Community

[Reply #560 on:]

I'll definitely wait until enough reviews are in. I was pretty disappointed in the last two seasons and the loss of yet another cast member also doesn't inspire that much confidence

[Reply #561 on:]

I thought season 5 was pretty good, and somewhat of a return to form.   I've got the Yahoo Screen community page bookmarked and ready, and I'm looking forward to it.

Addition of Paget Brewster (following on from her short role in Season 5), and Keith David might be good.   I trust in the Harmon.

BTW, has anyone seen the Harmontown movie?

[Reply #562 on:]

I loved season 5. I'd put it easily on par with the other Harmon years. I can't wait for season 6.

The loss of a further cast-member isn't exactly great news, but Professor Hicky, Pierce's replacement, might just be my favourite character, so I'm open to these two replacements.

[Reply #563 on:]

Paget Brewster was fantastic in Andy Richter Controls the Universe, as was Keith David in Enlisted (both single camera tv comedies comparable to Community), so I'm sure they'll both fit in fine.

And I thoroughly enjoyed season 5, although the ending was a tad disappointing. I think the first half was a bit better, but it was a definite return to form after season 4.

BTW, has anyone seen the Harmontown movie?

Not yet, but it's been on my list for a while. Thanks for reminding me!

[Reply #564 on:]

You'll enjoy it.  Some great insights, especially into Harmon's spat with Chevy Chase, and his moodiness.  Spencer Crittenden emerges as the movie's real star, culminating with his guest appearance on Community ("VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing").

[Reply #565 on:]

I still completely disagree that season 5 was a significant improvement over season 4, or that it was a "return to form" at all comparable to the first three flawless seasons and that Dan Harmon was the missing link that was making it all click. I do really like the guy and his influence on the show, but I don't see him as the genius that even he likes to make himself out to be, and I'm not sure I would sit through a whole documentary dedicated to him. I also still stick to my statement that I actually thought there were more standout episodes in 4 than in 5. But we don't have to have that conversation again...I'm crazy and I accept that, I guess. Regardless, I'm definitely looking forward to season 6.

[Reply #566 on:]

I'm rewatching the series now that it's landed on UK Netflix and I've just finished season 1. I'm pretty sure I actually prefer season 5 to 1.

4 was downright atrocious.

[Reply #567 on:]

There were only maybe five episodes in season 4 that I honestly disliked. Meanwhile, I don't think I can say I feel strongly about even half the episodes in season 5.

[Reply #568 on:]

Bump.

Not sure how this didn't get posted yet, but it's awesome.

[Reply #569 on:]

Has anyone seen the Lego Community tumblr?

[Reply #570 on:]

I really can't wait for season 6. The frisbee and inmate facetime student episodes both look particularly interesting.

[Reply #571 on:]

We in the U of K have to wait 24 hours longer for episodes 1 & 2 of S6.  Which airs on SONY TV on Wednesday night.

Skyplussed, and series linked.

#sixseasonsandamovie!

[Reply #572 on:]

^{Source: Wikipedia: Community (season 6)}

It's March 17th and you know what that means!

Show spoiler

That means I don't have a computer and I have to wait 8+ months until I get to see my favorite current non-TV TV show.

I'm not looking to read any spoilers until I've seen the episodes, but from looking at the season 6 promotional poster, it looks like the story arc will involve all of Greendale being evicted and moving into Jeff's junker in which they all decide to go on a road trip.

[Reply #573 on:]

I'm not looking to read any spoilers until I've seen the episodes

Then I would definitely avoid this thread like the plague because that's basically all it will be.

[Reply #574 on:]

"Ladders" was OK. there was a lot to like about it but something just felt "off" and it felt burdened with having to explain all of the changes. I'd say it was pretty similar to "Repilot" in that regard.

Episode 2 was better but still nothing special. It was decent enough Community and I'm glad to have the show back but I hope the next few episodes are a bit better.

The increased budget was pretty apparent, though, which is cool I guess.

[Reply #575 on:]

I've been hearing similar reviews and also a lot of people complaining about having audio and visual problems with yahoo screen

[Reply #576 on:]

We had that in the UK, and it was broadcast on Sony TV.   The picture / sound seemed a bit "off".  Apart from all that, I really enjoyed it.  Some moments that I laughed out loud at.  The fake trailers for movies / TV shows were genius, especially the one with Yvette Nicole Brown (who's looking good, btw!).

[Reply #577 on:]

I think I liked the first episode more. I enjoyed the conversations between Frankie and Abed a lot, as well as the various montages. Paget Brewster is a good addition to the show's dynamic, I think, and they played her introduction off well.

The second episode was more of a mixed bag for me. The virtual reality stuff was just ridiculous enough to be amusing, and I enjoyed Keith David and am looking forward to more of him. I thought the storyline with Britta's parents was a bit too neurotic and over-the-top for me though, which is saying something considering the other plot involved virtual reality. Though I did really enjoy the "Jimmy Fallon syndrome" line.

[Reply #578 on:]

I actually much preferred the second episode, as the whole virtual reality thing just killed me. Of course it's just a stupidly elaborate filing system, and of course the Dean is just blown away by it all.

The fake commercials were also pretty damn funny, but other than that, there wasn't anything particularly special about these episodes. Not bad, not great, just somewhere kinda in-between. Though I understand they're transitional episodes and are laying the foundation for the rest of the season, so here's hoping it picks up from this point.

I must say, I actually miss the tighter pacing much more than I miss Troy, Shirley and Pierce. 20-21 minutes was the perfect length for this show, and the extended runtime is really only causing scenes to go on a bit longer than they need to.

[Reply #579 on:]

I think it'll settle down, and they'll get used to the format.  Remember Season 1 took a couple to get started.

Stand out moments for me, were "Why is he a carrot?",  "I'm going to drink until the score in my head changes from Trent Reznor to Johnny Cash doing Trent Reznor", "AND JESUS WEPT....."

[Reply #580 on:]

I like Frankie, she had her moments.
"I don't know what that means, but I'm writing it down."

She reminds me of Wayne Jarvis.
"He's such a pro."

[Reply #581 on:]

Yeah, I could see that.

Paget Brewster is a damn funny comedic performer, though (see Andy Richter Controls the Universe) and the role doesn't seem to be making full use of her abilities there. I just hope the writers get a better feel for her and her character as the season goes.

[Reply #582 on:]

I think I enjoyed episode 3 slightly more than the first two, though I was hoping for something high-concept to mark their 100th episode.

That said, I don't really feel like season 6 is off to the best start. "Introduction to Teaching" was far better than "Lawnmower Maintenance & Postnatal Care" and "Basic Crisis Room Decorum" didn't even come close to "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics".

Still, none of the episodes have been bad so far and I laughed out loud quite a bit during all the Dean / olives stuff.

[Reply #583 on:]

I thought it was both the funniest and yet also most "off" of the three episodes so far. I honestly think it's not so much the writing but rather it comes down to the pacing, delivery, and camera work. Especially on that latter count, the change to Yahoo from NBC has made a noticeable difference that affects the atmosphere of the show.

Still, I definitely laughed a lot at this episode. Also it was apparently directed by Bobcat Goldthwaite, interestingly enough.

[Reply #584 on:]

This was a really fucking funny episode. All the stuff with the Dean and fake Jeff was hilarious, as was the "Brenda" runner, but the smear campaign video on the dog is probably the hardest the show's made me laugh in a good few years (and, by extension, Annie and Frankie's exchanges on the dog in general).

I agree the show still feels very different, and I think that's largely due to the loosened pacing, but the only real criticism I have here is that Britta's subplot (if it can even be called that) went absolutely nowhere, as much as I enjoyed the pitch perfect satire on 90s alt rock. On the flipside, Frankie is beginning to fit into the group very well now, and it's nice to see Paget Brewster getting some genuinely funny material to work with, as her delivery is flawless.

Overall, this is probably just behind the Meowmeowbeanz episode as my favourite from recent years - it was just really, really damn funny.

[Reply #585 on:]

So I watched the most recent episode and I honestly can't get past the fact that they still haven't changed the title sequence. It's one of the most awkward things to watch that paper unfold where Donald Glover, Chevy Chase, and Yvette Nicole Brown's names were and just see crappy drawings. Not the names of the new cast members, not even an edited version that condenses the remaining cast members, just these...random...doodles...

