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[rollingstart]

Community is no longer subtly funny. All of the characters are caricatures of their former selves; their personalities have been blown up so much. Abed used to be genuinely weird - like a kid with asperger's - now he's like the all-knowing, all-powerful god of the show.

The show is no longer developing the characters' traits, but instead taking the traits they were given in the first half of the season and magnifying them to an unwelcomed extent.

Don't get me wrong... I loved today's episode. But the show, as a whole, has been going in a really undesired direction. Most of the jokes are blatant and in-your-face, and lacking that clever subtlety from the first half of the season.

The show, itself, it getting wackier. It's turning into Scrubs. Scrubs is a great show, but I definitely liked my Community more when it was more like Arrested Development.

The other issue I have is that the stories are extremely episodic. There really aren't many ongoing jokes, because the characters' gimmicks.

Honestly, I really can't place what's rubbing me the wrong way, but the extreme allure I once had for Community has almost completely faded. It went from potentially my favorite show to "I guess I'll catch it if it's on." It's sad, because I felt like the characters had so much to offer. But in the end, they haven't developed past the first few episodes. (Except Abed, who is so much worse now.)

yeah, the show has gotten a bit boring but episodes like this and the Goodfellas one were nice because it took the ridiculous caricatures and applied them to wink wink nod nod type stories. I still think the best episode is the one where Jeff and Abed got drunk at night because it made at least a few of the characters interesting, but again, episodes like this one were fun. I don't think the characters are interesting enough to carry an episode without some absurd reference driven theme.

They already have gone through each of the character episodes and now it seems like they're trying to go through the loop again. You don't have complete funny stories; you have Abed and Jeff doing something with everyone else either doing something unrelated or just to support those two characters. I mean, it's all pretty shallow. It's like if there was a video game made entirely of side quests.

Wasn't that Predator?

Simply awesome ep.

yeah, it was Predator.

 

[cory]

hay guyz cumoonitty sux

HOW is it possible to hate such a good fucking show? I don't get it.

not talking to you btw cory, just saying. the hate towards some shows is ridiculous.

I think you got what I was saying backwards.

 

[noisome07]

I think you got what I was saying backwards.

probably. im fuckin blown

 

[snesfreak]

From that GAF's Worst Avatars thread

You and your merry band of pariahs have taken a show that people would ordinarily be indifferent to and made them despise it.

Congrats.

:lol

 

[noisome07]

see thats what im fucking talkin about

 

[Costanza]

Makes me sad to see all the hate, and even casual "eh, it's ok" posts this show gets, but I guess people's tastes just vary.

It's definitely my favorite television show of all time, by a huge margin. I love literally everything about it and feel like it's only gotten exponentially better as it's gone on and gotten more comfortable with itself.

edit: That guy snesfreak quoted is a fucking idiot.

 

[Dacvak]

yeah, the show has gotten a bit boring but episodes like this and the Goodfellas one were nice because it took the ridiculous caricatures and applied them to wink wink nod nod type stories. I still think the best episode is the one where Jeff and Abed got drunk at night because it made at least a few of the characters interesting, but again, episodes like this one were fun. I don't think the characters are interesting enough to carry an episode without some absurd reference driven theme.

They already have gone through each of the character episodes and now it seems like they're trying to go through the loop again. You don't have complete funny stories; you have Abed and Jeff doing something with everyone else either doing something unrelated or just to support those two characters. I mean, it's all pretty shallow. It's like if there was a video game made entirely of side quests.

I agree with this 100%. Again, it's not a BAD show by any stretch, and I'm fairly certain I've watched more Community than anyone on GAF. But it's just a shame that the characters aren't being developed anymore, and we have to rely on their personality gimmicks to get through a show.

I mean, with the premise of the show and the diversity of the character's, it's probably really tough trying to come up with fresh ideas that don't rely on said character gimmicks while fitting everyone in. But at this point, the show is nothing more than just "ha-ha" funny. It's no longer deep.

Spoiler

FYI, this is all very difficult for me to write, because I fucking LOVED this show more than anything when it first came out. I loved the characters so much, and I wanted Community to be my favorite show. Dammit. :<

 

[noisome07]

I agree with this 100%. Again, it's not a BAD show by any stretch, and I'm fairly certain I've watched more Community than anyone on GAF. But it's just a shame that the characters aren't being developed anymore, and we have to rely on their personality gimmicks to get through a show.

