Community - Season 4 [US] *Spoilers*

Don't care what anyone says but the puppet episode may very well be one of the coolest things ever made. It's like someone spent an evening in my head and then headed off to make something awesome. The thing is that I'm pretty sure is s mediocre as hell episode that would be completely forgettable were it not for the puppets.

So finished series 4 and I really do wish that Netflix them in the correct order. The episode titles and descriptions are correct but the corresponding episodes aren't. Jeff graduates well before the group even tie up the professor and there are some serious continuity issues thought as a result of the jumbled up order. Thing is that I wasn't all that bothered to sort it out. Sure I googled it but thought "meh" and just got on with it.

Overall there were a lot of great ideas and some genuinely great comedic moments but it really was a far cry from the heights of series one. A lot of people think this is down to the lack of Dan Harmon but let's be honest, the cracks were obvious throughout series 3 which is about the same standard as 4. The show has became to meta and the whole evil timeline gag is played out. It's simply not funny and the manner in which they try to work it in is jarring. Is the timeline simply part of Abed's imagination or is there more to it. Likewise the body swap episode felt like a missed opportunity. They way in which Britta and Troy's relationship was handled was quite inventive but it lacked any sort of emotional pay off.

Pierce's absence was felt. For me the most memorable moment of the entire series was Puppet Pierce singing about Eartha Kitt. It was a great payoff to a long running gag. Watching the series and it's obvious just what a gap there is now there's no Pierce. I know that most people hated him but honestly the only real expendable member of the group is Shirley. She adds little to the dynamic and any Shirley-centric episode is generally a low point. With Harmon returning I would really like to see them get Chase back as many of the shows best moments were ones which made fun of Chase and Harmon's real life dislike of one another.

The way in which they handled the Dean ruined his character. He's gone from a likeable oddball to an out right nutjob. By reeling back in Chang they've allowed the character to develop and while I miss old Chang, Kevin was one of the lasts series most consistently funny character. They need to bring the Dean down a level or two as there really are only so many dress changes that we can take. His stalking of Jeff is also more creepy than funny and I'm half expecting the last scene of the show to mirror the reveal in Psycho.

Also am I the only one dispaointed the Starburns wasn't behind the whole Changception? I was really hoping that he or some of the other students had, had enough of the gang and wanted revenge.

You know, taken for what it is series 4 isn't half bad. There are plenty of laughs and some of the set ups were inspired and it's certainly leagues ahead of shows such as 2 and a Half Men, the Big Bang Theory, etc. But with shows as consistency funny as The League and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on air it really would be hard to feel bad if Community didn't get renewed.