-I felt like I needed to savor the final three episodes of the season because Community is in the process of significant changes. Neil Goldman and Garrett Donovan left the series. They co-ran things with Dan Harmon. Harmon, too, seems unlikely to return as the show runner. Hitfix.com's Alan Sepinwall and Dan Fienberg speculated about a post-Dan Harmon show, suggesting it'd be more of a traditional comedy, less experimental, etc. So it is likely that we may never see another episode like the video game one and so on. Perhaps that's why I latched onto that one so much last night. I'd expect to see more episodes like the heist and the finale regardless of who's running the show. Even though the news of its time-change and night-change is ancient news on the Internet, I'm happy Community will lead into Grimm, my favorite new series of the 2011-2012 season. I encourage Community fans to stick around afterwards for Grimm.
-Season 3 of Community had its ups and downs. Last summer, Harmon hired John Goodman and Michael Kenneth Williams and then talked about their roles like they were part of a firm plan, which is stupid, because TV changes constantly. Both showed up in the beginning but then disappeared for long stretches; it wasn't a big deal. I like the focus on the study group most of all. Season 3 produced several outstanding episodes: "Remedial Chaos Theory," "Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps," "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux," "Regional Holiday Music," "Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts," and "Virtual Systems Analysis." Honorable mention goes to "Curriculum Unavailable."
-The writers focused on the group dynamic more than individual arcs or small relationships. Through this exploration of the group, we learned how the happiest timeline happened without Jeff's presence, and that Troy is essentially the heart of the group, while Abed is the most sane member of the group, though Abed's sanity isn't a new revelation. The study group remained a group throughout the season. There were no break-ups or fights or bottle episodes about a missing pen. They were together in many of the episodes. Troy, Abed, and Annie's apartment became a more important hang-out than the study room; in fact, the study room was barely seen in the final run of episodes. Other characters formed deeper relationships as the dynamic changed as well as the hang-out location. Abed sat next to Annie at the end of "Introduction to Finality" and grabbed her hand because she helped me work through issues in "Virtual Systems Analysis." They have a connection and bond that supersedes anyone else in the group. Britta and Troy's attraction began in season two. Little by little their relationship grew. Their pairing became one of the sweetest parts of the show.
-Jeff Winger's whatever-you-want-to-call-it with Annie and Britta stopped. The writers explored the character through the character rather than through other characters. After the finale, I think Jeff was the stand-out character of the season (Britta is a close second. Gillian Jacobs was so good throughout season three). Jeff learned a valuable lesson about friendship and being a good person; these lessons eluded him since he lost his law degree and came to Greendale. Of all the Jeff Winger speeches, his speech in the courtroom to close his arc is his stand-out moment of the series. Now he can move onto resolving the issues he has with his father, and he can carve out a new life fueled by being a good person, because if you do the right thing, good things will follow.
-Jeff's transformation also erases the darkest timeline. Abed goes mental again and tries to cut off Jeff's arm in order to create the darkest timeline. Abed's can't deal with a Troy-less life (Troy can't interact with anyone when in AC repair school, which he joins to help overthrow Chang and save the Dean, and then, in one of Donald Glover's best moments, Troy flips out and reminds everyone that the school is just a 2 year trade school to get a degree in boxes which cool rooms, because the AC repair school is over-the-top in every way(and also Abed's been worried about the group dissolving or people leaving him and when those fears disappear, the darkest timeline disappears, but he needs a push)), but Jeff's speech kills Evil Abed. The darkest time is, as it were, destroyed. Change swoops in after the speech. Shirley and Pierce happily open the sandwich shop on campus. Troy moves out, but he's able to remain their friend and pursue his chosen trade, with his girl by his side. Jeff searches for his father. The closure to the season was tremendous; and if the show hadn't been renewed, "Introduction to Finality" would've worked as a series finale. If Dan Harmon doesn’t return, it’s great to have this closure for Jeff.
-"Digital Estate Planning" hit the right note in every beat. The gang rallied behind Pierce when his inheritance was threatened. Everyone later rallied behind Gilbert, Pierce's half-brother, when Mr. Hawthorne showed yet another horrible side of himself. The experimental episodes always are built on heart and they involve someone taking an emotional journey. Beyond the story, I loved the animation and all of the little details. It was like watching the best Super Nintendo video game of all-time. I loved Abed finding happiness with Hilda. I didn't even watch the final two episodes until this morning because I wanted to appreciate "Digital Estate Planning" for a few hours.
-Community continues to be my favorite TV show. I really love everything about the show. Before I wrap up the post, Jim Rash deserves accolades for turning in his best season yet as Dean Pelton. I hope his Academy Award winning screenwriting success doesn't lead him to leaving the show (It won't). The cast and crew of Community made TV magic yet again. I'm looking forward to season four and beyond. #Sixseasonsandamovie.
THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
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