eleri
03-19-2015, 06:47 PM
I watched the premiere, and something about it just didn't feel right. I couldn't put my finger on it at first but then it came to me:
1. Overuse of close-ups. In previous seasons, there were plenty of broad shots. Even when the camera was focused on one character, there was enough scope that you could see other main characters, or things going on in the background (like Fabulous Neil doing stuff). Close-ups were reserved for intense emotional epiphanies. The frequent use of close-ups in this new season makes the Communitiverse feel smaller and more claustrophobic.
2. Even with the close-up mania, I would still have loved this episode if it had been the second episode. Franky's an interesting character, or at least she's uninteresting in the most interesting possible way. I like her chemistry with Abed. But, the fact of the matter is, we've gone 9 months without seeing our beloved community family. Last season, the premiere focused on the characters we all new and loved, and then Buzz Hickey was introduced in the second episode. They should have done that this season too. A plot with all four characters, or maybe 2 plots, one with the boys and one with the girls. To revolve the first episode around Abed's relationship with a brand new character, and give Annie, Jeff and Britta short shrift (in that order) felt like such a disappointment. :(
1. Overuse of close-ups. In previous seasons, there were plenty of broad shots. Even when the camera was focused on one character, there was enough scope that you could see other main characters, or things going on in the background (like Fabulous Neil doing stuff). Close-ups were reserved for intense emotional epiphanies. The frequent use of close-ups in this new season makes the Communitiverse feel smaller and more claustrophobic.
2. Even with the close-up mania, I would still have loved this episode if it had been the second episode. Franky's an interesting character, or at least she's uninteresting in the most interesting possible way. I like her chemistry with Abed. But, the fact of the matter is, we've gone 9 months without seeing our beloved community family. Last season, the premiere focused on the characters we all new and loved, and then Buzz Hickey was introduced in the second episode. They should have done that this season too. A plot with all four characters, or maybe 2 plots, one with the boys and one with the girls. To revolve the first episode around Abed's relationship with a brand new character, and give Annie, Jeff and Britta short shrift (in that order) felt like such a disappointment. :(