Inside Television with Alan Sepinwall

Review: 'Community' - 'Conventions in Space and Time': CONNNNNNN!!!!

The gang goes to an Inspector Spacetime convention, where Abed's new friend doesn't like his old one

By Alan Sepinwall Thursday, Feb 21, 2013 8:30 PM

On "Community," Abed (Danny Pudi) brings Britta (Gillian Jacobs) and Troy (Donald Glover) to an Inspector Spacetime convention.

Credit: NBC

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I'm on vacation this week, but I saw tonight's "Community" in advance, and have one or two thoughts on it coming up just as soon as we touch tentacles and download...

More than the premiere, "Conventions of Space and Time" (the other episode that Sony chose to send out in advance of the season) had me concerned that the new creative team had constructed a simulation of "Community" where many of the details were right, but something seemed missing. I can see how most of the elements of this one make sense as an episode of "Community" — except for Annie alone in the hotel room, pretending to be married to Jeff, which was just odd and left Alison Brie looking uncomfortable and confused for the first time in the show's run — but other than Pierce as a focus testing nightmare for the American "Inspector Spacetime," pretty much none of it worked. It's not even really a high-concept episode (which can be harder to pull off), but one that just takes place almost entirely off campus (and without the dean or Chang). And almost all of it fell flat.

What did everybody else think?

Alan Sepinwall
Sr. Editor, What's Alan Watching

Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

Related Searches: Community, Moses Port, David Guarascio, Dan Harmon, Chevy Chase, Donald Glover, Joel McHale, Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ken Jeong, Danny Pudi

Next 137 Comments

Brendan

Really disagreed. Maybe I'm just used to the new show now, but I felt like this was the first time the show demonstrated a comedic voice that wasn't just aping Harmon. Britta on the fire-escape would've been a thousand times too cartoonish last year, but it worked well here. The only storyline that didn't click for me at all was the Pierce one which felt like the 20,000th riff on the stupid-American executive thing.
February 21, 2013 at 9:44PM EST Reply to Comment
- Grubi Gotta agree with you and not Alan. The Britta fire escape thing was my favorite part of the non-Harmon area so far. And it didn't seem Harmonesque at all which means they aren't just trying to ape Harmon's type of comedy.
  February 22, 2013 at 12:45AM EST
- Also agree on the disagree.
  
  There was plenty here to laugh at, and though a lot of the B plot suffered, the central story was good and had actual development that made sense (whereas last season we thought Abed was going to plummet off the deep end, here he's making real growth and understanding; may not be comedy but it's actually nice to see).
  
  And honestly, I enjoyed all the little digs at nerds and our strange obsessions (and how this can be comparable to crazy, jealous ex-girlfriend).
  
  Favorite line had to be guest star Matt Lucas' "Oh he can make a fist... That would hurt much more than a slap..."
  February 22, 2013 at 1:50AM EST
- Lee Harvey I've accepted that what I enjoy about Community is somewhat different than what Alan likes. I actually thought this was pretty good. Britta on the fire escape was hilarious. Troy and Abed felt like Troy and Abed. I even liked Annie on her own.
  February 22, 2013 at 1:52AM EST
- Grubi I have to add that Britta and the fire escape also featured Gillian Jacobs in her underwear. Never a bad thing.
  February 22, 2013 at 2:38AM EST
- Phil K. I don't get why all the critics don't like this one. It's like they all got together and made a group decision... even though it was wrong? Maybe we're all part of a Duncan Primcipal style experiment they're running?
  February 22, 2013 at 2:39AM EST
- SlackerInc I liked it too. There was only really one part where I thought it was noticeable that the characters were acting differently than they would have in previous seasons: when Annie and Jeff were sitting on the couch talking. But I actually liked that interaction better than what they've done with that relationship in the past.
  February 22, 2013 at 7:03AM EST
- I'm not sure if we're all just hypnotized by half naked Gillian Jacobs, but I'm gonna go ahead and be the dozenth person to say the fire escape trip worked for me. I love doughnuts.
  February 22, 2013 at 12:12PM EST
- b alan I don't like being the Debbie D here, but 3 seasons of having the hot blonde play the clumsy, loser fool is one of the things that made community great. Nice irony that the opening scene, while visually stimulating and well-coordinated, was likely the result of testing/execs saying "more sex appeal for the characters!"
  February 22, 2013 at 3:01PM EST
- @B Alan
  
  Well, ya got Gillian Jacobs in her underwear and Joel McHale bare-chested. Least it's equal-opportunity fan service.
  February 22, 2013 at 3:11PM EST
- Mhbazzi Agree w both you guys and Alan. Definitely not a traditional smart deep Community episode of the past few seasons. So on that level I see how it can be disappointing and maybe why Alan felt the way he did. This felt like a totally different show, a traditional sitcom if u will. And on that level, it worked as a familiar sweet semi-funny happy ending traditional non-threatening/challenging sitcom. Community is what it is now. Previous seasons are totally irrelevant to what the show is now. Judge it not on what u know it was, but rather what it is now and whether that works for u or not.
  February 22, 2013 at 5:11PM EST
- After 3 episodes, tho?
  February 23, 2013 at 1:02PM EST
StephenH2OMan

I really couldn't disagree more. After the first two episodes, I was all set to proclaim how I was lowering my expectations for the rest of the season, but I thought this episode was the best Zombie Community so far. Solid B+.

