A decade later, Community's stop-motion episode hits different amid the pandemic

Vulture

What the December 2010 episode “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas” "makes clear is that, for all its emphasis on togetherness and shared tradition, this season is intensely personal," says Sophy Ziss. "Loss, grief, and bittersweet memories are just as integral as the holly-jolly parts, and that’s true even in years that aren’t defined by a pandemic, social upheaval, and a government that has really been phoning it in. From A Christmas Story marathons to seasonal Candy Crush loading screens, “the holidays” can already feel inescapable. Throw in the unlicensed carnival ride that is the 2020 experience, and the external pressure to 'act normal' is enough to drive anyone to see in stop-motion. Making the yuletide gay? In this climate?"