Community (TV Series) Pascal's Triangle Revisited (2010) User Reviews

A Great First Season Comes to an End!

[whs23 · 9/10 · 22 May 2010]

As a big-time Office fan, it's been painful to watch the show decline after the Jim & Pam wedding and baby. The one thing that has helped replace that need for comedy is Community, and I wasn't disappointed with the season finale.

"Modern Warfare" (aka The Paintball Episode) was maybe one of the 10 best sitcom episodes of all time, so it's a high bar to set for the last two episodes.

On its own merit, this was a funny episode with moments that made me laugh out loud (the Dean shortening the name of the Transfer Dance to the Tranny Dance, two Dalmatian furries pulling Chang off of a drunken John Oliver, Troy and Pierce at the end, Troy realizing his friendship with Abed is like a 5-foot wide cookie) and the required love triangle that took an unexpected turn, but not without foundation (see Debate 109 and more hints throughout the season).

I give it a 9 out of 10, but I'd give Modern Warfare a 15 out of 10. This show gives me something to love about NBC Thursdays now that my beloved Dunder Mifflin gang is on the decline. Hopefully Season 2 can improve on what was a remarkable first season compared to other Season 1s of past sitcoms.

Jeff's triangle

[safenoe · 9/10 · 10 January 2022]

Jeff is in a quandry with Prof. Slater, Britta and. Annie declaring their love (or lust) for Jeff in this season 1 finale that really sets us up for a quality season 2 for sure.

Season 1 was finding its feet and the final few episodes really hit the home run for sure.

Please six seasons and a movie.

Take a picture, it'll last longer

[anarchistica · 7/10 · 21 August 2022]

This is a fairly typical season finale. There's important choices to be made, there's some personnel changes and there's a big event. Two people fighting over someone feels a bit tired, but at this point the characters have been established well enough that their charm, interactions and humor make up for it.

In honor of "Community"- a review of every episode. (S1;E25- "Pascal's Triangle Revisited")

[TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness · 10/10 · 21 April 2017]

(This is the twenty-fifth installment in an ongoing series. I am in the process of writing brief reviews of each and every episode of creator Dan Harmon's beloved cult-comedy series "Community." This project was originally conceived as a response to NBC's cancellation of the series before its renewal on Yahoo's streaming service. As this is a hobby, updates will come incrementally and it may take some time for me to complete this.)

As season one draws to a close with the twenty-fifth episode, it's fascinating to look back and reflect on how far the series has come thus far. What started out as a simple story about a motley crew coming together to form a study group has transformed into both a wildly audacious and brilliant comedy... and also an oft-heartfelt and compelling drama. And while I have had my issues and problems with individual episodes, on the whole I do view the first season of "Community" as perhaps its strongest. If for no other reason than the purity that came with its more humble beginnings. True, I think one could argue that future seasons had more of a zing and "wow- factor" and I think every single season is excellent in its own way (yes, even the infamous "gas leak" year)... But season one was just such a special experience in my eyes. And "Pascal's Triangle Revisited" is a great cap-off.

It's the end of the school-year and the study group is surprised to learn that Britta (Gillian Jacobs) has been nominated for Queen of the upcoming Transfer Dance. This causes some tension as Professor Slater (Lauren Stamile) admits to Jeff (Joel McHale) that she has continued to have feelings for him after their breakup, forcing Britta to finally question whether or not she has real feelings for Jeff before the start of Summer. At the same time, Troy (Donald Glover) tries to convince Abed (Danny Pudi) that they should move in together, Annie (Alison Brie) contemplates whether or not to move in order to be with her transferring boyfriend Vaugne (Eric Christian Olsen) and a conflict starts to brew between the former professor Chang (Ken Jeong) and Professor Duncan. (John Oliver)

A great part of the charm in this episode is how grounded it is in the drama that has been built throughout the course of the season. While there's no shortage of laughs, this does come across as a very climactic experience and leads to some great revelations about the characters and the overall story thus far. It's very much a proper finale and without spoiling its conclusion, I will say that it leaves you both satisfied, yet still eager for more.

I also was very taken by the performances of all involved. Particularly with Jacobs and McHale, both of whom are the beating heart of this storyline. They give some of their finest work in the season here, and it's a definite emotional roller-coaster for their characters, which the two play to perfection. It's definitely one of those episodes that might nudge you over the edge into shedding a tear or two. It's also a great deal of fun seeing Jeong and Oliver placed into a sort-of bitter rivalry that provides many of the great laughs. And without spoiling it, the episode also pays off an pre- established gag for Jim Rash's Dean Pelton in a hilarious turn of events.

