How Community Changed

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NBC's Community had a lot of interesting shifts through the years, and the biggest one can be found in the original version of the show found in Dan Harmon's pilot. Jeff Winger, Abed, Troy and especially Britta are different in some big and small ways here, which is what I want to talk about this week.
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[@captainmidnight]

What do you think of the characters in this first episode? Visit audible.com/midnight or text "midnight" to 500-500 to sign up and get your 30 day free trial and 60% off for 3 months.

[@agent_w.]

nice

[@youtubeviolatedme7123]

Some of them remind me of the characters from the children's show "Recess" but that's not an insult, because I love that show, and media can take inspiration from other media.

[@sdjessom]

Serialized comedy shows character growth. Captain Midnight: "Is this inconsistent characterization?"

[@alexanderkai3033]

I think Community messed up Britta's character. I would have kept her the way she was in the pilot and season 1.

[@prokoptomasek7874]

Season 1 was the only season i liked

[@benwasserman8223]

You can tell the show was finding its groove with Troy's evolution. After he ditched the jock personality and began embracing his inner nerd with Abed... well we've all seen the compilations and memes.

[@joshevans3421]

"Troy and abed in the mmmoorrrnnning!"

[@quintus920]

I don't think it ever made much sense to cast him in the role as a stereotypical jock given his work prior to this with Derrick Comedy, his build, demeanor, and maybe literally everything else about Donald Glover as an actor.

[@undercoverduck]

@@quintus920 It was either genius forethought on character development or plain racism

[@capnjackdaniels3663]

@@quintus920 "I have small arms for a quarterback!"

[@cognitivedissonance8406]

Compilations and memes? Just watch the damn show!

[@technocore1591]

In my head canon Britta never changed. The way they portray Britta in the beginning is exactly how you would perceive her when you first meet her because that is exactly how she presents herself. It’s only when you get to know her does the façade of the hip, with it, chick (who use to live in New York) wear down.

[@KevinGarcia-xq7ym]

It could also be that she’s really high most of the time

[@analcommando1124]

But I think thats true of most of the characters. What we see is what they want us to see because they're all insecure about their failings except Abed of course. Jeff even picks up on this and exploits it to get them fighting amongst themselves so he could go for drinks with Britta. Harmon always planned to expand these characters. Now he didn't always expand on them the way he originally thought he would but he always intended for them to develop.

[@technocore1591]

@@analcommando1124 Sure. I just like to think Britta didn’t change, we just got to know her. Rather than the more accepted opinion that her character changed.

[@losisd3ad]

like this take

[@kevinw712]

In my most recent true, full rewatch that I just did over the last 3-4 months I had an appreciation of Britta like I never had before. Also a better understanding (and admittedly, catching up with many of the commentary tracks for the first time ever helped). Sort of to echo what you're talking about, I took the shift to be that she was always trying to put up a fraudulent exterior of being the most together and the most (for lack of a better word) "socially conscious", she knew full well that she was a contradictory mess underneath, and it was only after creating this new found family of hers that she started to feel comfortable over the years to let everyone see the real her. Though in the later years, even while at seemingly her most 'goofy', in many cases if you drill down into what she's trying to do/say, she's really still (at least trying to be) the most responsible one of the group.

[@antoniotolo8372]

S2 and S3 were probably the best overall, but I do think Chang was at his best by far as a Spanish teacher in S1

[@jameswright2875]

"And frankly, I haven't been well utilized since"

[@benefic7997]

I think you're right that, in the pilot, Britta was a bit boring and certainly not weird enough, but it's sad that the show didn't keep her smart side and just made her dumb weird instead of just weird.

[@oopsiepoopsie2898]

She was always kinda dumb. The type of person she represents are people with big hearts but are stupid.

[@Unhappytimeaper]

I think the issue is taking Britta is that it’s hard balancing her. I don’t think she’s just dumb weird as many would argue but she has an inherent misplacement of values and in turn it comes off as very strange. For example, at the start she wants to be taken very seriously and come off as the cool girl who doesn’t have to try in order to gain the attention and affection of others. This slowly devolves as she’s more accepted, becoming “weirder” because she no longer as to pretend play cool for people to want to be around her. However, it’s sorta seen from the start her activism isn’t necessarily real and to a level she doesn’t completely get what she talks about when she’s fighting for causes seen even in later seasons. Sure she has some awareness of world issues and injustices but regardless she’s still a sheltered pretty, straight, white woman who has opportunities and privileges who can be blinded to this fact. Britta being the worst is because she takes her causes that have valid points and sometimes arguments for her side of things but always represents them at the wrong time/way which makes everyone see her as weird or annoying. While I don’t think it always worked Britta can still be seen as the same character- she still cares deeply about other people opinions and always has some level of need to deal with social issues it’s just as she’s more accepted she’s more open to acting carefree/true to herself because she knows the friend group won’t abandon her for not playing into the “cool girl” persona she had

