While many comedy sitcoms have graced the TV airwaves, very few left behind a lasting mark like NBC’s Community has. Created and helmed by Dan Harmon (Rick and Morty), the series follows a misfit study group attending Greendale Community College. Led by selfish former lawyer Jeff (Joel McHale), the group learns to become a family despite their vast differences.
Throughout its first season, Community featured memorable moments that defined its freshmen year on TV. Yet amongst the series’ meta-humor and pop-culture references, its greatest hits usually contained lessons and heart. With the tenth anniversary of season one just passing recently, let’s take a look back at its ten best moments. Full spoilers are below.
Shirley Goes Back For Pierce
The mother of the study group, Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) is given a chance to flex her leadership abilities in “Beginner Pottery.” After signing up for a parking lot-held sailing class, Shirley is given command of the vessel. Due to a “storm,” she abandons Pierce (Chevy Chase) after he falls off before changing her mind and going back for him.
With an opportunity to be respected as a competent captain, Shirley decides to be kind. The sentiment is significant considering how the group was about to attain a high grade and Shirley’s rocky relationship with Pierce. By rescuing him at a cost to herself, Shirley shows a truly kind person behaves like that consistently, not just when it’s convenient.
Troy Dances With Britta
While seeming to attract the wacky, Greendale can also bring out the best in people. In “Interpretative Dance,” Troy (Donald Glover) and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) discover the other is enrolled in a dance class. Tired of hiding, the pair plan to tell the study group but Troy backs out at the last moment. During her dance recital, Britta freezes before Troy comes on stage and helps her finish the routine.
The moment highlights the beauty of Greendale and its effects on the study group. Troy, a former jock who identifies as masculine, most likely would’ve never danced on stage during high school. But at Greendale, he finds a new definition of his identity and that includes helping his friend in the most Community way: stripping down to a black unitard and dancing.
Annie And Shirley Team Up
Without a doubt, Annie (Alison Brie) and Shirley are the two kindest study group members. In “The Science of Illusion,” the pair step outside their comfort zones as security guards investigating April Fools vandalism. Guided by Abed’s (Danny Pudi) expertise with the buddy cop genre, the two repeatedly one-up each other to see who is the bad cop.
Featuring Pierce in a magician’s costume “mind-reading” Jeff, the storyline culminates in the pair admitting the conflict was because of their insecurities about themselves. While providing laughs, the team-up is important in helping them realize Greendale is a safe place for them to be themselves.
The Study Group Fights Bullies
Like the best Community episodes, “Comparative Religion” embraces the characters’ differences. After getting into a dispute with bullies, Jeff prepares for a fight with the help of the study group. Shirley initially protests but eventually decides to join them in fighting the bullies atop a Christmas display in the quad.
The snow-covered fight is overly silly, but it shows how much the characters have grown since they first met. With his pride hurt, Jeff initially goes against his desire to participate to respect Shirley’s wishes. Meanwhile, Shirley goes against her peaceful, religious nature to defend Jeff. The moment has a strong message about family: support each other, even in disagreement.
Abed Breaks The Psych Class
Despite being the most unusual, Abed is the best study group member in several ways. In “Social Psychology,” his greatness is explored when Annie asks him to be part of a social experiment that tests what happens when people are asked to repeatedly wait. Not aware of the experiment’s true nature, Abed waits 26 hours.
Apart from featuring the hilarious freakouts of Troy and Señor Chang (Ken Jeong), the moment showcases his fierce loyalty. While quiet during the experiment, Abed admits it angered him but he stayed because Annie, a friend, asked him to. The scene is also a clever parody of social experiments as Professor Duncan (John Oliver) and his students have the tables turn on them.
The Study Group Turns Into The Mafia
While season one has plenty of pop-culture references scattered throughout, “Contemporary American Poultry” is unashamedly just one big nod to gangster movies. Tired of the cafeteria running out of chicken fingers, the study group plants Abed as an employee to rework the system. They become powerful and spoiled under him and learn why too much power can be harmful.
Anchored by Abed’s Goodfellas-esque narration, the study group’s rise and fall smuggling chicken is a fun, creative appreciation of pop-culture. The storyline also emphasizes how important Jeff and Abed are to the study group. Jeff, while not known to be generous, is a natural leader who maintains order. Abed, who has trouble connecting with others, is a better friend. By the episode’s end, they vow to work together to benefit everyone.
Jeff Plays Pool Naked
Community tends to be grounded, but sometimes it completely immerses itself in absurdity. In “Physical Education,” Jeff joins a billiards class and is required by a coach to wear an embarrassing gym uniform. Wanting to prove each other wrong, Jeff and the coach play a match in the uniforms before they both strip it off in a grand gesture.
From the Dean (Jim Rash) taking pictures to the crowd’s reactions, the nude pool match is comedy gold. But apart from the laugh value, the moment happens because Jeff learns to be secure with his true self and not let outside opinions bother him. That’s the beauty of Community, there’s a lesson to be learned even when watching two grown men strip while playing pool.
Pierce and Jeff’s Spanish Presentation
In “Spanish 101,” the self-centered Jeff shows his first sign of change. After failing to partner with Britta on a Spanish project, Jeff is accidentally paired with Pierce. He abandons the rambling elderly man before changing his mind and performing Pierce’s intricate scene in front of the class.
Scored with singer Aimee Mann’s “Wise Up,” the presentation is weird, funny, and ultimately, touching. Because of its embarrassing nature, Jeff doesn’t do it for himself but as a kind gesture towards a friend. There’s also the fact he could see himself in Pierce, who has lived a similarly selfish life. The scene was one of the first major indicators Community wasn’t a simple comedy sitcom.
The Study Group Invites Jeff Back
From the beginning, it was clear Community was titled so for a reason. In “Pilot,” the manipulative Jeff is asked to leave the study group and he proudly proclaims he doesn’t need them due to possessing bought test answers. After discovering the answer papers are blank, Jeff offers advice to Pierce and Troy and the study group invites him back in.
The moment is important because it establishes the importance of the study group for the rest of the series. Jeff, a selfish former lawyer, got through life with his mouth and by looking out for himself. At Greendale, he realizes he can’t do everything himself and needs others. By admitting it was boring without him, the study group reveals they need a charismatic leader to guide them.
The Paintball Fight
Community may be a comedy, but it also embraces the action. In “Modern Warfare,” Jeff takes a nap in his car and wakes to find Greendale filled with paintball splatter and crazed students. He discovers the campus paintball competition has a prize of priority class registration and teams up with the study group to attain it.
Despite the simple plot, the paintball fight is one of the best moments of Community. From The Terminator to Friends, the episode embraces the series’ affinity for referencing classics while featuring one classic scene after the next. Even though only one student got the prize (Shirley), viewers win with a fan-favorite event that generated several sequels.
