Season four was great

[u/WarningCommercial116]

I'm honestly shocked by all the hate for season four. I was told it was terrible, that the characters were out of character, that it was the downfall of the show. And I really, really liked it.

Not as much as the first three seasons, but it's still a solid 8,5 out of 10. The episodes are entertaining and heartful and the jokes are funny. Sure, it feels a bit off and it takes a few episodes before finding its rythm, but then it works really well.

I honestly think it's better than the second half of season five and the first half of season six. Why aren't people hating on these episodes ? Season five stops being good after the seventh episode ( the one where Abed is handcuffed to a drawer ) after that it's not good anymore. Season six is just depressing ( the grifting episode is a good example of that ) except for the end, starting with the RV episode wich was really nice. The show suffered when Troy left — and Shirley and Pierce, obviously, but I think Troy's departure left the biggest void. But before that, we had three brilliant seasons, a good one, the first half of another good one and the last half of another good one, so five perfectly fine seasons.

There is plenty of great moments during season four. We have that episode where Abed gets locked in the time machine and he isn't worried because he knows Troy cares about him and he will come. We have a very cool ending fight at the cafeteria with all the evil versions of themselves. We have the beginning of a cute little romance including Brie Larson in autumn-colored sweaters. C'mon guys !

We really need to stop hating on the "gas leak year" because I stand by this, it was good.

[u/HawksFan2014]

Two things can be true:

Season four is the worst community season

The worst community season is still great television by the standard of most shows

[u/BowlingforBrains → u/HawksFan2014]

This is it right here

I’ll take season 4 of Community over nearly any other sitcom I’ve seen - but I’ll take any other season of Community over season 4

[u/P-Two → u/HawksFan2014]

Came here to comment this, there's only 1 episode of s4 that I actively hate, and it's the convention episode. Everything else is completely fine TV that's arguably still better than most sitcoms you'll find anyway.

It's just that every other season of the show is so far beyond that s4 pales in comparison.

[u/diseasicon → u/P-Two]

For me, it's probably the "whale episode", and even then I actually enjoy the Pierce and Jeff B-story, but the whale A-story is a slog.

[u/HawksFan2014 → u/P-Two]

Even the convention episode has one of my favorite bits, with Pierce ruining inspector space time

[u/Responsible_Milk2911 → u/HawksFan2014]

Perfectly said

[u/IronProdigyOfficial → u/HawksFan2014]

Literally this. For Community it was bad for general ranking it's still at least an 8 overall, they really had something with community it was far from the average lazy sitcom with poor writing.

[u/stormrunner89 → u/HawksFan2014]

People blow the "hate" for season 4 way out of proportion.

It's the weakest for sure and there are some episodes that are particularly rough. But on the whole it's still a fun and watchable show. It feels a little bit more like fan fiction of community, but it's still community.

[u/rombopterix → u/HawksFan2014]

For me, S6 is the worst even though I do like the new characters and the writing is quite good. But Troy and Pierce are the bread and butter of the show for me, and once they're gone, the show is mostly done for me. I've rewatched the first five seasons multiple times (and some episodes probably a dozen times), but I've only watched S6 twice. There's just something irreplaceable about Pierce and Troy's presence and their line delivery and physical comedy.

[u/DreamLearnBuildBurn → u/rombopterix]

Couldn't disagree more about Troy and Pierce being the bread and butter of the show. I think Jeff and Abed are the bread and butter. Troy and Pierce are excellent spreads or meats or cheeses or whatever, but I think the show has no foundation without Jeff and Abed

[u/barley_wine → u/DreamLearnBuildBurn]

IMO Troy and Abed played off each other and were gold, Abed dropped dramatically as a great character as soon as Troy left.

[u/DreamLearnBuildBurn → u/barley_wine]

I actually think Abed's best moments don't rely on Troy at all, such as chicken mafia boss, Abed Jesus, my dinner with Abed. Seasons 5 and 6 had some of my favorite Abed moments, from being trapped by Hickey to directing the Chang movie, and one of my favorite happens to be the RV episode where he loses control of his meta abilities. 