As an end to the phenomenal first season, "Pascal's Triangle Revisited" is a fitting and appropriate climax. It's emotional storyline and savagely strong performances push it over the edge, and it stands tall as perhaps one of the best of the season. I have no choice but to give it a perfect 10.

Season 1: Not at the level of 30 Rock, but aside from sometimes coming over too smug and one-note, it can be very funny and enjoyable

[bob the moo · 9 April 2015]

Watching Community was an odd experience for me at first – not because of the show, but rather because of my perception of it. I had never watched so much as a clip of it before, and indeed had only heard of it via the worry it seemed to generate that it would be cancelled; I am not sure why, but this made me assume it must be a more highbrow or difficult comedy – that it got love from people on Tumblr and Twitter who would be "above" regular sitcoms added to this feeling. So imagine my surprise on watching the first season to find that it is nothing of the sort, and actually is more generic in some aspects than many other sitcoms doing the similar thing – which is not a criticism per se.

The action is set within a community college where an oddball group of individuals form a study group to help each other get through Spanish – although actually the group was invented by the smooth but shallow Jeff to try to get time alone with the good looking Britta (who is a girl, not a waterfilter). From here the group navigate the college life, and one another. In terms of base structure the show is perhaps a bit generic – okay it is set in a community college rather than college, so there is a spin to the humor there, but fundamentally it plays to a certain line. This is most reflected in the characters who, despite learning a few lessons here and there (generally in the last few minutes of an episode) are fairly one- note; now, it is worth saying that for all of them I did like their "note", but it is not like they have great complexity to them.

The humor is very knowing, and relies very heavily on cultural references in a way that it frequently returns to whether it be movie references, or internal references to its own setting as being like a sitcom or college movie. For the most part I found this funny and enjoyed the show's knowing and "going with it" tone because it meant that the emotional detachment from the characters was not only fine, but was actually part of it. The cast play to it well; McHale is actually pretty fun with his lead role, while Jacobs works pretty well with him. Pudi has too many references dumped on him – okay it is part of his character, but at times it feels like there is nothing else, so if the references tire, then so does he. Brown is good in her delivery, but her character is probably the weakest in terms of material and use. Brie, Glover, and Chase are all funny, although again you can tell the type of joke that is coming when the camera cuts to them. The smaller roles are wonderfully detached from any connection to reality, and I must confess that I enjoyed the mayhem of Rash's Dean, Jeong's Spanish teacher, and the couple of appearances that John Oliver made.

The show is not at the level of better comedies that trade in similar waters, and it does have a tendency towards being too knowing, and too reliant on detached smugness and references, however it can also be very funny and enjoyable – which I found the majority of the material to be. Hopefully season 2 can open it up some more, but otherwise one I got over my incorrect assumptions about it, I was pretty pleased with it as show.

reached the ICK zone

[jodi-44528 · 6/10 · 25 June 2021]

This show was comical and sometimes over the top, but it was innocent enough. Until the end of this episode when Jeff kissed Annie. It was bad enough that he was lusting after Britta, when he is obviously older than her. But he is about twice the age of Annie, so that is a definite ICK.

Vaughn was too old for Annie too, and that was a bit uncomfortable.

There always has to be the push for the too-old man to go after the young, nubile girl, and it's so cliche. He had been protective of Annie and this plot twist just spoiled a fun part of this show.

Nose dive!

[gringobastard · 1/10 · 21 May 2010]

How do you go from that great paint ball episode two weeks ago to a season finale I was honestly embarrassed to watch in front on my family? No one gives a damn about stupid love triangles. We want funny jokes. When compared to Parks and Rec, 30 Rock, and the Office, you can see why this show doesn't belong. I had high hopes for next year after several of the episodes, but I won't be watching again after that finale.

Also, I was giving Chevy Chase the benefit of the doubt, but my lord is it painful to try to watch him be funny. The show has some good writers, so how did they manage to come up with this muck? I felt bad for the actors.

Love triangle was poor writing

[daisyisabaker · 2/10 · 4 February 2021]

So predictable and cringey. 2 girls fighting over a guy... how original.