, Community profiles a character in a way that reignites interest in her and gives her much-deserved focus.

I wish Rick were able to give up his salesman instincts for Britta. As Community is likely starting to wind towards a conclusion, now halfway through the sixth season of what could very well end up being #SixSeasonsAndAMovie, she deserves a happy ending. But it wouldn’t be true to either Rick or Britta for them to give up their ideals, and Community has never been the type of show to let any of its leads have a healthy romantic life. Britta would be the exception, and I’m not sure that really works for the show.

Even Britta’s relationship with her parents (Martin Mull and Lesley Ann Warren), while healing, remains tenuous. When Britta takes Rick to meet them, things seem to be going well, the estrangement ended. But by the conclusion of “Advanced Safety Features,” Britta is frustrated with the pair once more, and they are still clueless as to the why, unable to fix it. All of the players in Community are developmentally arrested, and Britta does not escape that this week.

Speaking of arrested development, Jeff is desperate to have everyone like him. This isn’t news, either, but in Elroy, Jeff finally finds someone who doesn’t fall for his cool aloofness. Jeff goes to extreme measures in order to correct this while trying to make it look like he’s not doing anything, even booking Elroy’s favorite band for the school dance. None of that works, and Elroy remains unmoved.

“Advanced Safety Features” gives Jeff a clue as to how to accomplish his goal early in the hour, but Jeff misses it. After Elroy bonds with Annie (Alison Brie), Abed (Danny Pudi), and Chang (Ken Jeong), they observe that genuine human interaction is something the man responds to. Jeff does eventually show his vulnerable, true side to Elroy, not in a calculated move, but rather through a desperate eruption. Elroy immediately responds.

Jeff has gotten much more open over Community‘s run, sometimes by choice, and sometimes being forced to act real by his friends. One might think that by now Jeff would learn what works and what doesn’t. If he did, then he’d be fixed and able to operate normally in society. This series is about a bunch of misfits, so that won’t fly, at least not until the show comes to an end for good.

“Advanced Safety Features” has great character stuff, but is also charmingly quirky and funny. Jeff tricks Frankie (Paget Brewster) into learning to play steel drums. A song from earlier in the season comes back. A musician keeps complaining that everyone asks where the person in the name of the band is. The Dean (Jim Rash) fills his office with Honda stuff. Billy Zane (Titanic) plays Rick’s boss who ‘magically’ disappears. This is all great stuff that makes the episode feel full and sharp.

I give a ton of credit to Honda for their participation in “Advanced Safety Features.” I don’t know how much involvement they may have had in the production, but surely Community couldn’t release this episode without permission from the brand, and the way the product is portrayed isn’t always 100% favorable. Any company that has a sense of humor has my respect, so if you need good value and lots of leg room, check out the Honda Fit. I assume. I’ve never been in one.

New episodes of Community post every Tuesday on Yahoo! Screen.

COMMUNITY Expands Beyond the "Basic" Sitcom

Article originally published as TV Review: 'Community' - 'Basic Email Security' on Blogcritics.

This week’s episode of Community on Yahoo! Screen finds a hacker hijacking all email accessed on Greendale’s computers. In “Basic Email Security,” the criminal demands the school cancel an offensive comedy show, or see the communications leaked to the world. A sampling of the lunch lady’s missives convinces the Save Greendale Committee that the threat is real and embarrassment is guaranteed, but should they kowtow to terrorism?

It’s rare that Community features stories ripped from the headlines, but the plot of “Basic Email Security” highlights a genuine issue, illustrated by the last year’s Sony hacks, which torpedoed the theatrical release of The Interview. CBS’s The Good Wife, which often does integrate current events into the drama, did a similar story over the past few weeks. So it’s a strange topic for a zany sitcom to tackle.

Community attempts to milk the humor of the situation. Once our main crew’s emails are leaked, many details are dropped about what they’ve written. Funnily enough, as we only ever see them text, not email, there’s a lot of dirt and insults against their friends available. Most of these are presented in a comedic fashion, with the slights being things that would make good zingers in other episodes. Abed (Danny Pudi) is appropriately obtuse about the situation. Office Cackowski (Craig Cackowski) having to bring in a child (Quinn Friedman, Up All Night) to catch the juvenile delinquent (Julian Feder) is an amusing commentary on cyber trends. The speech Britta (Gillian Jacobs) gives to guilt them all into supporting the comedy show (which she had planned on protesting) is also quite silly, playing on the familiar foibles of her character, as well as her meager understanding of rights and laws.

