by Graham Osborne
Worry no longer folks, for Community has returned to our computer screens!
Yes, after receiving the boot from NBC, Yahoo have picked up this wonderful comedy for a sixth season, will we complete the prediction and get a movie before the thirteen episodes are up? Only time will tell.
Worry no longer folks, for Community has returned to our computer screens!
Yes, after receiving the boot from NBC, Yahoo have picked up this wonderful comedy for a sixth season, will we complete the prediction and get a movie before the thirteen episodes are up? Only time will tell.
The show has gone through some changes since its inception, most notably, the departure of Chevy Chase, Donald Glover and, most recently, Yvette Nicole Brown. Ordinarily, losing three main cast members would impact the show negatively, however the remaining cast are phenomenally talented and manage to keep the pacing and jokes flowing thick and fast. The missing cast slots are filled out with new characters, played by Paget Brewster and Keith David. They bring new life to the show, which is fitting, considering the move to Yahoo Screen.
The pilot episode “Ladders” helps to ease the viewers back into the swing of things at Greendale Community College, as well as summing up the events of the past season and the main cast for new viewers to the show. The scene is strongly reminiscent of Season One’s opening, with the Dean speaking through a PA system, as well as cutting between the original cast members as they are introduced. From there, the show quickly settles back into its groove, with plenty of references, tropes and semi-surreal vignettes to whet your appetite.
Shirley’s departure is played in a manner similar to Pierce’s leaving in between Seasons Four and Five, although the departures themselves are different, with plenty of opportunity for her to rejoin the cast should the opportunity arise. Filling in the role of New-Shirley is Paget Brewster playing Frankie Dart, a consultant hired in to prevent any “shenanigans” from happening. It would seem that Frankie has been brought in to replace Jeff as the no-nonsense sane person to the rest of the study group’s quirks, this role is still fulfilled by Jeff himself though in a much more diminished capacity, freeing him up to be the deadpan snarker instead of the only sane man.
The pilot episode “Ladders” helps to ease the viewers back into the swing of things at Greendale Community College, as well as summing up the events of the past season and the main cast for new viewers to the show. The scene is strongly reminiscent of Season One’s opening, with the Dean speaking through a PA system, as well as cutting between the original cast members as they are introduced. From there, the show quickly settles back into its groove, with plenty of references, tropes and semi-surreal vignettes to whet your appetite.
Shirley’s departure is played in a manner similar to Pierce’s leaving in between Seasons Four and Five, although the departures themselves are different, with plenty of opportunity for her to rejoin the cast should the opportunity arise. Filling in the role of New-Shirley is Paget Brewster playing Frankie Dart, a consultant hired in to prevent any “shenanigans” from happening. It would seem that Frankie has been brought in to replace Jeff as the no-nonsense sane person to the rest of the study group’s quirks, this role is still fulfilled by Jeff himself though in a much more diminished capacity, freeing him up to be the deadpan snarker instead of the only sane man.
The show revels in its meta-humour, and is certainly worth two or more watches in order to make sure you’ve caught all the background jokes. Ladders in particular chooses to overdose on multiple montages, as well as taking a knowing wink at the audience whilst they do it.
Episode two, (known in this review as the episode with a long title) really starts to sink its teeth into the absurdity and takes on another of the show’s staples, the partially animated episode. The setting of this one was a virtual reality space, allowing for commentary on the entirety of the 90’s computing industry, as well as films based around the 90’s computing industry. The plot was intended to introduce Keith David’s character, Elroy Patashnik, a computer programmer who has fallen on hard times, making him a perfect fixture to the Greendale group.
Aside from the introduction of the two new cast members, things continued on as one would expect. There’s plenty to enjoy at Greendale Community College, and both episodes require a few watches to soak it all in. Community is back. And it is epic!
Episode two, (known in this review as the episode with a long title) really starts to sink its teeth into the absurdity and takes on another of the show’s staples, the partially animated episode. The setting of this one was a virtual reality space, allowing for commentary on the entirety of the 90’s computing industry, as well as films based around the 90’s computing industry. The plot was intended to introduce Keith David’s character, Elroy Patashnik, a computer programmer who has fallen on hard times, making him a perfect fixture to the Greendale group.
Aside from the introduction of the two new cast members, things continued on as one would expect. There’s plenty to enjoy at Greendale Community College, and both episodes require a few watches to soak it all in. Community is back. And it is epic!
What Do You Think?
Are you happy for the return of Community?
Would you rather it had finished earlier?
Let us know in the comments!
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