Community: Season 4 Premiere February 7, Old Timeslot

Variable

this is probably my favorite since it came back, maybe this season. It felt classic... but I'm not even sure what I mean by that.

I loved this

jakobagger

I need help reacting to something.

Variable

AManFromEarth wrote: »

UnknownSaint wrote: »

I think Community has an absolute ton of internal references, on par with Arrested Development in that regard, actually. To say that it's 'more about pop culture references' is maybe a little too reductive and doesn't nearly do the show justice.

I mean, they've referenced Daybreak in like half a dozen episodes at this point. The Dean's myriad of entrances are a continuing joke. Jeff's exchanges with Leonard (which they've even subverted as part of Jeff's storyline in a recent episode.) Annie's Boobs. Troy and Abed in the Morning. Six seasons and a movie. It goes on and on and on.

Shit, now that I'm thinking about it, Community may have more of this type of thing than even AD. (Which isn't to say one is better than the other, it's merely a comment on the characterization of the humor in the shows.)

All sitcoms have internal references. The problem with AD is that by the third season a lot of the jokes were just references to the last three years, Community has avoided that trap.

But every show has it's NORM! or How You Doin'? or DAMN IT, WORF!

I don't think community matches arrested development's number of running jokes but I'd have to count.

I don't think AD became only those jokes at any point... as far as narrative the third season is as strong as the others, if shorter. And new jokes continued to work their way in.

and catchphrases are a far cry from what community does (I'd call it internal consistency to be honest, like a real group of friends, minus maybe a handful of things already mentioned). AD came closer to 'catchphrases' but I think it played them differently than the average sitcom.

emnmnme

Variable wrote: »

AD came closer to 'catchphrases' but I think it played them differently than the average sitcom.

Captain Tragedy

Damn, I loved this episode. Granted, I liked the last couple as well, but it was great to get back to a "smaller" episode.

Morblitz

This episode is what I love about community. It can be hilarious when whacky, but it can be hilarious, with toned down whackyness, and character driven, which is what I loved about the first season, and am starting to see again with most of the third.
I really, really enjoyed this episode. It felt more like my favourite parts of the show.

Astaereth

Proposed thread title for this week: "I need help reacting to something."

Lucascraft

I died when Annie answered the phone.

Also: Annies boobs.

Cervetus

This episode was fantastic. It managed to have real character for all seven people in the study group, and still found time to be hilarious. It's been a long time since I watched an episode of Community and immediately wanted to watch it again.

Spoit

So re-watching last week's episode...was east hall (with the North Cafeteria) the west-most building on campus?

Jacoby

So the threat title made me go to Youtube to listen to Daybreak.

Which made me decide to get it on iTunes.

Now I can't stop listening to it.

frandelgearslip

Just wanted to add my love for this episode. My favorite since the clip show last season.

Abed not being able to process the Dean showing up at his door in pajamas was wonderful.

bloodatonement

Cervetus wrote: »

This episode was fantastic. It managed to have real character for all seven people in the study group, and still found time to be hilarious. It's been a long time since I watched an episode of Community and immediately wanted to watch it again.

I've be rewatching season 1 the last few weeks. I was really starting to miss the smaller, more character driven episodes. But that could just be a side effect of the 3 month hiatus.

Also, Vaughan was very nice to Brita. He wrote her a poem.

Ages

And she didn't know how to react to said poem, and ended up sabotaging the relationship as a result...

Variable

I haven't watched that episode in ages

which isn't significant except I probably watched it like 25 times before season 2 even aired

mnihil

That recent episode was really enjoyable, although I am so sick and tired of narcissistic, obsessive Jeff and insane loser Britta. I hope the revelation at the end of the episode sticks this time. Britta was so much more grounded, in spite of some dubious opinions and life choices, in Season One, and less of a victim of everything.

TexiKen

Another callback to an earlier episode was Pierce and Chang being friends I thought, since Pierce went to go get frozen yogurt with Chang after wearing his lady suit for Valentine's Day (slut!)

PantsB

Lucascraft wrote: »

Also: Annies boobs.