There are some very interesting elements incorporated into the episode as well. Frankie’s (Paget Brewster) sexuality is brought up again, a recurring theme this year that Community is in no hurry to answer. Chang (Ken Jeong) rightly complains he hasn’t had anything substantive to do since serving as a teacher, and the newer members of the group react appropriately to learning the deranged man ever held a position as an educator. The comedian, Gupta Gupti Gupta (Jay Chandrasekhar, Super Troopers), is lame and not at all worth their efforts, rubbing salt in the wound.

Yet, “Basic Email Security” is also upsetting. As in other recent Community episodes, the story goes dark. The players in this tale are complex and fleshed out enough that there are no surprises in the conflict between them, or in the idea that they’d trade jabs behind each other’s backs, or that they’d even peek at the leaked emails after agreeing not to. But that doesn’t make it easier to watch the anger and pain almost all of them feel after everything goes down. Their strength is in being a group, and the events of this installment tear them apart, undermining what most of them have spent years building.

The Dean (Jim Rash) is becoming more slimy each passing week. He is OK with the others being ruined, but does not hesitate to distance himself from the fiasco, sparing himself the consequences. He wants to be a part of the group, but he has no spine, and while that isn’t new information, he seems to sink to new depths in this episode.

I won’t say “Basic Email Security” is poor television; it’s not. But neither is it very funny, on the whole. But the episode explores some new ground for Community, and takes the show further away from its early structure. Should the show continue down this path for many more years, it is likely to break the hearts of many a loyal fan, and become extremely hard to watch. Building towards what will likely be a movie finale (to complete the #SixSeasonsAndAMovie prophecy), it’s really good material pushing towards an ending. It’s also really cool that Dan Harmon would take his creations and change them this much on a show that is, primarily, a comedy.

Yahoo! Screen posts new episodes of Community every Tuesday.

COMMUNITY Lays Down the "Law"

Article first published as TV Review: 'Community' - "Laws of Robotics & Party Rights" on Blogcritics.

This week’s Community, “Laws of Robotics & Party Rights” (now available on Yahoo! Screen) finds Greendale College enrolling a bunch of prisoners. The convicts don’t actually set foot on campus. Instead, they are allowed to attend via iPad-attached-to-motorized-wheels for remote commuting. This seems like a good idea, but as one might expect, trouble soon begins brewing at the community college.

Community makes good use of weird things, and the telecommuting robots are a prime example of this. The school takes a very offbeat, but likely realistic, task for this technology, and then turns it into a story about a bullying murderer, Willy (Brian Van Holt, Cougar Town), who feuds with Jeff (Joel McHale), trying to kill him at one point, and being “killed” by Jeff in return.

Now, the way this shakes out, finding out that Willy is actually innocent, actually makes no sense given how he tries to push Jeff down the stairs. But one might argue that Willy is just having fun, and the absurdest, would-never-work assassination attempt is a great sight gag, so I can’t bring myself to tear down the episode because of it. Van Holt is equally believable as a cold-blooded killer and as a prankster.

More importantly, this plots allows “Laws of Robotics & Party Rights” to give us another look at Jeff in a semi-dramatic fashion. The past couple of seasons have delightfully started to delve into what makes Jeff tick, and this episode is no different. We see Jeff has become as much of a slacker as a teacher as he was a student or lawyer, playing Planet Earth videos during his law class. Willy makes him feel guilty about that, though, as evidenced by the strong reaction Willy provokes in him. Will Jeff become a better professor after this incident? I’m not sure, but he very well might. Concerning Community‘s most central player, any time Jeff is analyzed a bit is very welcome.

Having Van Holt play Willy is great because Abed (Danny Pudi) is obsessed with Cougar Town, which Van Holt co-starred in, and the series just came to an end last week on TBS. There have been other Cougar Town peeps pop up in Community episodes, and Abed made a cameo in that show, so its nice to see the connection continue.

While Jeff deals with this, Britta (Gillian Jacobs) wants to throw a party in the apartment, but Annie (Alison Brie) says no. Britta can’t get Abed to outright overrule Annie, but she does trick Abed by getting him to make a movie about a party, which ends up backfiring horribly. In the end, Britta must beg Annie to make it stop, Annie being the only one who understands how to influence Abed.

“Laws of Robotics & Party Rights” highlights how Abed’s antics have become toned down. In the early years of Community, Abed’s delusions are brought to the forefront in big ways. Now, Abed making a party happen continuously for days, which only a few bits of are shown, seems downright tame. This reflects the show’s more grounded direction and the growth of Abed into a functioning human being. I miss the old Abed, but I applaud the writers and Dan Harmon for understanding that change must happen and matching the most eccentric character to the other things going on in the program.

Besides these major plots, there are some great jokes, Elroy (Keith David) still being used for some clever racial commentary, and The Dean (Jim Rash) being as dean-y as ever. It’s a pretty solid installment for the sixth season, and is entertaining on its own.

