Community’s Controversial Banned Episode Is Back on Streaming: Don’t Miss It!

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The television series “Community,” created by Dan Harmon, has matured gracefully over time, often praised as being “ahead of its time” by devoted viewers. This groundbreaking sitcom paved the way for many careers and remains iconic as one of the sharpest comedic endeavors on TV during the 2000s and 2010s, redefining people’s expectations for television. “Community” was known for pushing boundaries, with one boundary-breaking situation causing one of its most exceptional episodes to be banned from streaming platforms in the past. Fortunately, this episode is now available once more, allowing fans to revisit and appreciate it.

The titled episode under discussion is “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” and it marks the 14th installment of the series’ second season. In this particular storyline, the study group endeavors to lift the spirits of a downcast student by engaging in a game of Dungegeons & Dragons with him. Despite this, Pierce persists in his intent to torment the young man, opting instead to embody the villainous role within the campaign. This episode offers an insightful (and frequently amusing) examination of bullying, shedding light on both the experiences of those who are targeted and those who believe they are merely passive observers. It’s also significant that this episode ranks as the fourth-highest rated Community episode on IMDb and was helmed by Joe Russo, co-director of Avengers: Endgame.

In the initial stages of a game of “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons,” you might find yourself questioning why it was ever prohibited. At the outset of the episode, Ken Jeong’s character, Chang, makes an unexpected entrance, entirely drenched in dark black paint, even his face. His fellow players and viewers are taken aback by his intense immersion into his role as a “dark elf,” creating quite a stir.

2020 saw the entertainment industry grappling with past racial blunders, and platforms streaming shows like “Community” removed an episode titled “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” from their offerings. Streaming giants such as Netflix and Hulu made this decision due to concerns about a character’s dark elf costume being perceived as blackface, even though the character was not intended to mock African-American or Black individuals. This costume was even addressed humorously in the show itself, with Yvette Nicole Brown’s character Shirley commenting on the supposed “hate crime” created by the makeup in one scene.

Supporters of the series, as well as those associated with its production, expressed disappointment over the deletion of “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.” Many contend that Chang’s joke was not intended to mock Black people, but rather to highlight the insensitivity and ignorance of individuals who may not realize their own thoughtlessness (much like the Robert Downey Jr. character in “Tropic Thunder”). Moreover, they argue that the episode serves as a powerful commentary on bullying, and its removal didn’t contribute positively to the discussion.

Luckily, it’s no longer a secret that the cherished “Community” series can now be streamed worldwide. In the year 2024, all six seasons of the program were added to Peacock’s collection, which also plans to showcase the upcoming “Community” movie. Subsequently, the show was taken down from both Netflix and Hulu.

On the streaming platform Peacock, the entire lineup of the TV show “Community” remains unchanged. Each episode can be found and enjoyed, including “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.” Although there have been discussions about whether or not this episode should have been taken off the air years ago, it is now accessible for viewers to stream.

If you’ve never watched it, I strongly recommend you give “Community”‘s “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” a try in the not-too-distant future. There aren’t many sitcom episodes as hilarious or touching as this one.

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2025-02-17 03:11