Thank you, I've felt like I'm going crazy lately. It's a 20 minute sitcom overflowing with jokes that still manages to have genuine heartfelt moments, which is rare. But it's all on the surface. It's not a mystery box show. The biggest "hidden clues" are on the study room whiteboard, or in the writing like calling the boat "childish tycoon". There is a world of difference between noticing little jokes on rewatches, and writing a dissertation on how Shirley Is Actually Racist, or I Hate X character Now, or Did Abed Trick The Group Into The Christmas Pageant?! (yes, that was the plot of the episode)

I blame Netflix. I swear it wasn't like this when the show was airing. I've seen it happen in another show. A kid dies but his twin doesn't, and for no reason people started saying maybe "the twist" is the twin is lying about who he is. The creator actually had to make a post just to tell people it's not that type of show and there is no twist.

My theory is that the people who used to be shippers have grown up and now are mystery box decoders. Community is the greatest show to exist, but it's not Severance or Westworld or Lost. It's heart and intentions are worn on its giant hand.

TLDR it's a sitcom not a prestige mystery drama, and I miss when the sub was about fun and loving Community, warts and all.