Community (TV Series) Alternative History of the German Invasion (2013) User Reviews

Appeasement

[safenoe · 7/10 · 16 February 2022]

Malcolm McDowell chews the screen in this role, which was kind of replicated later on in an episode of We Bare Bears. I know season 4 is considered impure and contaminated by some in the Community community, but it's better than nothing I guess.

Here the Germans return and get lectured by the Dean on race and nationality (what's the difference?) in the context of Oktoberfest.

Decent but feels like a missed opportunity

[salve-line · 1 March 2013]

"Alternative History of the German Invasion" is for the most part a pretty good episode but it's not all I -and probably many other people- were hoping for.

For one, I personally found myself having a hard time laughing at the German puns and the Germans themselves hardly have any funny moments. The "twist" at the end was actually very cool, well done and made up for some things i wasn't comfortable with during the episode. My favorite parts of the episode were probably the scenes with the dean and Chang and it'll be interesting to see how that continues. Finally, i think it's quite disappointing that Malcolm McDowell has so little screen time and hardly any funny lines. Teachers have often been a highlight of the show and it feels like they hardly tried with his character.

While it has several good moments, particularly during the "war" montage, the episode just isn't everything it could have been. I'll let other people discuss the reasons for this, though.

Solid episode, holds up just fine with previous seasons

[lou-114 · 9/10 · 10 March 2013]

The temptation is to scrutinize season 4 episodes for evidence that the show is no longer any good, but if you can check that impulse, I think you'll be happy with this episode. The episode is well-structured, the jokes are on-target, and we see a character return who, it seemed, there was no plausible way to reintroduce to the show. (Turns out "plausible" has a very different meaning at Greendale.)

If there is a formula to "Community" (the best episodes anyway), it seems to be:

• Character wants a thing.

• Character gets that thing.

• Character realizes that he or she hurt people to get that thing.

• Character makes amends, and possibly gives up that initial thing in favor of something more important.

This episode follows the formula and does it very well, and in addition it's all thematically in line with the lesson the history teacher gives at the start of the episode. The writers get it. If this episode does nothing else, it persuades me that the show is still in good hands.

I'm giving it only a 9 simply because I save the 10s for episodes where I literally contact friends and family and tell them they have to watch. This episode isn't quite that good, but it is good enough that I say every "Community" fan should tune in, especially those of you who have been sitting out season 4.

This is when S4 REALLY begins to sting

[kxprailer · 5/10 · 19 May 2020]

I watched Community for the first time 6 years ago.

This season is already a roller coaster of bad/decent/bad again. But it's episodes like THIS that REALLY hurt. It hurts to know that a show that has given me multiple moments of gut busting laughter, now has me debating whether or not to turn off the episode.

Remember in S3, when they did the Foosball episode and it had comedy, depth, and unleashed a side of Shirley and Jeff we'd never seen before. Remember that hilarious cameo from Nick Kroll as one of the German students?

WELL. The Germans are back, and they couldn't even get Nick Kroll. I don't know who the actor is who's playing... Juergen (Nick Kroll)'s brother, but... that character was the most annoying and obnoxious thing so far this season, and we're only 4 shows in.

The whole story revolving around the study group being taken over by these obnoxious Germans was just... bad. It was never funny. Sure it had a couple of clever moments, but the whole "the Germans are taking over" thing is WAY too on the nose for this show. Considering this show always found clever ways to imply ideas rather than force the audience to see them.

NOT TO MENTION, this episode totally wastes a Malcolm McDowell cameo. Why even have a celebrity cameo if you're just going to make the whole episode about a group of obnoxiously unfunny nothing characters. Seriously what is going on with these pointless cameos.

This episode is a C grade sequel to that S3 episode.

Community Alternative History of the German Invasion

[dalydj-918-255175 · 2 March 2013]

The Germans and Chang return in one episode and that was nothing special to me. As a fan of the show I have always hated Chang and now bringing him back apparently recovering from a disease just is not good with him in the group once again. The study group versus the Germans was funny at times and seeing how really every character of the show hates the group was funny since they have seemed to live in their own world for some time now. Malcolm McDowell was completely wasted on the show and there was no need for an actor of his talent to be in a thankless role. Funny scenes throughout nothing that will go down in history for great episodes the show has done in seasons past.

EPISODE GRADE: B- (MVP: Allison Brie)