by Thom Yee

Community images courtesy of Sony Pictures Television.

6×08: “Intro to Recycled Cinema”

If there’s one thing I consider a gift in terms of my writing ability (if I can truly claim to even have such a thing) it’s that I rarely labour for inspiration. I’m not the type of writer who puts off writing until the last minute or stares at a blank page for long, and it usually takes mere minutes of consideration before I can start off in a relatively strong direction. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have to go back and edit or revise or that everything spills out in its final, pristine glory the first go-round (if ever), but if there’s one thing I can usually count on, it’s that I don’t have to wait too long for inspiration to strike.

Right now, I am absolutely struggling for something to say about “Intro to Recycled Cinema”. But it’s not that there is nothing to say about it, just that there’s not much I want to say about it. Continue reading →

by Thom Yee

Community images courtesy of Sony Pictures Television.

6×07: “Advanced Safety Features”

I feel compelled to begin this week’s review by telling you that I drive a Honda — a proper hatchback Civic and the last such hatchback released in North America. It’s fast [relative to Civics], it’s agile [ relative to Civics], and most importantly, for some reason most of the girls I talk to really like it.

Honda is strong in my family. My father drives one. I drive one. My sister drives one. But… my mother drives a Subaru… and I probably would too if I could afford a new car right now.

We’re now at the exact midpoint of Community’s sixth season in what I would call the most disappointing run in series history not referred to as the gas leak year. Continue reading →

by Thom Yee

Community images courtesy of Sony Pictures Television.

6×06: “Basic Email Security”

As has become increasingly common with this year’s batch of Community episodes, the best parts of this week’s “Basic Email Security” come from further exploring the mythos of Greendale and its ersatz “activities committee” nee “study group”. The group tested Annie’s blood for amphetamines because she was “extra jumpy last spring? The group has a betting pool on Frankie’s sexual preferences? Elroy’s being called out for his “House Guest-era Sinbad-esque wardrobe? Garrett had a girlfriend in 2009? And has therefore been attending a community college for at least six years? All gold.

Still not that funny, though.

Continue reading →

by Thom Yee

Community images courtesy of Sony Pictures Television.

6×05: “Laws of Robotics and Party Rights”

It was this time last year (and on real, broadcast TV) that we lost Troy in one of the most moving and insightful episodes in Community’s history. Honestly, and as my previous reviews can attest, I loved that first batch of Community season five episodes that represented creator Dan Harmon’s return. Balancing a rebooting of the series and dealing with what was left from season four, in particular Pierce’s Greendale retirement and Troy’s impending departure, they were bursting with the same kind of boundless energy that defined the show at its best and they would give us latter-day favourites like “Basic Intergluteal Numismatics”, one of the series’ best concept episodes and one that gifted pop culture with the Ass Crack Bandit. The show would soon fall off from such great heights with its following episodes, but it was still pretty good throughout the remainder of the season. I for one can’t imagine a world without Meow Meow Beenz or having never seen Sean Connery’s Zardoz.

So far I don’t feel anywhere near the same about season six. Continue reading →

by Thom Yee

Community images courtesy of Sony Pictures Television.

6×04: “Queer Studies and Advanced Waxing”

Sometimes it’s easy to forget just how big the Community cast still is, with four remaining principals, one secondary character, two recurring guest stars, plus whatever Chang is. With a cast that size, it can be hard to find something for everyone to do, and even though “Queer Studies and Advanced Waxing” is comprised of three very separate stories and an eight-minute-longer running time than network sitcoms, the episode still had to shuffle three of its core characters out of its main stories.

Our lead story features Dean Pelton’s token ascension onto Richie and Carl’s (that’s right, they have names!) school board due entirely to the Dean’s seemingly apparent homosexuality. It’s not a very interesting or original premise, but it offers us perhaps the first in-depth analysis of the Dean’s preferences. Continue reading →