I'm anti-Britta/Troy, but they told a good story revolving around that idea and I thought Annie's plot was fine. And if that wasn't enough, the tag was perfect.
February 21, 2013 at 9:44PM EST Reply to Comment
- Joe I thought Abed's reaction was completely wrong for the character. Expressing "I hate you" didn't seem right for him. It should've been a reaction more like what happened when the "Cougarton Abbey" season ended before he expected.
  February 21, 2013 at 9:47PM EST
- Junta It wasn't a show he was emotionally invested yet, it was "just" a show that imitated and killed the spirit of the show he loved. So the reaction was apropriate, he wasn't half-joking it or anything.
  February 21, 2013 at 9:55PM EST
- Jonas.Left JOE Given my feelings about Chevy Chase's impact on the show, when Abed said "I hate you," I responded, "So say we all."
  February 21, 2013 at 11:26PM EST
- keith That line wasn't Abed. I'm really quite sad now. The best character on television has died and only a few of us even know.
  February 22, 2013 at 12:08AM EST
- Conrad That was my conclusion too. First two episodes were horrible. Just a poor imitation. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but that doesn't mean it's funny or interesting.
  
  A little better this time out. Liked the opening with Britta. Liked how Abed calmed down when he realized Troy would find him. Still more heavy-handed than a Harmon script but no doubt on time and under budget.
  
  Yes, the show is still dead to me. And yes, I will continue to watch.
  
  February 22, 2013 at 12:26AM EST
- That Werewolf Guy Keith, sorry but Abed died already last season, when they turned him into a borderline psychopath who got nervous breakdowns, whenever he was asked to care about other people's feelings.
  February 22, 2013 at 12:13PM EST
- MT Zombie Community is about right. This hurts. What I don't get is why they would hire showrunners who clearly don't like/understand the characters instead of just cancelling the show?
  February 22, 2013 at 2:06PM EST
- Bunny Colvin I thought it was a very good episode and I enjoyed it. I'm sure some people will try to go a tv snob/hipster and try to point out some deep thoughts on the episode. But it's a tv comedy and I was entertained throughout the episode, that's all I'm asking for. Dan Harmon's a jerk and is gone and I can't tell the difference.
  February 27, 2013 at 10:36AM EST
- keith I don't think it's fair to call fans of Harmon-era Community hipsters. For me, it spoke to me in ways no television show ever has done. It actually made me feel happy, something perhaps only Buffy did before.
  February 27, 2013 at 12:27PM EST
- Bunny Colvin Sorry, I meant people that were fans of Community with Harmon but aren't fans of the current season are hipsters/snobs. The critics are all trying to find all of these big changes and rip on the show but I really don't think that most viewers can tell the difference. And the viewers thar are complaining are just trying to sound smart. I think it's the same fun, sometimes strange show ... and I still enjoy it. I just like the actors and the characters and don't always need any crazy plot ... just want an enjoyable show.
  February 27, 2013 at 12:50PM EST
- keith Maybe you can't sense the difference but other people can. Has that possibility occurred to you, or do you assume you're the most aware and if you don't notice something it isn't there?
  February 27, 2013 at 7:48PM EST
- Bunny Colvin Yeah, sorry, I just assumed that I'm the most aware. And in high school I was voted most likely to be most aware. Or I just gave myself that moniker. But now I'm realizing that you're the most aware, Keith, so congrats on that. Sorry for posting my opinion. I'm stupid. You're smart. I was wrong. You were right. You're the best. I'm the worst. You're very good-looking. I'm not attractive.
  
  February 28, 2013 at 10:11AM EST
- sepinwall Okay, enough. Rule #1 on the blog: TALK ABOUT THE SHOW, NOT EACH OTHER.
  
  If you like the new season of Community? Great. If you think the show isn't as good as it was under Harmon? Also great. Express your own opinion. Do not attack or attempt to characterize the people who disagree with that opinion.
  February 28, 2013 at 10:25AM EST
- Bunny Colvin Sorry Alan! I'll be sure to follow the rules going forward! Got carried away. Rule 2: Don't talk about fight club!
  February 28, 2013 at 11:40AM EST
JJJJ

That was awful. The one thing I disliked most about the annie subplot is that she seemed to revert to season 1 characterization.
February 21, 2013 at 9:45PM EST Reply to Comment
SVUnCI