[@arabela5092]

agreed! her political views were used to make her dumb maybe to please part of the audience that didn’t share those views

[@wateringcan5369]

@@arabela5092 I don’t think that was the case, i think it was that she was more of a performative activist that stood for the right causes in the wrong way. That’s why the group was always judging her when she talked ab those things bc they knew ut was kinda a front that she didn’t know much about

[@palmercolson7037]

@@Unhappytimeaper At the beginning of the series, I thought she was like someone who started their new diet and exercise plan with a lot of enthusiasm and determination. She was putting her life back together by going to the college, getting her degree and then onward and upwards after graduation. No nonsense and no toleration of backsliding. Over time, the plan breaks down and she becomes more like herself as we and the group get to know her.

[@angusmcphail7031]

My favourite part of early Jeff is his first appearance is him asking Abed what time it is, then trying to walk away once he realized his mistake.

[@angusmarch1066]

Waddup fellow Angus M. I kinda think Jeff was pretty unlikeable right through the pilot. He didnt get his redemption that made me root for him until well into the next episode.

[@LaneyStudios5]

I'm in a weird camp when it comes to Community, I personally do feel the show does get better over time, but I much prefer Britta and Pierce from those very first episodes, and I think Chang was perfect as a Spanish teacher because if he was actually that good at Spanish, then it means even though he's crazy, he's competent, and an authority figure that you have to in some way respect/listen to because he actually knows what he's talking about in this one specific topic

[@curranfrank2854]

Britta's funnier in the later seasons imo, although I wish she was a little more mentally sound then she was in later seasons lol. I agree w Chang and Pierce, Pierce was better when he wasn't a complete villain, and Chang's best material was season 1.

[@LaneyStudios5]

@@curranfrank2854 she had a lot more funny moments in later seasons yeah, there was something about those earlier episodes though that I really liked about her, that self-confident, independent, smarter character that could still be a bit goofy but could always cut through to the heart of the situation and really stood by her beliefs I guess at the end of the day I see them as two different characters and I like them both for different reasons

[@abrahamlincoln4451]

Those sir, are almost exactly my thoughts on the first season

[@Myvoetisseer]

I will always love this show to death, but it had no idea what to do with its characters

[@davidmhh9977]

With Pierce in season 1, it actually made sense as to why Pierce was in the group. He wasn't outright mean. He just didn't have the self awareness to know when he was in the wrong, but respected everyone in his own way. After season 2, he was just mean to the point where you generally questioned why the study group kept hanging out with him. I think the best example is during the D&D episode, where he bullies Fat Neil, the episode ends with the entire group saying they feel bad for him, and next episode, everything is back to normal.

[@weirdskyreallyweird.5519]

As much as the over the top homage episodes are by far my favourite, I think the pilot and early season 1 episodes have some of the best traditional jokes, for example "I thought you had a bachelors from Columbia?" "Now I need one from America."

[@analcommando1124]

Yup. Unfortunately too many Community fans think unless an episode involves paintball, d&d, timelines or a "homage" it can't be brilliantly funny. And its those great traditional jokes and character developments that setup the over-the-top episodes. The reason Remedial Chaos Theory works so well is because the characters, over the previous 2 and a bit seasons, had been setup so well.

[@losisd3ad]

@@analcommando1124 I think that's what s4 show runners thought. not community fans. the character building is what makes it so amazing. the gimmick episodes aren't just gimmicks for the sake of gimmicks (like s4 was), they use gimmicks and tropes and homages to further character development. with purpose

[@analcommando1124]

@@losisd3ad true writers Harmon, McKenna, Starburns understood but that a lot of fans dont and thats fine. Fans didn't write the show.

[@stackhat8624]

Ahh, you got it right. A lot of people think its "I thought you had a law degree from Columbia" but its just his bachelors. A lot of people think Jeff faked his law degree (he does claim that he cheated but for all intents and purposes he graduated with a real degree regardless how it got through).

[@weirdskyreallyweird.5519]

@@stackhat8624 Yeah from what I understand he faked his bachelors and used it to get into law school. Once the bar find out he faked his bachelors, they withold his law degree until he can produce a real degree, which is why he never actually studies law in the show. He just takes blow off classes until he gains enough credits to get a degree.

[@DarkKnightofAnime]

Your definitely making it clear how much you love Community as a show Midnight

[@connorwaldron4897]

and he has great reasoning its the best sitcom ever IMO though Ted Lasso is close

[@spencergsmith]

@@connorwaldron4897 except for Parks & Recreation, I agree with you.

