Community – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Community

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2009

81%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Six seasons and a movie of brilliantly weird meta-comedy about misfits at a community college—think The Office meets Arrested Development on acid.

88%

8.0

→

Community

show

2009

81%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Six seasons and a movie of brilliantly weird meta-comedy about misfits at a community college—think The Office meets Arrested Development on acid.

88%

8.0

Jump to

Also rated on

88%

8.0

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Community is legitimately brilliant television that deserves its cult status. Dan Harmon created something genuinely innovative—a sitcom that constantly reinvented itself while maintaining heart. Yes, it's got adult humor and some characters are intentionally problematic, but that's part of its satirical edge.

For teens 14+, this is actually enriching content—it teaches media literacy, celebrates creativity and weirdness, and shows how found family works. The study group's journey from strangers to ride-or-die friends is genuinely moving.

Parents should know this isn't The Good Place or Parks and Rec in terms of wholesomeness—it's edgier, more cynical, and definitely TV-14. But it's also smarter than 90% of sitcoms and will make your teen want to understand film theory and storytelling. Six seasons and a movie (finally happening!) for good reason.

Age Fit

Best for ages 14+ who can handle edgy humor and adult themes. The meta-comedy and pop culture references work best for teens and adults who have the context to appreciate the parodies. Adults will love it—this has aged into a genuine cult classic.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Community features a diverse group of misfits who genuinely care about each other despite constant bickering. The show models friendship, redemption arcs (especially Jeff's journey from selfish lawyer to caring friend), and community building. However, it includes cynical humor, occasional mean-spirited jokes, and characters with significant flaws. The tone is more sarcastic than warm, though ultimately the study group becomes a found family.

Imaginative

Community is legendarily creative—it pioneered concept episodes that parodied everything from zombie movies to Ken Burns documentaries to anime. The show constantly broke the fourth wall, experimented with different animation styles, created elaborate alternate timelines, and turned a community college into a playground for meta-humor and genre experimentation. It's one of the most imaginative sitcoms ever made, inspiring countless creators.

Safe

No graphic violence or nudity, but Community includes sexual innuendo, drug references (marijuana jokes), alcohol consumption, and adult themes throughout. Pierce is intentionally offensive (racist/sexist jokes played for cringe), there's occasional profanity, and some storylines involve manipulation and deception. The humor is often edgy and inappropriate for younger viewers. No major trigger warnings but definitely TV-14 territory.

Enriching

Beyond being hilarious, Community explores themes of second chances, identity, privilege, education's value, and what makes a community. It's packed with clever pop culture references that reward attentive viewing, teaches media literacy through its genre parodies, and offers surprising emotional depth. Characters grow meaningfully across seasons. The show celebrates nerdom, creativity, and embracing your weird—genuinely enriching for teens and adults.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely one of the most creative sitcoms ever made—paintball wars, alternate timelines, stop-motion animation, you name it
Teaches media literacy through hilarious genre parodies (westerns, horror, documentaries) that reward smart viewing
Features diverse characters with real growth arcs—especially about second chances and finding your people
Launched a thousand memes and inspired a generation of TV writers with its bold storytelling
Perfect for teens interested in filmmaking, writing, or understanding how TV works

⚠

What to Watch For

Pierce (Chevy Chase's character) is deliberately offensive—the show critiques his bigotry but younger viewers might not get that nuance
Plenty of sexual innuendo, drug references, and adult humor throughout—this is NOT a family sitcom
Some episodes get genuinely dark or emotionally heavy (mental health, family trauma, addiction themes)
The meta-humor and pop culture references might fly over younger viewers' heads

Conversation Starters

"Which concept episode was your favorite? The zombie one? The claymation Christmas?"
"Why do you think the show makes Pierce so offensive? What's it saying about people like him?"
"If you could design a concept episode for a TV show, what genre would you parody?"
"The study group all ended up at community college for different reasons—what does the show say about second chances?"
"How does Community use humor differently than other sitcoms you've watched?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic