Review roundup, episode 5x05: "Geothermal Escapism"
Greetings, fellow scootenanniers! If you ask me, last night's episode contained everything that makes Community great: Jeff and Britta's knock-knock argument was as funny as anything I've ever seen on this show; Troy's farewell was genuinely emotional; there were callbacks to previous episodes to make us loyal viewers squee excitedly (but not so many that it would alienate the theoretical new viewers); and it was all wrapped up in a high-concept package. But you don't come here to read my thoughts on the episode, so let's get to the reviews.
Todd VanDerWerff. A.V. Club:
It's a little weird to me that the show took the final appearance of Troy and mostly made it a story about other people. I get why that was done, and I think the story as it played was more or less fine. … But if there's a reason I hold the episode at a slight remove, it's because of how the story seems aimed slightly off. (A-)
Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com :
Yes, the episode goes back to many places it's been before. But this time, they're all better. It's less of a copy-and-paste than a sequel, the "Empire Strikes Back" to "A New Hope."
Randy Dankievitch, Sound on Sight:
Some might find it a little disappointing that Troy's final half-hour is so Abed-centric, but it almost has to be: with Troy Barnes leaving Greendale, the show's concerns obviously lie with those who remain, front and center the one character who isn't able to handle hearing the words "last day" come out of his best friend's mouth.
Gabrielle Moss, TV Fanatic:
A cult network sitcom in an era where it often seems like everything subversive has fled for cable, Community feels each week like it must have been snuck on to the air, past whatever corporate overlords usually keep anything this cerebral and bizarre off of network TV. … Among its many other unique assets, Community is the only place on any network where one can find grown adults nearly murdering each other over children's games with alarming regularity. (4.9/5)
Eric Goldman, IGN:
While the "Greendale goes all-in on a game" concept had been done before, it set the stage for a funny and emotional goodbye to a character that will be missed by the audience and characters alike. (9.0/10)
Joe Matar, Den of Geek:
The sappy stuff at the end was played so straight that my blackened heart's instinct was to reject it outright but, luckily for Community, I love these characters too much and found it mostly genuinely sweet and almost (almost!) tear-inducing. In fact, what I enjoyed most about this episode were the moments of sincerity between the characters, because the parody framing the proceedings didn't quite land for me.
Mark Harrison, Den of Geek:
But it's Jonathan Banks who immediately sets about earning his stripes as a regular, as his Buzz Hickey powers around the corridors on a fire-extinguisher-powered floor-wax-mobile, bellowing down a megaphone at the other competitors as he bids to grab the prize to help pay for his gay son's wedding. Even though the whole objective is to stay out of the make-believe magma, Banks is on fire here, and he once again proves what a brilliant addition to the cast he is.
Jennifer Marie, Just About Write:
I cannot adequately express how wonderful, heartfelt, and meaningful it was. "Geothermal Escapism" is everything that I wanted for Troy's send-off, as it provides closure for every character, humor and heart, and beautiful character growth and development.
Matt Carter, cartermatt.com:
Hats off "Community," for creating both a ridiculously funny episode and amazingly sweet sendoff. This was the best episode of any show in 2014 so far, and it makes this the first time all year that we've handed out this grade. Grade: A+.
Alan Sepinwall, HitFix:
It was weird and inventive and fun in a way that "Community" does so well. Just as importantly, though, there was a genuine character story to it. … The show's best high concept episodes have an emotional spine to them, so that it matters that these particular characters are going through this crazy story, and that was the case here.
Britt Hayes, ScreenCrush:
I'm not going to lie: I cried a whole lot at the end of tonight's episode. I think I was more emotionally unprepared for Troy leaving than Abed was. But it's such a beautifully executed and simple departure, and it allows Troy to say goodbye to everyone one at a time without trying to get too big about it.
Jeremy Sollie, GeekBinge
"Geothermal Escapism" was an ideal goodbye to Troy because it wasn't just about Troy. It was a great episode for everyone at Greendale; Star Burns, Chang, Garrett - everyone was present and hilarious in the opening action-packed half. But once the second half began and things became real, the episode was just as good. Both Donald Glover and Danny Pudi did their best work to date, guaranteeing that if nothing else, Troy & Abed went out on top. (9/10)
David McDade, @ActuallyDave:
If anyone wants an opinion on the new @nbccommunity before I review it tomorrow 10/10 can't find a flaw in it. In top 5 now.
Joe Thompson, Red Carpet Crash:
In addition to the high concept episodes, another of Community's strengths has been finding the right blend of emotion and sarcasm that hits home in a real way. They didn't go cheap or splashy here, and it's to their credit that it works so well. As each character bids goodbye to Troy, you can tell how important it was to get these moments right and they all hit the right note.
Sarah Shachat, ScreenCrave:
The one true complaint we have about the episode is, until the end, it isn't really about Troy. The first act truly belongs to Britta and the second to Abed. Pudi's looks of despair as he admits his inability to cope with Troy's loss are exquisite. Glover does take back some of his own, and it's a busy episode with a lot of ground to inchworm over. Maybe we're just pining for a more time with Troy, but the episode felt lighter on him for his last hoorah.
