Review roundup, episode 5x06, Analysis of Cork-Based Networking
Good morning, Communies! Last week, I ended the review roundup with, "See you after the Olympics!" And I stand by that! However, I'm also seeing you now. But rather than obsess over my apparent inability to read a calendar, I'm just gonna fat dog it and round up some reviews.
Joe Matar, Den of Geek:
I didn’t like “Analysis of Cork-Based Networking.” In fact, I think it’s the worst of the season so far. The premises and jokes feel lazily thrown together, and I don’t much believe any of them. (2/5)
Britt Hayes, ScreenCrush:
The arrival of Brie Larson alone is enough to make me go from being okay on the episode to really liking it because it just filled my heart with so much joy.
Todd VanDerWerff, A.V. Club:
It’s a good episode and a funny one, and it’s probably what the season needed right now. I’ve liked the last string of episodes quite a bit, but the show usually works best when it can balance out the concept episodes with some standard-issue campus hijinks.
Gabrielle Moss, TV Fanatic:
What was the point in pulling out so many big names (okay, one big name and a bunch of medium names) for the briefest of cameos? ... It was a little distracting, a little strange and hopefully just another slice of weirdness stuck in their to make the world of Greendale feel even more off-kilter, rather than a desperate bid for estranged Criminal Minds fans. (4.4/5)
Brian Collins, Badass Digest:
In short, you couldn't ask for a better episode to followup Glover's departure. ... the show's writers did the best possible thing for the first one without him - they ignored him entirely and spent 22 minutes reminding us that this show's ensemble is one of the best ever assembled for a modern sitcom, one that can probably survive the loss of any one character/actor.
Randy Dankievitch, Sound on Sight:
“Cork-Based Networking” does a fine job establishing what Greendale and Community looks and sounds like in its new incarnation, proving it doesn’t need to be high-concept to be enjoyable - but it doesn’t slow down enough to give any perspective on its characters, except when it makes the connection between Hickey and the rest of the Save Greendale group.
Eric Goldman, IGN:
This was a bit of a “what are they smoking in the writers' room!?” week on Community, but in all the right ways. (8.8/10)
Jared Russo. GeekBinge:
I don’t know, I’m torn. I really really love certain parts of this episode, and others just fell flat for me. Especially the two Labyrinth jokes. Didn’t work at all for me, sorry. (8.5/10)
[Note: Speaking of Labyrinth, you owe it to yourself to listen to Dan Harmon and Jeff Bryan Davis reenact Labyrinth in episode 16 of the Harmontown podcast. Don't worry if you've never seen the movie; I hadn't the first time I heard it, and it was still hilarious. Fast-forward to 36:50.]
Matt Carter, cartermatt.com:
Overall, we would say that the show did about as well [trying to deal with life after Donald Glover’s Troy] as they could have. There were some very funny moments, and we ended with what be the most insane Annie Eddison moment ever as she tried to engage in complete janitorial warfare. (B)
Alan Sepinwall, HitFix:
Overall, though, "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking" was a missed opportunity. So much talent on hand. So little done with them.
Anthony Nowicke, TV Overmind:
Despite the good though, the episode amounted to little more than a dud. Lackluster. Unimpressive.
Laurel Brown, Zap2it:
Bringing in actors like Nathan Fillion, Katie Leclerc, Robert Patrick, Paget Brewster and more should have made "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking" one of the best "Community" episodes ever. As it is, the whole thing falls a bit flat.
Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com:
A good deal of the jokes work, but we're still left with the question of "What are all the characters even doing here?" So far this season, much of the focus has been the buildup to Troy's departure. Now, the show needs to get its direction defined.
Mark Harrison, Den of Geek:
The season has still yet to put a foot wrong, in my book, but this feels like one that will look better upon reflection at the end of the season.
Untempered Television:
It wasn’t an episode that will go down in history as one of the best by any means, but it was sufficiently funny and kept things moving in a way that allowed Troy’s absence to be felt a little less.
Polar Bears Watch TV
Granted, the episode does suffer from a bit of overstuffing, and at points, it certainly feels like the show’s trying too hard to integrate all these people smoothly. (B+)
Jennifer Marie, Just ABout Write:
Our first post-Troy Barnes episode is lacking… something. That isn’t to say that I detested the episode or even disliked it. I felt rather lukewarm toward it upon my first watch and felt similarly during my second. “Analysis of Cork-Based Networking” is a good episode, but it’s not one that fires on all cylinders.