[@keziavb]

I've always loved Jeff in the show. I know he gets outshined by other casts like Troy, but I do love his character, even from the beginning. Like okay sometimes he's an asshole but the show always makes sure there are real consequences for him. Plus I think he has a LOT of hilarious dialogue ("I thought you had a bachelors from Columbia" "Now I have to get one from America"). My only complaint is he didn't get the good ending he deserved!

[@msp5138]

Jeff is basically Donald Trump.

[@arturocastroverde3349]

Everyone is outshined by troy

[@NadiaSeesIt]

​​@@msp5138naw dude

[@Jotari]

There is definitely a difference in tone, writing and characterization , but to some extent there's also some realism to everyone being so different in the pilot. They're all strangers at that point, to they're putting on a front, trying to present themselves as mature and together, before time goes on and they become friends willing to show more of their real goofball selves in front of each other.

[@mr.grahamca]

S1E13 with Jack Black is even parodying the changes shows used to make after the midseason break Jeff announcing he's a new person, the random introduction of Buddy

[@epcalderhead]

Rewatching Community I came to appreciate Chevy Chase as Pierce. He made me laugh more than I remembered. So great episodes to rewatch over and over.

[@justsomeguywholovesberserk6375]

Yes, it's great. Longer version: It starts out as a good sitcom with the occasional great gimmick episode, then morphs into a great sitcom that's very meta. Then there's a season that's baffling garbage because the creator got fired for being a massive jerk, and it turned out to be very hard to accurately recreate the brilliantly self-referential tone of the good years. Then there's another season that more or less gets back to the good stuff but with weird cast changes.

[@juicy7873]

Oh hey, I've seen you before

[@justsomeguywholovesberserk6375]

@@juicy7873 Hello there Spider - Boy

[@juicy7873]

@@justsomeguywholovesberserk6375 Its Spider-MAN. Not Spider-BOY.

[@justsomeguywholovesberserk6375]

@@juicy7873 You are nothing but a boy to I DIO

[@curranfrank2854]

Season 4 wasn't even that bad, outside of 2 or 3 episodes it was still good. Dan Harmon gets too much credit for why this show's good, he's a crucial part but it didn't completely go to shit without him

[@sean_mccadden]

The gradual change in personalities honestly made it so much more real since people gradually change how they act between people they just met and people who they’ve known a while. Definitely makes most sense with Troy since he was a jock in highschool so he would start off having that more arrogant jock attitude at first until he got more comfortable and then start being more of who he actually is

[@msp5138]

You mean it made sense to change dthe people of color into non-sexual threats so Jeff could be the great white male...

[@sean_mccadden]

@@msp5138 Except Dan Harmon often showed Jeff as being the one that was holding the group back the most. He was honestly more of an antagonist even though we mostly saw things from his point of view. Sure we often saw him as being the glue that pulls the group back together but most of the time that was after he was the one that stirred things up after trying to manipulate the group. This was especially shown in "Remedial Chaos Theory" where the best outcome was actually when Jeff wasn't around to mold everyone with his "too cool for school" attitude.

[@benwasserman8223]

Another weird/old thing about the pilot: seeing John Oliver just... well act. Honestly I've watched so much Last Week Tonight that having him play a character feels really off.

[@jonathanhamstra3319]

I always feel like Last Week Tonight is him playing a character and exists only to fling political jokes.

[@BoneChillingPictures]

Indeed he does look odd

[@davidmhh9977]

Last Week Tonight is great, but it's too bad we don't get to see John Oliver act more. He's great at playing a character

[@benwasserman8223]

@@jonathanhamstra3319 I mean true, but it still mostly feels like Oliver. At least a John Oliver who somehow keeps persuading HBO to fund a year's worth of Community-level over the top stunts to make a biting statement about America's political corruption

[@FictionalAlarm]

The last few years I've found myself re-watching season 1 of Community more than any other. I genuinely love season 2 and 3 as well, but something about the simple storytelling and jokes in season 1 still resonate with me. Advanced Criminal Law (Pool side court room), Into to Statistics (1st Halloween ep), Home Economics, Debate 109, the STD fair, Interpretive Dance (Troy and Britta dance classes), Communication Studies (Britta drunk call), Physical Education (Jeff playing pool), Beginner Pottery, and so on are some of my favorite episodes. They always make me laugh no matter how many times I go back to them.

[@shinaikouka]

AP Bio is an example of a show that I saw change a bit over time. I think the showrunners/writers realized that the weird characters in the class were worth focusing more on as you can see a gradual shift from simply focusing almost solely on Glenn Howerton's Jack Griffin to also focusing on the weird dynamic that the class has amongst itself and with their "teacher".

[@tamarleahh.2150]

I only saw five episodes and a compilation of funny scenes. Didn't really like it and I wished at some point these kids would just get a real biology teacher

[@louislux]

AP BIO is a great example, it has evolved and improved a lot over the years.

[@SuperHappyNotMerry]

I really enjoyed AP Bio when the first season came out. Didn't watch past that since they cancelled it, but now, seeing that it's been brought back for Peacock I'll probably give it the good old rewatch

[@wiictvchannel1112]

@@SuperHappyNotMerry I'm a few week late but just be ready for really unsatisfying character/actor changes/disappearances. I was so on board after season 1 and they feeling quickly died the more I watched. I can see why they cancelled it to be honest. Which is a shame cause I love Glenn Howerton and the cast.

[@whom382]

The kids were the best part of AP Bio. I wish we could cut all the scenes with the 3 teachers (Durbin and his assistant were fine) and give more time to the students.

[@rangelsedits]

Community remains the most underrated NBC sitcom, and remains the best one too.

[@JaharNarishma]

Isn't it highly rated? So if it's underrated it should be the undisputed top rated show ever?

[@Joe_Parmesan]

@@JaharNarishma yes and no. cactus said it's NBC's most underrated sitcom, not necessarily the most underrated show of all time. Community has grown a substantial cult following, even more so with the show appearing on Hulu and Netflix, but, NBC didn't seem to favor the show at all, especially compared to its other comedies that aired at the time (30 Rock, The Office, and, Parks and Recreation) It's sort of like Arrested Development, during its initial run on Fox

[@JaharNarishma]

@@Joe_Parmesan there was another comment inbetween. That one said other stuff. It was primarily that comment I replied to. With that comment gone, I seem like a bit of a fool.

[@spencergsmith]

I agree it’s probably the most underrated, but certainly not the best to me. Nothing will ever top Parks & Recreation

[@rabbitman8535]

@@spencergsmith idk i like parks and rec but I couldn't watch it all, I've watched community so many times and I have to say I love it more each time imo its way better

[@nofraser]

Yes another community episode your vids are so good man

[@Itsatragedeigh]

I identified with Britta a lot - definitely did a lot of “for show” activism in college, was super snarky and sarcastic to both create distance and come off as smarter than I am, I was not interested in being hit on, and become incredibly goofy and weird once I get close to people. Thats the shift I saw in her character - once she realized they were becoming a close family type group, she felt comfortable letting her freak flag fly. Idk why they made her the dumb blonde stereotype but I’ll blame that on the gas leak.

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

I treasure those first seasons. Some of the best television ever

[@samlasley798]

The pilot has one of my favourite jokes from the show: “But I thought you got your law degree from Columbia?” “I did and now I have to get one from America” P.S. Your voice is to very similar to Dan Harmon’s

[@stackhat8624]

Nope. Duncan says "I thought you had a bachelors from Columbia". Common misconception about the show. Jeff isn't doing a law degree, what community college offers a law degree? He is redoing his bachelor degree which he faked. In later points of the series Jeff claims he cheated his way through law school but he graduated from a real university with a real degree unlike his bachelor degree. Thats the reason hes at Greendale. The State Bar suspended his law license until he goes and gets a real bachelor degree. Doesn't from where, or what type bachelor degree or what majors or what grades (obviously he has to pass). Thats why Jeff chose Greendale because it was the easiest option. If he faked his law degree he would have been disbarred permanently rather than just suspended.

[@waverlyaltis7171]

One of the things that sold me on community was how convincing Jeff’s actor was. I’ve never like the ‘asshole, overconfident, womanizer’ trope, so I wasn’t really a fan of Jeff in the beginning. But seeing just how confidently the actor played him, and just how enamored with him the rest of the study group was with him really sold him for me. Like, the actor plays Jeff as if he KNOWS he is the hottest shit, no questions asked. I do not think Jeff would have worked as a character if the actor did no go all out.

[@elysia3294]

the paintball episodes are one of the few episodes that I rewatch on a semi regular basis just cause they are that good

[@Nick-4K]

They really pulled an Andy from the Office on Britta near the end. They really messed up her character. She kinda became "the Meg" character. And that just wasn't Britta in the first two seasons

[@fabfilopedani]

I think they were going too far with her character being a screw-up in season 6

[@jonathanjohnson6727]

If you rewatch, Britta actually shows hints of what became her pitfalls from the beginning(though i do agree she was more a caricature in season 6). Had Harmon been around the whole show, she should've held the facade of her early series self. While being more of herself around Troy(making their relationship what it should've been). He should've been for her what Abed was for him.

