Community: The Complete First Season

Blake Matthews READ TIME: 2 MIN.

Community follows Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), who has been disbarred from practicing law due to the invalidation of his college diploma. He enrolls Greendale Community College as a cheap fix and to regain his former life. Once there he meets Britta (Gillian Jacobs) who he falls for, and in an attempt to spend time her creates a study group for the Spanish class they're both enrolled in.

Jeff's plan backfires, as students he didn't intend on joining the group become part of it and their interaction becomes the focus of the show. The groups includes Troy (Donald Glover), a former jock; Pierce (Chevy Chase), the rich, retired entrepreneur who is racist and says inappropriate things at the worst times; and Abed (Danny Pudi), the pop culture sponge who relates to things he's seen in the movies or TV shows.

The show started out funny, but as it progressed it got funnier as it took more risks. The risks could have backfired, but the most outrageous the plotlines, the better it worked. Hopefully, season two will continue the trend.

Extras for Community include commentary for all of the episodes in this season. Participants include series creator Dan Harmon, various cast and crew including Joel McHale, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Donald Glover, Chevy Chase, Ken Jeong, and more. The tracks are both revealing and funny, especially when Glover and Pudi are together.

There's a faux featurette where an angry Harmon talks about how his vision was watered down by the industry. Harmon is back for Season One Cast Evaluations where he talks with each cast member to discuss their progress in the series so far. There's also mini episodes, an extended producer's cut, as well as outtakes and alternate takes on each disc.


by Blake Matthews

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