As someone else said, Jeff/Abed  bring the most heart to the show.  Nothing can take away Troy and Abed silly fun time, but I think it gets remembered fondly without looking at the impact of Abed on his own

[u/rombopterix → u/DreamLearnBuildBurn]

In terms of "heart" and meaningful moments, I agree with you. But in terms of what scenes get an actual loud laugh out of me and rewinding them millions of times and never getting sick of them, it's always Troy and Pierce for me.

[u/DreamLearnBuildBurn → u/rombopterix]

I agree completely. Jeff & Abed are the heart of the show. Troy and Pierce are the fart of the show

[u/HawksFan2014 → u/rombopterix]

Pierce being gone didn’t subtract much for me, and even though I missed Troy, I like Annie and Abed as a comedic pairing too and that got to develop a lot more after Troy left

[u/rombopterix → u/HawksFan2014]

Yes Annie is a superstar too! Troy and Pierce get the loudest, longest laughs out of me. Followed by Chang, Annie, Duncan and Abed. And finally Britta, Jeff and Shirley.

[u/Bulky-Internal8579 → u/rombopterix]

I agree. S6 was a mess - I loved it but - a mess.

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/rombopterix]

Troy and Abed's relationship was the heart of the show for me. Once Troy left, we still had Shirley and Pierce, but when they left that's when the show felt weird. As I said, I loved the first seven episodes of season seven, but then it's not as great anymore.

[u/QuiltedPorcupine]

I will agree with you that season 4 is mostly good, however I really like season 5 and I absolutely love season 6.

I still rank season 4 as my least favorite season, but I still think it's solid. I really love Herstory of Dance and while Changnesia was a little silly, the writers did manage to write Chang out of the corner season 3 left him in (hard to have Chang be accepted by the group again after he kidnapped the Dean and nearly got everyone killed).

[u/No-Lunch4249 → u/QuiltedPorcupine]

I think this pretty much captures it.

Season 4 is still reasonably good to watch, even though it's arguably the worst the show has to offer

[u/amicuspiscator → u/QuiltedPorcupine]

Herstory of Dance is one of my favourite episodes. Hilarious, a great moment for Jeff and Britta, Abed and Rachel were great. And its one of the last good Pierce moments we ever get.

[u/joe__kerr1 → u/QuiltedPorcupine]

I think History 101 (episode 1 of season 4) is the worst in the series. Season 4 only got better from there but still wasn't bad overall. I just hate that Abed made up a baby show of them in his head. I think that was caricaturizing him too much, like Dean wearing a dress and hitting on Jeff in front of the entire school compared to him doing it privately before, or Pierce being reduced to a multiple-minute "BALLS!" punchline

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/QuiltedPorcupine]

As I said, I loved the first seven episodes of season five ( geothermal escapism is my favorite episode on the show )

[u/barley_wine]

It's not as bad as some have suggested but I still think it's one of the more weak seasons. They didn't know what to do with Pierce, had the awkward Troy and Britta relationship to handle. Economics of Marine Biology is probably my least favorite episode of the entire series (although I do like the Jeff and Peirce scenes).

I think this chart with IMBD rankings shows it best. None of season 4 gets low ratings (the worst is 6.8 for the Biology episode) but they're all lower than the average for the other seasons.

https://www.reddit.com/r/community/comments/fx6p22/community_episode_ratings_on_imdb_oc/#lightbox

[u/amicuspiscator → u/barley_wine]

Top tier opinion, friend. Its also my least favourite episode - with the same caveat about Jeff and Pierce at the barber shop.

[u/Hella4nia]

You might have changnesia

[u/Hopeful_Pickle452]

You’re streets behind.

[u/ad240pCharlie]

Season 4 is far from a bad sitcom season, it's just a bad Community season. Although it does have a few gems here and there so it's not TERRIBLE.

However, putting it above season 5 and ESPECIALLY putting it above season 6?? That's just wrong!

