Community is back with a surprising new season of 13 episodes. Original showrunner Dan Harmon is back, although Chevy Chase is off the show and Donald Glover will only be in 5 of the episodes. Re-pilot is the first new episode of Season 5.
1. The season starts with a commercial for Jeff Winger’s law practice – featuring Jeff in a superhero costume boasting that he helps people… of course it instantly shows his office being packed up and his new practice out of business.
2. Jeff’s old nemesis Alan Conner enters, wanting to let bygones be bygones. He wants to recruit Jeff for a case against Greendale involving an incompetent engineer causing a bridge collapse. The idea behind the suit is that Greendale did such a poor job educating the engineer that they are to blame for the tragedy. At first Jeff balks but Connor reminds him “Jeff Winger once convinced an arson victim that he liked his house better BURNT!” Later Conner referred to Jeff as “Wingblade” which is a great nickname.
3. Jeff agrees and goes to Greendale, and has a brief run-in with Leonard before running into the Dean. Always great to see the Dean and Jeff together.
4. The Dean called in Abed, who in turn called in the rest of the crew. They find the library and uncover the old study group table. Referring to the seasons and episodes of the show, Abed: This could be like Scrubs season 9!
5. Each of the group is doing something atypical of their personality. Annie works for a pharma company “They invented Fibromyalgia and the cure for Fibromyalgia!”
6. After listening to all of the old study group’s status, Jeff suggests that’s the type of things people sue for.
7. Chang emerges from a box and some of the group refers to him as Kevin. He quickly dismisses the Changnesia storyline and returns to being Chang, which is a huge relief as Changnesia was one of the worst parts of last season.
8. In an attempt to correct some of season 4, they kept referring to last season as the “gas leak year”
9. Pierce makes an appearance towards the end of the episode. He is a hologram in outside of the library and refers to being not allowed in the building. Not sure if this is his only appearance this season, but if it is, it was definitely funny and memorable.
10. Ultimately Jeff and Conner have a falling out, but Jeff comes to his senses and agrees to become a teacher at Greendale rather than sue. There is a great scene with the Dean coaching Jeff, who is writing on the chalkboard, on how to be a professor.
Overall a funny episode that set the table for the season ahead!