I actually laughed in this episode instead of just smiling with joy. And that (spoiler) cameo had me nerdgasming all over the place.
February 21, 2013 at 9:45PM EST Reply to Comment
- Crumdawg97 Cameo was fantastic casting! That Alan wouldn't mention that surprised me even more than his overall reaction.
  February 21, 2013 at 11:56PM EST
- Jonas.Left Its been such a long time since Tricia Helfer was in anything of note, I didn't really recognize her. I thought it might be her, but I had to check online.
  February 22, 2013 at 1:26AM EST
- tomandjerry On Community, Tricia Helfer should have been in a red dress, should have been acting as a double agent in some way, and should have been rated a 6 for some reason.
  February 22, 2013 at 9:08PM EST
Jeff G

Definitely seems like they're moving the show toward a more traditional track. Do focus groups show that romantic relationships are essential to the success of sitcoms? Seems like they've really pushed into it all at once where Harmon was content on dancing far around it and concentrating on "Community-type" storylines.
February 21, 2013 at 9:47PM EST Reply to Comment
- ldeng Yeah, except Harmon put Troy and Britta together at the end of last season. And don't forget the Jeff/Britta/Slater triangle with a touch of Annie on the side from Season 1. Hard to pin this on the new guys when it's been there since the very beginning.
  February 22, 2013 at 10:39AM EST
Intellectual Ninja

My name is Kevin. I have Changnesia.

So... I guess we were just supposed to forget that happened?
February 21, 2013 at 9:50PM EST Reply to Comment
- Kyle These episodes have been aired out of order I believe. Notice how the hotel room door said 404 on it, a la Remedial Chaos Theory? Chang's back in next week's episode, which I believe was supposed to air second.
  February 21, 2013 at 11:40PM EST
Drew

It was aight, but you are not being truthfull to say this was any worse than some of the last few episodes of season 3
February 21, 2013 at 9:50PM EST Reply to Comment
Mulderism

This is my least favorite one so far. They need to get back to Greendale and stop doing these off-campus episodes.

The Jeff-Britta story was a bit confusing like you said. What is the deal now? Are they really dating? And why were they staying in a hotel anyway? Was the convention out of town?

A few laughs here and there but on the whole a pretty weak episode.
February 21, 2013 at 9:52PM EST Reply to Comment
- leemats As far as I was able to tell, the convention was out of town. Jeff and Annie were planning on going skiing. So I guess the other characters were either staying in a hotel also, or planning on driving home after the con. They could have been more clear on that.
  February 22, 2013 at 10:26AM EST
Phil

I liked it quite a bit. Didn't like the 1st episode this season but the last 2 have felt like Community to me, even if not at its best.
February 21, 2013 at 10:03PM EST Reply to Comment
Phil

This episode was my favorite of this season so far. I didn't like the 1st episode at all, but the last 2 have felt like Community to me, even if not at its best.
February 21, 2013 at 10:04PM EST Reply to Comment
Phil K.

What's with all the critic hate? I don't get it? I liked this episode, other twitter fans seemed to like it, too. Feels like all the critics got together and reviewed a different episode than we all saw!
February 21, 2013 at 10:07PM EST Reply to Comment
- Mahmoud Fayed THERE'S A CONSPIRACY!
  
  I'm only half-kidding... the situation is pretty suspicious.
  February 26, 2013 at 10:34PM EST
Steve

I'm usually in agreement with you Alan, but this rare time we have to differ. This was my favorite episode of the three so far. And Joel McHale ripping his shirt off made me laugh so hard I had to pause the live show.
February 21, 2013 at 10:16PM EST Reply to Comment
- GRubi Yeah, I usually agree with Alan, but I think Season 4 of Community has improved with each episode.
  February 22, 2013 at 12:51AM EST
- Col Bat Guano Yep, put me in that camp as well. This one was easily the funniest of the three so far.
  February 22, 2013 at 2:48AM EST
Tom Dickinson

I feel like the Abed story in this episode works much better if you're on the inside of fandom. Uber-fan swoops in and spoils everything is pretty true to the Doctor Who fan experience--in fact, Doctor Who did a similar story in 2006 ("Love and Monsters," one of my favorites).
February 21, 2013 at 10:34PM EST Reply to Comment
adama1843

I generally agree with you, Alan, but not this time. To me, this was the only good episode of the three this season. I was so disappointed in the premiere; it was the first episode that I had no desire to watch again. Though the second was better, I didn't like it nearly as much as other commenters. They both felt like gimmicks.

This episode, though centered as a "convention" story, helped to propel the relationships between Abed/Troy/Britta, while the jokes seemed less forced than the previous two episodes. Also, I like the Dean but was happy that he wasn't thrown into this episode with a token outfit.

The Annie subplot didn't bother me. It reminded me of Troy's 21st birthday where Annie created a complicated cover story for her fake ID.
February 21, 2013 at 10:37PM EST Reply to Comment
- birkoff1 Yup.
  February 21, 2013 at 11:12PM EST
- GRubi Ditto.
  February 22, 2013 at 12:52AM EST
Bryan-a

Well, the gang at Greendale is now wacky. Definitely seeing some issues here, Annie being the mst glaring.
February 21, 2013 at 10:47PM EST Reply to Comment
Olivia

I agree with you, Alan. It's as if the characters are trapped in an alternate world, or worse, have been taken over by puppetmasters. Their bodies are there, but it's sadly not the same Community. Everything seemed to fall flat. Shirley has barely been on the show as well.
February 21, 2013 at 10:56PM EST Reply to Comment
- amg Yeah, I'm still on this end of things. I thought this one had a few more [small and quick] moments that felt closer to authentic than the first ep, but overall, it didn't have the flow, or creative energy it used to, and often had that "trying too hard" feeling. Britta on the balcony in particular felt like they were trying to be community--but it felt too much of a ploy having Gillian Jacobs jumping around in her underwear. The community I knew and love didn't need to go that route to grab attention. [Or when it did it was more inherent to the plot itself I guess--hard to explain what I mean...
  February 22, 2013 at 9:22AM EST
- Jonas.Left There were plenty of sexy time moments in the first three seasons, two of which toyed with girl/girl fantasy encounters between Annie and Britta. The "Pen" episode had the entire cast in their underwear wiggling and the first "Clip" show had another precious glimpse of Britta in her modestly sexy underthings. For the ladies and gay gentleman, Joel Mchale showed more than any of the female cast in the first season in the "Billiards" episode. Also, slow motion Annie running was not unappealing. Sexiest of all we had, Pierce In the gimp suit.
  February 22, 2013 at 4:22PM EST
- Olivia AMG-Right, Britta in her underwear was gratuitous. She was shown in her underwear previously during the Paintball episode when she and Jeff had sex, but this time there were too many excessive shots of her ass. I agree that it seemed like a cheap ploy and not integral to the plot. As a woman, I find this troubling.
  February 22, 2013 at 4:29PM EST
Andy

I liked it and even laughed out loud when everyone bowed to Jeff. ... I love Community as much as anyone but I guess it's easy to forget even some of the Harmon episodes had some duds - which what happens sometimes when you swing for the fences. I was really worried about this season but it hasn' been bad at all. I actually enjoyed Brita giving Troy 'dating' advice and usually I can barely tolerate Brita. And Alison Brie makes any scene enjoyable. This episode didn't have the highs of many of the episodes but it didn't have the low lows either.
February 21, 2013 at 11:00PM EST Reply to Comment
birkoff1

Strongly disagree. This episode for me was a huge sigh of relief after the previous two outings, and was a show I'd be glad to watch for this season and beyond.

I'm sure some will not like their continuation in continuing to bang the Jeff-Annie drum, but whether it's just a fleeting thing as Annie claims, or an actual relationship evolves, I'm okay with it. The plotline started many moons ago because the two characters worked together, and frankly, Dan Harmon never could quite find a right angle to portray her from. If she can continue to show maturity and still be a bubbly idealist at the same time, I'm okay with that.

As for the rest, it serviced the characters well, was funny enough, and still managed to advance the broader story on several fronts, which is pretty impressive so soon after a changing of the guard.

It didn't feel like Harmon. But it did feel like Community. And that's good enough for me.
February 21, 2013 at 11:11PM EST Reply to Comment
Mike

I liked it quite a bit. The humor has gotten a little broader and it's not as nuanced, but most shows go through that. I'm enjoying this season enough that it's making me sad seeing the ratings decline and the fans turn on it.
February 21, 2013 at 11:12PM EST Reply to Comment
Stan

I liked this episode and thought it matched well with some of the other funny Community episodes of the past. Maybe the show will never reach the extreme highs of the Harmon series, but the show is still pretty good.

But it seems like this season no matter what happens on the show the critics are just going to talk about how "flat" the show is and that something is "off" without Dan Harmon in charge. We get it, Dan Harmon left the show. Is that all we're supposed to talk about from now on?
February 21, 2013 at 11:22PM EST Reply to Comment
- SlackerInc This! That's fine for the first episode of the season after Harmon left; but at this point it's time to MoveOn. Either stop watching, or deal with the show that is actually in front of you.
  
  And yeah: even if they never hit the heights of some of the top five or six episodes in the show's run, if they can maintain a quality level that's around their historical average, or even slightly higher, as this and the first episode of the season represent to me, that'll work a whole lot better than nothing.
  February 22, 2013 at 7:11AM EST
- jenfullmoon Yeah, every single review anywhere of the show is saying that.
  
  I actually thought the Abed/Troy/Britta plotline was done really well. It hit the notes I'd want it to hit, no question. Pierce and Shirley--still a typical plotline for this show and I was fine with it.
  
