Yes, Community Was Perfect-ish, But Here Are 5 Things We Didn't Like
We already know that Greendale was far from perfect, but the show had some real problems of its own too.
Let's be honest, Community is a show like no other. It's unrivaled with its zany characters, creative concepts, and of course, the meta jokes. And let's not forget the Dean, maybe one of the best comedic characters of the 2010s.
Yet, for all of its brilliance, it wasn't always the most consistently good sitcom. Here are 5 not-so-good parts of the acclaimed series.
1. Lack of Greendale Diversity
The series started with a natural introduction to the ridiculous world of Greendale. Yet as the seasons went on, and as we suspect cost-cutting measures were enforced, the more diverse settings of the campus were increasingly limited. For instance, the first few episodes were filled with outdoor scenes, creating an authentic vibe for the show. However, from season two onwards, the best we would ever get was revisiting the same corridors and the same study room in every episode. It wasn't vital for the series to work, but it is slightly disappointing.
2. Pierce Became Over-The-Top
Chevy Chase's reputation as a challenging co-star isn't a secret. Unfortunately, it seemed to also seep into his portrayal of Pierce. What started as an offbeat, outdated old character soon spiraled into a caricature of his bad-tempered self. By the later seasons, Pierce's humor became more about shock value than wit, robbing the character of the subtle charm he once exhibited. Slowly, he became more of a monster, eventually making you glad that he left.
3. Britta and Troy's Relationship
Britta and Troy is a pairing that is truly as mismatched as Greendale and City College. The idea became so controversial that it was swiftly wiped away upon Dan Harmon's return in season 5, marking the infamous 'gas leak year'. Beyond the odd dynamic between the characters that made zero sense, the forced humor fell flat, leading to plotlines that fizzled out and ultimately went nowhere. Rewatching the show now, it seems obvious that it's a plot that should have never existed in the first place.
4. Britta's Steep Decline
Speaking of Britta, when she was first introduced, she was the sharp-witted and opinionated character of the group. Yet a few episodes later, she was dramatically transformed into the group's designated mess-up.
They even literally used her name as an insult. It's clear that the character's evolution was altered for more laughs, and it likely allowed Gillian Jacobs to ultimately have more fun with the character, who seemed a little stuck up at the start. But it still sacrificed a depth to Britta that once made her quite compelling and a shame to lose.
5. Chang's Lost Potential
Ben Chang was initially the quirky, uninterested Spanish teacher who underwent a metamorphosis throughout the series, making him the weirdest of them all. Don't get me wrong, he is hilarious as he is on the show; him developing Changnesia was simply genius. But, was there a missed opportunity to explore Chang’s true potential? The show could have presented some real originality if Chang had stayed the intimidating teacher to the wild study group. Instead, he got buried under layers of absurdity, leaving us wondering what could have been.