[@Joe_Parmesan]

They leaned too far in making Britta a punching bag, but, Britta brought incredible value to the group, and, she found her niche. And, she had arguably the strongest, healthiest friendship on the show with Shirley. She was short changed during the series finale though, because she deserved to see off Abed, along with Jeff Andy was much worse, because he was actively and purposely vengeful and destructive

[@arturocastroverde3349]

Since the pranks episode they teased britta as the punching bag

[@toverkleet]

6 seasons and a movie!!

[@Ponakalaranjit456]

Yup

[@NostalJackMusic]

I recently watched community for the first time and I gotta say, it’s really sticking with me… for the past few weeks since I finished, I’ve found myself just thinking about it a lot, which feels weird. They manage to get you to connect to the characters so much by the end of the series (well, most of them anyway…) that it feels like you’re reminiscing about old friends rather than a sitcom.

[@eltedioso]

You're right that the show changed, but I've never minded that. Some of the changes the characters undertake are pretty realistic for people in their situation. And I have to say, seasons 2-3 have some serious highlight episodes that are the series' best, but season 1 is more consistent, I'd say. Season 1 of Community is one of my favorite seasons of comedy ever, in fact.

[@analcommando1124]

Jeff's dress style at the beginning of season 1 did seem odd but I can see it as a reflection of his state of mind. He probably didn't want to appear he cared or wanted to be at Greendale. He felt Greendale wasn't worth his time but yet at the same time he was insecure about being there. In episode 8 of season 1 when Jeff became homeless it didn't take much for Jeff to embrace the carefree slacker life with Abed. Professor Whitman even pointed out Jeff and his clothes style in episode 3. One of the themes of Jeff's character is about him accepting the way things are. As he became more comfortable and accepted being at Greendale, largely through the Study Group, he dressed like how he would normally dress.

[@abird9387]

I'll never forgive the skin tight long sleeve polo with baggy cargo pants combo

[@rileyalt1251]

*It really suprises me how smoothly this show transitioned it’s writing styles, very funny at every point nonethedean.*

[@marlowcram3655]

Are you a bot?

[@rileyalt1251]

@@marlowcram3655 nope. I just went through a phase of sending comments in bold. Dark times.

[@DevlinEdora]

Troy and Abed in the coooomments!

[@semguitarra]

To be honest I think people really forget about season 5 and 6 of community. Specially season 6. I could really watch more of elroy and Frankie with the group, they are hilarious and really made a good fit. Dan Harmon nailed everything, they shouldn't have taken him out.

[@judeconnor-macintyre9874]

Re-watching season 6 I never realized how much I liked Elroy he's so funny I mean, "Now there's a guy who knows how to marry his cousin" is just pure perfection.

[@Robby_Rob]

Community is my favorite show of all time, the nuance and detail is unlike any other show. thanks for this video!

[@sammysoppy3361]

I like how they recognized the amazing chemistry between Joel and Allison and pivoted a lot of the romantic stuff to them. Not only was it sweeter and landed better than stuff with Britta, that felt forced imo, but the age diff and how it unnerved even the characters was a fun complication and added to moments of humor. I like when shows can pivot their plans to see where the chemistry actually IS vs “this is the planned out love interest and we shall not budge from this plan even if it’s apparent other characters connect better” you know? I mean Jeff and Britta were fine, but their chemistry onscreen was much more effective and entertaining not as genuine love interests, but messy people who bickered a lot, occasionally hooked up for convenience, but all of the gooey heart eye stuff was directed elsewhere lol

[@Logan_Baron]

I love community, and am a fan of the "weird" episodes, especially how they were able to still have heart and be consistent with the characters. The only thing I would have liked to have seen different was for them to win/succeed in the end the way the beginning suggested. Almost all of them seemed to 'fail' or at least not succeed to a real degree, except for the "the real success is friendship" way. Jeff changed in character, but I would have liked to have seen him actually become a lawyer again, just with a different outlook and drive. Which he did at one point and then they were picked up again and tore that apart. Shirley was presented as a divorcee ready to make a new life of single empowerment. But then they took her back to her husband and her businesses failed. It really felt like they cut her character arc short (long before she had to leave the show for real life things). Annie and Abed were the only ones to really win/succeed in the end. Of course the others not was chalked up long ago to the Greendale Effect. I don't mean this as a "the show sucked because" but just what I wish would have happened, while still loving the show.

[@fulltimeslackerii8229]

on rewatch of the show, i really felt like season 2 and beyond britta underwent character assassination so that she wouldn’t be jeff’s love interest anymore

[@JNLJProductions]

On re-watch, I nearly see the pilot being a parody of pilots. You mention how Harmon played it safe, but I think he was being meta from the start. It's got so many sitcom pilot tropes which HAD to be intentional. Through that lens, I think the pilot fits in way better alongside the rest of the series.

