"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.

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 Makes Some "Queer" Choices

Article first published as TV Review: 'Community' - "Queer Studies & Advanced Waxing" on Blogcritics.

This week’s Community on Yahoo! Screen, “Queer Studies & Advanced Waxing,”does a number of things. It gives Chang (Ken Jeong) his first subplot in quite awhile. It solidifies the evolving partnership between Jeff (Joel McHale) and Frankie (Paget Brewster). And it references the character Brewster previously played on the series, a lingering question these past few weeks. Overall, it’s a fairly solid installment.

For those that may have forgotten, Brewster appears as the IT girl for one episode in the middle of season five. When her casting as Frankie was announced, I wondered how Community would handle it. Sadly, hopes of establishing a tie between them as sisters, or seeing them interact in any way, seem to be dashed by “Queer Studies & Advanced Waxing.” I can’t help but think that the show’s weirdness could have done so much more than just establish that no one knows where she is and she’s been slacking at her job, a choice many lesser sitcoms would likely make. I guess there’s still a chance Community could tackle her missing person case, but it just doesn’t seem to be the way the show is going.

The new IT girl is Elroy (Keith David), which makes a certain amount of sense. True, he’s old and plenty outdated on modern technology, but this is Greendale Community College; they don’t have the budget for anything too new, and their standards are mediocre, at best. Elroy is exactly the type of IT person one would expect such an institution to have, and it gives him a larger role than as a student, expanding his possible reach on the series.

“Queer Studies & Advanced Waxing” sees Elroy and Abed (Danny Pudi) finding a bird’s nest in the router, breaking all Wi-Fi for the campus because, for some reason, there’s a single, unsecured box that provides Internet connections to everyone. No matter, it’s a good opportunity to demonstrate who Elroy is and help him better connect with his peers as he attempts to live up to Abed’s expectations and keep the birds alive.

Though, the episode does leave a cliffhanger when the surviving baby bird flies into the main transformer. Greendale survives without Internet, sadly sans the type of disaster reaction the school normally goes through. Could the writers be setting up a loss of electricity as an even bigger problem?

I don’t think so, and that’s a little sad. As much as I’ve praised Community for maturing and going more grounded, and in general I think it’s a good move, wasting such a blatant chance to throw the student body into a frenzy in favor of other, more toned-down subplots, is a tad disappointing. Hopefully, there will be other episodes that make up for this later in the season. I’m enjoying season six a lot, but there haven’t been many of those “love it to death” moments that occur in previous seasons.

Chang is often a catalyst for some of the crazier things the show does, although he also tends to live on the fringe, not totally connected to the others. That sort of changes in this episode. He plays Miyagi in a stage production of The Karate Kid, and under the tutelage of director Matt Lundergard (Jason Mantzoukas, The League), finds a way to emotionally reach the study group. I doubt acting will be Chang’s calling and new direction, but any chance where Jeong gets to actually show some range and get some development is more than welcome.

Lastly, “Queer Studies & Advanced Waxing” finally answers a long-standing question: Is The Dean (Jim Rash) gay? Most viewers have long assumed so, and that’s a natural inclination, given the character’s behavior. However, by having The Dean declare that gay is only 2/7ths of his sexuality and that he’s so much more than that, they execute a brilliant twist. It makes absolutely perfect sense that The Dean would be completely unique in this manner, and I hope it challenges at least some preconceptions in the audience about how sexuality is a fluid thing, sometimes not easily definable.
There’s also a hint this week that Frankie might be gay. Could there be a Jeff / Frankie / Annie love triangle with Annie (Alison Brie) the focal point instead of Jeff? That would be super interesting. Please show us that!

Community drops fresh episodes on Yahoo! Screen every Tuesday.

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.

"What the Worlds Needs Now" is GLEE Like This

Article first published as TV Review: 'Glee' - "What the Worlds Needs Now" on Blogcritics.


