We are currently one month away from the return of Community. Granted, this is assuming NBC doesn't move it back again or cancel it all together, but assuming network television does the right thing for once and keeps a great show on the air, (ahem Arrested Development...) we only have one month left! So, in honor of way too much time away from Greendale and, to be frank, a heavy dose of Community withdrawal, I've decided to post a top 5 countdown of the best episodes from season 3. I truly feel like every episode is brilliant and hilarious as Community is one of my favorite shows, so try not to be too disappointed if your pick does not appear on this list. If you are feeling passionate one way or the other, just post your top five in the comment section; I would love to see them. So without wasting too much more time, let's jump right in.
5. Pillows and Blankets
The best episodes of community are the ones in which they fully commit to a different format for the show. After Troy and Abed disagree about what to make their giant forts out of, pillows versus blankets, the dispute progresses into a war and hilarity ensues. The entire episode is shot like a Ken Burns style documentary, which is famous for the camera panning in or out on still photographs, making them seem more alive, in addition to the iconic narration. Community captures the style perfectly, and in my opinion, is well deserving of the top 5 countdown.
This episode simply had to be on this list, if for no other reason than it's sheer boldness. The vast majority of Digital Estate Planning is presented in the style of an 8 bit video game console, which even for Community, is a big risk. Risks like this are what have hurt Community in the ratings at times, while also making them a cult favorite with a small army of passionate fans. Another strength of Community is their ability to make amazing cultural references, and this episode is full of them. From detailing the instructions on finding Missingno, the famous glitch from early Pokemon Games, to referencing Crystal Meth, as the guest star is known for his role on Breaking Bad, this show embodies all that is community; clever plots, intelligent writing, and a willingness to take risks. Brilliant.
3. Documentary Filmmaking: Redux
Yet another brilliant episode. I'm running out of adjectives and we're only on number 3. When Dean Pelton, probably the most underrated character on the show, is tasked with creating a new commericial for Greendale College, Abed decides to film the process, simultaneously referencing Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse and Waiting for Guffman. I strongly suggest you watch one, if not both films to fully enjoy the cultural references in this episode. Although the ratings were less than spectacular, critics gave rave reviews calling this episode the reason why Community should not be canceled, as well as a perfect example of how only Community fans can love the show enough to appreciate this episode. If you've never seen Community before, I would not suggest starting with this one. Let's just say Documentary Filmmaking: Redux is for the more advanced viewer. You have to work up to it.
2. Regional Holiday Music
This season's Christmas episode, a spoof on Fox's Glee, may take the cake as the most full-of-references episode Community has ever done. The initial song features SNL's Taran Killam as "Mr. Rad," a spoof on Glee's Will Schuester and the lyrics cleverly explain the inherent silliness of the Fox hit series. Troy and Abed rap together on "Christmas Infiltration," no doubt an homage to Donald Glover's second career, rapping under the alias Childish Gambino. "Baby Boomer Santa" is rife with music references dating from the 1940s to the 1980s. Annie's "Teach Me How To Understand Christmas," is a play on Madonna's "Santa Baby." The song ends with Jeff saying "Look, eventually, you hit a point of diminishing returns on the sexiness," poking fun at the songs' baby-talk style. Finally, Shirley's "Happy Birthday Jesus" makes fun of the super-religious take on Christmas. Outside references include Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the Star Wars Holiday Special. Everything from the Glee-like scene transitions, to the Kings of Leon/bullying reference, makes this episode a top pick. However, it is not THE top pick.
1. Remedial Chaos Theory
I chose "Remedial Chaos Theory" as the best episode of season 3 for a couple reasons. First of all, it's sheer density is impressive. In what only amounts to about 22 minutes of air time, viewers are left with a feeling that they just watched a full length feature film. In fact, I had to watch the episode a few times before I fully grasped all it had to offer. When a dice is rolled in order to determine who goes downstairs to meet the pizza delivery guy, Abed points out that 6 different timelines are now being created, as each number on the die leads to a different outcome. The second reason I chose this episode as the top pick was it's importance to the rest of the season. I believe that one of the best subplots of season 3 included Evil Abed and the darkest timeline, a story that began in this episode. One of the timelines was labeled 'the darkest' in which Jeff lost an arm, Pierce was shot and killed, Shirley became an alcoholic, Annie went to a mental hospital, Troy lost the ability to speak, and Britta put a purple streak in her hair. At this point, Troy and Abed vow to break into the other timeline and take over the good as 'Evil Troy and Evil Abed.'
The intelligence Community demands of its audience is commendable and far too uncommon. While so many shows allow the audience to tune in inconsistently, tell them when to laugh with a laugh track, or use 'documentary style story telling' to explain complicated plot points in an easy to understand way, Community tirelessly runs from the norm. They vary their format, dive deep into ingenious plot-lines, and continue to challenge their audience to pay attention and look for more out of network television shows. Not only should Community not be canceled, but it should be the most popular show on television. Although, I will admit there is a certain charm to the majority not fully 'getting it.' As with all cult favorites, the alienation of the fan base is a big part of what makes the smaller group so passionate. So in a world where shows can be saved by flash mobs and email campaigns, let's just hope that the firing of 'captain of the ship,' Dan Harmon doesn't ruin a good thing, and that Community finally gets the appreciation it deserves! #SixSeasonsAndAMovie
