Real American Heroes!
Things are changing at Greendale! Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) has graduated but finds himself back at the school as a teacher. When Greendale is threatened for closure, Jeff must assemble the old study group of Abed (Danny Pudi), Britta (Gillian Jacobs), Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), Annie (Alison Brie), and Troy (Donald Glover) to save their beloved school. Even with the school in danger, more threats face the study group with the death of an old friend and the departure of one of their own…Greendale will never be the same!
I’d watch this…
Community—Season 5 aired from January 2, 2014 to April 17, 2014 as a mid-season replacement on NBC. Like previous seasons, the series struggled to find an audience though it was supported by loyal followers. The season featured the return of Dan Harmon as showrunner after a very public fallout with Chevy Chase who was written out of the series in the first episode of the season.
Community has had a rough run. With a rabid fan base but below average viewership, Community was always on the bubble. I loved the show but realized with challenges, an up-and-coming cast, and some internal conflicts, this season wasn’t up to par with other seasons.
Sail on, good friend!
The stories are still quite solid. Each episode is generally a treat in Community, and it is always interesting to see how the series pushes the genre. From the G.I. Joe episode to MeowMeowBeenz, the series always goes interesting directions and brings the laughs (with some deep diving into past seasons). It pays to keep watching Community.
Every season of Community, you questioned if it was coming back. The departure of Chevy Chase actually hurt the series since he played a great “frenemy” but the series is really hurt by the leaving of Donald Glover. The core cast is still solid, but it feels like it is lacking. The study group is broken, and it is hard to repair. I also am not a huge fan of the Jonathan Banks character who doesn’t make up for the missing cast. The season also features a number of guest stars including Rob Corddry, Ben Folds, Walton Goggins, Kumail Nanjiani, Chris Elliott, Paul Williams, Michael McDonald, Vince Gilligan, Gina Gershon, David Cross, much of the voice cast of the G.I. Joe cartoon, and Brie Larson.
Let’s all do the Fat Dog Dance
The series is experimentally even visually (as mentioned in the above G.I. Joe episode). For a sitcom, the show is leaps and bounds above most other sitcoms in this sense. If you compare something like The Big Bang Theory to Community, the humor and visuals combine in Community for much bigger laughs in general.
Community still is good, but this season shows a downturn. If you compare Community to other contemporaries (or comedies in general), it still delivers at a might higher rate than other shows which is one of its strengths. With this season, Community really did end (in a way). NBC cancelled the series after this season, but Yahoo! Screen picked up Community—Season 6.
Community—Season 5 Complete Episode Guide:
“Repilot”
5.1 Repilot Airdate: 01/02/14
Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) finds his attempt to be a public defense attorney dashed when he is contacted by his former nemesis Alan Connor (Rob Corddry) in an attempt to bring down Greendale Community College. When Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) thinks Jeff is there to save the school, Abed (Danny Pudi), Britta (Gillian Jacobs), Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), Troy (Donald Glover) and Annie (Alison Brie) are reassembled. Unfortunately, Jeff’s plans might not include saving the school…but destroying it!
“Introduction to Teaching”
5.2 Introduction to Teaching Airdate: 01/02/14
Jeff is adjusting to being a new teacher at Greendale and getting advice from his office mate Professor Buzz Hickey (Jonathan Banks) on how to do the least work possible. When Annie joins Jeff’s class, Jeff finds himself challenged and threatens to expose the secret of the minus in the world of teachers’ grades. Abed takes a “Nicolas Cage: Good or Bad” class that could push him over the edge.
“Basic Intergluteal Numismatics”
5.3 Basic Intergluteal Numismatics Airdate: 01/09/14
The Ass-Crack Bandit has returned to Greendale and no one is safe! As Annie and Jeff track down potential suspects, the attacks continue. With the suspect cornered, Jeff, Britta, Annie, Abed, Shirley, and Troy receive shocking news that none of them ever predicted.