New episodes of Community post every Tuesday on Yahoo! Screen.

COMMUNITY Finds "Decorum" in a "Crisis"

Article originally published as TV Review: 'Community' - "Basic Crisis Room Decorum" on Blogcritics.

It’s not unexpected that Greendale is accused of granting a dog a diploma on this week’s episode of Community, “Basic Crisis Room Decorum.” It’s only surprising that it’s taken this long. The community college not known for its standards is accused by its rival, City College, of graduating a canine, and the Save Greendale committee must scramble to minimize the impact.

The new Save Greendale group is really coming together. Elroy (Keith David) wanders into the mess when Britta (Gillian Jacobs) runs by his trailer sans pants, and slowly begins to understand them. The Dean (Jim Rash) is more interested in flirting with Jeff (Joel McHale) than admitting his mistakes, but he can still be helpful, if bringing olives is helpful. Even Vicki (Danielle Kaplowitz) and Dave (Darsan Solomon) assist, though they know they aren’t really part of the club, and will barely get to say anything. OK, so Jeff, Annie (Alison Brie), and Frankie (Paget Brewster) are really coming together.

The alpha females are finally clicking. Frankie is the first one Annie calls with the news, and the two seem to have developed a mutually-respectful working relationship. “Basic Crisis Room Decorum” tests that bond when Frankie wants to get Greendale off on a technicality, which goes against Annie’s high moral standards. Annie almost transfer schools in protest. But at the end of the day, they find a way to work together, which is heartening.

Chang (Ken Jeong) remains a bit of an outsider. He isn’t invited, which is kind of a jerk move, considering how long he’s been part of the group. He isn’t getting much of his own stories, either. While Chang isn’t always the best character, I do think he’s earned a little more than “Basic Crisis Room Decorum” and the previous two episodes this year give him.

“Basic Crisis Room Decorum” is a great illustration of Community in general. It is funny, such as when viewers discover that Jeff gave The Dean a false cell phone number and The Dean has been texting a teenager in Japan for some time. But it also has a lot of heart. Abed (Danny Pudi), Jeff, and the others might be willing to deny the truth, but Annie will not, and they care about her hapiness. Thus, they devise a way to make a commercial supporting Greendale that also lives up to Annie’s standards. This sweet / humorous combination is why Community has so much emotional heft, and why it earns so many loyal fans.

The other component that makes the show successful is its weirdness. In season six, the weird comes in little tidbits, rather than devoting a full installment to it, at least so far. While the past may have seen paintball wars and pillow fights, this year Britta has a trippy hallucination mid-episode in “Basic Crisis Room Decorum.” It may be that an entire half hour in a dreamscape won’t fit into the more somber tone Community has taken on in its later years. But by including these bits piecemeal, at least the writers still give fans of the weird what they want.

I don’t have any specific complaints about “Basic Crisis Room Decorum,” which is a very enjoyable episode, but I do have complaints about its presentation. As thrilled as I am that Yahoo! Screen revived Community from cancellation to help fulfill its #sixseasonsandamovie prophecy, I wish the platform had worked its bugs out before launch. The video feed stutters constantly this week on a connection I know is stable and fast, tested before and during streaming.

Tuesday night, the day the episode premiered, it was completely unwatchable, and Wednesday was still tough. Add to that, the player inexplicably switched back to an earlier episode halfway through, and in trying to get back, I had to watch three full batches of commercials (twelve total ads) in a row. It’s worth it to endure these issues to get fresh Community, but it does make the viewing experience a hardship to endure. #FirstWorldProblems

New episodes of Community are available every Tuesday on Yahoo! Screen.

COMMUNITY "Story" Far From "Basic"

Article first published as TV Review: 'Community' - 'Basic Story' on Blogcritics.

NBC’s Community has reached the end of its fifth season with the two-parter that airs this week and next. Part one, called “Basic Story,” finds absolutely no story happening at Greendale. This drives Abed (Danny Pudi) nearly insane, as there always must be a story. But no, the Save Greendale Committee has done its job and saved the school, so all is good in the world. That is, until an insurance appraiser (Michael McDonald, Web Therapy) finds the campus has value, and then the school board can’t wait to sell it off, meaning the Save Greendale Committee did their job too well and had the opposite effect on the school.

It’s absolutely fantastic that “Basic Story” starts with no story. True, Seinfeld made a ten-year run off of a lack of plot, but Community is a show that almost always has something going on. The meta way in which Abed references this, combined with his break down, as he sees his life as a television show and can’t cope with that illusion being broken, is funny and intelligent. It’s another new direction for Community, one that feels very apropos, should this end up being the series finale, the real end of the story.