I mean, with the premise of the show and the diversity of the character's, it's probably really tough trying to come up with fresh ideas that don't rely on said character gimmicks while fitting everyone in. But at this point, the show is nothing more than just "ha-ha" funny. It's no longer deep.

Spoiler

FYI, this is all very difficult for me to write, because I fucking LOVED this show more than anything when it first came out. I loved the characters so much, and I wanted Community to be my favorite show. Dammit. :<

doubt it

 

[Dacvak]

doubt it

Maybe, maybe not. I watched the first, like, 13 episodes at least 6-8 each. The first 3 I probably watched over 12-15 times. Since then I've watched each episode at least 3 times.

Regardless, it's a ton.

 

[Calcaneus]

I see where you guys are coming from, but it honestly doesn't bother me at all.

I think it seems like they've taken a long time between episodes that moved along the characters because they got those two(or three?) extra episodes and decided to stick em in before this episode instead of at the end. They had to write those episodes without changing any of the dynamic because it wouldn't mesh right.

 

[cory]

So basically Flanderization.

 

[SleepDeprived]

 

[UraMallas]

Makes me sad to see all the hate, and even casual "eh, it's ok" posts this show gets, but I guess people's tastes just vary.

It's definitely my favorite television show of all time, by a huge margin. I love literally everything about it and feel like it's only gotten exponentially better as it's gone on and gotten more comfortable with itself.

edit: That guy snesfreak quoted is a fucking idiot.

20 fucking episodes of above average to really great episodes and you're willing to put it in a league with the greatest sitcoms? And it's brevity isn't my main complaint with giving it such a high pedestal. I'll give it some time to breathe before I slobber all over it. It needs time and perspective. But, like you said, people's tastes vary.

 

[Suikoguy]

The beginning of next season will determine how long the show can continue.

I do wonder if the level of crazy is being pushed by NBC to try to appeal to a broader audience... Still, there is a ton of smart comedy mixed in with the over the top comedy.

You can only 1up your self so many times... but a fantastic episode nonetheless.

 

[Crumpet Trumpet]

That was some craziness I just witnessed.....didn't make me laugh though, but whatever.

 

[shenglongdong]

Definitely the best episode of Community this season. Hands down. And the Die Hard references were pure gold.

 

[Costanza]

Next week's episode sounds good (and sort of a return to the show's less over the top roots).

English As A Second Language

After the shocking discovery that Senor Chang (Ken Jeong) does not have a teaching degree, Greendale Community College is forced to bring in a new Spanish teacher. Meanwhile, Troy (Donald Glover) discovers a trade he truly excels in -- plumbing.

 

[cory]

Something's changed.

 

[snesfreak]

Just getting these posted.
edit 1:

edit 2:

 

[Costanza]

Someone really needs to rock a Leonard avatar.

 

[mj1108]

That was some craziness I just witnessed.....didn't make me laugh though, but whatever.

It was more awesome than funny....but that's a good thing.

 

[Brera]

MINE!

!!

 

[Sanjuro]

I josh on the show. I haven't been watching it regularly as much lately, but I caught up with the episodes this week. I don't see the shows appeal going the distance but as of right now it's gold.

 

[heliosRAzi]

Mine!

 

[snesfreak]

edit:

I'll keep updating the other post with avatars

 

[mightynine]

Great. Just great. So amazing considering this is just the first season. Everything clicks so well.

 

[Tokubetsu]

That episode was so fucking amazing. Everything about it. So awesome.

 

[Tom_Cody]

The hype was appropriate. Amazing episode.

 

[Tokubetsu]

Even if its downhill from here, at least we got a fuck awesome season.

 

[victreeb3l]

I thought the episode was just alright. The parts with Sr. Chang was pretty awesome but the rest of it was just okay.

From that glowing review and all the hype, this was disappointing. I didn't laugh really, just smirked at a few things. I don't really like how this show is getting so wacky and in your face. It feels more and more like a cartoon with each episode.

Maybe I've been watching a lot of Modern Family lately, but Community is losing its edge for me :/ Shame because the earlier episodes were absolutely hilarious.