Disrupter

Fucking fuck, Donald Glover continues to absolutely kill it in this show. Everything from the way he texted, to his reaction to the guys Britta likes, to his reaction to Britta's reaction to his text, to his coming back to join the gang was absolutely stellar. Amazing job. I keep saying he is the next Will Smith. But I cant tell if that makes me racist...

But yeah, if there is going to be one breakout star of this show, its him.

Awesome episode. "I need help reacting to something" had me rolling.

Things I didnt like: Annie actually giving Britta her phone back. Even though she changed the numbers, she seemed genuinely trusting in the whole "sister" act.

Jeff's speech at the end seemed forced even by community, Winger Speech at the end standards.

Chang and Peirce were used perfectly. I hope that relationship continues.

jakobagger

I'm fairly sure Jeff's speech at the end feeling forced was intentional. Not ironic, but kind of winking at it, as it were.

Nappuccino

Jeff was talking more to himself than anyone else in the room

bloodatonement

Also, WHAT THE HELL DID TROY WRITE???!!!??

Julius

bloodatonement wrote: »

Also, WHAT THE HELL DID TROY WRITE???!!!??

Yeah I'm way curious about that too.

SanderJK

We don't know exactly. But I agree with the speculation that it's probably his true feelings for Britta in some form, which is why he looks so hurt when Britta calls Blade a loser, and why there are Meaningful Looks(tm) at the end of the episode.

Musicool

Disrupter wrote: »

Fucking fuck, Donald Glover continues to absolutely kill it in this show. Everything from the way he texted, to his reaction to the guys Britta likes, to his reaction to Britta's reaction to his text, to his coming back to join the gang was absolutely stellar. Amazing job. I keep saying he is the next Will Smith. But I cant tell if that makes me racist...

He's a triple threat like JT!

Spoiler:

The comedian part replaces his unknown dancing skills.

Spoiler:

I like his rap an unhealthy amount. Especially that one song about girls and sex being confusing.

HadjiQuest wrote: »

I love how Abed's character is turning from

Spoiler:

whimsical and quirky detachment to a realistic, asperger's like inability to even register the things happening around him. It's a darkness, and it was played as such the last couple weeks, but in this episode it was just subtle and just bobbing at the surface. It was really troubling, and the way that Troy is falling apart, and all the other characters are going through so much, I was really afraid for all of them for the entire episode.

And I still am.

It's a very strange way to connect with a sitcom. Normally the downs are really false feeling or are more connected to the fictional world of the show, while the ups are just super greeting card-y and overly pleasing. I love Parks and Rec, but Leslie's problems are her problems, and her successes make me tingle but I can't connect to them at all.

Community feels like I'm actually watching my friends drift apart.

Legit spoiler, unlike the earlier ones in my post.

Spoiler:

Yeah, I like that Abed is suffering from something a little bit more like actual Asperger's. I'm close to someone with the real thing so while I could always get behind "emotionally detached obsessive with cool episode-required abilities" it just irked whenever the show tried to mention the reason why. Ever since the first few episodes Abed hasn't been anything like my experience with Asperger's.

But that moment in the first blanket fort episode, where Abed says "Make your blanket fort, just don't connect it with mine," (or whatever). Actor and writers both really nailed it for me.

Nibble

I can't say that Community has held the same shine for me as it did in the first season, but I'll always come back for Donald Glover's amazing performance.

Asharad

Disrupter wrote: »

Fucking fuck, Donald Glover continues to absolutely kill it in this show. Everything from the way he texted, to his reaction to the guys Britta likes, to his reaction to Britta's reaction to his text, to his coming back to join the gang was absolutely stellar. Amazing job. I keep saying he is the next Will Smith. But I cant tell if that makes me racist...

James Franco is the white Donald Glover.

Antimatter

Musicool wrote: »

Disrupter wrote: »

Fucking fuck, Donald Glover continues to absolutely kill it in this show. Everything from the way he texted, to his reaction to the guys Britta likes, to his reaction to Britta's reaction to his text, to his coming back to join the gang was absolutely stellar. Amazing job. I keep saying he is the next Will Smith. But I cant tell if that makes me racist...

He's a triple threat like JT!

Spoiler:

The comedian part replaces his unknown dancing skills.

Spoiler:

I like his rap an unhealthy amount. Especially that one song about girls and sex being confusing.