Fans of Community have long pushed for six seasons and a movie, made famous by their hashtag. Since this is only year five, these viewers, myself included, do not want to see things come to an end now. It would be a promise unfilled, and a terrible tease to get so close to that goal and then fall short. Yet, as has frequently been the case in years past, Community teeters on the brink, unsure of it’s fate. Will the network please just give it one more run, bringing us that much closer to the twitter prophecy?

It’s hard to imagine talking about any other show in these terms, pointing to a social media trend and calling it destiny. Yet, for a series as weird as this one, a program that breaks all the conventional rules of the standard sitcom, it feels right. Just like Abed breaks the fourth wall within the confines of the series, Community should match up with the expectations and dreams of its fans. NBC would be stupid not to give it one more pick up, a gift to those who have followed it for so long, even if it barely makes financial sense. It’s not like the network has an abundance of other successful options to choose from.

If “Basic Story” and its second half does end up being the series finale, though, it is sure to be a good one. This whole fifth year has been a depressing tale of accepting life as it is and giving up on flights of fancy. Jeff (Joel McHale) has to be realistic, returning to the place that drives him crazy and accepting that’s where he belongs. That this place may now be yanked away from him, after he’s put forth so much effort to make it work, feels like the ultimate injustice, and yet one that fits with the tone of the show as a whole.

Jeff deals with the situation as fans would expect him to. At first, he’s in denial, even sending Abed away because he’s can’t cope with the possibility that there might be a problem at Greendale. Then, he acts like he’s OK with the outcome, dissolving the Save Greendale Committee without any huge, outward display of emotion. Finally, he prepares to hook up with Britta (Gillian Jacobs) again, even proposing marriage, settling in love as he does in life.

Some root for Jeff and Britta to be a couple, but I’ve long been a Jeff-Annie shipper. While Britta helps Jeff grow, usually unintentionally, she often feels like she’s the wrong choice for Jeff. In the end, she could be right, but not under these circumstances, where Jeff is just clinging to an anchor as the ship goes down. Their almost-sex is pathetic and sad, not celebratory or fulfilling. So Annie (Alison Brie) is still in the running!

Speaking of Annie, she allows herself to be pulled in to a treasure hunt with the Dean (Academy Award-winner Jim Rash) and Abed. At the last moment, Abed discovers a clue that could save Greendale from being bought out by Subway (anyone else getting Chuck flashbacks?), and they begin searching for the lost riches. This is zany, silly stuff, the kind that the best of Community is made of. But is it real, a Greendale mystery brought to light, or is it Abed forcing a savior into being where none exists?

“Basic Story” has other great character moments, too. The Dean’s breakdown is moving, Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) shoots off some terrific one-liners, and Hickey (Jonathan Banks) and Duncan (John Oliver) bond over an unexpected possible family connection. Best of all, Chang (Ken Jeong) betrays the group yet again. If this is how Community is going out, it’s fitting that Chang should become a henchman for the wrong side, the Subway stooge that spies on the group. Another excellent effort in a long string of them for this show.

Community will conclude its tale, at least for now, Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

"Jeff" Supported By COMMUNITY

Article first published as "Jeff" Supported By COMMUNITY on TheTVKing.

The latest installment of NBC's Community, "G.I. Jeff," doesn't feel like Community when it first begins. Animated in an older style, the opening has G.I. Joe and company in combat with Cobra. Then Jeff (Joel McHale) and his friends join the battle, fighting for Joe, which ends poorly when Jeff kills one of the bad guys. Because, after all, you're not supposed to kill people in cartoon war.

Community has poked fun at a number of genres and mediums in the past, and the G.I. Joe take-off is the latest in this tradition. It's clever and well-drawn, fitting the style and format. I love how the writers bend the conceits of the genre in general and the show in particular, pointing out the absurdities and inconsistencies.

To make a good idea even better, Community adds themed commercials for the G.I. Joe toys, which are part of the tale, a layer of the world. These are fun, but they also mean something, as does the "message" tag on the end. This demonstrates not only a clear understanding of the topic being parodied, but also a brilliant formation of a cohesive story.

The cast of Community is folded nicely into this imaginary world. Jeff and the study group fight for the right side, with Britta (Gillian Jacobs) being renamed Buzzkill, Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) always mentioning her three kids, and so called Three Kids, Abed (Danny Pudi) pointing out the elements of the format as Fourth Wall, the Dean (Jim Rash) serving as the Vice Commander of Cobra, Duncan (John Oliver), Hickey (Jonathan Banks), and Chang (Ken Jeong) are sort of themselves, and Greendale is a dangerous place that thrives on ambition but sucks away the soul. It's a fitting parallel.

