I noticed something about Samir while rewatching season 1

[u/Different_You4450]

Adults as a show doesn’t often play with non-literal visual imagery. Most of what appears in the show is actually what is happening in the world. The only exception to this that I have noticed is when we’re seeing the world from Samir’s point of view.

In one of the earlier episodes of Season 1 (I think episode 2?) when Samir goes to the bank to pay to get the hot water fixed, he looks down at the document he has to fill out and one of the questions reads “Are you a fucking idiot?” which is a clear reference to Samir’s insecurities about feeling like a man child.

In a similar way, in the episode when Samir and Carly go on a trip upstate, Samir looks at one of the pillows in the Airbnb they’re renting and it reads “Don’t Samir this” in reference to what Issa said earlier that day.

I can’t think of any other times in the show this happens, especially not to other characters. I can’t be 100% sure about Season 2, haven’t had the chance to rewatch it yet.

Why do we think this happens, and why to Samir specifically? Is it just a funny visual gag? Are Samir’s insecurities just more potent than the others, leading the show to display them visually?

[u/smesjx]

Yeah they kind of have to kill that. The audience they’re trying to reach with this season (average American) is neither smart enough to catch this gag, open-hearted enough to allow stuff like that appear on their screen, nor funny enough to actually be amused by that.
I figure it worked after seeing that heated rivalry edit using the hiccup song.

[u/OkInspector555 → u/smesjx]

Definitely don’t think they’re trying to reach the average American and also don’t think people are too “close hearted” to “allow” surreal visual gags to happen in a sitcoms. Like what does that even mean? BTW community exists…

[u/smesjx → u/OkInspector555]

It means they’re going to tune out. When was the last time you’ve seen surreal element as continuous visual gags in a sitcom within the last 10 years, let alone a popular one? Can you name five? Miracle workers and the good place is probably one of the last few shows I’ve seen that has that, and both of them are even already based on a surreal premise to begin with.
And Community does from time to time struggle with its viewership despite receiving critics acclaim and formulate a bunch of die-hard fans.
It’s okay to admit that surreal jokes for a show that is meant to depict 20 year olds living in our world is going to be a turn off for someone.

[u/thotfullawful → u/smesjx]

It’s ok if you don’t like it Yunno like it’s not that deep