  I do concur that I don't get what the hell they are doing with Annie this season, though. Why the hell are she and Jeff suddenly going off alone in the same hotel room on a ski trip and she's faking marriage in her head? That, I concur, did not work (though Jeff's villain resemblance and the Tricia Helfer scene and the end did). But it wasn't 100% a turd either.
  February 22, 2013 at 2:11PM EST
- SlackerInc They had separate rooms.
  February 22, 2013 at 8:01PM EST
- Yeah, I said it The Abed/Troy/Britta plotline hit the notes you'd want it to hit -- it just hit them right on the nose.
  February 23, 2013 at 1:37AM EST
srpad

Okay, I have enjoyed this season so far but I would agree this was the weakest of the three. Annie does like to play act but Troy seems to be suffering from Homer disease where he gets dumber and dumber.

On the other hand, this episode had more butts on camera than the last three seasons combined, so there's that.
February 21, 2013 at 11:24PM EST Reply to Comment
keith

This isn't Community any more. I'm kind of glad they are giving the characters stock sitcom relationships rather than genuine relationships, it means I can just stop watching.
February 21, 2013 at 11:54PM EST Reply to Comment
- XK This. It's very much a sitcom now. Yes, there are occasionally funny bits, but lots of shows have occasionally funny bits. That's not what kept me watching Community.
  February 22, 2013 at 3:03AM EST
- b alan Agree. Gillian in her underwear is great and all, but that's not the show I've loved watching for the last 3 years.
  February 22, 2013 at 2:58PM EST
Maddy

That Annie story line was awful and made her seem pathetic. This does not feel like the community I loved, hit and a miss.
February 22, 2013 at 12:22AM EST Reply to Comment
- Kyle *ahem* SWING and a miss. Hit and a miss doesn't really make sense.
  February 22, 2013 at 12:46AM EST
- GRubi I suppose you could interpret Maddy as saying other parts of the episode were a hit, while the Annie part was a miss......
  February 22, 2013 at 12:56AM EST
- Jonas.Left "Hit and miss" is a phrase describing a partly successful effort. "Swing and a miss" would refer to a complete failure.
  February 22, 2013 at 1:34AM EST
- Maddy uhhh yeah, what grubi said.
  February 22, 2013 at 10:46AM EST
- Karin To me it felt like Annie playing Trudy Campbell. Weird.
  February 22, 2013 at 8:48PM EST
- birkoff1 hit and a miss. Streets ahead!
  February 22, 2013 at 10:35PM EST
- Seth Guys, haven't you ever made a conversation mistake?
  February 22, 2013 at 10:49PM EST
- Jonas.Left I was just offering two possibilities. I wasn't sure which MADDY intended.
  
  Mistakes? Shirley yoo am jocking. Me know mack mistakes ewer.
  February 22, 2013 at 10:59PM EST
gco211

This was the first one that really felt off to me. I liked the first two significantly more than you did, Alan, but this one really was just aping Harmon for me.

The Jeff storyline was fine as it went, but the Troy and Abed story didn't quite work. I liked Britta and thought Annie's was horrible (though I see where a bad Harmon rip off would use that, as they think it's in her character a la Caroline Decker in Mixology Certification).

But while Shirley was a whole vat of nothing tonight, Pierce was awful. If he's getting this sort of material the rest of the season, I'm with Chevy for quitting.
February 22, 2013 at 1:07AM EST Reply to Comment
Truth

Completely disagree. You are wrong Alan. This episode was the best of the season, by far. Some people seem to be searching for reasons to hate new community.
February 22, 2013 at 1:30AM EST Reply to Comment
- Phil K. ^This^
  February 22, 2013 at 2:41AM EST
- Chris I don't think people--particularly Alan--are looking for reasons to hate the "new" Community. Alan's been a huge fan of the show since first season and he's fair enough to not be petty like that.
  
  Having said that, I think a lot of people panicked when Harmon was let go. And I think they're overly sensitive to the new show, such that anything that is slighltly "off" from Harmon is bothering them more than most casual viewers. I think people who were unaware of Harmon's firing probably aren't picking up on anything different in most of the shows; even knowing about the behind-the-scenes disputes, I thought the first two episodes were solid Community eps.
  
  And having said THAT, I thought this week's episode was the first to feel like it was straining. I laughed a little--particularly at Abed's Joel McHale impression--but it felt like it was trying too hard. And Annie's subplot made no sense. I actually began to wonder if this was the first episode the new regime wrote or filmed, because the two previous eps felt much more tonally in line with Community (but it's obvious at least the premiere was the first).
  February 22, 2013 at 10:26AM EST
Cade

Easily the best of Season 4 and I think I may just stop reading Alan's reviews of this show. It's pretty obvious he is determined not to like the new season.
February 22, 2013 at 1:36AM EST Reply to Comment
Paul

The plot of the first ep of this season was just bad; the second one had some good ideas but just felt off...
This one worked. I really enjoyed the whole episode.
February 22, 2013 at 1:49AM EST Reply to Comment
Lee

Reasons why thie episode was great:
1. Tricia Helfer "meta-ing" by talking about how she was attracted to the philosophy of a cult science-fiction show
2. Gillian Jacobs in her underwear
3. Matt Lucas
4. Tricia Helfer
5. The bellman's perfectly delivered line, "Normally we don't concern ourselves about adultery, because then hotels wouldn't exist..."
6. Did I mention Tricia Helfer?
February 22, 2013 at 1:56AM EST Reply to Comment
- Lisa I did not recognize Cap 6 until my husband pointed it out. And judging from some other reviews, I think a lot of people didn't recognize her. But that was wonderful!
  February 22, 2013 at 12:56PM EST
- Dave Who is Tricia Helfer?
  