That Annie (Alison Brie) is a big-boobed sexpot may not completely match her character, but it quickly becomes clear why she's taken on this persona when we find out "G.I. Jeff" happens in Jeff's mind. Depressed on his fortieth birthday, Jeff has drank too much scotch and taken some suspicious pills, resulting in a delirium while he recovers in the hospital, his friends surrounding him. This whole thing is Jeff's attempt to recapture his youth and expose his frustrations.

Thus, as much of the season has done, "G.I. Jeff" takes a dark turn. Jeff isn't trying to kill himself, but he isn't happy and needs to get unstuck from his current situation. While past years have seen our heroes revel in their joyous fantasies and friendships, this one focuses on the undercurrent of depression and failure. For some, becoming a college professor would feel like a dream fulfilled. For Jeff, returning to a place he has a love-hate relationship with, it's killing him.

There is no closure in this plot, nor can there be at this time. Jeff does realize he's loved, and that will help him heal from the latest wound. But the damage to his psyche is much deeper. He can escape the animated world in his head, but he cannot escape his reality.

This does not bode well as to how the series will end. Jeff has to leave, which will, by necessity, separate him from the people he cares about. The group may remain friends, but nothing will ever be the same when they leave the sheltered community college. However, leave they must, as that's the only way to find the successes and satisfaction they crave.

"G.I. Jeff" is a clever way to deliver this sermon, all the while playing to the familiar Community characteristics and style that make the show so good. A reference to Pierce and 'Harmon Sucks' graffiti are the touches that make the show so beloved, and even when an episode is more emotional than funny, it remains highly entertaining.

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

"Maintenance" Keeps COMMUNITY On Track

Article first published as "Maintenance" Keeps COMMUNITY On Track on TheTVKing.

The latest installment of NBC's Community is "VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing." Buoyed by several memorable guest stars, many of them non-actors doing a great job in rare appearances on screen, the study group is split in two this week for a couple of enlightening stories, leading to a new side being revealed for at least a couple of players. It's an emotional and entertaining episode that continues some of this season's arcs.

After an absolutely terrific opening featuring the under-used Dean (Jim Rash) rapping and breaking down, Jeff (Joel McHale), Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), and Hickey (Jonathan Banks) head off to clean a storage closet. They find 120 mint-condition chemistry text books hidden in a vent, and soon are in a drug deal-esque story to unload them. Things get more complicated when Britta (Gillian Jacobs) is brought in as a middle(wo)man, Chang (Ken Jeong) stumbles on the stash, and Jeff has a crisis of conscience, and in the end, their buyer (compose Paul Williams) walks away without a deal.

Apart from the obvious genre parodying, which is enjoyable, the element that really steals the plot is the turning of Shirley into a kingpin. Brown plays the religious mother so sweetly most times, and despite her prejudices, hypocrisy, and judgmental nature, Shirley is usually very likeable. But when her dark side emerges, usually covered with a layer of honey, watch out! "VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing" may just be the nastiest we've seen her yet, conveying much with a tilt of her head or a lift of her eyebrow.

I also like that Jeff is the one has doubts about their enterprise. He's really turned a corner in what a good person he can be, and while he still makes some bad choices, such as being the one to encourage their illicit activity in the first place, he can't stand to see Shirley go evil and feels bad about his fault in it. I don't think his moral compass was nearly so strong at the start, and it's gratifying to see this growth.

It's worth nothing that much of this season has concerned Greendale's precarious financial situation. The Dean announces paychecks will be late at the start of this episode, and it's likely the text books were hidden precisely because they were worthless misprints, perhaps another mistake the Dean made to drive them further into the hole. Will the Save Greendale Committee be able to preserve the school? Or might this make an excellent main story for the movie referenced in the hashtag #sixseasonsandamovie?

The other side of "VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing" involves Annie (Allison Brie) and Abed (Danny Pudi) searching for a roommate. This is necessary because they can't afford the rent on their own. Annie would like her brother (production staff member Spencer Crittenden) to live with them, while Abed argues for his girlfriend of one month, Rachel (Brie Larson). To settle the disagreement, Annie and Abed drag the other two into a high-stakes round of the old (fictional) VHS game Pile of Bullets.

Bringing up such an outdated form of entertainment as a VHS game is both fitting for Community and hilarious. Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan does a fantastic job as the star of the tape, and his tag at the end of the episode with Gina Gershon makes for some pretty funny meta stuff. The show frequently brings up old trends from the past, and this is another link in that proud legacy.

Of course, things for Annie and Abed aren't so easily solved. As Annie's brother points out, there is a serious vacuum left in the apartment since Troy's departure. No one can really replace Troy in the role he held in their lives, and by trying to force someone into that hole, the two risk ruining whoever they set their sights on. Instead, they need to get a stranger to help pay the rent for practical reasons, then tackle the emotional void on their own.

