How’s Community’s third season been? – Quibbling Siblings

by Debbie McDuffee

Every week brother and sister team Bob and Debbie take on a new topic. This week we look at the third season of 'Community' and discuss how the quality, cleverness and aptitude for funny stand up to past seasons.

Debbie:

Community‘s had an odd third season. A very big part of me accepted the fact that I likely saw the last new episode at Christmastime — and then NBC surprised me with Community‘s return in March, complete with probably my favorite sitcom trailer ever. When I was finished squeeing, though, I felt a bit disappointed, because the first few episodes of the return were uneven for me. Then, there was all the hullabaloo with Chevy Chase and Dan Harmon, which has already been talked to death. Even the screeners we received confused me, because my favorite of the three episodes given to us over a month ago still doesn’t air until April 26, “Basic Lupine Urology.”

Community seemed on a roll in season two and even in the beginning of this season, and now I can’t quite figure out where it’s going. It doesn’t seem to be catering to syndication enthusiasts everywhere, who think the show will get a fourth season just so it can be syndicated. It does seem to be taking risks and forwarding character development, but it is also missing the mark more often than it used to. I hope it doesn’t get more clever than the funny can handle.

What’s your point of view on Community‘s third season?

Bob:

It’s so hard to talk about Community. It’s one of those shows that has been branded a “critical darling” and I know there’s some backlash when people like us complain about it being yanked off the air and then whine about the quality. We’ve got to be honest though, and I agree with you. The show has not been at its strongest since it returned, but there have been some winning episodes, and the war documentary will go down as one of the best in the series.

I have a lot of patience for the show, though, because when it does hit, it’s amazing, and I think that there are going to be some more epic episodes before the end of the year. That trailer that you loved so much gave us a lot to look forward to. I know I’m excited to see what sort of high concept episode is in store for the big Chang dystopia. I’m guessing it will be the finale.

The most disturbing part of the trailer, though? No paintballs!

Debbie:

It’s not that we’re being unsupportive, it’s just that we’re not being fans blinded by love. Every show can do wrong, no writer is perfect and there are going to be clunker episodes of even the best series. I direct your attention to Buffy’s “Inca Mummy Girl,” or “The Puppet Show.” “Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts” suddenly doesn’t look so bad. …

I’m not sure they could revisit paintball again and have it be epic, though. Where do you go after you essentially destroy the school? I’m fine with no more paintball, if the other choice is mediocre paintball.

Oh, you are going to love the upcoming episode I’ve teased about — a wonderfully fun spoof of a TV genre that is not your favorite, that’s all I’ll say.

Bob:

Well, I certainly didn’t think the show could top the first paintball episode … and then it did, so I wouldn’t be so sure to assume a third would be mediocre.

The show is going to mock something I hate? What a tease! I hate so much TV. Is it procedurals? Reality TV? Morning chat shows? The local news? Entertainment “news” shows? The possibilities are endless!