[@Gibbypastrami]

My feelings exactly!

[@filmgeek7927]

Community is such a special show. Even with season 4’s downs, the entire rest of the show managed to be some of the smartest and most creative comedy I’ve ever seen. Great video.

[@Mibbitmaker]

Lots of shows lay the groundwork with season 1, whereas season 2 is their definitive selves. Some including season 3. The Office (2&3), Community (2&3), Arrested Development (2) are examples I can think of offhand.

[@DrDirtyLeggz]

2021 and Community is still being talked about? Hell yeah.

[@davidkonevky7372]

I still remember watching this first episode and being like "eh, the show doesn't seem that good" and left it for a while. After some point, I decided to give it a chance, and watched the 3 first seasons all at once.

[@wsam22]

My week never feels complete without watching Captain Midnight, these videos are so well made and enjoyable to watch.

[@Zeppelinschaffner22]

New Girl is another good example for a show assembling itself throughout the first couple seasons. The pilot especially is so different.

[@drewhigbee815]

Love anything related to community, keep It coming!

[@ethanhutzler82]

What made community great for me was senor Chang. I had a Spanish teacher named senor Bennett. An elderly man from New York that couldn't speak Spanish yet was somehow a teacher. It really hit close to home.

[@johnoliverfainsan3115]

I subscribed because of your first video on Community. After patiently waiting, you drop this. Thank you Captain. You made our day.

[@PutingPinoy]

TROY AND ABHED IN THE MORNING! Best characters ever. And that show as a comedy was the most underrated thing. The humor was so meta that it transcended any genre it wanted to ever while commenting on those facts without it feeling forced at all. And we mostly have ABHED and Troy to thank for that plot device!!

[@neal8262]

You seem like a very intelligent individual you have to have a very high iq to understand the subtle humor of Community.

[@mycollegeshirt]

community is a show, that you keep coming back to realize just how good it was, every change during those early days, seemed to keep elevating the show. I don't think i would have stuck around necessarily if it weren't for that troy and abed Spanish rap at the end.

[@brandonw6139]

The first half of the first season is almost a different show. It's great to see how good it gets and it evolves over the seasons

[@himbourbanist]

I've always really liked that the first season of Community is by far the most grounded, and that the stories tend to focus on Jeff as your POV character (more or less), but as the show goes on and he becomes more integrated into his surrogate family in the study group, the focus spreads out to all of our characters being POV at one point or another (less so with Pierce, who definitely gets villainized - probably due to the IRL feud that Harmon and Chase had). It's a very natural shifting of focus both in-world (Jeff becomes less the "main character" of the group) and in the real world where the show learns that it can lean on characters that weren't the focus as Jeff's arc shifts him into a cooperative, caring member of the group. tl;dr this show's writing is really really fucking good. We didn't know what we had when we had it

[@CTBombastic1]

Season 3 finale was without a doubt one of the best finales I've ever seen. Plot lines coming together, character growth, and amazing soundtrack. Even now watching that finale i still get all the feels. Loved it 💯

[@FilmFeature43]

I am so glad for the change, Community is one of my favorite shows, but if it stayed in the track it started, I don’t believe that would be true.

[@Anthonyfpm20]

Wow she Britta’d her own character in the pilot 😂

[@claudia-uy5gk]

good job haha

[@Ashestoashesjc]

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Matthew Perry’s short-lived show, Go On, that took a few cues from Community. If it had had time to really grow and find its footing, I think it might have gone on to become a cult hit

[@captainmidnight]

I enjoyed Get On! I was working at a little local NBC station at the time and watched every episode.

[@TheRllewis3rd]

@@captainmidnight I will NEVER understand how audiences gravitate toward shows like The Big Bang Theory, and let the likes of Community, Go On, Better Off Ted and even Happy Endings go by the wayside. All of those shows were brilliant!

[@dorkavenger42]

That’s how I always thought of her in my viewing too.

[@GhostW1thTheMost]

@@TheRllewis3rd I know who to blame BABY BOOMER SANTA

[@vincehenriquez680]

@@TheRllewis3rd Happy Endings is arguably the most underrated great comedy of the past 10 years. Russo Brothers were executive producers on it too and directed a couple of eps.

[@TitleInProgress]

Community is really underrated!

[@Izzy-Maurer]

I think the pilot of Community is fantastic - Jeff's monologue near the end where he breaks the pencil is genius, and Abed is also really great in it - but I always tell anyone I recommend the show to that it will take the first 6 episodes for them to get to know the characters and decide whether or not they'll like it. The reason that Community got the chance to get weird was that it's 'still finding it's feet' episodes were streets ahead of some shows' best episodes.

