Summary
- The Community movie is in development and will feature most of the show's main cast returning, fulfilling fans' long-awaited hopes.
- The show contains some underrated episodes, such as "Advanced Safety Features" from the sixth season, which includes the return of Rick (Subway) and an iconic scene with Frankie Dart.
- Not all episodes are available on streaming services anymore, like "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons," but there are still plenty of iconic moments to seek out, such as Annie's role-playing and Britta's interactions with a gnome.
Community premiered on NBC in 2009, featuring a cast of future comedy all-stars as a group of misfits in a community college study group. Despite low ratings, the show became a cult classic while on the air and has kept up a dedicated fanbase since it ended in 2015. Since it ended, fans have clamored for the show to fulfill its promise of a Community movie.
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Thankfully, the Community movie is not far away. Peacock recently announced that the movie is in development, featuring most of the show's main cast returning. Before it finally premieres in 2023, many fans may be eager to check out some of the best Community episodes, including these fan favorites that many fans still quote to this day.
Updated October 8, 2023 by Blaise Santi: To the detriment of Community fans, the long-awaited movie won't be coming as soon as fans were initially hoping. Due to the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes that shut down the entertainment industry over the summer, Community creator Dan Harmon recently stated that there's still work to be done on the film's script before the cast reconvenes whenever is convenient for their schedules. In anticipation of the film finally reaching its audience on Peacock, these are five more of the best episodes in Community's history.
20 Advanced Safety Features
Many Community fans see the sixth season as one of the most underrated, considering how much the show had changed by then. However, the season does contain some great episodes, such as "Advanced Safety Features," which includes the return of Rick, a.k.a. Subway, the corpo-humanoid whom Britta falls in love with during the third season.
In "Advanced Safety Features," Rick has returned to Greendale to peddle Honda vehicles, unintentionally manipulating Dean Pelton into buying a whole armada of Honda products. This also results in a now-iconic scene where Frankie Dart, the freshest member of the cast, lashes out at the Dean for being stupid, resulting in Dean Pelton bursting into tears.
19 The Politics Of Human Sexuality
The relationships and dynamics of characters at Greendale were still fresh by the time "The Politics of Human Sexuality" aired in the first season. The episode centers around a school-wide STD fair, in which the sexually inexperienced Annie has volunteered. Upon learning of Annie's immaturity, Britta and Shirley help her prepare for a condom demonstration.
Meanwhile, Jeff and Pierce get caught up in a competitive date night, in which Jeff's dim-witted date pales in comparison to Pierce's intellectual escort, Doreen. It's an episode in which the study group members are still slowly getting to know each other, learning to grow together, even if that means breaking into the Dean's office to pull a "reverse Porky's."
18 Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is quite synonymous with creator Dan Harmon's brand, though prior to his web series Harmonquest, the role-playing game made a significant appearance in the second season of Community. In an attempt to cheer up a suicidal classmate, the study group participates in a game of Dungeons & Dragons that gets out of hand thanks to Pierce.
Notably, the episode is not available to watch on streaming services anymore due to a scene where Senor Chang wears makeup resembling blackface. However, there are plenty of iconic moments that fans should seek out from the series, such as Annie's role-playing as Hector the Well-Endowed, as well as Britta's interactions with a gnome.
17 Basic Lupine Urology
Out of all the pop culture takedowns Community wove into their episodes, none were more immersive than their season three Law & Order-inspired episode. After the study group's biology project is destroyed, they turn Greendale into a school-wide crime show, with Abed and Troy playing overdramatic detectives, while Jeff and Annie are feuding legal partners.
The episode culminates in a "courtroom" sequence set in the biology lab, where Annie gives a cross-examination and successfully coaxes a confession out of season three recurring character Todd. Plus, the episode features a stellar performance from Michael K. Williams as Professor Kane, who in this episode fulfills the role of a no-nonsense judge.
16 Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking
Some of the best episodes of Community are directed in the style of a documentary, such as season two's "Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking." After Pierce is hospitalized, he convinces Abed to document him pretending he's on his deathbed and bestowing his last wishes onto the study group, which is in actuality an attempt to emotionally manipulate them.
These last wishes end up being some of the show's highlights, including Jeff's fear of reuniting with his father, as well as Troy being starstruck when Pierce calls LeVar Burton to meet him. Of course, the heart of the episode remains focused on Pierce's feeling of being left out from the rest of the group, making it an emotional journey for everyone involved.
15 Emotional Consequences Of Broadcast Television
To fulfill the promise of #sixseasonsandamovie, Community would have to unfortunately come to a close first. The season six finale of the show, also the series finale, was quite the meta affair as the show's cast looked at ideas for what the non-existent future of the show could be. All the while, Jeff begins to accept the reality of everybody leaving him.
Predictably, "Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television" is an emotional high for the series. Jeff not only confesses his love to Annie, but he also lets her move on to greater things. The biggest tear-jerker, however, comes when he bids Abed and Annie goodbye, and pulls Abed in for a second, longer hug as he lets go of his first friend from Greendale.
14 Basic Intergluteal Numismatics
There are many enjoyable episodes in season five of Community, which often break from traditional sitcom affair for explorations of genre as the show is accustomed to. One of those is the David Fincher-esque "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics," which finds Jeff and Annie teaming up to investigate the mystery of Greendale's nefarious Ass-Crack Bandit.
The episode serves as a prelude to "Cooperative Polygraphy," where the study group reels from the impact of Pierce's death. Here, it's a bit more of a fun affair, including Donald Glover as a traumatized victim of the Ass-Crack Bandit's crimes. Though the mystery of the Ass-Crack Bandit is never uncovered, it's nevertheless a fun romp for our favorite characters.
13 Geography Of Global Conflict
It can be easy for Community fans to land in the pitfalls of actually believing Britta to be "the worst." However, real fans of the show know she's the best, as proven by "Geography of Global Conflict." While most of the episodes revolve around Annie organizing a Model U.N. To beat her rival, Britta becomes at odds with Greendale's new security guard, Chang.
In one of the series' best recurring jokes, Britta's over-dramatic protesting against Chang is set to the needle drop of Lionel Ritchie's "Hello." This all comes to a climax in the middle of Annie's Model U.N. Competition, which also features some significant development for her and Jeff's tense relationship. Glover also shines as the representative from Georgia.
12 Debate 109
When it comes to episodes centered on Jeff and Annie, most Community fans tend to believe they're among the best. That's definitely true of "Debate 109," which was one of the first episodes to explore their dynamic. Jeff is recruited by Annie and the Dean to join Greendale's debate team, a clever use of his legal skills that rightfully challenges the ex-lawyer.
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However, winning in debate doesn't come as easily to Jeff and Annie as one would hope. Annie learns to embrace a more carefree attitude, which becomes the first sign that Jeff is attracted to her (which, duh, it's Alison Brie). Their climactic kiss also serves as a good button to the B-plot, centered around Abed unintentionally predicting events within the group.
11 Mixology Certification
When Community let Donald Glover shine, they really let him shine. This season two episode finds the study group discovering Glover's Troy turned 21 years old, deciding to celebrate by taking him out to a bar. The experience is tumultuous for all study group members, especially Shirley, who reveals her low point to the group when she's recognized as a regular.
One of the best episodes in the series comes when Troy drops Annie off at her apartment. Annie confronts Troy about not knowing who she was in high school, but Troy reminds her that doesn't matter because he does now. Although it's a positive, heartwarming note, it's counter-imposed by Jeff and Britta furiously making out next to Abed in Jeff's car.