Community: 5 Characters Fans Loved (& 5 They Hated)

Even though Community has been off the air for a few years now, it still remains one of the most beloved comedy series of all time. Many fans are still waiting for the movie, though that dream may never come to fruition. In any case, the loveable cast of misfits at Greendale Community College will forever be cemented in American TV culture.

That said, some of the characters in Community are more loved than others. In fact, many fans showed outright hatred for some of the attendees (and staff) at Greendale. Even though Community produced some of the best television episodes of all time, there were a lot of mixed feelings about many of the characters. So, let’s take a look at the characters fans loved and who they couldn’t stand.

10 Loved: Troy

Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a comeback story? Though Troy started out as the oblivious jock who couldn’t let go of his high school football glory days, his character did a complete 180 later on. Once he became friends with Abed, Troy turned into the goofy, fun-loving character that fans know and love today. Even though Troy never lost his dim-witted ways, he gained a much more loveable persona as time went on.

9 Hated: Britta

Britta’s place on this list is complicated because she is one of the characters that everyone (including other Greendale students) loves to hate. In any case, Britta’s self-righteousness and inability to properly express her rage against the powers that be made her difficult to love. Her various love affairs never really worked out, mostly because she was so incompatible with everyone she knew. Even though some fans felt bad for Britta, she invited much of the hate she received. Additionally, Britta’s character didn’t evolve much over the course of the series, so eventually, fans grew a little bit tired of her antics.

8 Loved: Dean Pelton

Despite his creepy, borderline-obsessive love for Jeff, Dean Pelton won over the hearts of Community fans with his costumes, odd behavior, and ridiculous parties. He is a big part of what made Community such a popular comedy series. Though he never did a great job as the leader of Greendale, Dean Pelton always knew how to keep things light, even if the school seemed to be crumbling around him. Even though Jeff and the gang never really made him a part of the group, Dean Pelton always treated himself as an unofficial member.

7 Hated: Jeff

Jeff represents the indifferent cynic in all of us, but this doesn’t really make him loveable. On the contrary, his character could be downright annoying at times. While the rest of the gang was busy having fun and creating ridiculous hijinks, Jeff was busy texting and rolling his eyes. While Jeff certainly had some hilarious one-liners throughout the series, his sarcasm could only get him so far. In the end, Jeff was far from a fan-favorite.

6 Loved: Abed

Even though Abed’s character never really changed throughout the series, this worked in his favor. His computer-like dialogue and inability to connect with others emotionally was both funny and endearing. Additionally, his unlikely friendship with Troy spurred dozens of funny sub-plots (and even alternate timelines) that kept fans highly entertained. 

5 Hated: Shirley

Nobody likes a party pooper. As the most religious member of the gang, Shirley spent most of her time at Greendale chastising everyone for their sinful behavior. She loosened up a little over time, but her traditionalist style didn’t add any fun to the group dynamic. 

Fans initially liked Shirley’s position as a counter to Pierce, but eventually, they grew tired of her lifeless dialogue and prudish ways. In the end, Shirley dragged down the group and only functioned as a barrier to the fun.

4 Loved: Annie

Fans love Annie because she reflects the neurotic person in every friend group. She is genuinely kind and naive, but occasionally her darker side comes out when she doesn’t get her way. Annie is also hopelessly competitive, making her a natural foil to Jeff, who also struggles with his inability to lose. Nonetheless, Annie is one of the most loved characters in Community, thanks in large part to her sweet demeanor and her funny character flaws.

3 Hated: Pierce 

Much like Britta, Pierce is one of the characters that everyone loves to hate. As the only “boomer” of the group, Pierce represented the vast differences between Millenials and their parents (or grandparents). Sometimes, fans felt a little bad for Pierce and his inability to connect with the young folk, but more often than not, he made himself easy to hate. 

His racism, sexism, and genuine heartless and evil intentions made him a constant enemy to most of the students at Greendale. That said, his complicated relationship with his father and general loneliness showed a softer side later on in the series.

2 Loved: Chang

There’s no denying it: Chang is downright insane. Whether he is climbing through air conditioning shafts without any clothes on or trying to turn Greendale into his own personal dictatorship, Chang always makes sure to keep things interesting. Chang’s unpredictability is actually what helped him become a fan-favorite.

Viewers never knew what to expect with Chang, which meant that every day at Greendale brought a new surprise. In the end, Chang became a much more loveable (and less evil) character. However, fans seemed to love Chang whether he was working for good or evil.

1 Hated: Magnitude

While Magnitude was known as the life of the party at Greendale, his character didn’t have staying power. His favorite (and only) catchphrase, “pop, pop,” was funny at first, but later grew stale and annoying. Thankfully, he was not used too frequently throughout the series, as he was only capable of saying his catchphrase. 

As a result, Magnitude had no versatility or likeability as a character. This made his presence even stranger, considering that almost all of the other characters seemed to love him. However, in the end, fans showed little appreciation for Magnitude or his repetitive catchphrase. 

About The Author

Matthew Jones
(21 Articles Published)

Matthew Jones is a freelance writer who specializes in film theory and analysis. If you’d like to see more of Matthew’s writing, check out his blog at Philosophy in Film.

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