Community: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Community: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 6, 2019

Dan Harmon's Community blends comfortable sitcom shenanigans and classic comedy lines in a community college setting, centered around a protagonist who is by age a nontraditional student but in many ways a typical college enrollee. Harmon, who co-created Rick and Morty, strikes out on his own for this NBC sitcom and strikes gold, building a self-, TV-, and culturally-aware show that finds its own unique identity through quick quips, smart pop culture references, and pushing and pulling the material and characters in all sorts of zany and unpredictable directions to the point that they're entirely recognizable yet in entirely different places in life and college by the show's end. Community debuted on NBC on September 17, 2009 and aired for six seasons across television and Internet streaming on Yahoo!, which picked up the final season following tumultuous fourth and fifth seasons, highlighted by Harmon's dismissal for season four and return for season five.

Back to School.

Official synopsis: 'Community' [is] a smart and hilarious comedy series about a band of misfits who attend Greendale Community College. Recently disbarred lawyer Jeff Winger enrolls to get a legit degree the quickest and easiest way possible, but when he starts a fake Spanish study group solely for the purpose of hooking up with a sexy classmate, he doesn't expect to be joined by a random group of misfit fellow students. Over the course of the next 6 years, this group finds themselves involved in epic paintball battles, chicken finger conspiracies, sci-fi conventions, campus-wide pillow wars and everything in-between. In the process, they become so much more than just a study group...they become family.

Community may ultimately be remembered for one of the most obvious double meanings in television title history, referencing both the community college setting and the growing camaraderie, sense of family, "community" within the little study group that burgeons into lifelong friendships. The two meanings are interconnected at the hip, and the shared verbiage does perfectly describe the show. Camaraderie and chemistry are terrific from the outset as the group gets its start with Jeff hoping to impress Britta enough to transition from the study room to the bedroom, but the group quickly swells to include an eclectic bunch that thrives on the differences they bring to the table (the literal table and the figurative one), which include age, gender, race, ethnicity, place in life, and expectations for the group, both academically and socially. Each brings a unique dynamic that together craft one of television's more comically and dramatically interesting groups, favoring the former, of course, which ultimately extends beyond the study room and transitions to the classroom and life away from places of learning.

One of the show's draws is watching the individual members, and the collective, grow over the years. Harmon and his writing team engage the audience and expand the characters beyond the central concept, building them up as people, not just students and certainly not just as joke delivery vessels. The actors find a stride early and only improve with time. No single member overshadows the other, which is impressive given a legend like Chevy Chase mixed into the dynamic and the ever-hilarious Ken Jeong, at first on the group's periphery as the Spanish teacher and, later, more intimately involved with his fellow and show-focal students, bringing his brand of off-the-wall humor to his character. The cast never misplays a joke, never fumbles a key dramatic moment, and the individual and collective growth both mature naturally, over time, sometimes more dramatically obvious such as when the show gets off the ground but also more steadily and deliberately as the writers flesh the characters out and the actors make the characters their own. It's a great watch, with few stinker episodes and plenty of interesting dynamics that shake up the structure but don't fundamentally alter the show's wit and charm, including musical episodes, episodes in which the characters are portrayed by puppets, and even an episode crafted in the style of a classic 1980s cartoon.

Community: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Community: The Complete Series does not offer a perfect viewing experience, but it's difficult to dismiss the generally good qualities Mill Creek's 1080p presentation has to offer. The first episode is the worst looking in the set. The image exhibits a significant amount of noise, right from the outset, during the show's opening exterior daytime sequence. Jeff's blue jacket seen in his introductory scene appears to dance with red speckles, which infest every square inch of every frame of the entire episode. Noise lessens in intensity beyond episode one, at least concerning the overpowering red color. The image remains fuzzy for the six-season duration, with obvious (but less garishly intrusive) noise and some compression artifacts obvious in practically every scene. Baseline details are fine. The image benefits from the 1080p resolution, boasting a solid core sharpness, but don't expect pinpoint detailing. Clothes, exterior grasses, building façades, and skin textures are often stable and revealing but struggle behind the encode and source flaws. Colors are pleasing, with considerable attire diversity the standout. Colors are generally well saturated, lacking the absolute finesse of higher end digital productions and better encoding, but core punch and pop rarely disappoint. Black levels do not struggle much with depth and shadow detail while flesh tones appear true to actor complexions. This is a very watchable image that is generally handled very well, particularly given the release's budget nature.

