Community: The Complete Fourth Season

After three seasons, creator Dan Harmon was fired from this NBC-aired cult sitcom about a misfit study group of eccentric students at a community college, so this fourth run marks the first without Harmon at the helm (although he is returning for season five). Loyal fans will notice some changes in tone, especially in the early episodes, but the series continues its freewheeling break-the-mold detours into genre parodies and pop-culture spoofs, most of which are inspired by the fantasy lives of former star quarterback Troy (Donald Glover) and his buddy, movie geek Abed (Danny Pudi). To wit: one episode turns into a puppet musical, while another brings in evil, alternate-universe versions of the characters. The new creative crew doesn't really know what to do with bored business exec Pierce (Chevy Chase, who left the series and so “graduates” at the end of this season), but the chemistry among the rest of the gang—idealistic one-time anarchist Britta (Gillian Jacobs), disbarred lawyer Jeff (Joel McHale), born-again single mom Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown), and naïve overachiever Annie (Alison Brie)—keeps the show humming. Adding to the frivolity, Dean Pelton (Jim Rash) moves his infatuation with Jeff up to stalking dimensions, and wacky Spanish teacher Señor Chang (Ken Jeong) unleashes fresh chaos. Community's self-aware style may not be for all tastes, but it remains a clever and adventurous series that has developed a loyal following. Compiling all 13 episodes from 2013, extras include episode commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and outtakes. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)