[@ChaosMechanica]

I am probably the one guy who doesn't absolutely hate the 4th season. It's off, but I think it's okay. Two things come to mind that I've read people talk about. I've heard people blame the 4th for the women and their "awww" moments, but that starts so much earlier than the 4th. Also, Chang is funny... but gets so overused-- and a little insufferable--as the crazy chaotic evil, to the point that him being dialed back in the 4th season made me incredibly happy.

[@HarryBuddhaPalm]

The Chang Dynasty crap ruins Season 3 for me.

[@jimmyboyle3543]

Coincidence that I just happened to start a rewatch of this show this week? Or have I just become spiritually in-Sync with Captain Midnight’s content. We may never know.

[@bobobobo5561]

Keep the community content coming midnight 👍

[@SubZeroJill]

I love the Community appreciation videos here, Cap... hope to see more of these and Scrubs too! :D

[@cvayta]

Well Britta was a character in the beginning and a caricature at the end of the show. And that was really disappointing to me.

[@brandonburns9092]

Well said

[@shellsterdude]

I don't really think that is a fair characterization. Britta in the first episode pretty much only exists to be a love interest for Jeff and a foil for his schemes. In later episodes she got fleshed out as a person. Her weird quirk was being highly liberal and being a sponge for every crazy left-wing idea, but she had a lot of heart and always came through for the group. Every character got weird quirks as the show went along. I don't think Britta's character was as interesting as most of the other main characters, but that was mostly a consequence of the rest of the characters sucking all the air from the room and there being limited run time.

[@wwCs49]

In the beginning she’s a caricature of the perfect (boring) girl who only exists to be love interest

[@ZZPikachu]

Not really, she was a generic and pretty boring love interest at the beginning. Her character easily shined the most during season 2-3, where she hadn’t yet become a stereotypical dumb blonde but she also wasn’t just a foil for Jeff like in season 1.

[@HarryBuddhaPalm]

@@ZZPikachu She WAS a dumb blonde in season 3. I liked Britta in the first season because she felt like a real person. She felt like people that I actually knew. She acted tough but was a flawed person. By season 3, she's an idiot and the butt of everyone's jokes. She and Pierce got shafted by the writers as the show went on.

[@Beepboop2723]

Always love it when you make a community video and I hope to see you make more in the future!

[@wwCs49]

Donald glover as a douchey jock and gillian jacobs as the boring perfect love interest feels so off compared to what they grew in to. Love how community did its own thing and got away from so many tropes (or at least reworked/subverted them)

[@stevenightfall6634]

While I'd never want to lose what community was/became I would love access to a parallel worlds community where the series followed the trajectory of the first episode/season the whole way through.

[@hypocriticalalias8310]

Community was definitely at its best when it delved into its zanier aspects, with the exception of the gas-leak induced "zaniness" that was season 4...

[@SpaceFluffDW]

I’ve started binge watching this on Netflix. I’m halfway through season 2 and I think it’s really good and unique. I don’t understand how it isn’t more popular

[@SpaceFluffDW]

I found my own comment 11 months later…wow

[@mr.moviemafia]

I have NEVER noticed Jeff was wearing both a blazer and sweat pants, but now I can’t unsee it

[@alpacapines8553]

The first half of season 1 of community is the show slowly finding itself. Episode by episode

[@peterbaskind9872]

Dang you! We DO NOT discuss the Season that we DO NOT discuss. Community had a Season 3 and a Season 5. There is nothing in between.

[@willkoestner4159]

I watched the pilot on Netflix awhile back, and they'd edited out a bunch of punchlines. It was seemingly at random as the jokes were totally inoffensive. It was at this point I realized I had the script memorized from rewatching over the years and decided to just shut it off 😅

[@silverkyre]

Wait, really? I just watched the whole show on Netflix (and the D&D episode elsewhere) Do the DVDs have the orginal pilot?

[@charlieparkerrr]

Season 6 of Community is great and people that left the show after Donald left need to watch it. It has some of the best episodes in the whole show

[@silverkyre]

I loved season 5 but 6 was still good if kind of lackluster. IMO. Indefinitely think its worth the watch its almost a little more chill.

[@MinimumEffortMedia]

I always felt like there was a little bit of MASH, the tv show, sprinkled into Community. The big homage being the dean’s announcements.

[@maximussaktish]

The pilot makes it seem like a typical group of friends sitcom

[@tariq6319]

There can't be enough content about this show

[@gregkrazanski]

very interesting video! love the concept of "watching the shows assemble themselves as the seasons go on"

[@CRS204]

With every new community post, the hill I would die on for this show for grows

[@wabbitwabbit98]

Just started watching your videos and going through your channel I see that you've made a video about literally every movie/TV show I would like to watch a commentary on! I'm super excited to binge on all your videos this week!