“Cooperative Polygraphy”
5.4 Cooperative Polygraphy Airdate: 01/16/14
Pierce is dead. In the wake of his death, he’s ordered Abed, Troy, Shirley, Jeff, Britta, Annie, and Chang (Kim Jeong) to take a polygraph test given by Mr. Stone (Walton Goggins) and his team to determine if any of them killed him. Could Pierce’s last actions destroy the study group forever?
“Geothermal Escapism”
5.5 Geothermal Escapism Airdate: 01/23/14
By decree of Pierce’s will, Troy is leaving to sail around the world for a year and earn Pierce’s inheritance. In one final act, Abed has declared “Lava Floor” at Greendale and the winner of the game will get Abed’s comic worth $50,000…it is war and everyone must choose a side!
“Analysis of Cork-Based Networking”
5.6 Analysis of Cork-Based Networking Airdate: 01/30/14
The dance is coming up and Greendale needs to decide on a theme. Annie and Buzz set out to get a new billboard which means making deals with different factions all over the campus. Abed tries to avoid hearing Annie tell him the end of Bloodlines of Conquest…and meets a student who is deaf that might share his interests.
“Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality”
5.7 Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality Airdate: 02/27/14
Professor Ian Duncan (John Oliver) decides he is interested in Britta now that Jeff is finished with her, but Oliver’s interest in Britta might rekindle feelings in Jeff. Britta questions her decisions when she runs into her former activist friends. Buzz decides to teach Abed a lesson by preventing him from going to a Kick-Puncher movie after ruining his drawings. Chang finds himself possibly performing a stand-up for ghosts.
“App Development and Condiments”
5.8 App Development and Condiments Airdate: 03/06/14
MeowMeowBeenz is introduced to Greendale, and the quest get the most MeowMeowBeenz on the app is influencing the actions of everyone on campus. Shirley finds that she’s a success with MeowMeowBeenz, and Jeff signs up to prove MeowMeowBeenz are a fraud…as the campus divides into new social circles…the Fives will rule the campus!
“VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing”
5.9 VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing Airdate: 03/13/14
The discovery of a pile of unused chemistry leads Jeff, Shirley, Buzz, and Britta to try to sell them in the underground market…with Chang as their hostage. Annie and Abed try to decide between Annie’s brother Anthony (Spencer Crittenden) and Abed’s girlfriend Rachel (Brie Larson) as potential new roommate by a game of Pile of Bullets.
“Advanced Advanced Dungeons & Dragons”
5.10 Advanced Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Airdate: 03/20/14
Hick ties to reconnect to his son Hank (David Cross) and the study group decides to use Dungeons & Dragons to reconnect them.
“G.I. Jeff”
5.11 G.I. Jeff Airdate: 04/03/14
When Wingman kills Destro, Fourth Wall, Tight Ship, Buzzkill, and Three Kids find themselves kicked out of G.I. Joe. Cobra Commander tries to avenge Destro and Wingman questions why he can’t be a good G.I. Joe…but who is Jeff Winger and what does it mean to Wingman?
“Basic Story”
5.12 Basic Story Airdate: 04/10/14
Greendale is being assessed for its insurance policy and Ronald Mohammad (Michael McDonald) is brought in to assess the situation…but Greendale might have other problems. Abed wonders if he’s trapped in a story and tries to break free from the story. Jeff and Britta make a big decision as Dean Pelton, Annie, and Abed might find a key to save Greendale.
“Basic Sandwich”
5.13 Basic Sandwich Airdate: 04/17/14
Greendale is set to become Subway University unless the treasure of Dean Russell Borchert (Chris Elliott) can be found. Abed worries that the series is falling apart and the only thing that stop Jeff and Britta’s spin-off marriage series is saving Greendale.
Related Links:
Community—Season 1 Complete Review and Episode Guide
Community—Season 2 Complete Review and Episode Guide
Community—Season 3 Complete Review and Episode Guide
