When comedy series Community left our favorite community college, Greendale, the old, grumpy Pierce (Chevy Chase) respectfully declined joining the ragtag study group for another semester. After walking off, it was up in the air whether or not we'd see Pierce at all in season three. But fear not, fellow Greendale students, as the entire cast you've grown to love is back, along with some new faces who will surely provide more laughter.
When a show premieres with a fun, joyous musical number, you know you're in for a ride. The cast kicked off the season premiere, "Biology 101," with an uplifting tune before getting into the heart of the episode. The title tells all, as the study group's new shared class this year is Intro to Biology, taught by a stern new professor played by Michael K. Williams from the acclaimed HBO series The Wire. Immediately we see Pierce return, Jeff (Joel McHale) kicked out of class, Abed (Danny Pudi) have a mental breakdown and Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) butt heads with the ambitious Vice Dean Laybourne (guest star John Goodman). The rest of the episode plays out almost like an intense action show filled with intertwining bits of pseudo-drama and, of course, laughs.
More than anything, this premiere episode reinforces the personalities of the characters we've grown to love. Abed loses his calm because of a TV show's cancellation, and Troy (Donald Glover) sticks by him as his best friend. Jeff and Pierce's egos clash and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) plays the voice of reason. The downside is that most of these jokes and gags have been familiar staples of the last two seasons. But even with nothing new on the table, the zaniness each character provides is more than enough to entertain and keep the momentum going to the next episode. After all, the show succeeds because it dwells on the distinctive personalities and characterizations which were set in place from the pilot episode.
Even if the premiere didn't do it for you, Community gets back into its quirky stride during this seasons's second episode, "Geography of Global Conflict." The episode focuses on Annie (Alison Brie) and her dispute with a new Annie clone - "Asian Annie," as the group calls her. What plays out is a hilariously serious quest with Annie and an insane, unexpected love connection between Britta (Gillian Jacobs) and Chang (Ken Jeong). The gags are executed more amusingly than in the first episode, the one-liners are flawless and the creative weirdness is through the roof. This episode reminded me again that Community is the most original show on television.
With such an auspicious start, season three of Community is looking to be just as enjoyable as the previous two. The show's actors and creators alike have said this season might not include as many themed parody episodes, but with newly-added talent to the cast and characters' relationships progressing, Community won't disappoint.
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