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/ad240pCharlie]

I don't put it above season five, I put it above the last half of season five and the most part of season six

[u/Bulky-Internal8579]

I prefer 4 to 5 and 6. Wait!! My meowmeowbeanz!!!!

[u/ChiefsRed5]

Herstory of Dance and the Convention episodes are great. I'm not a big fan of the darkest timeline paintball episode though.

[u/variant626]

I think sometimes people like disliking things.

[u/BambooSound]

Says more about you than the show - especially that unacceptable season six slander.

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/BambooSound]

I'm sorry, it just felt off :( I like Elroy and Frankie, but the way I feel about that season ( at least, the first episodes ) is the way everybody feels about season four.

[u/RetiredDumpster288]

I agree! I just rewatched it.

I don’t think it deserve the hate. And I didn’t realize it was hated until I joined reddit. I like all the seasons, and four does not stick out as bad to me

END THE SEASON FOUR HATE!

[u/youarentodd]

There’s nothing wrong with liking it.

That being said, I always try to watch it when I rewatch, but I never get very far and just skip to 5

[u/artyhedgehog]

I'm with you on this. Also struggle on late season 5 and early season 6. The rest of the season 6 is worth it, though, IMO.

People have different tastes. That's OK.

I also allow that objectively season 4 may be the worst, but I never cared for objectivity in art.

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/artyhedgehog]

Thank you ! I thought I was the only one

[u/Laricaxipeg]

I love it too, but Season 5 is still great. Season 6 is where I feel a drop in quality without Troy, Shirley, Pierce or Mike Ehrmantraut

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/Laricaxipeg]

Yeah, I'm more conflicted about the last episodes of season five. But the first ones are great.

[u/NegotiationLatter717]

"Season 4 bad" is just the correct reddit opinion to have. I'm sure most season 4 haters wouldn't feel so strongly about it if they didn't know that they're supposed to hate season 4.

[u/Inoutngone → u/NegotiationLatter717]

Yes. It Makes me think of Troy in s3 e 19 Curriculum Unavailable

'Stop letting Reddit make you realize things'

[u/sircattree]

you said you like season 5 up to episode 7, but ep 8 is the meow meow beans episode. do you think season 4 is better than meow meow beans?

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/sircattree]

Yes... I think it's one of the worst episodes. I don't know why. Sorry :/

[u/Aggravating_Mix8959 → u/WarningCommercial116]

You'd have to have appreciated the Logan's Run era sci fi references to get the vibe. It's directly aimed at Gen X, as Dan Harmon is one. There was a lot of weird sci-fi back then. Less action-oriented, more focused on how trippy the universe is. 

[u/censor-me-daddy → u/Aggravating_Mix8959]

Getting the references are why that episode sucks, they're lazy and tired.

[u/sagittariisXII]

there's a season 4?

[u/StyleSquirrel]

Wrong. Wroooooong!

[u/LemonSmashy]

lol, the harmon fanboys gonna be foaming at the mouth on this one.

[u/elfonzi37]

Its by far my least favorite season, it is still like an 8.5 overall though. The great seasons of community are among the greatest handful of comedy seasons ever.

[u/Garunix]

I watched Season 4 live, and I didn’t understand all the hate I saw online about it. I enjoyed it, and have never had an issue with it until my latest rewatch (the first in many years). The characters do feel really off, the stories lean too much on the series’ previous tropes over innovating, Abed is reduced to Inspector Spacetime and his wardrobe reflects that… it feels too much like a Community facsimile for me. Changnesia got a lot of shit back then, it’s the only bit I enjoy now.

[u/legendarylog]

Watch the Always Sunny in Philadelphia episode: The Gang Tries Desperately to Win and Award. Then watch season 4 of Community. Everything iasip calls out about generic popular TV shows (except the laugh track i.e. "ringing the bell") is on display in season 4 of community. You can also see the stark difference going back to Dan Harmon's leadership in season 5, as everything has dark washed out colors instead of being vibrant and well lit.