Anthony Nowicke, TV Overmind:
Such references and stabs, in my opinion, define Community's place in modern television. It is the funhouse mirror that distorts and warps the popular culture it sees in front of it. No show does this the way Community does, and they really upped the bar with their latest episode.
Thanks for reading, everyone! See you after the Olympics!
Todd VanDerWerff. A.V. Club:
It's a little weird to me that the show took the final appearance of Troy and mostly made it a story about other people. I get why that was done, and I think the story as it played was more or less fine. … But if there's a reason I hold the episode at a slight remove, it's because of how the story seems aimed slightly off. (A-)
Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com :
Yes, the episode goes back to many places it's been before. But this time, they're all better. It's less of a copy-and-paste than a sequel, the "Empire Strikes Back" to "A New Hope."
Randy Dankievitch, Sound on Sight:
Some might find it a little disappointing that Troy's final half-hour is so Abed-centric, but it almost has to be: with Troy Barnes leaving Greendale, the show's concerns obviously lie with those who remain, front and center the one character who isn't able to handle hearing the words "last day" come out of his best friend's mouth.
Gabrielle Moss, TV Fanatic:
A cult network sitcom in an era where it often seems like everything subversive has fled for cable, Community feels each week like it must have been snuck on to the air, past whatever corporate overlords usually keep anything this cerebral and bizarre off of network TV. … Among its many other unique assets, Community is the only place on any network where one can find grown adults nearly murdering each other over children's games with alarming regularity. (4.9/5)
Eric Goldman, IGN:
While the "Greendale goes all-in on a game" concept had been done before, it set the stage for a funny and emotional goodbye to a character that will be missed by the audience and characters alike. (9.0/10)
Joe Matar, Den of Geek:
The sappy stuff at the end was played so straight that my blackened heart's instinct was to reject it outright but, luckily for Community, I love these characters too much and found it mostly genuinely sweet and almost (almost!) tear-inducing. In fact, what I enjoyed most about this episode were the moments of sincerity between the characters, because the parody framing the proceedings didn't quite land for me.
Mark Harrison, Den of Geek:
But it's Jonathan Banks who immediately sets about earning his stripes as a regular, as his Buzz Hickey powers around the corridors on a fire-extinguisher-powered floor-wax-mobile, bellowing down a megaphone at the other competitors as he bids to grab the prize to help pay for his gay son's wedding. Even though the whole objective is to stay out of the make-believe magma, Banks is on fire here, and he once again proves what a brilliant addition to the cast he is.
Jennifer Marie, Just About Write:
I cannot adequately express how wonderful, heartfelt, and meaningful it was. "Geothermal Escapism" is everything that I wanted for Troy's send-off, as it provides closure for every character, humor and heart, and beautiful character growth and development.
Matt Carter, cartermatt.com:
Hats off "Community," for creating both a ridiculously funny episode and amazingly sweet sendoff. This was the best episode of any show in 2014 so far, and it makes this the first time all year that we've handed out this grade. Grade: A+.
Alan Sepinwall, HitFix:
It was weird and inventive and fun in a way that "Community" does so well. Just as importantly, though, there was a genuine character story to it. … The show's best high concept episodes have an emotional spine to them, so that it matters that these particular characters are going through this crazy story, and that was the case here.
Britt Hayes, ScreenCrush:
I'm not going to lie: I cried a whole lot at the end of tonight's episode. I think I was more emotionally unprepared for Troy leaving than Abed was. But it's such a beautifully executed and simple departure, and it allows Troy to say goodbye to everyone one at a time without trying to get too big about it.
Jeremy Sollie, GeekBinge
"Geothermal Escapism" was an ideal goodbye to Troy because it wasn't just about Troy. It was a great episode for everyone at Greendale; Star Burns, Chang, Garrett - everyone was present and hilarious in the opening action-packed half. But once the second half began and things became real, the episode was just as good. Both Donald Glover and Danny Pudi did their best work to date, guaranteeing that if nothing else, Troy & Abed went out on top. (9/10)
David McDade, @ActuallyDave:
If anyone wants an opinion on the new @nbccommunity before I review it tomorrow 10/10 can't find a flaw in it. In top 5 now.
Joe Thompson, Red Carpet Crash:
In addition to the high concept episodes, another of Community's strengths has been finding the right blend of emotion and sarcasm that hits home in a real way. They didn't go cheap or splashy here, and it's to their credit that it works so well. As each character bids goodbye to Troy, you can tell how important it was to get these moments right and they all hit the right note.
Sarah Shachat, ScreenCrave:
The one true complaint we have about the episode is, until the end, it isn't really about Troy. The first act truly belongs to Britta and the second to Abed. Pudi's looks of despair as he admits his inability to cope with Troy's loss are exquisite. Glover does take back some of his own, and it's a busy episode with a lot of ground to inchworm over. Maybe we're just pining for a more time with Troy, but the episode felt lighter on him for his last hoorah.
Anthony Nowicke, TV Overmind:
Such references and stabs, in my opinion, define Community's place in modern television. It is the funhouse mirror that distorts and warps the popular culture it sees in front of it. No show does this the way Community does, and they really upped the bar with their latest episode.
Thanks for reading, everyone! See you after the Olympics!