Just Can't Get Enough Community
April 06, 2012If there's one television series that I absolutely love and favor most, I have to say it is NBC's comedy Community. It is one of the most versatile television series with the most versatile and contrasting characters and situations currently on television.
 |
| Photo: NBC Universal, Dan Harmon, Sony Pictures. |
When Community was on hiatus (mid-season), NBC just didn't quite seem the same. Luckily, a variety of other comedies still brightened the screen with their presence. Some may be funnier than others, but none-the-less still entertaining. All in all, I'm glad Community is back and finishing the third season.
Community is a series that stands out so much because of it's unique, bizarre, and comedic attributes. Whenever I start watching this show, I can't stop watching it. It's just that entertainingly amazing. And I'm sure there are many others who would agree. When NBC had it on hiatus, there was an uproar from fans all over the internet. And I'm glad there were so many people who did something about it. So I think a thanks is in order to all the bloggers and writers who really achieved the goal of bring it back to television.
Rewind to Remedial Chaos
One of my favorite and perhaps one of the most memorable episodes of Community is the "Remedial Chaos Theory." It's a really thought-provoking episode in which the characters are playing a game of Yahtzee at Troy and Abed's new apartment. Much like the title, it's filled with non-stop chaos, timelines, all with a reoccurring side of a famous song by The Police, Roxanne. But of course, seeing that this is Community, it was no ordinary game of Yahtzee... Seeing that they don't even play the game.
 | ||
| Community. Season 3, Episode 4. Remedial Chaos Theory. Photo source: EW.com, NBC Universal |
Another thing I love about this episode, is how complex it really is. Not only does it bring about thoughts of multiple timelines, and how the course of time and events can change by the slightest thing, but also the relationships between characters. When you think about how different the characters present themselves depending on the presence and/or absence of certain group members- if you've seen the episode, you probably already know the concept I'm trying to convey. Anyway, it's great how the episode really focuses on the simple fact that people are different depending on who is or isn't around.
 |
| Photo: Season 3, Episode 8. Community (2011). NBC Universal, Dan Harmon. |
Mid-way through the third season, they left viewers guessing what is going on with Troy and Britta, wondering what will happen next. Even I was sort of curious to see what was going to happen with the two.. Perhaps they might bring it up in the next season..:?
Fast-Forwarding
As Community continues, it doesn't disappoint.
 |
| Photo: Season 3, Episode 11. Community (2012). NBC Universal, Dan Harmon. |
In the season three, mid-season return episode titled, "Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts" revolves around Shirley finding a balance between renewing vows with Andre (which, from a feminist standpoint, appears not to be the best decision for her character as an independent, almost-starting-a-business woman considering the fact that she has been mistreated and abandoned by this so-called 'man' of whom represents many unfortunately true stereotypes of the black man) and a business proposal with Pierce; and of course it's not that simple (no television episode is). But it all comes together nicely in the end of the episode. I also noticed that other writers/television critics have been claiming/considering this particular episode as more "Shirley-centric", which made me think and realize another brilliant part of Community which is ..
The way an episode can focus on one character without leaving the others left out. This method is executed so well throughout the entire series that viewers might not even realize that an episode is heavily centering around a certain character. And even if a viewer does realize this, it doesn't take away or limit the substance of the episode itself.
 |
| Community Season 3, Episode 11 (2012) Photo: NBC Universal, Dan Harmon |
From Troy and Abed proving that it's good to be weird (or in other words, oneself), to Britta and Jeff's issues with whole idea of marriage, and Annie just looking forward to the celebration, you can already guess that a lot of things are bound happen in this episode.
I realize that the video below is from a completely different episode of Community (season 3, episode 6), but it's a great clip of Troy and Abed that exemplifies their whimsical, imaginative adventures:
Community. Season 3, Episode 6.
Video: NBC Universal, Harmon
Video: NBC Universal, Harmon
 |
| Photo: Season 3, Episode 11. Community (2012). NBC Universal, Dan Harmon. |
Though, I have to say, one of my favorite quotes from this episode, a statement, or analogy, for which I agree, "Weddings are like little girls' tea parties. Except the women are the stuffed animals, the men are making them talk, and they're not drinking tea, they're drinking antiquated gender roles" a line spoken forcefully by the strong feminist, activist-driven Britta.
~
 |
| Community. Season 3, Episode 14. "Pillows and Blankets." Photo: NBC Universal, Dan Harmon. (2012). |
I know I left a lot of things out, as well as a few characters, but when it comes to Community, there's just so much to talk about, so much more and highly detailed analysis that I could discuss but it would be take a lot of time, thought, and writing.
But if there's one thing to be sure of about Community, it's that you never really know what will happen next.
~
Update:
And order Community seasons at Amazon from Sony Pictures.
Photos/Videos: NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, Harmon. (2011, 2012).
0 comments