Community
Created by Dan Harmon (2009)
Created by Dan Harmon and directed in part by the Russo brothers, Community is one of the most original sitcoms ever made. It follows Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), a disbarred lawyer who faked his degree and is forced to attend community college to earn a legitimate one and reclaim his lucrative career.
Like any great sitcom, it lives and dies on its ensemble—and this one has no weak links. From the innocent and endearing Annie (Alison Brie), to the heartwarming and hilarious friendship between Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed (Danny Pudi), to Britta (Gillian Jacobs) being the worst in the best way, and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) as the group’s god-fearing maternal center, every character feels fully realized. Even Pierce’s abrasive, obnoxious personality works perfectly, with Chevy Chase leaning into a role that mirrors his real-life reputation. Then there’s Ken Jeong’s Chang, the mentally unhinged Spanish teacher that’s an agent of chaos in the craziest way imaginable.
The episodes range from sharp pop culture homages to full-blown experiments in storytelling. And the production values of some episodes are absolutely insane…..Modern Warfare is one of the purest pieces of entertainment on television, while Remedial Chaos Theory does a time loop with surprising innovation, and Advanced Dungeons and Dragons makes the tabletop game seem fun while simultaneously being important for character growth.
Sure the later seasons weren’t as razor sharp or fun, once half the cast left it was really difficult to recapture the magic with new characters and season four is notoriously the worst because Dan Harmon was fired for that season (but thankfully rehired for season five and six).
In the end, what sets Community apart is its commitment to play. It never collapses into cynicism. Instead, it makes a surprisingly sincere argument: holding onto your imagination as an adult isn’t just valuable—it’s essential for healing and connection.
Rating: A
