Community: "Repilot" and "Introduction to Teaching" Review

Source: facebook.com/nbccommunity

It's not often that a television show has the kind of opportunity to start over that Community has with this, its fifth season. In it's "Repilot," a concept lampshaded by Abed, the gang got the chance to begin again at Greendale. The episode gave us "emotional whiplash" as the characters alternated between deciding to sue or save the school.

Of course, it wouldn't be Community without a TV reference and surprise guest star, in this case Scrubs  and a delightful voiceover courtesy Zach Braff. The only appearance more surprising than that was a holographic Chevy Chase as Pierce Hawthorne. What's even weirder is that it was that appearance that convinced a bitter Jeff Winger to save Greendale. His interaction with Jeff was the only acknowledgment of the character, as Chase left the show after multiple alleged fallings out with creator Dan Harmon. Speaking of which, Harmon is back this fifth season, and in just a few lines, managed to negate the unraveling of the show which took place during his absence (the fourth season.) Jeff notes how far each member of the "study group" has fallen since their arrival at the school.

Source: imdb.com

Truthfully, this setup is somewhat disconcerting. Sure, I'm glad the characters' devolution was finally acknowledged (specifically Britta's meteoric fall from intelligent beauty to stereotypical vapid blonde) and sure, Community has always been a show that's subverted many of the typical television tropes. But without character development, shows can feel relatively stale.

I guess by the end of the "Repilot," Community was back to its former glory as a show full of characters with no moral compasses still attempting to do the right thing. Even if the only morality they can find is what seems to be the "right truth" at the time. And while these certainly aren't characters we'd aspire to be, they are (despite their cartoonish, over the top eccentricities) a lot like the sort of people we meet all the time, and that makes their small victories of good choice worth celebrating.

In the second half-hour of the premiere, "Introduction to Teaching," I think we got a good look at what season 5 will be like. There was  the overarching storyline - the development of a student/professor "Save Greendale" committee - and several minor plots that resulted in temporary character development - Jeff's realization that he likes to teach, Abed's mental break over Nicholas Cage and subsequent recovery, Annie's revolt over an A-. Professor Hickey, played by Jonathan Banks, took over Pierce's chair, and his role as resident old curmudgeon, in this episode.

Basically, it's a whole new start for Greendale, Community, and us, as the viewers. I didn't know how I felt about it until I found myself wishing I could watch the next episode right now.  But I'll have to wait until next Thursday. I'm just glad next Thursday night will also include the return (and 100th episode!) of Parks and Rec. NBC, I'm glad to be blogging about your good side again.