Community · Season 5 · NBC

Community Season 5

Name: Community Season 5 review: BollyAI verdict
Item: Community Season 5
Rating: 8.0
Author: BollyAI

Community Season 5 is a WORTH-IT, BollyMeter 8.0/10. 13 episodes on NBC from 2 January 2014.

WORTH-IT

BollyMeter8.0/1094 percent on Rotten Tomatoes from 51 critics reflects a genuine critical recovery after Dan Harmon's return; the season restored structural ambition and earned consensus praise for 'familiar new energy' even if the post-Season-3 magic was not fully recoverable.

Updated 9 June 2026

What BollyAI Thinks

Season 5 premiered January 2, 2014 with Dan Harmon rehired, and critics responded with 94 percent from 51 reviews. The consensus praised 'familiar new energy' and a return to structural experimentation. The season's 'G.I. Jeff' animated episode and the 'Geothermal Escapism' farewell to Troy (Donald Glover's final episode) were cited by critics as Season 3-caliber work. The Metacritic score of 80 from 15 critics confirmed the recovery. The audience score at 94 percent came back in line with Seasons 1 to 3. The season also functioned as an extended meditation on the show's own survival - Jeff returning to teach at Greendale mirrored the creative situation of a show fighting for relevance after a disastrous year. Season 5 proved Harmon was the irreplaceable ingredient, not the cast.

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The Room

94%critics positive · n=518.5/10IMDb audience

“With Dan Harmon back, Community returns with a familiar new energy and more fun, exciting adventures for the Greendale gang.”
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus

Season Over Season

Harmon returns; structural ambition recovers; the season functions as both creative rehabilitation and a warm farewell to Donald Glover.