I'm not the best judge of how "developed" a character is, but Abed is definitely an accurate (or at least understandable and honest) depiction of how an autistic mind works. And how frustrating this can make things for Abed and the people who love him.
I think that counts for something.

He has been regressing terribly since losing Troy (one of his few tethers back to reality) and Greendale really isn't helping him. But where else can he go? It's his home, but the school's innate absurdity is only further confirming his thoughts of their lives not being real. "Modern Espionage" is not helping Abed get…

So yeah. Another brilliant homage episode that manages to be both very funny and surprisingly action packed while still keeping the characters tightly in place. This was a blast. Not my favorite for the season (I honestly have been enjoying the shift towards an easy, less conceptual season), but it works exceptionally…

It does fit perfectly with the homage, and it gives Lapari a brief moment of nostalgic sympathy.

Ahhh. Ok. I got the second part but I guess I just assumed City College being the bad guy again was too simple to be true. I thought Lapari was just keeping Greendale weird on his own accord, but it makes sense that City College would pay for the game. Their dean IS insane.

I love how this "Elroy hasn't been around for long" joke is brilliantly subverted by the reveal that Elroy HAS a gun on him and is actually already playing the game. He can only play dumb for so long.
Keith David kicked ass in this episode.

But I thought City College was a misdirect?
Did I miss something? I thought the custodians were just having a game for the sake of maintaining power (plus the game makes campus life fun and exciting).

Why?
He isn't wrong.

I liked how the paintball game existed just as a sad form of validation for all the participants. The idea of City College nefariously pulling the strings yet again was just a clever red herring meant to throw us off. This time, the game isn't something that Jeff and the group reluctantly participate in nor is it a…

There is pure comedy in Rick simply restating the obvious in a druken stupor.
"Oh God. Yo- you killed The Simpsons, Morty. Y- ya killed them… America's iconic family… You killed the Simpsons…" etc.

You're right. But Ultron seemed to hold onto the phrase "peace in our time" uttered by Stark. My guess is that when Ultron was surfing the web and built himself out of the Iron Legion, part of Stark Industries blended with his programming or some asinine computer shit.

I generally liked Age of Ultron, but was unsatisfied with Ultron.
Mostly because I fucking LOVE the idea of Ultron, a rogue AI that revels in his "freedom" and fancies himself a god. Kinda like SHODAN, but in physical form. I suppose I would have been more invested had we seen Ultron as a "puppet" initially, so that…

OH CRAP YES!
He needed to actually free himself of his "strings". I mean, I get that the film is trying to imply that Ultron is an evolved form of the Iron Legion seen earlier, but I would have been more satisfied with Ultron's madness had he learned first-hand that the "only" solution for "peace in our time" is the…

I think I liked this one for the simple reason that it was an episode where I felt that these people could be REAL people with real lives. Plus I relate way too much with Abed's flash back antics in order to knock it. I found it hilarious. But I AM crazy, though.

I was very pleased by this episode.
I'll figure out why later

Today marks the end of a brisk, fun, first time rewatch of all that is Community. I intend to do a more in depth break down of each season later and then bother you all with my thoughts, but for now I will say what small, identifiable thoughts I have at the moment.

Any of you ever read early drafts of Community episodes? Where the jokes and story line would feel looser and not exactly BAD, but terribly unfocused and occasionally outright confusing? I get the strangest feeling that this episode was just drafted up and then briskly shot. "Grifting 101" opts to simply lie down and…

I'll start by reposting what I said on last week's review. I really can't find another way to rephrase it:

I think making a compelling villain should always be a high priority with these movies. Iron Man 3, Avengers, hell I'd argue even Captain America (1 & 2) were elevated in my eyes becuase I was fascinated by how the villains reflected the protagonists and/or subverted my expectations.

I have no idea how to gauge Community's quality anymore.
I really liked "Intro to Recycled Cinema", but the show has experienced so many behind the scenes creative shifts that it's hard to examine just why it is an episode of Community works, or why it does not. So I can't be sure of exactly why, but Jeff's desperation…