(no subject)

[the_rck]

Scott and I got the first DVD of Community from Netflix. We watched about fifteen minutes and decided that we hated Jeff, who appears to be the main character. We didn't really have time to form opinions about the other characters. Jeff seemed quite enough.

Has anybody watched the show? Is there a reason to stick with it when we loathe Jeff? Are future episodes less about him and more about other characters? We might be able to stand him as a supporting character if the story smacks him often enough for being a jerk.

Comments

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

The first episode is misleading, and it does take a few eps to find its footing. Jeff is not the main character, the thing is a true ensemble. Abed and Troy are MY main characters, and they develop a charming friendship of deep geekitude. I also like the three female characters a lot--half the writing staff is women, and I think it shows in the female characterizations.

Each episode ultimately spoofs some film, television or genre convention. The first ep choosing to spoof The Breakfast Club was off-putting because BC has the trappings of a sitcom and makes it seem like "Oh, this is what THIS is about." In a lot of ways I HATED the first episode. The only reason I watched ep 2 was the brief, brief moment in ep 1 where Jeff approaches the cafeteria worker and says he was raised by television to believe that older African-American women will dole him out advice and care about his problems. And then she doesn't. And that's when I thought, "There's something more there."

It takes a while for the show to admit Jeff is not the main character, however--and much longer for Jeff to discover it, which is actually sort of funny. Also, ep 2 is not good. It takes some time for the show to shake out its kinks, and occasionally there are moments where one or more of the characters is hideously unlikable. Intentionally so, I'm sure. If you aren't into huge meta and shows that sort of screw with the audience, it might not be for you. But I tend to think that the ensemble outweighs the rest, and there are moments of such charm and depth. But it is occasionally prickly.

[the_rck]

I think we'll see how we feel at the end of the first DVD. It may take us some time to get back to it, though.

Thanks for the comment. It helps to know that other people whose taste I trust like the show.