And while I've only watched the one episode I give credit to the fact that this looks better quality than the past two seasons but there's a lot of dead air and energy. Probably due to the fact that it's a bottle episode that takes place in the early hours of the day where no one else would be around but there's nothing manic about this episode. Also it bugged me that the library led out into the hallway of lockers when clearly that is not how the layout was in any other season.

Keith David's face when Paget Brewster stated she didn't own a TV was great though.

[Reply #586 on:]

I agree.

[Reply #587 on:]

I liked episode 2 more. Story-wise it didn't really mesh together but the weirder bits like the virtual reality and the Gremlins knockoff were pretty funny.

I'm with Beamer on the running times. I had no idea where the plot was going until Jeff found Keith David's character in his trailer. And at the same time I don't get these non-C plots about Chang getting a nasty cat bite or Britta's entire "story" in the third episode. They've not yet found the balance of having longer time which makes the pacing wonky.

[Reply #588 on:]

Eh, Chang's cat bite didn't really bother me at all, it was just a weird runner as opposed to a C-plot. Though I do miss how Chang used to have his own little running storyline every season. Now he's just kind of... there.

[Reply #589 on:]

I enjoyed the episode, and echo everyones comments regarding pacing.  I think it'll kick in, and once we get used to the characters and what their roles are, I think it'll fit in.   I do find it slightly off that Ken Jeong is given very little to do so far, if he's in the group, let him do stuff....

That said, the "I don't own a TV" look had me floored.

[Reply #590 on:]

I do find it slightly off that Ken Jeong is given very little to do so far, if he's in the group, let him do stuff....

Precisely. You'd think he'd be given more material this season rather than less, considering the size of the "main" cast right and the extended episode length.

Speaking of Ken Jeong, did anyone see this last week?

[Reply #591 on:]

I did read that article which I find hilarious because in that time between season 3 and season 4, he was totally ready to jump ship. I think finally someone told Ken Jeong that he does not work as a lead actor and can only be tolerated in small doses.

[Reply #592 on:]

I love Chang when he's used well (ie. the detective noir stuff in Competitive Ecology, which is some of the funniest material the show's produced, in my opinion), but those moments are sadly few and far between. The writers just don't really know what the hell to do with him.

I just find it amusing we were provided assurance that the ONE character who is completely untethered to anyone (or anything) else in the show won't leave.

[Reply #593 on:]

Is it weird that I've watched the first 3 episodes backwards from 3-1 and I liked the first episode the most?

[Reply #594 on:]

It's weird that you watched them out of order. Community probably isn't the best show to do that with.

[Reply #595 on:]

Episode 4 actually felt like an episode of Community! The directing wasn't off, the music cues were natural, the characters felt like they were acting normally instead of feeling forced, the pacing wasn't awkward, and the tone clicked overall. It wasn't quite as interesting or funny as some of the other ones, but it didn't have those setbacks and felt more comfortable, which I think made me able to enjoy it more.

[Reply #596 on:]

While I've only watched seasons 4 and 5 once (and I didn't even see all of season 5), I think I like this season the best so far. That isn't saying a lot but they're keeping everything rather simple and small scale and not going full out bananas like with the Meow Meow Beans episode (which granted had Koogler but I didn't really like the episode otherwise).

[Reply #597 on:]

I'm actually quite surprised they're going for a more subtle and understated approach this season, given the show's increased budget.

That's not to say I'm disappointed, however, although I'll admit I DO love the show most when it goes high concept and balls-out crazy (the Meowmeowbeanz episode was probably my favourite of season 5).

[Reply #598 on:]

I thought the pacing was most noticeably off in the most recent episode, to be honest. I still enjoyed it, but I'd say it suffered from most of the problems that these new episodes have features. I really feel like we're due for a high-concept episode, now.

[Reply #599 on:]

I thought the pacing was most noticeably off in the most recent episode, to be honest.

I assume we're both referring to the pacing of the dialogue within scenes, and not the overall pacing of the episode's plot? Anyway, I find it surprising that our opinions would be so different, but I guess that goes to show how subjective editing and comedy are, especially when in tandem.