NBC’s ‘Community’ season 4 spoilers: A touch of family

The first three seasons of “Community” were largely about getting to know the study group and what makes them tick; for season 4, we are getting an opportunity to see some of the people who help to shape these crazy characters into who they are today.

As you know already, we are going to be meeting Jeff Winger’s dad later this season in James Brolin; but did you know that we are going to meet pretty much anyone and everyone related to one Shirley Bennett? You are probably already familiar with her man Andre, and now E! News is reporting that on two separate occasions, we will be meeting some of the folk who consistently driver Shirley up the wall on a regular basis.

In episode 5, we will specifically be meeting her parents, whom we first reported about a little earlier this fall with some details. Now, we can also say that come episode 12, we will be meeting two of her sons in Jordan and Elijah. It’s actually rather remarkable that we have not had the opportunity to meet some of these characters yet, mostly because we have seen so much of Shirley talking about her family. Once again, though, this is the joy of the show: to keep people separate who would not really have any business at all being at a community college like Greendale. (Abed’s father, played by “Glee” actor Iqbal Theba, is really the only parental figure to make a significant impact.) Sadly, there’s not much word yet on what the context will be for meeting some of these characters, but so long as “Community’s” 13-episode order still stands, we could be meeting these kids one day before the potential series finale.

Are you excited to see some more family members, or are you thinking that it is still better to hold off on these characters as much as possible?