Shephard Price ’17 / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer Community, the NBC series focusing on a group of community college attendees in Colorado, has come back for its fifth season. While its busy saying goodbye to its cast members, (farewell to the recently departed Donald Glover) lets wrap up the ten best Community episodes so far:
Gillian Jacobs and Danny Pudi in the Community episode “Comparative Religion.” Photo Courtesy of NBC.
The very first Christmas episode of Community happens in the first season, so it offers us a chance to explore the characters more thoroughly. As Jeff gets into a fight, we see the reactions of the characters form as part of a solid formation, with the Shirley mothering instincts never leaving the show after being solidly planted in this episode.
Joel McHale and Yvette Nicole Brown the Community episode “Foosball and Nocturnal Vigilantism.” Photo Credit: Lewis Jacobs / NBCUniversal.
In this relationship building episode, Abed’s favorite DVD, a signed and extra bonus featured copy of the Dark Knight, is broken by Annie. When she and Troy try to cover it up Abed dons the mask of justice, and the two worry what will happen if he will figures it out. Jeff and Shirley are in the other plot of the episode, as it is discovered the two have a shared past. We see that there is room for bonding time between the two of them, the only two characters who still seemed pretty distant at that time.
Joel McHale and Danny Pudi in the Community Pilot. Photo Courtesy of NBC.
The first episode of the show is one of the best pilots ever, and sets up the show perfectly. As the characters are introduced and relationships are built, the study group becomes a family and discover how to get through the crazy school they attend.
Still from the Community episode “Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas.” Photo Courtesy of NBC.
In this Claymation Christmas episode, Abed appears to be having a psychotic break by imagining everyone as Claymation Christmas versions of themselves. Jeff is a Jack in the Box, which is fitting. The episode turns out to be one twisty-turny awesome adventure of a Christmas classic.
Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown, Chevy Chase, Alison Brie and Joel McHale in the Community episode “Horror Fiction in Seven Spooky Steps.” Photo Credit: Lewis Jacobs / NBC.
The best Halloween episode of Community, the study group try to figure out who’s crazy and who’s not, after Britta gives out a psychological exam that shows that one of them is. As each member of the study group tells a scary story, it becomes clear that not one of them is truly sane. When it is discovered that Britta made a mistake, and that there is only one who is not insane, the group becomes even more suspicious of each other. The answer to who is the sane one will surprise you.
Ken Jeong in the Community episode “Course Listing Unavailable.” Photo Credit: Justin Lubin / NBC.
After being kicked out of Greendale and dubbed the Greendale Seven, the study group try to figure out what is going on at their school. They also try to find their way through a maze of lies to who set them up and why the Dean hasn’t let them back in. What they uncover is shocking and leads to a character arc that has continued on through the most recent season
Joel McHale and Charley Koontz in the Community episode “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.” Photo Credit: Lewis Jacobs / NBC.
After humiliating a fellow student, Jeff vows to redeem himself by making the student feel better. When it is discovered that the student is a huge fantasy nerd, the study group (and Chang) sets off to play an epic game of D & D led by Abed. The game ends in another group clash, as Pierce goes off on a role-playing evil spree, and the study group tries to figure out how to get along with people outside the group.
Yvette Nicole Brown, Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi and Alison Brie in the Community episode “Digital Estate Planning.” Photo Courtesy of NBC.
In this 8-bit send up, Pierce’s father has been killed by a heart attack, which he suffered after an argument with Jeff. A claim must be made on Pierce’s inheritance. Pierce’s father has allowed him to bring friends to win the inheritance, but Pierce’s father has also allowed his right hand man to compete, building to a competition within a video game. The episode is one of Pierce’s best, and shows us a kinder side to him.
Ken Jeong and Donald Glover in the Community episode “Pillows and Blankets.” Photo Credit: Tyler Golden / NBC.
In a two-part History Channel-esque mockumentary, the focus is on Troy and Abed’s long fight to decide which is the best fort building material: Pillows and Blankets. As the study group chooses sides (or goes neutral like Britta and Annie) character building occurs, and Pierce is beaten up by the Changlorious Basterds.
Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Yvette Nicole Brown and Alison Brie in the Community episode “A Fistful of Paintballs.” Photo Credit: Lewis Jacobs / NBC.
These three episodes have been combined into one, because they are so similar and have the same core principal: paintball is awesome. The paintball episodes of Community happen within the first two seasons, and cause mass havoc at Greendale, which is always a good thing.