[@BreezyFoSheezy69]

YES!!! Never stop making Community videos Midnight

[@thedamagewillbecontrolled]

I loved the show, and the pilot

[@seanfeld-]

The pilot and some if not most of the first season is a more by the numbers sitcom. Like you said. They probably just haven't found the groove yet. I think if community came outta the gate with weird crazy ideas before they build characters it might not have worked as well.

[@mariguanestico]

People don't like Pierce? WTF he makes me literally cry from laughter sometimes Like when he pulled Shirleys pants down and then he was like this better be a good apology

[@jonathanjohnson6727]

Its not the charcter of Pierce. He actually fits perfectly. The actor is who usually caused rifts with castmates/crew.

[@arturocastroverde3349]

Everyone loves pierce but hates Chevy. Pierce is best character in the show imo alonside Abed

[@LoveStallion]

NBC's Thursday night block from 2009-2014 or so was legendary. It was the only reason I had a DVR.

[@charleslarrivee2908]

I'll be honest. I'm not a fan of Jeff and Britta in the pilot. Jeff is just a completely irredeemable asshole; he experiences no change or growth and he's only brought back into the group because Shirley and Annie feel sorry for him. And Britta has almost nothing in common with herself from the rest of the series; she’s too much a idealized perfect goddess, a prize for Jeff to win. Literally in the very next episode we begin to see the beginnings of the classic Britta we all know and love, who means well and has good intentions but isn’t as smart or put together as she tries to show; and while Jeff is still selfish and manipulative he still has a conscience, listens to his better angels and acts in a positive manner even though there’s not much benefit for him.

[@saoirsedeltufo7436]

The pilot does have one of the best straightforward punchline jokes in Community (the Colombia degree joke with Jeff and Duncan). It's interesting how Community went to far more meta humour from this sort of jokes early on

[@ElkiLG]

It's most likely not the explanation, but I always wondered if Harmon hadn't written a sort of generic pilot to sell it to some network to then write the sillier sitcom that he wanted.

[@andyyoung2773]

I’m the guy interviewing Dan 0:58 and it’s still VERY funny to me this keeps popping up

[@joevictor53]

RIP to AP Bio. You were filling the void left by Community but just as captainmidnight said, you didn't have enough time to grow and evolve before getting cancelled.

[@BingBangPoe]

6:31 Chevy Chase as Pierce was perfect because he wasn't really acting. He was just being himself.

[@toebeee5168]

Fun fact: Midnight likes community

[@funkystyle7249]

This show had the best acting in ensemble for a sitcom ever. Joel, Yvette, Glover, Pudi, Allison, Gillian- really all nailed voice delivery and facial expression acting. The performances are best to showcase comedy acting

[@whitelasagna6786]

Six seasons and a movie!

[@mrdaym]

It's like Parks and Rec. The entirety of season 1 was there to just start cranking up the what followed.

[@fruityrobo7]

change is important in our fast paced world. whether that change is for better or for worse, you have to change. you cannot be stagnant or remain where you were before. otherwise you become something like the Transformers movie series

[@gonzolonzo1383]

Actors like Chevy get a bad rap. Difficult to work with actors have been some of the greatest characters we've seen. Christian Bale and Edward Norton (maybe even Tom Cruise) fall into this category while producing some of the most iconic characters in film history. Bale flipped a shit on batman, nolan flipped a shit on American history x and hulk.

[@christijanrobert1627]

My only criticism of what happened post pilot is that Britta became a comedic foil. In the first two seasons, I liked when she became weird in the world of her character while remaining confident in her stubborn behavior. At least, she had integrity in her strangeness. But her being constantly labeled the 'worst' in subsequent seasons, how she was being a pretend almost-therapist, it made me feel sorry for her. She wasn't attractive as a character then. In seasons one and two, she's got her head up high, she's hot, sexy, later only to be kicked in the teeth in seasons 3 onward. Even Jeff or Pierce, at their more amorally questionable moments, could get a win. Britta seemed to remain the butt of jokes.

[@richardwraith2459]

I like how Chang tells Jeff that he get's his spanish phrases from watching sesame street. Then in another episode or that one (can't remember), Troy & Abed portray Bert & Earnie at the end of that episode.

[@TheAcharyaa]

Perhaps it’s because I know what this show would become - but I freaking love this pilot.

[@jeremyrosenberger8535]

I keep coming back to this one question; what would Community have looked like if it didn’t get weird? What was the plot going to be, who’d play off who or date who, how many seasons would it have run, and would the show have been more successful?

[@robertlowe1454]

I don't watch Community, but I do watch Captain Midnight 😁💕