Resetting the Universe. Spoiler Free Advance Review: Community - “Repilot” & “Introduction to Teaching”

Season 5, Episodes 1 and 2

Air Date: Thursday, January 2, 2014, 9/8c on USA

Rating: ★★★★★

In 1982, the TV series Dukes of Hazzard was in trouble as the series stars, John Schneider and Tom Wopat, were embroiled in a contract dispute. The studio hired Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer to replace the two stars as their cousins, Coy and Vance. Sventeen episodes later, Schneider’s and Wopat’s contracts were worked out and the cousins were immediately written out. Fans were left to process how to view those seventeen episodes, with most choosing to pretend they never happened.

That brings us to Community and its fifth season, which premieres Thursday, January 2. The show’s creator, Dan Harmon, had been fired at the end of Community’s third season and David Guarascio and Moses Port hired to replace him as showrunners. Season four was met with mostly positive reviews but fans, and even the actors, felt something was off with the absence of Harmon. While they never appeared on screen, many fans viewed Guarascio and Port as the Coy and Vance of the series.

Following season four, actor Joel McHale helped lead the push to bring Harmon back and on June 1, 2013, it was announced that he was returning, replacing Guarascio and Port. Much like the Dukes of Hazzard, Harmon was faced with what to do with the 13 episodes he had nothing to do with on the show he created. His answer, start the series over, aptly naming the first episode of season five, “Repilot.”

“Repilot” can be viewed one of two ways, depending on what you know about Community. To longtime fans, “Repilot” picks up a year after the season four finale. The gap in time allows the writers to show regular viewers what everyone has been doing. To new viewers, it’s a pilot episode where characters like Annie Edison (Alison Brie), Troy Barnes (Donald Glover), Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi), and others are introduced.

On many levels, “Repilot” is the story of Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), a failed lawyer trying to find himself. There are two scenes that really stand out as Jeff takes out his frustration on Alan Conner (Rob Corddry) and The Dean (Jim Rash) that are powerful to watch. It is obvious there is much more behind Jeff’s emotions and as a fan you get it.

Not only does “Repilot” work, it’s funny and by the end of the episode, viewers both old and new will all be on the same page.

“Introduction to Teaching” takes the audience to Greendale Community College where they meet Professor Buzz Hickey (Jonathan Banks), as well as some other familiar teachers in new roles. Banks is a great addition to the Greendale staff, especially for Breaking Bad fans who will see glimpses of Banks’ character, Mike Ehrmantraut, in the Hickey character.

Hickey takes Greendale’s newest teacher under his wing to show him the ropes about the ins and outs of teaching at Greendale. Not to mention the perks that come with being a teacher, many of which come at the expense of Greendale’s favorite senior citizen, Leonard (Richard Erdman).

What makes both episodes work is the banter between the characters, especially given the re-pilot concept. Several times, dialogue is used to explain things to help newer audience members understand references to previous seasons and events. A perfect example is the introduction of Chang (Ken Jeong) in “Repilot” when the study group members wonder how Chang can be back by discussing all the things he has done.

I don’t think there is a comedy out there that does character arguments better than Community and this season, the writers and cast are at the top of their game. I lost track of the many times I laughed as the study group verbally goes after someone, usually another member of the group.

I can’t think of a negative thing to say about these two episodes. Combined, they mark a wonderful return to Greendale. Re-piloting the show could have been a disaster but instead, the audience is presented with a show that feels both old and new, and works on many levels. As an aside, I have also seen the third episode, “Cooperative Polygraphy,” and it’s even funnier than the first two.

Feel free to leave me a comment below or tweet me at @staffaroadtrip to let me know what you think about the re-piloting of the show.

Also, you may read the transcript of my conference call interview with Community stars Joel McHale and Jim Rash by clicking here.

On behalf of the Your Entertainment Corner team, I would like to wish all of our readers a safe and Happy New Year.

For more on Community, visit the official website at http://www.nbc.com/community/.

Follow the show on Twitter @nbccommunity.

LIKE Community on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nbccommunity.

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Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.