Abed is already showing signs of development with his crutch gone. Rachel is good for Abed, letting him know when he's acting in an unacceptable manner and charmed by his better qualities. Abed almost loses her in his obsession with the game, but does wake up enough to realize her importance and win her back, creating one of his real, honest moments as he confesses his underlying concerns. She is patient and forviging, and there's a real sense of hope that she might be just what Abed needs to become a whole human being.

"VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing" may not be a particularly special episode, but it's another good one, keeping the show alive to the millions of fans happy to see it survive. Might it be too much to ask from NBC to give us one more season and a film?

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

Dystopian COMMUNITY

Article first published as Dystopian COMMUNITY on TheTVKing.

This week's installment of NBC's Community is called "App Development and Condiments." A pair of software developers (Brian Posehn and Steve Agee from The Sarah Silverman Program) introduce Greendale to a new social rating app for their smart phones, MeowMeowBeanz. Soon, as is par for this college, the app makes the campus devolve into a futuristic dystopian society where the highest rated rule the caste system, and the lowers are treated as slaves.

Only at Greendale Community College can the world change so rapidly. It's not like we haven't seen it before, even within this fifth season. A scenario is introduced into the population, and they whole-heartedly embrace it. Until, that is, it gets too dangerous and real and the study group find a way to dismantle the whole system, having worked out their own personal problems. It's the closest thing Community has to a formulaic episode, and it's highly enjoyable.

MeowMeowBeanz is a clever idea. While "App Development and Condiments" doesn't seem to parody any other particular work, it's sort of like if facebook and hot or not went crazy and evolved into a Hunger Games type of world in which everyone is ruled by this bad, useless technology. And having little cat faces all over the dark set is absurd in the best of ways. Toss in some strange future dance and some white curtains, with a flamboyant class just one step below, and suddenly Community has created a familiar and, at the same time, wholly original landscape.

Of course, these are all trappings for the real story. This week finds Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) with her feelings hurt because Jeff (Joel McHale) didn't invite her to a dinner he knows she can't attend. Community doesn't do Jeff-Shirley stories often, but whenever they do, it's great. They are such similar people in their love of other people's adoration, while also being completely different in their belief systems and manipulative tactics, and they make for a surprising friendship.

"App Development and Condiments" lets Shirley and Jeff play out their feud on a grand scale, drawing everyone else into the battle. This hyper reality is a major draw of the show, and it's quite fun when a personal beef is taken to such extremes. At heart is the argument which can be solved with a simple apology, but everything has to fall apart before either can swallow their pride enough to mend the bond, forced to take a look at themselves by their friends forcing them to do so.

Everyone has their own way of coping with the circumstances of the episode, showing beautifully the wonderfully varying people who make up the show. Annie (Alison Brie) becomes Shirley's butt-kisser. Abed (Danny Pudi) succeeds because he understands numbers and stats, but then doesn't like being in a position of authority. Professor Hickey (Jonathan Banks) gets ahead by pretending its his birthday, every day for over a week, while Chang (Ken Jeong) discovers people like limping and commits to that fully. Star-Burns (Dino Stamatopoulos) tries to serve everyone at once, spying and sneaking, but never rising far.

We also have new character Koogler (Arrested Development creator Mitchell Hurwitz), who seems to come straight out of an 80s film, a fact hit home by the fake movie trailer in the tag. Not an actor, it seems unlikely that Hurwitz will become part of the recurring cast, which makes his appearance superfluous. I enjoyed his role, but would rather he not be included at all if his presence isn't going to be explained or repeated.

Lastly, we have Britta (Gillian Jacobs) doing what she does best - championing a cause. In this case, she's the one that brings down dystopia when she stages a revolution. Her fellow students begin to listen to her only when she has mustard on her face, so she embraces that until eventually the effect wears off. But it's great to see self-righteous Britta, desperate for approval, making it less likely to be given.

"App Development and Condiments" does seem like a fairly typical episode of Community, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. They are layers of story, always present in the best of the series, and some terrific one-liners, such as when Jeff scolds the students for playing through this on a Saturday, when they could have gone home. Tiny bits, like a 4 approving of 'forbidden love' between 4 Jeff and 2 Britta, sell the universe presented. Very good job.

In fact, if I have one complaint about this season, which we are more than halfway through, it's that the Dean (Jim Rash) hasn't really had any story, reducing him back to the small, supporting role he used to occupy. Rash deserves better material, and he is hilarious when he gets it. Let's hope there's at least one meaty Dean story before the end.

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

COMMUNITY Celebrates the "Beta Male"

Article first published as COMMUNITY Celebrates the "Beta Male" on TheTVKing.