At least Britta is getting more screen time. Maybe there's potential with Sr. Chang being a student as well now?

 

[noisome07]

I thought the episode was just alright. The parts with Sr. Chang was pretty awesome but the rest of it was just okay.

From that glowing review and all the hype, this was disappointing. I didn't laugh really, just smirked at a few things. I don't really like how this show is getting so wacky and in your face. It feels more and more like a cartoon with each episode.

Maybe I've been watching a lot of Modern Family lately, but Community is losing its edge for me :/ Shame because the earlier episodes were absolutely hilarious.

At least Britta is getting more screen time. Maybe there's potential with Sr. Chang being a student as well now?

on you

 

[Cep]

Checkmate bitches!

:lol

 

[mightynine]

What song was that Chang entered to?

 

[Mashing]

Can I get an avatar of Chang walking into (what I would assume to be) the study room?

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

MINE!

!!

Aw can you use it?

Can someone do another one of Annie with guns?

 

[aparisi2274]

If they had used Doves when Chang entered the study room that would have been perfect....

 

[tilde]

Oh god, this was the best episode EVER.

 

[snesfreak]

Can I get an avatar of Chang walking into (what I would assume to be) the study room?

 

[big ander]

This. Goddamn. Episode.

I feel so wrong loving both Modern Family and Community so much. They're my two favorite freshman comedies, and most likely my two favorite comedies overall. But I could never choose between the two. I've gone back and forth so many times. :lol I think I'll just not even think about it and just be grateful that these two shows are so kick ass.

Favorite moments:
-Pelton and Chang in the office
-Abed takes down Leonard
-The fight with the glee club :lol
-Chang v Britta and Jeff
-Abeds something feels different
-The end tag

 

[Mashing]

<---Perfect, Thank you very much.

 

[Deadly Cyclone]

Brera, can you change your avatar at all?

 

[noisome07]

Brera, can you change your avatar at all?

I would just take it if I were you.. First time I've seen that dude post in this thread. Plus he fucked up his avatar in the past. His loss I guess?

 

[abq]

Brera, can you change your avatar at all?

He can if he asks Red Scarlet to fix it.

 

[bbsting120]

Brie posted a behind the scenes pic from the episode on her twitter: http://twitpic.com/1lnzdr

Must be so much fun working on this show

 

[NomarTyme]

Very entertaining episode.

 

[mj1108]

Brie posted a behind the scenes pic from the episode on her twitter: http://twitpic.com/1lnzdr

Must be so much fun working on this show

I want to work on that show when I grow up.

 

[big ander]

Brie posted a behind the scenes pic from the episode on her twitter: http://twitpic.com/1lnzdr

Must be so much fun working on this show

Yeah, all signs point to this cast absolutely loving each other. They hang out all the time off-set, and they really seem to mesh.

Troys death scene was amazing. :lol :lol

 

[Medalion]

I haven't had a chance to read through the thread about other's impressions...

but so far I just finished through it, and I gotta say, the episode for me personally... it didn't get really great till the 2nd half of the episode. Maybe it was all the hype kinda dulled it for me but the first half I barely cracked much a smile. Like I said in the past, the hyper reality episodes for me can be a bit hit and miss... and this one straddled the line between over the top and ok silly.

I've been an advocate of Britta and Jeff, and seeing them kiss and pretend they don't feel anything and then kiss and keep you guessing is a bit annoying. I can't wait to see this storyline unfold in the next few episodes though. They've finally done it and it was underwhelming to say the least.

I did get a kick out of watching my two fave characters go at it... Britta and Senor Chang square off was fucking epic!!! I need a gif of those two stat!

I will read some impressions after this post.

This episode didn't live up to the hype but it wasn't bad or dissapointing either, I'm kinda middle ground about it.

 

[ezekial45]

That was a fun episode. Here are the references i noticed:

- Escape from New York
- Die Hard
- The Terminator
- The Matrix
- The Warriors
- Scarface
- Predator

 

[bbsting120]

This episode didn't live up to the hype but it wasn't bad or dissapointing either, I'm kinda middle ground about it.

Maybe the hype was the problem. I didn't read anything going in so I had no expectations...and I absolutely loved it. I think it's my favorite episode of the series thus far (taking the place of the Halloween ep)