Dean Pelton welcomes you to Greendale!
The gang is back and things are changing! Jeff (Joel McHale) is planning on leaving Greendale Community College…if nothing gets in his way! With only one credit to go, Jeff and his study group are saddled with a new professor (Malcolm McDowell) and new challenges as Jeff and Annie date and Britta and Troy date. Will Jeff leave Greendale forever…and will he be alone?
Community—Season 4 aired as a midseason replacement from February 7, 2013 to May 9, 2013. Though the show continued to receive praise, many critics felt that this season was a step down from previous seasons mostly due to changes behind the scenes.
Annie will make sure you tune in….every seven days!!!
A lot of press surrounded Community leading up to the airing of this season. With a show that has always been on the bubble but a rabid following, the show gained new attention for behind the scenes problems. Chevy Chase had a falling out with showrunner Dan Harmon during season 3 leaving to Harmon’s departure. Chase (who has been accused of being difficult in the past) decided to leave the show at the end of the season and had a bit of a scaled back role in Community—Season 4.
It is a minor tweak to the system, but it can be felt in the show. I always felt Chase was the weakest link in the study group, but he did start working when they made him a villain after the show picked up. Many Community fans claimed this season was a fake season and that Abed was in the Imaginarium for it…I wouldn’t go that far, but it is a clever nod to other dream shows like St. Elsewhere and Newhart.
Greendale Babies…make your dreams come true!
Community at least tries (which is something other series don’t do). I like that it experiments with its format and sometimes it works, and other times it doesn’t work, but it is fun to tune each week and not be sure what type of show you are going to get.
Community is a fun show, but this season just isn’t up to par with the other season. Though the show tries real hard to capture the energy of the previous season, it fails. Maybe it is knowing what happened behind the scenes more than the change in writing, but Greendale isn’t what it used to be…but it still is entertaining.
Community—Season 4 Complete Episode Guide:
“History 101”
4.1 History 101 Airdate: 02/07/13
It is the first day of senior year, and the group has their eyes set on the History of Ice Cream. Jeff (Joel McHale) reveals he is one credit away from graduation, and the group think he’s betrayed them. Abed (Danny Pudi) realizes that his college years are ending and finds himself sucked into his happy place where his life is sitcom. With only one history class open, Jeff’s plans might be derailed if they can’t get into the course.
“Paranormal Parentage”
4.2 Paranormal Parentage Airdate: 02/14/13
It is Halloween, and the study group is pulled away from their party when they learn Pierce (Chevy Chase) has been locked in his panic room. When Pierce reports that he saw his father, the study group must find the notebook containing the panic room code. Jeff reveals to Britta (Gillian Jacobs) that he’s located his father.
“Conventions of Space and Time”
4.3 Conventions of Space and Time Airdate: 02/21/13
Britta and Troy (Donald Glover) try hide that they are sleeping together from Abed. Abed, Troy, Britta, Jeff, and Annie (Alison Brie) go to the Inspector Spacetime Convention and Jeff finds that he resembles Inspector Spacetime’s villain Thoraxis. Abed meets with his Inspector Spacetime penpal Toby (Matt Lucas) and Troy worries that he’s being replaced. Pierce and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) try to crash the convention but find that they are being used for a target group.
“Alternative History of the German Invasion”
4.4 Alternative History of the German Invasion Airdate: 02/28/13
The study group gets their new history class taught by Professor Cornwallis (Malcolm McDowell) and find their German foosball enemies are there. Chang (Ken Jeong) is back as Kevin and reveals he has Changnesia. When the Germans take over the study room, the study group finds they must go to war.
“Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations”
4.5 Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations Airdate: 03/07/13
The holidays are coming and while Shirley is hosting a big party the study group but discovers they might have to make a break when they meet Shirley’s family. Jeff finds himself meeting with his estranged father (James Brolin) and his half-brother (Adam DeVine)…and Britta crashes the event.
“Advanced Documentary Filmmaking”
4.6 Advanced Documentary Filmmaking Airdate: 03/14/13
Abed works on a documentary on Kevin’s “Changnesia” and learns that Greendale might get funding for him. When Jeff refuses to believe in Changnesia and Kevin, Jeff sets out to prove Chang is faking.
“Economics of Marine Biology”
4.7 Economics of Marine Biology Airdate: 03/21/13
Greendale hopes to enlist a wealthy pot smoking student named Archie (Zack Pearlman), and Jeff has to keep Pierce busy. Shirley and Troy find themselves in P.E.E. (Physical Education Education) class…and Troy discovers he’s out of his league. Abed decides he has to lead a push to stop fraternities at Greendale and faces off against the Dean.
“Herstory of Dance”
4.8 Herstory of Dance Airdate: 04/04/13
When Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) plans a Sadie Hawkins dance, Britta plans a protest Sophie B. Hawkins Dance…to honor the singer of “Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover” when she makes a mistake about her name. Shirley and Annie set out to find a date for Abed…leading Abed to set up dates for the Sadie Hawkins Dance and the Sophie B. Hawkins Dance (and misses a potential real love).
“Intro to Felt Surrogacy”
4.9 Intro to Felt Surrogacy Airdate: 04/11/13
Dean Pelton finds the study group isn’t talking and recommends acting out the problem with puppets…leading to a great puppet group adventure for the group.
“Intro to Knots”
4.10 Intro to Knots Airdate: 04/18/13
Christmas is coming, and the study group is studying together. When the group learns that they may be failing history, they invite the professor to the class to try to boost their grade. When Chang aka Kevin takes the professor hostage, the group seeks to get a better grade.
“Basic Human Anatomy”
4.11 Basic Human Anatomy Airdate: 04/25/13
It is Britta and Troy’s anniversary, but Troy and Abed find they have switched bodies with the help of a Freaky Friday DVD. As Jeff tries to get Dean Pelton to give the Freaky Friday DVD to Troy and Abed, Dean Pelton pretends to switch with Jeff.
“Heroic Origins”
4.12 Heroic Origins Airdate: 05/02/13
The study group prepares for their final, and Abed discovers the study group was destine to meet with their secret origin. As the group learns why they are together, Chang prepares to launch his revenge with his secret partner…Dean Spreck (Jordan Black)!
“Advanced Introduction to Finality”
4.13 Advanced Introduction to Finality Airdate: 05/09/13
Jeff prepares for graduation from Greendale with a party and finds himself getting cold feet. When Jeff roles a die to determine who will bring the sodas, he unleashes the other dimensional study group on the real world…while Abed is trapped in the dark world.
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Related Links:
Community—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