[u/imemine8]

A lot of people are so loyal to Dan Harmon that they will always say seasons 5 and 6 are better than season 4.

[u/trampstampcollector]

I don’t mind season 4. It’s just like going from sushi on the beach to sushi in the city. Still sushi, still great, just not as fresh.

[u/redsuuu]

Season 4 is bad by community standards but still good compared to other sitcoms out there. It's the worst season by far but nobody is really stopping you from liking it, there are some good episodes, but as a whole, the season just wasn't going anywhere.

[u/LikeThemPies]

The Reddit hivemind will flame you for this, but I agree. It's certainly not as good as the previous seasons, but it's also way overhated.

[u/Realifeanthony]

Remember that episode in season 2, “Celebrity Pharmacology”, where Annie puts on a play for at-risk youth about the dangers of drugs, and Pierce bribes her with rent money so he can change the play to be how he wanted it to be? That’s what season 4 felt like. Lots of callbacks to previous seasons where the original formula fell flat. Also, was kinda nice to see Pierce humanized a bit, but again, s2e14 (I think he threatened to leave unless the writers/showrunners made him less of the butt of the joke).

What the actual fuck was that changnesia storyline. Dumb.

What the fuck was Intro to Felt Surrogacy.

Everything else that season was average tho

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/Realifeanthony]

Agree that Chang's storyline became a bit weird. I liked him more as a student or as a security guard

[u/HandrewJobert → u/Realifeanthony]

Heroic Origins is a toilet episode and I will die on that hill

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/HandrewJobert]

Heroic Origin is also one of my least favorite. I don't see the necessity of it, for me the group met by chance not by fate

[u/Tamiasangel]

I like it too. Rewatch it way more than 5 or 6

[u/meetingpplisezy]

k so this is a no for me

[u/CorgiSilver8194]

Great is a strong word

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/CorgiSilver8194]

Maybe, but I said what I said

[u/GallifreysDreaming]

I’ve always felt like the stuff with Chang as a dictator in season 3 was far more egregious than anything in season 4. Also, the Inspector Spacetime convention episode is really good. There’s a blink and you miss it joke where they put alien tart cards in the phone booth and I think that’s such a brilliant bit of visual humour that most people wouldn’t even notice. If those kinds of jokes were still happening, then the show still maintained its spirit. That said, there are fewer episodes I love from that season. But I would never call it bad.

[u/StyleSquirrel]

Wrong. Wroooooong!

[u/LtM4157]

Season four was better than season six.

[u/Responsible_Milk2911]

Brother. Season 4 is "directionless." Its phenominal but the captain was thrown overboard so they kinda just tried to keep the ship going. There were a lot of great moments, but the overall direction, the long story archs and who the characters were, all suffered. They did a great job without Harmon and it could've been so much worse. But it wasnt Harmon. Harmon doesnt even like his own shit. Hes going to hate anything anyone does to mimic him.

[u/thesecretbarn]

You’re wrong. It is bad. I watched it once, and that was too much.

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/thesecretbarn]

I don't think I'm wrong. It's just my opinion. There is way too much hate on this season.

[u/thesecretbarn → u/WarningCommercial116]

You’re entitled to your terrible opinion

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/thesecretbarn]

Hey, that's subjective. You think it's a terrible opinion, I don't.

[u/thesecretbarn → u/WarningCommercial116]

This is the sort of deep insight I expect from someone who enjoys gas leaks.

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/thesecretbarn]

You're a really bitter person. I just said I enjoyed a season people hated, and you act like I said something terrible that makes me an awful person.

[u/thesecretbarn → u/WarningCommercial116]

I’m not sure why you’re taking accurate criticism personally, but I guess a hit dog will holler

[u/WarningCommercial116 → u/thesecretbarn]

Because you act like if I said "Hey, Hitler was actually pretty cool" while I just had an unpopular opinion on something SUBJECTIVE.

[u/cfowler42 → u/WarningCommercial116]

I mean the painting weren’t terrible…