The latest installment of NBC's Community, the season's mid-point, is titled "Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality." Most of the study group attends a charity show where Professor Duncan (John Oliver) intends to take advantage of a vulnerable Britta (Gillian Jacobs), but both find themselves confronted with self-reflection instead. Meanwhile, Abed (Danny Pudi) bonds with Professor Hickey (Jonathan Banks).

Professor Duncan has always been a bit of a flat character, which makes sense, since he's only a recurring part, rather than one of the personalities at the center of the show. His presence has increased this season, however, and with that comes a bit of depth. Before, he's been a lecherous jerk, but now we see the compassionate, human side of him. I really thought Duncan would sleep with Britta, but that would have sabotaged his development, knocking him back to what he was before this season.

Community loves point out absurdities right in front of our faces. The friendship between Duncan and Jeff (Joel McHale) is one of those. We're told they're friends, but we never see it. They aren't that nice to one another, and they don't help each other out much. "Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality" corrects that. We still don't know what brought them together or why they've stayed close, but we see Jeff try to help Duncan with Britta, and then Duncan stays away from Britta at least partly for Jeff, instead choosing to spend time with a guy who's down.

Jeff's feelings for Britta have long lingered in the background. Last year, amid a weak overall season, the two shared some really great bits. Now, that attraction is brought out again when Britta is admired by her peers. This does make Jeff a little shallow, but it's nice to see him pull back, both out of affection for Duncan and because preying on Britta for the wrong reasons would be bad. They may still end up together, but probably not, and this was not the right time for it.

Britta herself also demonstrates growth. In the past, she'd rush to some guy's arms to make herself feel better when humiliated in front of former colleagues. Or, at minimum, she'd need a good friend to cheer her up. She and Duncan aren't really pals, so he just provides a ride home. There, she engages in introspection, and while this happens off-screen, it's advancement for her. Probably temporarily, somewhat false advancement in a way, knowing Britta, but still, baby steps are good.

Back at Greendale, Abed wanders into Hickey's study before heading to a movie. One has to assume he's lonely and that's why Abed seeks companionship, as he certainly doesn't have any real purpose for going to Hickey. With Troy gone, Abed does seem adrift, his nerdy antics more pathetic these days, and Abed has to sense that, despite his emotional handicaps. Hickey is the only one around, so Abed seeks that connection to another human being.

This has to prove Abed is not too far gone to save. As much as Community viewers enjoy odd Abed, he can never have a happy ending while remaining so detached from reality. This plot has long been building, at least the past couple of years, and with enabler Troy gone, Abed has no choice but to actually confront it.

Hickey, on the other hand, also lacks many bonds to others. He's suffered, to be sure, but he's also soulful, with a creative side that he caters to. He won't put up with Abed's crap, but he does seem willing to help. Through assisting Abed, Hickey might also find purpose in himself, as he doesn't really seem to like teaching at this point. This relationship could lead to real meaning for both.

Then there's the Chang (Ken Jeong) subplot in which he may or may not have gone to the theater and, while there, may or may not have interacted with ghosts. "Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality" doesn't tell us what happened with Chang, but one might think he's having a bit of a breakdown while going through a divorce; at least, that's one theory from the clues presented. At least Chang's delusions aren't mean-spirited this time, but while funny, this unexplained side story is also sad at its core.

I'd rate "Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality" as a middling Community episode. I enjoy it because of the good character stuff, much better than anything last season, but it is lacking any real excitement or outrageous humor (save for the hilarious Duncan / Dean (Jim Rash) tag). It's a more somber note, as much of this season has been, one heralding change for the better, but in incremental movements.

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

COMMUNITY Breezes Through "Networking"

Article first published as COMMUNITY Breezes Through "Networking" on TheTVKing.

The latest installment of NBC's Community is "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking." The Save Greendale Committee splits into three groups for different projects. Abed (Danny Pudi) and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) conduct a student census. Annie (Alison Brie) and Hickey (Jonathan Banks) try to get a fallen bulletin board rehung. And the other four attempt to decorate for a school midterms dance. Needless to say, none of these subplots are that straight forward.

It's a classic sitcom structure to split a larger ensemble into smaller groups, preferably pairing those who rarely interact with one another, and let characters come to new understandings with others. That's exactly what "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking" does. Annie and Hickey have never gotten along, and now they have to work together. Same goes for Britta and Abed, probably the two with the least to talk about in the gang. And no one likes Chang (Ken Jeong), who is on a mission to prove he can be part of their club this week.

Chang is an odd character because he's always been a member of the main cast, but doesn't exactly fit in. It's worthy noting he isn't assigned a task when Annie doles out the assignments in the beginning, ending up with decorating by default. He's flirted with joining the study group before, but it's never really gelled, with him usually splitting off to end up a villain. But now, with his treachery probably having been taken as far as it can be, and since he didn't actually permanently alienate everyone in the process, he tries to work his way into their good graces by assisting the Save Greendale Commitee. He certainly endears himself to the viewer this week, especially with his special dance.

