I liked all 3. The game ep was amazing, and the heist ep was amusing.
I was quite impressed by the finale though. They managed to tie in (and wrap up) the A/C repairman angle in a way that didn’t feel quite as forced as some of the other episodes that featured it. It was heart-warming, without feeling cloying like the end of the expulsion episode. They did a pretty good job of writing a series finale, since they didn’t know if they’d be renewed.
Also, since they wrapped up everything, next season they have a clean slate to do 13 eps of a really solid new story line before packing it in for good. I’m excited to see what they come up with.
Harmon is officially out as show-runner.
So, yeah. We might all be wishing this was the finale a few months from now. Or, I don’t know, maybe it will be even more amazing. But I’m not optimistic.
rei
1663
This is the darkest timeline.
Happy Endings is basically a better-executed version of Community, but I’m not sure how much these guys had to do on that show. I don’t know if this is an upgrade or downgrade, but the show probably can’t get any more self-indulgent.
Editer
1666
Don’t reward obvious trolling…
Happy Endings is hilarious. I still love the cast. Is this what it feels like to be a child of divorce?
Anyway, here’s Dan Harmon’s version of events: http://danharmon.tumblr.com/post/23339272200/hey-did-i-miss-anything
Hugin
1668
Happy Endings is quite good, and also almost completely unlike Community beyond them both being ensemble sitcoms. Comparing them is just weird.
Jazar
1669
Ok so I was off a by few weeks.
Community is just way too good for network TV. It had to happen sooner or later-- and honestly, this is later.
I mean, c’mon, an episode parodying My Dinner with Andre? On network TV? The showrunner was asking to be shitcanned.
I can’t figure out why they didn’t just cancel it.
$$$$… Sony produces Community and basically cut a deal with NBC for renewal. (“You don’t like Dan Harmon, NBC? We hear you. He’s fired. What’s your next concern?”) Sony wants to get to 84 episodes for syndication. Syndication is where a lot of TV shows make their money, especially for their production companies.
Meanwhile, NBC has way too many holes to fill on its schedule and the last thing it needed was yet another 30-minute hole, and Community at least had some critical street cred. Plus, Sony was willing to play ball. (“Sony, we don’t like Dan Harmon.”)
I just don’t get the point- new showrunners or no, Community isn’t going to somehow become a big hit at this point, especially airing on Friday nights. It’s going to get the final 13 episodes and that’s it. Why not just keep Harmon on for those?
Oh well, I’ll still watch it for at least a few episodes but I’m not optimistic either.
Because they could. Hollywood is as full of egos as much as any place, even moreso. Harmon probably hacked off NBC brass one way or another. The sheer fact that no one at Sony or NBC was talking to Dan is pretty much proof that he was persona non grata.
And the sheer probability that Community is unlikely going to bust it big next season makes it even easier. No one fucks with the Golden Goose when he’s shitting gold eggs. It’s why studios will deal with headache talent that’s hot. But no one gives a fuck about the Nickel Goose, though.
Nickel Goose, love it.
If nothing else, season 4 will be an interesting case study. I suspect that the show could thrive without the tortured genius. Long as the new runners keep the ensemble on screen as much as possible… and don’t turn them into goddamn 8-bit sprites.
Yep, too good for television.
I think there is a version of the show they could make that is distinctly not too good for television. You just know this will happen - someone will work out that the paintball episodes were popular on the twitter with the kids and that Abed makes movie references. There will be a paintball 2 parter, the script for which will be 50% "long beat"s to make sure the audience gets it when Abed quotes Arnold’s one liners.
If Community is too good for television, does this mean it’s a better show than all the good HBO shows, AMC shows, and Justified?
Too good for network television.
Still who knows, maybe what they take away from this is that it’s critical to keep Chevy happy and season 4 opens with a recurring joke about weighing a gay man to see if they have AIDS.
I personally think that Harmon was starting to be the albatross around community’s neck. As I said earlier, I felt like the show delved deeper into “trying to hard” territory all season and I would bet that was Harmon over thinking or whatever his process is instead o just letting it come more naturally like I felt it did with the first few seasons.
Beyond that, why would anyone be surprised Harmon was canned? He’s a show runner, and we have documented instances of wildly unprofessional behavior for a boss.
