Your 10 Episode Cheat Sheet For ‘Community’

Between that time when the study group transferred their consciousness into a highly complex video game in order to secure Pierce’s inheritance and when the flu epidemic turned into a knock-off zombie apocalypse, it’s easy to forget how the study group ever came to be. Luckily, we have the show’s surprisingly awesome pilot to remind us. Sit back, relax, and contemplate the insane future consequences of Jeff wanting to get into Britta’s pants.

[Watch “Pilot” on Hulu Plus]

Every season has at least one high-concept episode that starts with a small, seemingly innocent school-wide game and ends in a devastating, every-man-for-himself war. However, none of the apocalyptic sequels can ever quite beat the confusion, intensity, and sincerity of Greendale’s first paintball war. Priority registration is no laughing matter. [Watch “Modern Warfare” on Hulu Plus]

It’s Abed’s birthday, and the study group has a Pulp Fiction-themed dinner planned just for him. There’s only one problem — Abed has decided to be normal. Or at least that’s what it seems like. This episode really shows off one of Community‘s strengths — its ability to weave heavy-handed pop culture references into a genuinely endearing plot. Plus, Shirley’s Jules costume is amazing. [Watch “Critical Film Studies” on Hulu Plus]

Season Two was a dark year for the study group, both on and off the screen. In this episode, the gang reflects on their last year together and learns a not-so-shocking secret about Jeff and Britta. Even though most of the incidents mentioned can’t be found in other episodes throughout the season, the reflective nature of this episode acts as a Season Two cheat sheet for how the group’s dynamics have changed. RIP Glee Club. [Watch “Paradigms of Human Memory” on Hulu Plus]

If Community‘s meta-weirdness had to be summed up into one episode, this would be it. After Jeff rolls a die to determine who will pick up pizza for the group, Abed becomes convinced that the result of this die roll creates six alternative timelines — one of which is the darkest timeline. Cue a goateed Troy and Abed. [Watch “Remedial Chaos Theory” on Hulu Plus]

The second to last Season Three episode can only summed up in one word: Chang-e. All of Abed’s seemingly-insane predictions over the course of the season are coming true: the loveable Dean has been replaced by a dopple-Dean-er, and Chang is ready to take over Greendale. This ties up a lot of season plot points in a short amount of time, explains why Chang is hated so very very much, and forces too many puns to count. [Watch “First Chang Dynasty” on Hulu Plus]

It’s the study group’s senior year, and Abed is taking it about as well as you expect. His insecurities take the form of a TV-fueled psychotic break complete with a Muppet Babies parody. Meanwhile, Jeff fights off rival Greendale students in The Hunger Deans to win the study group seats for the History of Ice Cream class. This was the first episode that aired after Harmon was fired, and it proved that the show had a chance even without its film-obsessed creator. [Watch “History 101” on Hulu Plus]

Season 4 had several major plots that missed the mark. There were felt puppets, kidnappings, Sophie B. Hawkins, and a potentially-exciting look into the darkest timeline that fell flat on its face. However, there was one beacon of humor, characterized by terrible puns and over-the-top documentary filmmaking, that remained true to Community‘s voice. That beacon came oiled up with Annie’s Boobs on his shoulder in the form of Ken Jeong. Hi, my name’s Kevin, and I have Changnesia. [Watch “Advanced Documentary Filmmaking” on Hulu Plus]

In all honesty, you should just curl up in your Cougartown pajamas with a bag of Let’s potato chips and watch the entire fifth season, but we know that you have a fancy job to match your highfalutin state college degree. Your best bet is to just watch the two-part finale of Season Five.

Throughout the entirety of Season Five, the study group has been working together to save Greendale, and in this second to last episode, they finally succeed. There’s only one small catch — now that Greendale is relatively profitable, it’s fit to sell. [Watch “Basic Story” on Hulu Plus]

Greendale’s in its darkest hour, poised to be sold to the omnipotent Subway. Thankfully, a deus ex machine sweeps in and saves the day at the last minute. Hooray! These last two episodes are especially important because of how closely they mirrored the show itself during its last season on NBC. Yahoo’s saving bid for Community mimics the show’s possibly-intended finale so well that the sitcom’s last-minute switch to Yahoo Screen almost reads like a Community script. Honestly, we wouldn’t put it past Harmon. [Watch “Basic Sandwich” on Hulu Plus]