Community: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Community: The Complete Series enrolls onto Blu-ray with a very good DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The opening title music springs to life with fairly good width, verve, and instrumental clarity. Mild surround wrap is featured as well, but the fronts absolutely dominate. The track expands, musically, on occasion, particularly during musically inclined scenes, such as the big song-and-dance number that opens season three. A few large, dynamic moments are folded in as well. The season four debut offers a laugh track during the "Abed TV" scenes that enjoys wide delivery and, during colorful transitions from his show to the real show, some high intensity effects that arguably find the most low end depth and total stage immersion anywhere in the series. The track folds in some quality ambient effects as well. Cafeteria or school exterior din is nicely filling about the stage, doing well enough to draw the listener into the locations. Dialogue clarity, prioritization, and positioning are largely without fault; there are only a few scattered moments when music or competing effects interfere with total verbal detail and audibility.

Community: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Community: The Complete Series contains extras across the twelve-disc set. The real value is the avalanche of commentary tracks, which are included exhaustively throughout the series' run. Additionally, a large collection of outtakes and some featurettes are also included. The entire series ships in three standard Blu-ray cases, with discs double stacked on either side. All are housed in a basic slip box. No DVD or digital copies are included.

Season One, Disc One:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries with a wide range of cast and crew for the following episodes: "Pilot," "Spanish 101," "Introduction to Film," "Social Psychology," "Advanced Criminal Law," "Football, Feminism and You," Introduction to Statistics," "Home Economics," "Debate 109," "Environmental Science," "Politics of Human Sexuality," "Comparative Religion," and "Investigative Journalism."
• Outtakes (480i, 6:39): Funny moments from the shoot.
• More Outtakes (480i, 8:10): More funny moments from the shoot.
• Creative Compromises (480i, 2:53): Dan Harmon, with tongue-in-cheek, discusses how TV execs "gutted" the show and removed Britta's fart sounds.
• Mini Episode: Study Break: Stop Using Your Brain (480i, 1:31): Can the students really stop "learning" for a full 90 seconds?
• Mini Episode: Study Break: Truth or Dare (480i, 1:31): When Annie calls for the 90 second break, the class plays Truth or Dare.
• Mini Episode: Study Break: Generation Gap (480i, 1:30): Pinochle, the floor is lava, and Tremors divide the class.
• Alternate Scenes: "Advanced Criminal Law" (480i, 3:58): Alternate scenes from the season's fifth episode.

Season One, Disc Two:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries with a wide range of cast and crew for the following episodes: "Interpretive Dance," "Romantic Expressionism," "Communication Studies," "Physical Education," "Basic Genealogy," "Beginner Pottery," "The Science of Illusion," "Contemporary American Poultry," "The Art of Discourse," "Modern Warfare," "English as a Second Language," and "Pascal's Triangle Revisited."
• Outtakes (480i, 10:28): Funny moments from the shoot.
• More Outtakes (480i, 8:05): More funny moments from the shoot.
• Season One Cast Evaluations (480i, 11:43): Creator Dan Harmon offers another humorous "insight" into season one's ratings and sits down with the primary cast which proceeds to comically trash one another. The piece also includes audition footage.
• Extended Producer's Cut: "Communication Studies" (480i, 26:34): A longer cut of the season's 16th episode with new footage marked with timecode. The episode as aired runs 21:10 (and is presented in 1080p on this Blu-ray). The edits are discussed in the main episode's commentary track.

