By Mahesh Subramaniam
Community introduced us to seven loveable misfits lost in life, who enrol at the educationally questionable Green Dale Community College.
Since season one we've seen the characters through a female buddy cop episode, to a Law and Order parody, to a territorial war between blanket forts, and a paintball battle against a rival college. Community existed to turn television tropes on its head, it's what makes it such a refreshing show.
Community introduced us to seven loveable misfits lost in life, who enrol at the educationally questionable Green Dale Community College.
Since season one we've seen the characters through a female buddy cop episode, to a Law and Order parody, to a territorial war between blanket forts, and a paintball battle against a rival college. Community existed to turn television tropes on its head, it's what makes it such a refreshing show.
As Community fans know, it's one of the most re-watchable shows on TV, as there are so many jokes and references in every scene it's impossible to catch all of them without pressing the pause button. So after watching the season five premiere I re-watched it, and it dawned on me how self aware the episode was.
'Repilot' addresses everything that was wrong in season four. They earnestly try to rectify mistakes, even though saying it was all a dream would have been easier for them to start fresh. They are addressing issues that were present even before season four, as they summed it up in the episode, "We came in one end as real people and out the other end as mixed up cartoons."
After conveniently failed career endeavours all the main characters agree to re-enrol at Greendale and this time focus on what they really need, and to also join a 'Save Greendale' project. And in true Greendale fashion Jeff gets a job as an unqualified law teacher.
'Repilot' addresses everything that was wrong in season four. They earnestly try to rectify mistakes, even though saying it was all a dream would have been easier for them to start fresh. They are addressing issues that were present even before season four, as they summed it up in the episode, "We came in one end as real people and out the other end as mixed up cartoons."
After conveniently failed career endeavours all the main characters agree to re-enrol at Greendale and this time focus on what they really need, and to also join a 'Save Greendale' project. And in true Greendale fashion Jeff gets a job as an unqualified law teacher.
As for the side characters, Chang is back and, this season, has no desire to join the group, instead he parties it up in the staff room as a maths teacher.
Fans of Dean Pelton's character will be thrilled to know other aspects of his personality have returned as season four reduced the use of him to one liners about stalking Jeff. Though he still uses them occasionally, he has other priorities like getting Greendale out of a media filled scandal.
Pierce Hawthorne is no longer at Greendale and his absence from the group is surprisingly noticeable, it seems like he's being replaced by professor Buzz Hickey played by Jonathan Banks. A ruthless bully of a teacher who is a bad influence on Jeff, since we've only just met his character it's hard to say if he can fill Pierce's shoes. It will be interesting to see how the dynamic will change after another cast shakeup when Troy leaves later this season.
The first two episodes of Season five grounded the main characters in order for them to grow naturally once again. And Community's comical awareness of its flaws can only mean it has every intention of fixing them. All in all it looks like Community is finally back on track.
Fans of Dean Pelton's character will be thrilled to know other aspects of his personality have returned as season four reduced the use of him to one liners about stalking Jeff. Though he still uses them occasionally, he has other priorities like getting Greendale out of a media filled scandal.
Pierce Hawthorne is no longer at Greendale and his absence from the group is surprisingly noticeable, it seems like he's being replaced by professor Buzz Hickey played by Jonathan Banks. A ruthless bully of a teacher who is a bad influence on Jeff, since we've only just met his character it's hard to say if he can fill Pierce's shoes. It will be interesting to see how the dynamic will change after another cast shakeup when Troy leaves later this season.
The first two episodes of Season five grounded the main characters in order for them to grow naturally once again. And Community's comical awareness of its flaws can only mean it has every intention of fixing them. All in all it looks like Community is finally back on track.
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