Sorry this is a bit shorter than usual this week, but I have to get to work. Have fun watching the Olympics or whatever lesser TV programming you watch when Community isn't on.
Joe Matar, Den of Geek:
I didn’t like “Analysis of Cork-Based Networking.” In fact, I think it’s the worst of the season so far. The premises and jokes feel lazily thrown together, and I don’t much believe any of them. (2/5)
Britt Hayes, ScreenCrush:
The arrival of Brie Larson alone is enough to make me go from being okay on the episode to really liking it because it just filled my heart with so much joy.
Todd VanDerWerff, A.V. Club:
It’s a good episode and a funny one, and it’s probably what the season needed right now. I’ve liked the last string of episodes quite a bit, but the show usually works best when it can balance out the concept episodes with some standard-issue campus hijinks.
Gabrielle Moss, TV Fanatic:
What was the point in pulling out so many big names (okay, one big name and a bunch of medium names) for the briefest of cameos? ... It was a little distracting, a little strange and hopefully just another slice of weirdness stuck in their to make the world of Greendale feel even more off-kilter, rather than a desperate bid for estranged Criminal Minds fans. (4.4/5)
Brian Collins, Badass Digest:
In short, you couldn't ask for a better episode to followup Glover's departure. ... the show's writers did the best possible thing for the first one without him - they ignored him entirely and spent 22 minutes reminding us that this show's ensemble is one of the best ever assembled for a modern sitcom, one that can probably survive the loss of any one character/actor.
Randy Dankievitch, Sound on Sight:
“Cork-Based Networking” does a fine job establishing what Greendale and Community looks and sounds like in its new incarnation, proving it doesn’t need to be high-concept to be enjoyable - but it doesn’t slow down enough to give any perspective on its characters, except when it makes the connection between Hickey and the rest of the Save Greendale group.
Eric Goldman, IGN:
This was a bit of a “what are they smoking in the writers' room!?” week on Community, but in all the right ways. (8.8/10)
Jared Russo. GeekBinge:
I don’t know, I’m torn. I really really love certain parts of this episode, and others just fell flat for me. Especially the two Labyrinth jokes. Didn’t work at all for me, sorry. (8.5/10)
[Note: Speaking of Labyrinth, you owe it to yourself to listen to Dan Harmon and Jeff Bryan Davis reenact Labyrinth in episode 16 of the Harmontown podcast. Don't worry if you've never seen the movie; I hadn't the first time I heard it, and it was still hilarious. Fast-forward to 36:50.]
Matt Carter, cartermatt.com:
Overall, we would say that the show did about as well [trying to deal with life after Donald Glover’s Troy] as they could have. There were some very funny moments, and we ended with what be the most insane Annie Eddison moment ever as she tried to engage in complete janitorial warfare. (B)
Alan Sepinwall, HitFix:
Overall, though, "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking" was a missed opportunity. So much talent on hand. So little done with them.
Anthony Nowicke, TV Overmind:
Despite the good though, the episode amounted to little more than a dud. Lackluster. Unimpressive.
Laurel Brown, Zap2it:
Bringing in actors like Nathan Fillion, Katie Leclerc, Robert Patrick, Paget Brewster and more should have made "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking" one of the best "Community" episodes ever. As it is, the whole thing falls a bit flat.
Nick O'Malley, MassLive.com:
A good deal of the jokes work, but we're still left with the question of "What are all the characters even doing here?" So far this season, much of the focus has been the buildup to Troy's departure. Now, the show needs to get its direction defined.
Mark Harrison, Den of Geek:
The season has still yet to put a foot wrong, in my book, but this feels like one that will look better upon reflection at the end of the season.
Untempered Television:
It wasn’t an episode that will go down in history as one of the best by any means, but it was sufficiently funny and kept things moving in a way that allowed Troy’s absence to be felt a little less.
Polar Bears Watch TV
Granted, the episode does suffer from a bit of overstuffing, and at points, it certainly feels like the show’s trying too hard to integrate all these people smoothly. (B+)
Jennifer Marie, Just ABout Write:
Our first post-Troy Barnes episode is lacking… something. That isn’t to say that I detested the episode or even disliked it. I felt rather lukewarm toward it upon my first watch and felt similarly during my second. “Analysis of Cork-Based Networking” is a good episode, but it’s not one that fires on all cylinders.
Sorry this is a bit shorter than usual this week, but I have to get to work. Have fun watching the Olympics or whatever lesser TV programming you watch when Community isn't on.