Season Two, Disc One:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries with a wide range of cast and crew for the following episodes: "Anthropology 101," "Accounting for Lawyers," "The Psychology of Letting Go," Basic Rocket Science," "Messianic Myths and Ancient Peoples," "Epidemiology," "Aerodynamics of Gender," "Cooperative Calligraphy," "Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design," "Mixology Certification," "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas," and "Asian Population Studies."
• Outtakes (480i, 5:20): Funny moments from the shoot.
• More Outtakes (480i, 6:38): More funny moments from the shoot.
• DJ Steve Porter Remixes Season One (480i, 1:50): A highlight reel of season one moments put to music,
• Deleted Scenes (480i): Several scenes with no identifying markers beyond the title. Included are What's the Worst That Can Happen with Chang (0:36), I'm a Vegetarian Anarchist (0:51), and Where's the Party (0:45).

Season Two, Disc Two:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries with a wide range of cast and crew for the following episodes: "Celebrity Pharmacology 212," "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons," "Early 21st Century Romanticism," "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking," "Intro to Political Science," "Custody Law and Eastern European Diplomacy," "Critical Film Studies," "Competitive Wine Tasting," "Paradigms of Human Memory," "Applied Anthropology and Culinary Arts," "A Fistful of Paintballs," and "For a Few Paintballs More."
• Outtakes (480i, 6:38): Funny moments from the shoot.
• More Outtakes (480i, 5:58): More funny moments from the shoot.
• Season One Cast Evaluations (480i, 10:35): Creator Dan Harmon sits down with the primary cast to discuss how the season played out: What went right, what went wrong, and room for improvement.
• Deleted Scenes (480i): Several scenes with no identifying markers beyond the title. Included are This Won't Be Very Effective (0:47), He's a Real Giver (0:30), The Excrement of Strangers (0:22), Spirits of the Elders (0:45), and Are You Trying to Shoot Yourself (1:05).

Season Three, Disc One:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries with a wide range of cast and crew for the following episodes: "Biology 101," "Geography of Global Conflict," "Remedial Chaos Theory," "Competitive Ecology," "Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps," "Advanced Gay," "Studies in Modern Movement," "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux," "Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism," "Regional Holiday Music," and "Contemporary Impressionists."
• Outtakes (1080p, 6:43): Funny moments from the shoot.
• More Outtakes (1080p, 7:16): More funny moments from the shoot.
• A Glee-Ful Community Christmas (1080p, 6:22): A peek into the making of the musical, dance-infused Christmas episode.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Included are scenes from "Biology 101" (0:41), "Geography of Global Conflict" (0:17), "Remedial Chaos Theory" (0:29), "Competitive Ecology" (0:36), "Advanced Gay" (0:32), and "Documentary Filmmaking: Redux" (4:04). With this season, deleted scenes are now listed by episode rather than scene title.

Season Three, Disc Two:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries with a wide range of cast and crew for the following episodes: "Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts," "Digital Exploration of Interior Design," "Pillows and Blankets," "Origins of Vampire Mythology," "Virtual Systems Analysis," "Basic Lupine Urology," "Course Listing Unavailable," "Curriculum Unavailable," "Digital Estate Planning," "The First Chang Dynasty," and "Introduction to Finality."
• Outtakes (1080p, 5:33): Funny moments from the shoot.
• More Outtakes (1080p, 2:45): More funny moments from the shoot.
• This Is War: Pillows vs. Blankets (1080p, 13:26): A humorous look at making the episode, presented in a cheesy faux documentary style.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Included are scenes from "Urban Matrimony and the Sandwich Arts" (0:42), "Digital Exploration of Interior Design" (0:54), "Pillows and Blankets" (1:12), "Basic Lupine Urology" (0:14), "Course Listing Unavailable" (1:43), and "Introduction to Finality" (2:04).