Chang's inclusion brings the committee up to eight members, finally filling out the table once more (Professor Duncan has also apparently joined). It's nice to not see the holes during the library scenes, and the mix of four teachers and four students seems like the appropriate make up of such an organization. Community, despite its losses, feels whole again.

Of course, Chang screws things up spectaculary, convincing Jeff (Joel McHale), Duncan (John Oliver), and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) to go with a bear-birthday theme, forgetting that he saw on the news that morning that a bear attacked a kid's birthday party and mauled a bunch of people to death. They try to cover it up by turning their the bears they already made into fat dogs, inventing a Wikipedia term (it really isn't as easy to screw up Wikipedia as TV shows pretend it is; there are editors who monitor such things), and following Chang's example of crying to confuse Annie, but they are caught in the end.

This is the kind of zany, weird stuff that only Dan Harmon can do well. Most series couldn't make a wild animal murdering innocent children funny, but the idea is carried out with utter sincerity by the cast, and the visuals of the actual decorations, horrible in their lack of artistic skill, will earn snickers, at minimum. It's a completely original idea executed in the best of ways.

In "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking," Annie starts out on the decoration committee (which is why the others join, thinking she'll do all the work), but goes with Hickey when he can't get the bulletin board hung himself. What follows is a series of bargains, bribes, and threats as the duo go from department to department, building an elaborate chain of favors to get their task done. But to accomplish this, Annie must toss her ideals out the window, something Hickey refuses to do, which threatens the tenuous respect they've earned for one another with their cleverness and tenacity throughout the half hour.

My biggest complaint about this subplot is all of the famous faces that breeze by with barely a couple of lines of dialogue. Nathan Fillion (Castle, Firefly) plays the head custodian, while Kumail Nanjiani (Portlandia, Franklin & Bash) works with him, joining recurring janitors Jerry (Jerry Minor, Brickleberry) and Crazy Schmidt (Eddie Pepitone, Conan). Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds) is an IT girl. It's practically criminal that these people appear so briefly, and they should absolutely return for longer stints in the future.

But other than that, I really enjoyed seeing Hickey and Annie interact. He could really be a mentor to her if he'd let himself open up just a smidgen more, and it certainly seems like her disapproval of him stems from his refusal to grant her his approval. They have terriffic chemistry, and it was great fun to see them spend this time together, clearly leaving plenty of material to mine in their relationship.

Finally, the third story has Britta trying to, well, britta, Abed's favorite new series, which is a very clear play on Game of Thrones. When Abed adeptly sidesteps Britta's attempts to spoil the plot, Britta pays off Abed's new flirtation (Katie Leclerc, Switched at Birth) to do it for her. This hurts Abed deeply.

There isn't much purpose to Britta destroying Abed in "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking." It's more just Britta being Britta, stuck on a mission she invents for herself and carrying it too far. Their friendship will survive it, neither being willing to leave their social circle, but this does effectively sabotage any closeness that may have been earned last week when Britta helped Abed deal with Troy leaving. It resets them to the status quo, which is fine, as they are good how they are.

More interesting is Abed's love life. There's an early reference to Rachel, a.k.a. The Coat Check Girl (Brie Larson), one of the only good things to come out of season four, the Harmon-less, so-called "gas leak" year, and it looks like the new girl will be just a one-time thing, too. Which makes it super surprising when Rachel is seen again late in the program, and she and Abed go off to have dinner.

Might Rachel be just what Abed needs to get over Troy? I really hope she returns because she brings out a very different side of Abed that we don't usually see. Her inclusion here is perfect timing, and while "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking) doesn't reveal what happens on their date, it certainly seems like it'll go well, maybe even turning into something long-term, which would be a first for Abed, romantically speaking.

Among the awesome little tidbits that slip their way into this episode are: two completely opposing viewpoints on the movie Labyrinth; Abed watching Rick and Morty, a new Adult Swim series created by returned Community showrunner Dan Harmon; and Troy (Donald Glover) and LeVar Burton (himself) have apparently been captured by pirates in the Gulf of Mexico, as reported by a news scroll when Hickey is watching TV during the dance.

This last bit has to make it on screen at some point. Please, please, please let Burton and Glover film a spin-off TV movie covering their trip around the world. Community is practically begging for it.

"Analysis of Cork-Based Networking" may be considered a "typical" Community episode, which is fair, but it is completely enjoyable from beginning to end. The magic is back, as I've been saying for weeks, and if every installment were simply as good as this one, it would remain my favorite currently running comedy on TV. This is the perfect example of what Community should be, when it's not doing oddball one-offs, which are most appreciated, too.

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