Why You Should Give 'Community' a Chance Despite Its Flaws
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Introduction to 'Community'
I must admit, my journey with sitcoms often begins with skepticism. This was true for Community, a show centered around a community college study group that aired from 2009 to 2014 on NBC, with a final season in 2015 on Yahoo!.
When my husband, who was my boyfriend at the time, introduced me to a random episode, I initially found it utterly ridiculous. The infamous blanket fort episodes didn’t resonate with me then. But therein lies the charm of Community.
Despite my initial hesitation, the pandemic prompted us to revisit the show. We established a "5-episode rule" at home, meaning we wouldn’t judge a series until we had watched at least five episodes. This guideline led me to unexpectedly enjoy shows like Friends and Brooklyn 99, the latter not being a personal favorite but still a solid choice.
Thanks to this approach, I’ve not only watched but rewatched Community multiple times. Here’s why it deserves your attention:
The Unique Appeal of Community
Community transforms absurdity into something believable. It invites viewers into a whimsical realm where anything can happen, and often does. Each episode feels distinct, offering genres like cop shows, dramas, thrillers, animations, and documentaries, all while keeping the humor intact.
While it includes romantic elements, it isn’t your typical sappy sitcom. It represents a diverse group of friends authentically, with each character in the original cast bringing their own eccentricities to the mix. The recurring college-life scenarios keep you engaged, and the portrayal of Abed, an autistic character, serves as a heartfelt tribute to neurodiversity.
Despite its brilliance, Community isn't without its flaws. The show struggled with its conclusion, failing to recognize when it was time to wrap up.
Spoiler Alert: Key Characters Depart
The departure of characters like Pierce (Chevy Chase), Troy (Donald Glover), and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) leads to a noticeable decline in the show’s quality. As the core cast began to leave, the narrative lost its cohesiveness, likely due to some behind-the-scenes turmoil.
Taking Friends as a comparison, it ended on a high note when the characters had all found their paths. In contrast, Community continued long after the central storyline had run its course.
Why did Jeff become a teacher? Why did the study group remain involved in school dramas long after their graduation? The show, which centered around a community college study group, seemed to lose sight of its premise.
Consider The Office, which managed to sustain its narrative even after Steve Carell's departure, because it was inherently about the office environment, not solely about Michael Scott.
Final Thoughts
As my life guide reminds me, there’s a time for every purpose. While we may desire eternity, life—and storytelling—requires us to recognize when it’s time to conclude a narrative. Community failed to do this, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a chance.
And guess what? I'm about to dive back into it right now.
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Chapter 1: The Journey of Discovery
The beginning of my Community experience was filled with uncertainty...
This video explores the elements that contributed to Community being considered one of the best sitcoms ever.
Section 1.1: The 5-Episode Rule
The rule we established at home helped broaden our viewing horizons...
Subsection 1.1.1: A Comedy Wonderland
Section 1.2: The Imperfect Conclusion
The challenges faced by Community in its later seasons...
Chapter 2: Understanding the Flaws
This video discusses what makes Community stand out and why its quirks are worth celebrating.