The final season of FOX’s Glee gets back on track this week with “What the World Needs Now.” In a Burt Bacharach-fueled episode, which contains more songs than recent hours, Mercedes (Amber Riley) pushes Rachel (Lea Michele) to revive her Broadway dreams while Brittany (Heather Morris) attempts to repair things between Santana (Naya Rivera) and her abuela, Alma (Ivonne Coll). Neither are entirely successful, at least not yet, but both end happily enough.

First, the music. In the last couple of weeks, the music in Glee has been sparse and mediocre. Bacharach is very successful for a reason, and his songs fit very well in the show’s style. From the opening Rachel / Sam (Chord Overstreet) duet “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” to Brittany’s dreamy “Wishin’ and Hopin'” to Rachel’s triumphant city-spanning “Promises, Promises” audition to the big ensemble closer “What the World Needs Now,” each number lands strong. It doesn’t always make sense as to who is singing them or in keeping with what the situation is (I’m looking at Santana’s soulful “Alfie” for her abuela), but they numbers enjoyable enough and beautifully staged to see past that. Other numbers in this episode include “Baby It’s You,” “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”, and “(They Long to Be) Close to You.”

Second, the story. Brittany trying to make Alma accept Santana for who she is is a sweet, timely narrative. Santana wants her family around her, and hates the estrangement of the past three years. But Alma has old-world values and, even after seeing the loving couple together, cannot bring herself to shift her stance. I think of my own grandmother, sweet and kind as anyone, but unwaveringly against gay marriage to the point that it makes her angry, an emotion I’ve rarely seen from her, and it’s sad. And I’m not even a homosexual.

Society’s attitude overall has shifted, but not nearly as much for the elder population.  There’s a certain age gap, a generation that cannot make the switch into the modern world. Homophobia is this era’s racism, and it’s hard to see otherwise accepting people turn cold against an idea completely alien to them.

That “What the World Needs Now” does not sway Alma is realistic. Most television shows would go with the easy shift, and Glee has changed hearts and minds on many occasions. Who knows, with seven episodes to go in the series, perhaps Alma will be brought back in a softer manner. I hope not, though. It’s a more powerful and believable story to highlight what the schism does to families without resolving it, and if it hits home for a few, it will be well worth it.

I very much like that Mercedes has come back to raise Rachel’s game. The two don’t always get along, but they are stronger together. When they both achieve success in season five, it’s heart-warming. I have no idea how Glee justifies Mercedes having so much time off to come back and encourage Rachel, but I’m glad she does. Rachel has a destiny greater than McKinley, and while reviving the glee club at the high school is a great way for her to spend her recovery time, it’s not her end game.

It won’t be easy for Rachel to break back into show biz, though. Despite that awesome audition, I would be very disappointed if Rachel wins another plumb role so easily. The casting director has to have serious doubts about her reliability given her past track record and the mistakes Rachel has made. If Rachel is given the chance to sell herself and express her regret, that would be OK, and she should be able to work her way back up. But a second bout of instant success cannot happen.

Also, should Rachel be offered a part, she cannot abandon the New Directions to take it right away. Part of showing she’s changed is honoring her commitments, and she recently promises a student she won’t go before their journey is done. She has to finish out the year before she can return to New York City. Otherwise, nothing has changed and she’s likely to make the same bad choices over.
Third, shippers. I’m not a Samchel fan; I am all about Samcedes. But we’ll see how that plays out. From “What the World Needs Now,” it looks like it could go either way.

Fourth, parents. Using Ken Jeong (Community) and Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls) as Brittany’s parents is hilarious. They’re goofy and slightly offense, sort of like Brittany herself. It works extremely well.

My only real complaint about this episode is that Emma (Jayma Mays) is absent from the engagement party in her own house. Since The Millers, the sitcom Mays is a main character in, has been canceled, though, hopefully she’s available to appear in later episodes of the season.

Seven episodes left. If Glee can deliver more stories as moving as “What the World Needs Now,” it will be in great shape. Glee airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on FOX.

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.

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.