Dunk of the Season: A.V. Club + 1st season Community

Introduction to the A.V. Club

A.V. Club – A popular online magazine / cultural review site that covers a wide range of topics, from film and television to music, comics, books and more. With its considered and frequently comical criticisms, The A.V. Club has attracted fans of pop culture wanting more substance than just tweets with a link to an in-depth review, interview or discussion. Started in 1995 as a component of The Onion quickly enough, it blossomed into a respected establishment — Romanesque humor on video amusement universe will always remain uncompromising.

None is more noted than The A.V. Club's coverage of the cult television show Community created by Dan Harmon, arguably its most celebrated reviews iterative set of features. The A.V. Getting the first season of Community-- in this case, its 2009 debut -- on air wasn't often cited by t.v. The published reviews shaped the conversation among readers and writers alike about Community in those early years.

Corrections November 26, 2019: A brief synopsis of Community's first season.

Community first premiered on NBC in September 2009. The series follows a group of bizarre students at the fictional Greendale Community College and their oddball exploits. The story features Jeff Winger (Joel McHale), a disbarred lawyer who has to go back to school after he discovers his law degree is worthless. He creates a study group that evolves into something closer to a family, albeit a decidedly dysfunctional one as the series continues.

Community kicked off its first season with a cast of vivid characters, including Britta (Gillian Jacobs), Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), Troy (Donald Glover), Annie (Alison Brie) and Pierce (Chevy Chase), as well as the equally funny, occasionally odd Professor Ian Duncan (John Oliver). The series became known for its sharp writing, bizarre humor and commentary on television tropes in short order.

The A.V. Club Reviews Season One of Community

Before Community was one of the biggest cult hits on television, The A.V. Club saw its potential. For the first season in particular, its reviewers raved about the way this balance of heart, wit and irreverence has been struck. Community was pointed out for the cleverness in its pop culture references and parodies as well as its experimental structure, traits that made it unique among television series at the time according to an analysis of the site. Breaking the fourth wall and embracing absurdity more often than not, Community was never your typical sitcom and this is what made it stand out in the 2009-2010 TV season.

A. V. Club reviews and recommendations

During its first-season reviews, A.V. Club often appreciated Community's ability to vary from week-to-week the specific writes about nature and humor inherent in individual episodes pairing the same characters together. Writers for The A.V. Club praised the cast performances, particularly McHale's portrayal of Jeff Winger, an archetypical character whose development had been gradually unveiled over the course of season one. A.V. Club also praised the sharp writing along with great chemistry of cast members.

As the A.V. Club wrote in a review of Community, “Community has perhaps its greatest strength when it plays with format while keeping the emotional stakes firmly grounded.” The writers on the site praised the series for its ability to dig deeply into more serious topics like self-improvement, friendship, and education while still remaining funny and heartfelt.

Memorable Season One Episodes and Themes

The A.V. Club recently went back to season one, singling out some of its best and most original episodes that still stick with us today from Community. In balancing large laughs with true moments of growth, these episodes were not only representative of this show's humor, but exactly how to write a show that balances comedy and true character development.

One of the earlier standouts was "Advanced Criminal Law," where Jeff winds up on the wrong side of law and virtually all hell breaks loose. Calling this episode "a fan favorite," the A.V. Club pointed to the sharpness of the writing and McHale's ability to deliver a coolly detached performance while expressing his character's complicated relationship with his friends, as defining factors for why this episode was a standout upon release.

However, a standout entry was "Modern Warfare," which included the first of Community's signature action-comedy episodes; while poking fun at action film conventions, it also explored some deeper character dynamics. Per The A.V. Club, the combination of high-stakes action with heartfelt comedy is something that has become one of the show’s hallmarks.

The A.V. One thing that site specifically highlighted was how the show managed to simultaneously roast sitcom tropes while also establishing a voice unto itself.

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A.V. Club's breakdown of the Community season one helped form that critical conversation around the show so far: Community, with its unconventional storytelling and penchant for razor-sharp self-referential humor, developed a loyal following as the season wore on.

Although a show like Community thrived on being beneath the radar during its earlier years due to it often getting overshadowed by more prominent shows, it gained itself a solid fanbase as a selection of virgins and super nerds fell in love with the quirky storytelling and brutal social commentary. Community's impact left a mark on the state of television comedies that are still felt today, with The A.V. Club remaining an early supporter that helped to build up its reputation in more formative years.