Season Four, Disc One:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries with a wide range of cast and crew for the following episodes: "History 101," "Paranormal Parentage," "Conventions of Space and Time," "Alternative History of the German Invasion," "Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations," "Advanced Documentary Filmmaking," and "Economics of Marine Biology."
• Outtakes (1080p, 6:28): Funny moments from the shoot.
• Inspector Spacetime: Inspection (1080p, 9:43): A closer look at Troy and Abed's favorite fictional TV show.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): With this disc, deleted scenes are once again presented by scene title, not grouped by episode. Included are Annie's Appletini (0:34), Why So Sour Kraut (0:30), Dinner Roll Therapy (0:59), I Really Blasted Him (0:20), I Haven't Slept in Three Days (0:53), Boy, You're Good at That (0:20), Reading My Pun Book (1:41), Sleep Like a Baby (0:25), and This Is Your Legacy (2:43).

Season Four, Disc Two:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries with a wide range of cast and crew for the following episodes: "Herstory of Dance," "Intro to Felt Surrogacy," "Intro to Knots," "Basic Human Anatomy," "Heroic Origins," and "Advanced Introduction to Finality."
• Adventures in Advanced Puppetry (1080p, 15:37): A behind-the-scenes look at making the season's puppet episode.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Included are There's Another Cloud (1:07), Little Annie Adderall (0:40), and Bring on Summer/Winter! (0:37).
• Extended Scene (1080p, 0:50): Fake a Heart Attack.

Season Five, Disc One:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries with a wide range of cast and crew for the following episodes: "Repilot," "Introduction to Teaching," "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics," "Cooperative Polygraphy," "Geothermal Escapism," "Analysis of Cork-Based Networking," and "Bondage and Beta Male Sexuality."
• Re-Animating the '80s (1080p, 17:36): An in-depth look at making the season's animated G.I. Joe-inspired animated episode.

Season Five, Disc Two:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries with a wide range of cast and crew for the following episodes: "App Development and Condiments," "VCR Maintenance and Educational Publishing," "Advanced Advanced Dungeons & Dragons," "G.I. Jeff," "Basic Story," and "Basic Sandwich."
• Outtakes (1080p, 5:58): Funny moments from the shoot.
• Advanced Television Production: 5 Days, 2 Scripts, No Sleep (1080p, 42:26): An engaging exploration through the process -- and the stresses and strains -- of making an episode.

Season Six, Disc One:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries for "Ladders," "Lawnmower Maintenance and Postnatal Care," "Basic Crisis Room Decorum," "Queer Studies and Advanced Waxing," "Laws of Robotics and Party Rights," "Basic Email Security," and "Advanced Safety Features." These are "hidden" commentaries and are not listed under the "Bonus" tab as with previous seasons. They can only be accessed in-show by hitting the audio button on the remote. Mill Creek also does not list them as extras on the disc labels; it's almost as if they're meant to be secret Easter Eggs.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 7:51): The "outtakes" feature by another name.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Included are Paycheck Advance (1:00) and It Was Worth It (0:30).

Season Six, Disc Two:

• Episode Audio Commentaries: Includes commentaries for "Intro to Recycled Cinema," "Grifting 101," "Basic RV Repair and Palmistry," "Modern Espionage," "Wedding Videography," and "Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television." As with the commentaries on the previous disc, these are "hidden" and not listed under the "Bonus" tab.
• Community Trivia (1080p, 24:46): Cast and crew attempt to answer a number of questions in a humorously bent piece.
• Six Seasons and a Finale (1080p, 19:36): A discussion of the show's transition to Yahoo! for its final season and an in-depth look at the pluses and minuses of the more freestyle approach. It also covers the series' finale and wrapping up the show.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Included are Solving the Giant Hand (0:45), Securing the Premises (1:59), Being There for Garrett (0:41), and Bruised but Not Rotten (0:24).

Community: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Community is a truly fun show that doesn't lose much steam as it moves forward and builds and evolves an impressive character roster in a fairly unique setting. The show is addictive from the start and while the stories are a draw, the characters keep it worth watching. Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of Community: The Complete Series delivers good, though certainly imperfect, 1080p video and 5.1 lossless audio across all six seasons. Presentations are fairly consistent from start to finish in terms of what to expect, generally, from any given episode. The supplemental highlight is the exhaustive collection of audio commentary tracks. A number of outtakes and deleted scenes are also included, and the featurettes evolve into more serious and more interesting fare as the series progresses. Very highly recommended.