HadjiQuest wrote: »

I love how Abed's character is turning from

Spoiler:

whimsical and quirky detachment to a realistic, asperger's like inability to even register the things happening around him. It's a darkness, and it was played as such the last couple weeks, but in this episode it was just subtle and just bobbing at the surface. It was really troubling, and the way that Troy is falling apart, and all the other characters are going through so much, I was really afraid for all of them for the entire episode.

And I still am.

It's a very strange way to connect with a sitcom. Normally the downs are really false feeling or are more connected to the fictional world of the show, while the ups are just super greeting card-y and overly pleasing. I love Parks and Rec, but Leslie's problems are her problems, and her successes make me tingle but I can't connect to them at all.

Community feels like I'm actually watching my friends drift apart.

Legit spoiler, unlike the earlier ones in my post.

Spoiler:

Yeah, I like that Abed is suffering from something a little bit more like actual Asperger's. I'm close to someone with the real thing so while I could always get behind "emotionally detached obsessive with cool episode-required abilities" it just irked whenever the show tried to mention the reason why. Ever since the first few episodes Abed hasn't been anything like my experience with Asperger's.

But that moment in the first blanket fort episode, where Abed says "Make your blanket fort, just don't connect it with mine," (or whatever). Actor and writers both really nailed it for me.

Meanwhile,

Spoiler:

I know a dude with aspergers and thinks that abed is a great character that works. Absolutely not intended to say you're wrong, but that there's different experiences.

RhalloTonny

Spoiler:

After the blanket fort episode I said to a friend "This is eerily close to what it's like actually being friends with someone with Aspergers."

The past few episodes have been kind of 'meh' to me. This week, however, triggered the same "Sure, why not watch it again on Friday" reaction that the older episodes have. Jeff being such a narcissist that he forgets someone's name a day later? A bit on the side of a flanderization. Going to a carnival to check out somebody's ex? Perfectly plausible.

_J_

She was born in the 80s; she uses her phone as a phone!

Witch_Hunter_84

Did Gillian Jacobs have some work done?

On another note, the moment where Britta realized that the message was from Troy was really heartwarming.

izzyb

Witch_Hunter_84 wrote: »

Did Gillian Jacobs have some work done?

Its her hair...firmer curls kept in place, giving less of her usual `slightly bedraggled'/Britta Is The Worst appearance.



With the slight wardrobe change, maybe they' ve done this as part of supporting the romance angle with Troy, trying to bridge the character age gap with grooming.

Variable

SanderJK wrote: »

We don't know exactly. But I agree with the speculation that it's probably his true feelings for Britta in some form, which is why he looks so hurt when Britta calls Blade a loser, and why there are Meaningful Looks(tm) at the end of the episode.

what else could it possible be?

Schrodinger

Is anyone else hoping to see flashbacks of Annie addicted to pills?

Element Brian

Antimatter wrote: »

Musicool wrote: »

Disrupter wrote: »

Fucking fuck, Donald Glover continues to absolutely kill it in this show. Everything from the way he texted, to his reaction to the guys Britta likes, to his reaction to Britta's reaction to his text, to his coming back to join the gang was absolutely stellar. Amazing job. I keep saying he is the next Will Smith. But I cant tell if that makes me racist...

He's a triple threat like JT!

Spoiler:

The comedian part replaces his unknown dancing skills.

Spoiler:

I like his rap an unhealthy amount. Especially that one song about girls and sex being confusing.

HadjiQuest wrote: »

I love how Abed's character is turning from

Spoiler:

whimsical and quirky detachment to a realistic, asperger's like inability to even register the things happening around him. It's a darkness, and it was played as such the last couple weeks, but in this episode it was just subtle and just bobbing at the surface. It was really troubling, and the way that Troy is falling apart, and all the other characters are going through so much, I was really afraid for all of them for the entire episode.

And I still am.

It's a very strange way to connect with a sitcom. Normally the downs are really false feeling or are more connected to the fictional world of the show, while the ups are just super greeting card-y and overly pleasing. I love Parks and Rec, but Leslie's problems are her problems, and her successes make me tingle but I can't connect to them at all.

Community feels like I'm actually watching my friends drift apart.

Legit spoiler, unlike the earlier ones in my post.