  February 22, 2013 at 2:41PM EST
- Lee Dave, Tricia Helfer was in BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, a cult science-fiction show beloved by fans for, among other things, its deep philosopical themes. Hence the meta humor of her character Lauren liking Inspector SpaceTime for the philosophy.
  February 23, 2013 at 6:11PM EST
- VisionOn The BSG inclusion just reinforced my opinion when the show changed hands last year. It was an obvious inclusion to appease what the new showrunners perceive as the geek audience. The problem is the showrunners are not geeks and have limited understanding in that area. So it was an obvious and token inclusion much the same way BBT works on. Probably because BSG was the only SF show they watched.
  
  Harmon is a bona fide geek that surrounded himself with writers of the same inclination. That's why we had D&D episodes, video game parodies, obscure film references all over and alternate reality episodes.
  
  Throwing in an obvious genre star or name checking a popular SF show is not what made Community what it was. Using that knowledge and making something that was a homage and not being overt is what made it what it was. For every clearly marked geek-reference there were plenty that were just thrown in as side gags that you could easily miss.
  
  For every Batman you need a Beastmaster. For every Aliens gag you need to have a cat being thrown across the screen.
  February 24, 2013 at 9:06AM EST
Jonas.Left

After a medicre premiere and an awful second episode, I was not looking forward to tonight, but I found myself enjoying it a lot more than I expected. The Spacetime humor worked really well. After two episodes in a row wher Abed just zoned out, he actually intracted with other people. For the first time this season, the show treated the Britta/Troy relationship as real. None of these things were Community at its best, but it was better than last week.

The biggest problem was Jeff and Annie. They've been a problem since the premiere. The show seems intent on regressing them to past seasons. In the first episode, Jeff incessantly declares that he's the "new Jeff." After the season three finale he'd realized he wanted the study group in his llife. So, the past two episodes Jeff is back to trying to weasel out of spending time with them. Brilliant. In the premiere, Annie regresses back to prissy naive season one Annie. This episode, I can't even guess what they were thinking. I'd love to see Jeff and Annie together, but their dynamic was completely off tonight.

I'm hoping there will eventually be an episode that works as a whole, instead of these take the good with the bad hodgepodge shows.
February 22, 2013 at 1:57AM EST Reply to Comment
M

I agree with most of the commenters that this was the best episode of the season so far. Was it up there with the best of the series? No. But it's the first one of the new season that felt like an okay episode of the show and not someone trying to do a bad imitation of Community.
February 22, 2013 at 2:06AM EST Reply to Comment

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Review: 'Community' - 'Conventions in Space and Time': CONNNNNNN!!!!

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Review: 'Community' - 'Conventions in Space and Time'

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Review: 'Community' - 'Conventions in Space and Time'

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Option 1

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Grubi Gotta agree with you and not Alan. The Britta fire escape thing was my favorite part of the non-Harmon area so far. And it didn't seem Harmonesque at all which means they aren't just trying to ape Harmon's type of comedy.

Lee Harvey I've accepted that what I enjoy about Community is somewhat different than what Alan likes. I actually thought this was pretty good. Britta on the fire escape was hilarious. Troy and Abed felt like Troy and Abed. I even liked Annie on her own.

Grubi I have to add that Britta and the fire escape also featured Gillian Jacobs in her underwear. Never a bad thing.

Phil K. I don't get why all the critics don't like this one. It's like they all got together and made a group decision... even though it was wrong? Maybe we're all part of a Duncan Primcipal style experiment they're running?

I'm not sure if we're all just hypnotized by half naked Gillian Jacobs, but I'm gonna go ahead and be the dozenth person to say the fire escape trip worked for me. I love doughnuts.

@B AlanWell, ya got Gillian Jacobs in her underwear and Joel McHale bare-chested. Least it's equal-opportunity fan service.

After 3 episodes, tho?

Joe I thought Abed's reaction was completely wrong for the character. Expressing "I hate you" didn't seem right for him. It should've been a reaction more like what happened when the "Cougarton Abbey" season ended before he expected.

Junta It wasn't a show he was emotionally invested yet, it was "just" a show that imitated and killed the spirit of the show he loved. So the reaction was apropriate, he wasn't half-joking it or anything.

Jonas.Left JOE Given my feelings about Chevy Chase's impact on the show, when Abed said "I hate you," I responded, "So say we all."

keith That line wasn't Abed. I'm really quite sad now. The best character on television has died and only a few of us even know.

