Repilot
"Repilot" | |
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Community episode | |
Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 1 |
Directed by | Tristram Shapeero |
Written by | Dan Harmon Chris McKenna |
Production code | 501 |
Original air date | January 2, 2014 |
Guest appearances | |
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"Repilot" is the first episode of the fifth season of Community, and the 85th episode overall in the series. It originally aired on January 2, 2014 on NBC; and was written by series creator Dan Harmon (after he was re-hired to run season 5) and Chris McKenna and directed by Tristram Shapeero. This is the final episode of the series to feature Chevy Chase as Pierce Hawthorne, making a cameo appearance following his departure in season 4.
In this episode, Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) returns to Greendale one year after graduation to research a potential lawsuit after his practice goes under. While doing this, he finds out what has happened to his friends within the study group since his departure.
The episode received positive reviews, with many critics noting showrunner Dan Harmon's return to the series after his absence from the fourth season; and 3.49 million viewers watched this episode and the following episode "Introduction to Teaching."
Plot
One year after the events of "Advanced Introduction to Finality", Jeff Winger's new law firm has failed. His former colleague Alan Connor (Rob Corddry) alerts Jeff to a potential new lawsuit against his former school, Greendale Community College. The two form a begrudging alliance, plotting on having Jeff infiltrate the school and obtain files that would assist them in the lawsuit against Greendale.
After meeting briefly with Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) while looking for the files he needs for his case, Jeff is re-united with his former study-group, including Annie Edison (Alison Brie), Shirley Bennett (Yvette Nicole Brown), Britta Perry (Gillian Jacobs), Troy Barnes (Donald Glover) and Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi), and convinces them that he is working on a way to save the college from the lawsuit. He uses this as a ruse to find out all of the negative things that have happened to each of the study-group members after they graduated (including Shirley's family leaving her due to her business, Britta ending up as a bartender, Annie becoming a drug rep, and Abed's film degree going nowhere); information he plans on using to convince them all to start their own lawsuits against Greendale. Jeff double-crosses Connor, and decides to pursue these new lawsuits on his own. However, Connor alerts the study-group of Jeff's intent. After a confrontation, Jeff is able to manipulate the group into going through with the lawsuit anyway.
Jeff soon comes to regret this decision, and after happening upon a
Production
This is the first episode to feature the return of series creator Dan Harmon as showrunner following his season long absence from production. Harmon co-wrote the episode with Chris McKenna, who also returned to the show and was promoted to executive producer this season.[1] The episode was directed by executive producer Tristram Shapeero.[2]
Harmon and the writers of the episode wanted it to be a return to form after the previous season, which had gotten lower ratings and which Harmon had expressed dissatisfaction over. Initially, the writers planned to
Initially, the episode was going to focus on Dean Pelton convincing the six returning characters to build a fake cardboard particle accelerator to fool a visiting US federal government official into giving Greendale a grant to build a real one. Late into pre-production on the episode, Harmon completely rewrote the outline after deciding to make a simpler episode in which the main characters "sit around that table and reestablish themselves as broken people". This eventually led to the idea of Jeff convincing the group to destroy Greendale and quitting his job as a lawyer to teach there after accidentally convincing them to re-enroll.[3]
The episode features a guest appearance by
Cultural references
Throughout the episode, Abed related the potential reboot of the study group to the
Reception
Ratings
This episode and "Introduction to Teaching" was watched by 3.49 million American viewers, and received an 18–49 rating/share of 1.3/4.[9] The show placed second in its timeslot and sixth for the night.[9]
Including DVR viewing, this and the second episode was viewed by 4.33 million viewers, and received an 18–49 rating of 1.8.[10]
Critical reception
The premiere has received generally positive reviews from critics, with most noting Dan Harmon's return to the series. Morgan Glennon of
Verne Gay of Newsday graded the episode an A, commenting positively on Dan Harmon's return and creativity, saying "the non-sequiturs, word play, pop culture refs and absolute disdain for anything bordering on sitcom logic are all part of a mad dash through the mind of Harmon, and past all of the stuff he finds so gloriously idiotic."[12]
Gabrielle Moss of TV Fanatic gave the premiere a 4.8 out of 5, saying "The new season of Community is, thus far, brutally funny and also pretty damned brutal – from Jeff Winger's failure as a legitimate lawyer, to everyone's similarly bleak post-Greendale trajectories (Relaxarex!). [...] The show has always pulled no punches about the bleakness of the gang's lives (and life in general), but the darkness was especially notable, [...] with only a few dim sources of real hope. Just like real life!"[13] Eric Goldman of IGN gave the episode a rating of 8.5 out of 10, signaling generally positive reviews, saying "I’m elated to say that “Repilot” is just the beginning of even better things to come for a show that has been able to successfully rebound in a way few others could pull off."[14]
Matt Zoller Seitz of
David Hinckley of the
References
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (June 1, 2013). "Dan Harmon Returning as 'Community' Showrunner". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 1, 2013.
- ^ a b Brown, Laurel (January 2, 2014). "'Community' recap: In 'Repilot' and 'Introduction to Teaching' everything changes and stays the same". Zap2it. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
- ^ a b Busch, Jenna (2023-05-05). "Explaining Community's 'Gas Leak Year' Led To Some Wild Ideas In The Writers Room". /Film. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (3 January 2014). "Dan Harmon Reveals How Community Pulled Off This Week's Surprise Cameo". TV Guide. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ a b Goldman, Eric (3 January 2014). "Community: How the Season 5 Premiere Cameo Came to Be". IGN. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ a b Hedash, Kara (18 April 2021). "Community: Why Star-Burns Faked His Death". Screen Rant. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Young, Sage (January 3, 2014). ""Jeff Winger: Hero-At-Law!": 15 Best Lines From The 'Community' Season 5 Premiere". Hollywood.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ Bojalad, Alec (January 2, 2014). "'Community' season 5, episodes 1 and 2 recap: Welcome back Harmon". Hypable. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ a b Bibel, Sara (January 6, 2014). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory', 'Two and a Half Men' & 'The Taste' Adjusted Up; 'The Millers' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ^ Bibel, Sara (January 21, 2014). "Live+7 DVR Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory' Has Biggest 18–49 Ratings & Total Viewership Increase, 'Elementary' Tops Percentage Gains in Week 15". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 23, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ^ Glennon, Morgan (January 2, 2014). "'Community' Season 5 Review: The Dan Harmon Era Continues Dark, Angry and Heartfelt". Buddy TV. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ Gay, Verne (December 31, 2013). "'Community' season 5 premiere review: As good as it gets". Newsday. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ Moss, Gabrielle (January 2, 2014). "Community Review: Gas Leak Year". TV Fanatic. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ Goldman, Eric (January 1, 2014). "Community: "Repilot" Review". IGN. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller (January 2, 2014). "Seitz on Dan Harmon's Blessed Return to Community". Vulture. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ Hinckley, David (January 1, 2014). "'Community': Television review". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 9, 2014.