Spoiler:

Yeah, I like that Abed is suffering from something a little bit more like actual Asperger's. I'm close to someone with the real thing so while I could always get behind "emotionally detached obsessive with cool episode-required abilities" it just irked whenever the show tried to mention the reason why. Ever since the first few episodes Abed hasn't been anything like my experience with Asperger's.

But that moment in the first blanket fort episode, where Abed says "Make your blanket fort, just don't connect it with mine," (or whatever). Actor and writers both really nailed it for me.

Meanwhile,

Spoiler:

I know a dude with aspergers and thinks that abed is a great character that works. Absolutely not intended to say you're wrong, but that there's different experiences.

On the subject

Spoiler:

So I had a class on teaching kids with disabilities this semester, and when I had to do a presentation on Aspergers in the Society, I used Abed as an example. I think there are some episodes that really tie the idea in, especially the bottle episode and first valentines day episode where he demonstrates not understanding sarcasm. The Who's the Boss episode where he can't understand the teacher's joke and takes the who's the boss question literally, and the episode with Troy where he doesn't understand people messing with other people.

Hacksaw

Element Brian wrote: »

Antimatter wrote: »

Musicool wrote: »

Disrupter wrote: »

Fucking fuck, Donald Glover continues to absolutely kill it in this show. Everything from the way he texted, to his reaction to the guys Britta likes, to his reaction to Britta's reaction to his text, to his coming back to join the gang was absolutely stellar. Amazing job. I keep saying he is the next Will Smith. But I cant tell if that makes me racist...

He's a triple threat like JT!

Spoiler:

The comedian part replaces his unknown dancing skills.

Spoiler:

I like his rap an unhealthy amount. Especially that one song about girls and sex being confusing.

HadjiQuest wrote: »

I love how Abed's character is turning from

Spoiler:

whimsical and quirky detachment to a realistic, asperger's like inability to even register the things happening around him. It's a darkness, and it was played as such the last couple weeks, but in this episode it was just subtle and just bobbing at the surface. It was really troubling, and the way that Troy is falling apart, and all the other characters are going through so much, I was really afraid for all of them for the entire episode.

And I still am.

It's a very strange way to connect with a sitcom. Normally the downs are really false feeling or are more connected to the fictional world of the show, while the ups are just super greeting card-y and overly pleasing. I love Parks and Rec, but Leslie's problems are her problems, and her successes make me tingle but I can't connect to them at all.

Community feels like I'm actually watching my friends drift apart.

Legit spoiler, unlike the earlier ones in my post.

Spoiler:

Yeah, I like that Abed is suffering from something a little bit more like actual Asperger's. I'm close to someone with the real thing so while I could always get behind "emotionally detached obsessive with cool episode-required abilities" it just irked whenever the show tried to mention the reason why. Ever since the first few episodes Abed hasn't been anything like my experience with Asperger's.

But that moment in the first blanket fort episode, where Abed says "Make your blanket fort, just don't connect it with mine," (or whatever). Actor and writers both really nailed it for me.

Meanwhile,

Spoiler:

I know a dude with aspergers and thinks that abed is a great character that works. Absolutely not intended to say you're wrong, but that there's different experiences.

On the subject

Spoiler:

So I had a class on teaching kids with disabilities this semester, and when I had to do a presentation on Aspergers in the Society, I used Abed as an example. I think there are some episodes that really tie the idea in, especially the bottle episode and first valentines day episode where he demonstrates not understanding sarcasm. The Who's the Boss episode where he can't understand the teacher's joke and takes the who's the boss question literally, and the episode with Troy where he doesn't understand people messing with other people.

I still believe that

Spoiler:

Abed purposefully bottles his emotions due to his mother leaving him and his father to start a new family for no good reason.

Schrodinger

Why are we using spoilers for Abed?

_J_

Schrodinger wrote: »

Why are we using spoilers for Abed?

Abed hates spoilers.

The Dude With Herpes

So, was it me, or were there a lot of too obvious references to Troy and Abeds air conditioner?

Over-obvious setup for a future wedge between them related to Goodman? Or a red herring?

Variable

I have to say I think there weren't because I didn't notice any until the credit scene. but maybe I was just paying attention to something else.