That Werewolf Guy Keith, sorry but Abed died already last season, when they turned him into a borderline psychopath who got nervous breakdowns, whenever he was asked to care about other people's feelings.

MT Zombie Community is about right. This hurts. What I don't get is why they would hire showrunners who clearly don't like/understand the characters instead of just cancelling the show?

keith I don't think it's fair to call fans of Harmon-era Community hipsters. For me, it spoke to me in ways no television show ever has done. It actually made me feel happy, something perhaps only Buffy did before.

keith Maybe you can't sense the difference but other people can. Has that possibility occurred to you, or do you assume you're the most aware and if you don't notice something it isn't there?

Bunny Colvin Sorry Alan! I'll be sure to follow the rules going forward! Got carried away. Rule 2: Don't talk about fight club!

JJJJ That was awful. The one thing I disliked most about the annie subplot is that she seemed to revert to season 1 characterization.

SVUnCI I actually laughed in this episode instead of just smiling with joy. And that (spoiler) cameo had me nerdgasming all over the place.

Crumdawg97 Cameo was fantastic casting! That Alan wouldn't mention that surprised me even more than his overall reaction.

Jonas.Left Its been such a long time since Tricia Helfer was in anything of note, I didn't really recognize her. I thought it might be her, but I had to check online.

tomandjerry On Community, Tricia Helfer should have been in a red dress, should have been acting as a double agent in some way, and should have been rated a 6 for some reason.

ldeng Yeah, except Harmon put Troy and Britta together at the end of last season. And don't forget the Jeff/Britta/Slater triangle with a touch of Annie on the side from Season 1. Hard to pin this on the new guys when it's been there since the very beginning.

Intellectual Ninja My name is Kevin. I have Changnesia.So... I guess we were just supposed to forget that happened?

Kyle These episodes have been aired out of order I believe. Notice how the hotel room door said 404 on it, a la Remedial Chaos Theory? Chang's back in next week's episode, which I believe was supposed to air second.

Drew It was aight, but you are not being truthfull to say this was any worse than some of the last few episodes of season 3

leemats As far as I was able to tell, the convention was out of town. Jeff and Annie were planning on going skiing. So I guess the other characters were either staying in a hotel also, or planning on driving home after the con. They could have been more clear on that.

Phil I liked it quite a bit. Didn't like the 1st episode this season but the last 2 have felt like Community to me, even if not at its best.

Phil This episode was my favorite of this season so far. I didn't like the 1st episode at all, but the last 2 have felt like Community to me, even if not at its best.

Phil K. What's with all the critic hate? I don't get it? I liked this episode, other twitter fans seemed to like it, too. Feels like all the critics got together and reviewed a different episode than we all saw!

Mahmoud Fayed THERE'S A CONSPIRACY!I'm only half-kidding... the situation is pretty suspicious.

Steve I'm usually in agreement with you Alan, but this rare time we have to differ. This was my favorite episode of the three so far. And Joel McHale ripping his shirt off made me laugh so hard I had to pause the live show.

GRubi Yeah, I usually agree with Alan, but I think Season 4 of Community has improved with each episode.

Col Bat Guano Yep, put me in that camp as well. This one was easily the funniest of the three so far.

Tom Dickinson I feel like the Abed story in this episode works much better if you're on the inside of fandom. Uber-fan swoops in and spoils everything is pretty true to the Doctor Who fan experience--in fact, Doctor Who did a similar story in 2006 ("Love and Monsters," one of my favorites).

birkoff1 Yup.

GRubi Ditto.

Bryan-a Well, the gang at Greendale is now wacky. Definitely seeing some issues here, Annie being the mst glaring.

Olivia I agree with you, Alan. It's as if the characters are trapped in an alternate world, or worse, have been taken over by puppetmasters. Their bodies are there, but it's sadly not the same Community. Everything seemed to fall flat. Shirley has barely been on the show as well.

Mike I liked it quite a bit. The humor has gotten a little broader and it's not as nuanced, but most shows go through that. I'm enjoying this season enough that it's making me sad seeing the ratings decline and the fans turn on it.

SlackerInc They had separate rooms.

Yeah, I said it The Abed/Troy/Britta plotline hit the notes you'd want it to hit -- it just hit them right on the nose.

keith This isn't Community any more. I'm kind of glad they are giving the characters stock sitcom relationships rather than genuine relationships, it means I can just stop watching.

XK This. It's very much a sitcom now. Yes, there are occasionally funny bits, but lots of shows have occasionally funny bits. That's not what kept me watching Community.

b alan Agree. Gillian in her underwear is great and all, but that's not the show I've loved watching for the last 3 years.

Maddy That Annie story line was awful and made her seem pathetic. This does not feel like the community I loved, hit and a miss.

Kyle *ahem* SWING and a miss. Hit and a miss doesn't really make sense.

