Sitcoms sometimes have this fillers where they write some story that allows the use of some previous scenes of other episodes, like a flashback, but without much meaning. Friends did it a couple times, and it was actually very nice. But Community again surprises us. Instead of showing bits of early episodes, they show bits that we never saw. Like the Halloween episode, it was mentioned and there were some flashbacks, but it was new stuff. Not to mention the bits of adventures we never got to see, like the drug cartel or the ghost city. They joked about the meta they often do, about the characters characteristics... several great sequences of habits, like The Dean's fantasies and entries (best part in the whole freaking episode) and Jeff's speeches. I don't think a episode surprised me more than this one. Fooling everyone, Community, once more, mocks itself with class.
6 Reviews
Clip show of episodes that never were
robertcarolina-0383318 June 2020
What a brilliant idea - take the hackneyed old "clip show" format and use it to present highlights of episodes that never existed. While this is clearly a love letter to the hardcore fans who instantly get the joke, it's also a fantastic exercise in story telling - developing a commentary about becoming stuck in the routines that can characterise relationships. It's also a sly dig at television sitcom lazy storytelling. First the episode subverts the inherent cheapness of the clip show format itself (they probably spent more time and treasure making this pretend clip show than another show would spend making an original single-story episode), and then it demonstrates how easy it is for the audience to fill in the story-telling blanks from sitcom cliches when presented with nothing more than a few visual punch lines. (The "trapped in a western ghost town" bit alone is at least as old as The Brady Bunch.) Oh, and the acting is superb! Bravo, everyone involved.
The Best in Show Show
harrymj-123-86964217 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
When I watched this episode the first time, I didn't get the joke.
I thought I must have missed the episodes that they were referring to during the flashbacks. But it turns out I was a doofus!
The flashbacks happen off screen. And they are great!
Each one is just the best, and I love the episode from start to finish. I particularly like the music between the Jeff/Annie and then the same music with Abed/Pierce to show the long loving glances between the characters - it really made me smile.
All in all, this episode is a shining star in a constellation of already brilliant stars.
The flashbacks happen off screen. And they are great!
Each one is just the best, and I love the episode from start to finish. I particularly like the music between the Jeff/Annie and then the same music with Abed/Pierce to show the long loving glances between the characters - it really made me smile.
All in all, this episode is a shining star in a constellation of already brilliant stars.
Meta laughter
Br4ve-trave1or30 May 2018
You know when a TV series has a episode that has highlights from the past season or series and the characters all talk about them? Well this was a creative spin on that!
As their building a diaphragm...again, things ensue and episodes in the past that we've seen are show but this time NEW material or clips are shown making it very enjoyable and laugh out loud funny! This episdoe once again reminds a viewer that this series will do what you love but do it better and different. It rewards its loyal fans that love the show and characters with episodes that continue to outdue each other. When will this genius land it just keeps firing on all cylinders!!
I almost lost it seeing Pierce Caw Caw and then take Abeds food! It was uplifting hearing Jeffs speech shown in all the different occurrences. Just keeps knocking them out of the park! 9/10
As their building a diaphragm...again, things ensue and episodes in the past that we've seen are show but this time NEW material or clips are shown making it very enjoyable and laugh out loud funny! This episdoe once again reminds a viewer that this series will do what you love but do it better and different. It rewards its loyal fans that love the show and characters with episodes that continue to outdue each other. When will this genius land it just keeps firing on all cylinders!!
I almost lost it seeing Pierce Caw Caw and then take Abeds food! It was uplifting hearing Jeffs speech shown in all the different occurrences. Just keeps knocking them out of the park! 9/10
Peak Community
safenoe8 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
If someone had to identify when Community was at its creative peak, then it would be season two or three, and Paradigms of Human Memory would be one of the treasured exhibits to demonstrate this. The parody of clip shows was spot-on and a round of applause to the production team for getting all the clips organized for such a fine and distinguished episode of one of the best sitcoms of all time, or one of the best TV series of all time.
Anyway, we'll see what the reunion movie is like thus fulfilling the six seasons and a movie tagline. Still, Paradigms of Human Memory just shows how peak Community was and still is.
Anyway, we'll see what the reunion movie is like thus fulfilling the six seasons and a movie tagline. Still, Paradigms of Human Memory just shows how peak Community was and still is.
Haha, so meta
armando-pigozzi13 July 2020
This is by far the worst episode up to that point. I'm surprised that most reviewers seem to like it. The jokes are not particularly funny and nothing very interesting happens. I don't mind meta humour, but it has to be done well, like this show has done in the past.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
