The pilot opens with former lawyer Jeff Winger's (Joel McHale) attempts to get with high school drop-out Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs) through the creation of a fake Spanish study group; however, through TV and film geek Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi), four more members from Spanish 101 are invited along: former high school jock Troy Barnes (Donald Glover [also known by his rapper alter ego Childish Gambino]), elderly and very racist Pierce Hawthorne (Chevy Chase), overly religious Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown) and, finally, adorable but recovering pill addict, Annie Edison (Alison Brie). Each episode begins with an introductory sketch, which usually has something vaguely to do with the episode, followed by the main story and finishing with the tag. The tag is a minute long piece which, usually, has nothing to do with the main story and no purpose other than to make you laugh. And it does. Repeatedly.
The show hits me in so many ways. The acting is great and the delivery of some of the lines gets me no matter how many times I've watched it. The on screen chemistry between the characters, especially Troy and Abed, is excellent and the tags at the end of each episode reinforce this. Some of the references to other shows are lost on you, though, if you have not seen the movie or TV show but I think this lends itself brilliantly to the show. It means that, when watching in a group, different members will find different parts funny, as happened last night when my cousin loved a Transformers reference that I did not get while I loved the references to The Breakfast Club. It also gives the show great re-watch value as when I first watched Community, I had never watched The Breakfast Club but now that I have the imitation of one key scene from the movie is much funnier.
Also you can not complain when the beautiful Gillian Jacobs and Alison Brie, who, my cousin pointed out, gets magically hotter each episode, on your screen. And that last point is key. Dan Harmon and his writing team are amazing. The script is genius and the levels of continuity and character development out of the world...if they are intended. For a first time viewer, Annie seemingly getting hotter each episode is just odd sorcery but, to the seasoned veteran, one can see that her character, and possibly the casting of Brie, was entirely up to Harmon.
Finally, good news! Community returns from its season 3 hiatus on March 15th! Rejoice Community fans and for those who have yet to sample its delights, you have just over three weeks to catch up with the rest of us.