GRubi I suppose you could interpret Maddy as saying other parts of the episode were a hit, while the Annie part was a miss......

Jonas.Left "Hit and miss" is a phrase describing a partly successful effort. "Swing and a miss" would refer to a complete failure.

Maddy uhhh yeah, what grubi said.

Karin To me it felt like Annie playing Trudy Campbell. Weird.

birkoff1 hit and a miss. Streets ahead!

Seth Guys, haven't you ever made a conversation mistake?

Jonas.Left I was just offering two possibilities. I wasn't sure which MADDY intended.Mistakes? Shirley yoo am jocking. Me know mack mistakes ewer.

Truth Completely disagree. You are wrong Alan. This episode was the best of the season, by far. Some people seem to be searching for reasons to hate new community.

Phil K. ^This^

Cade Easily the best of Season 4 and I think I may just stop reading Alan's reviews of this show. It's pretty obvious he is determined not to like the new season.

Paul The plot of the first ep of this season was just bad; the second one had some good ideas but just felt off...This one worked. I really enjoyed the whole episode.

Lisa I did not recognize Cap 6 until my husband pointed it out. And judging from some other reviews, I think a lot of people didn't recognize her. But that was wonderful!

Dave Who is Tricia Helfer?

Lee Dave, Tricia Helfer was in BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, a cult science-fiction show beloved by fans for, among other things, its deep philosopical themes. Hence the meta humor of her character Lauren liking Inspector SpaceTime for the philosophy.

M I agree with most of the commenters that this was the best episode of the season so far. Was it up there with the best of the series? No. But it's the first one of the new season that felt like an okay episode of the show and not someone trying to do a bad imitation of Community.

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@B Alan

Well, ya got Gillian Jacobs in her underwear and Joel McHale bare-chested. Least it's equal-opportunity fan service.

JJJJ

That was awful. The one thing I disliked most about the annie subplot is that she seemed to revert to season 1 characterization.

SVUnCI

I actually laughed in this episode instead of just smiling with joy. And that (spoiler) cameo had me nerdgasming all over the place.

Intellectual Ninja

My name is Kevin. I have Changnesia.

So... I guess we were just supposed to forget that happened?

Drew

It was aight, but you are not being truthfull to say this was any worse than some of the last few episodes of season 3

Phil

I liked it quite a bit. Didn't like the 1st episode this season but the last 2 have felt like Community to me, even if not at its best.

Phil

This episode was my favorite of this season so far. I didn't like the 1st episode at all, but the last 2 have felt like Community to me, even if not at its best.

Phil K.

What's with all the critic hate? I don't get it? I liked this episode, other twitter fans seemed to like it, too. Feels like all the critics got together and reviewed a different episode than we all saw!

Mahmoud Fayed THERE'S A CONSPIRACY!

I'm only half-kidding... the situation is pretty suspicious.

Steve

I'm usually in agreement with you Alan, but this rare time we have to differ. This was my favorite episode of the three so far. And Joel McHale ripping his shirt off made me laugh so hard I had to pause the live show.

Tom Dickinson

I feel like the Abed story in this episode works much better if you're on the inside of fandom. Uber-fan swoops in and spoils everything is pretty true to the Doctor Who fan experience--in fact, Doctor Who did a similar story in 2006 ("Love and Monsters," one of my favorites).

Bryan-a

Well, the gang at Greendale is now wacky. Definitely seeing some issues here, Annie being the mst glaring.

Olivia

I agree with you, Alan. It's as if the characters are trapped in an alternate world, or worse, have been taken over by puppetmasters. Their bodies are there, but it's sadly not the same Community. Everything seemed to fall flat. Shirley has barely been on the show as well.

Mike

I liked it quite a bit. The humor has gotten a little broader and it's not as nuanced, but most shows go through that. I'm enjoying this season enough that it's making me sad seeing the ratings decline and the fans turn on it.

keith

This isn't Community any more. I'm kind of glad they are giving the characters stock sitcom relationships rather than genuine relationships, it means I can just stop watching.

Maddy

That Annie story line was awful and made her seem pathetic. This does not feel like the community I loved, hit and a miss.

Kyle ahem SWING and a miss. Hit and a miss doesn't really make sense.

Jonas.Left I was just offering two possibilities. I wasn't sure which MADDY intended.

Mistakes? Shirley yoo am jocking. Me know mack mistakes ewer.

Truth

Completely disagree. You are wrong Alan. This episode was the best of the season, by far. Some people seem to be searching for reasons to hate new community.

Cade

Easily the best of Season 4 and I think I may just stop reading Alan's reviews of this show. It's pretty obvious he is determined not to like the new season.

Paul

The plot of the first ep of this season was just bad; the second one had some good ideas but just felt off...
This one worked. I really enjoyed the whole episode.

M

I agree with most of the commenters that this was the best episode of the season so far. Was it up there with the best of the series? No. But it's the first one of the new season that felt like an okay episode of the show and not someone trying to do a bad imitation of Community.

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