4. Mixology Certification (Season 2, Episode 10)
The Story: On the eve of Troy’s 21st birthday, the study group takes him to a bar, where Shirley attempts to conceal a major secret, Annie masquerades as a carefree Texan girl named Caroline, Abed inadvertently flirts with a fellow sci-fi aficionado and Jeff and Britta drunkenly bicker over which local establishment is cooler.
Why It’s Earned Its Place: Community is one of those rare shows that can juggle humor and raw emotion without ever appearing to break a sweat. “Mixology Certification” is one of Community‘s darkest episodes, but it’s also one of its best. With all the comic misadventures that members of the study group find themselves on throughout other episodes, it’s easy to forget that most of the main characters are damaged, unhappy individuals. “Mixology Certification” shows the characters at their most painfully, unapologetically human without sacrificing any of Community‘s typical snark or social commentary. It’s an emotional high-water mark for the show, and one of Community‘s most important episodes to date.
Best Quote: “Hello During a Random Dessert, the month and day of which coincide numerically with your expulsion from a uterus.” – The Jehovah’s Witness-friendly birthday cake that the study group wheels in for Troy.
3. Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (Season 2, Episode 14)
The Story: When Jeff realizes that unpopular, overweight classmate Neil (Charley Koontz) has become suicidal, he puts together a Dungeons & Dragons game with the rest of the study group in hopes of boosting Neil’s spirits. When Pierce, jealous at not being invited to the game, joins and makes it his mission to destroy Neil, the game unexpectedly progresses into a battle for Neil’s life.
Why It’s Earned Its Place: What makes this episode so interesting is that, though the camera never leave the faces of the study group members, it’s one of the most absorbing half-hours of Community yet. Though the Claymation episode is indubitably terrific, it’s also highly visual – the success of “Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” is completely dependent on the skills of the actors involved. Never is Community‘s brilliant ensemble better utilized than in this tribute to high-fantasy games and movies. Some of the best lines in all of Community appear, and the episode’s rapid-fire script makes it one of the most breathless installments of the show to date. Wall to wall, it’s an incredible accomplishment.
Best Quote: “And so it was that the group began to describe themselves walking. And as they described themselves walking, so did Abed confirm they had walked.”— Narrator
2. Modern Warfare (Season 1, Episode 23)
The Story: Greendale becomes a war-zone when the Dean declares that the prize in a school-wide paintball tournament is first pick of classes in the coming semester. The sexual tension between Jeff and Britta reaches untenable levels as alliances form and the war rages out of control.
Why It’s Earned Its Place: This is the episode that made Community water-cooler talk. No one, not even casual channel flickers, could deny the level of comedic precision and storytelling genius on display in this perfect homage to action cinema. Everything from Die Hard to Hard Boiled to Predator is lovingly referenced, but what makes “Modern Warfare” succeed as far more than a simple parody is that it really, really works as an action piece unto itself. Coming in the second half of season 1, the episode stood out as a harbinger of great things to come. An instant classic.
Best Quote: “Come with me if you don’t want paint on your clothes.” – Abed, after saving Jeff from a sneak attack.