Lesser Known COMMUNITY Fan Theories

Lesser Known Community Theories from around the depths of the internet.
Who's the 8th seat for?
Does Abed know they're being filmed?
Is Abed doing the filming?
Is Abed Truman Showing Jeff?
Are Jeff and Chang the same person?
Is Jeff and Leonard the same person?
Is there an in-universe reason for why season 4 is so different?
Does the Community universe occur within the MCU's multiverse?
The answer is probably no, but they're fun to think about.
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[@Lionfrog13]

Abed isn’t looking at the camera. Abed is looking at arbitrary spots and our camera is seeing them. Abed doesn’t thinks he’s in a tv show, he just likes to view the world as a tv show and since it’s a show that we’re watching the concept is meta, not the character.

[@ameliacisna1813]

Exactly -- he's the one who adds all the special effects and the scores underneath each homage episode. Community as a TV show is how Abed is interpreting the events he finds himself in

[@yeet66937]

if anything the shots are ironic In that abed is attempting to imitate the fact that someone would be recording that moment; ironically being that he is actually recorded and has been from the exact angle he looks at towards the end of the frame. Dan Harmon does this in other shows

[@anonymousinkproductions8624]

I think the 8th chair is to represent Jeff’s isolation, as his character wouldn’t have a full seat right next to him, because that would have someone be close to him in 2 ways

[@Nick_CF]

Yup simple as that

[@Bingbongles9million]

I think it’s cos Jeff’s the leader, the king. He gets the head of the table. He can see all of them without moving, while they all have to look up to him.

[@JamesWhoMakesGames]

I think it's because the table is a rectangle.

[@Tysoneko]

I also think it’s funny using the very online terminology, “fan-theory,” for a detail like this instead of the word “analysis” which is what it is

[@Bingbongles9million]

@@JamesWhoMakesGames I’m sorry to be the barer of bad news but that table is square

[@simonjenkin]

i've seen a few different theories about the 8th seat and none of them seem to take into account that very few tables are built to accommodate an odd number of seats... also, from a production standpoint, giving the table an extra seat allows for situations where someone else can sit at the table, as happened on numerous situations (jack black. chang, fat neil etc)

[@juliaconnell]

*thank you* another voice of sanity and reason - *exactly* - reading 'meaning' into an empty chair - what?!? - it is a study room - it is a table designed for 8 people - if there was only *7* chairs that would be super weird.

[@coreydale-miller2065]

but they could have had 8 members. so why choose 7 then?

[@juliaconnell]

@@coreydale-miller2065 to provide the writers with an _option_ of another person at the table (can give numerous examples of when this happened in the show...) plus an uneven number of people is more likely to create drama ("drama" & "comedy" basis for well everything - ) - unresolved tension.. 🎭🎭🎭

[@SamuAguiaHP]

@@coreydale-miller2065 Were they suposed to create another member just because there was 1 more chair?

[@ash200097]

Literally

[@jadenthebat6183]

Don't forget that during the janitor paintball episode they have a direct reference to the captain America elevator scene ,with the dean, with even one of the same extras in the elevator

[@penngheeney]

I thought all the character actors were the same guys...

[@TheWeirdologist]

Who was the same extra?

[@leftory684]

Captain America did not invent elevator scenes, that's just a trope used in a lot of action movies

[@roryscott2941]

My headcanon is Britta was a child actor on a failed Sesame Street type kid's show. She was either subjected to a Truman Show false reality or just believed all of it to be true because she was very young. This would explain her strange cartoonish reactions, Pizza song and perhaps fear of men in dinosaur suits. The show was abruptly canceled and her disillusionment lead to her jaded personality. She probably never actually lived in New York. There was more examples but this is off the top of my head. "You exploited me and made me believe in a slightly more magical world!"

[@Bubblegob]

That montage with the community crew joining the avengers was fun as hell.

[@quins-clowns]

I got the same feeling as watching the movie they made with Chang at the desk 😂😂❤❤❤

[@willbyers_clizzy]

@@quins-clowns that episode was so fun

[@meganriehl3005]

My theory is that Britta's character was based on a girl Dan Harmon had a crush on and then that girl hurt his feelings which is why he did that to her

[@ACMH98]

Omg I love that theory

[@caesarjergens]

They really didn't know what to do with the character once it became clear her relationship with Jeff didn't`t work on screen so apparently Gillian Jacobs (who played Britta) suggested they made her more of a comical character as she wanted to play that sort of role.

[@stoopidapples1596]

​@@caesarjergensah so Gillian was the one who Britta'd Britta?

[@stoopidapples1596]

I think in general Dan was bad at writing his female characters, probably due to a lack of perspective. Shirley hardly does anything the entire series, Britta goes from a very intelligent and cynical character to just plain stupid, and Annie is probably the best of the 3 but still often feels like she relies a bit much on being a love interest for Winger. As much as people shit on season 4, I think these characters get a bit better treatment than Dan usually gives them.

[@caesarjergens]

@@stoopidapples1596 Apparently. Gillian Jacobs has stated in an interview in 2020 about Britta "I mean, I wouldn't want her to have figured everything out, just a little bit. I hope she's figured out one more thing. But it wouldn't be really fun if she was suddenly like a person who had it all together." So I guess she kind of enjoyed playing the goofball.

[@lilac_reed]

You fools, the 8th chair is for Jeff's Ego!

[@samuellawrencesbookclub8250]

I think Jeff and Chang are intended to mirror each other, to some extent, but this is quite a common story-telling trope, no need to theories that they're the same person

[@juliaconnell]

what?!? - it is a study room - it is a table designed for 8 people - if there was only **7** chairs that _would_ be super weird.

[@obianujuoduntan9802]

Not to be that guy but you can't use "?!?" And still put a dash

[@juliaconnell]

@@obianujuoduntan9802 this is an _informal_ writing situation not some formal letter/document/whatever - you can be 'that guy' and I am going to continue to be me, and write in a way that makes sense to me & the situation. English is a ever changing language that adapt to changes made by people and circumstances Englisc {is} tîma simbles swîðsnel spr¯æc ðætte fêgan intô with {changes} pîslic fullan woruld lôc {circumstances} same phrase in OLD English - not scholarly accurate I'm sure, just a bit of "fun" to make a point

[@NobenStudio]

When Jeff tells Abed "that was actually from the Breakfast Club", it was true on more than one level. Notice when Abed recites the line "no dad,what about you!", he's dubbed over by a voice line from the actual movie.

[@loco_beezy]

Theory: Abed Uses Weighted Dice TLDR; Abed rolls too high too often on important checks, making it plausible he uses weighted dice to move the plot forward. The Rolls: Abed in both dnd episodes (Advanced Dungeons and Dragons from Season 2 and Advanced Advanced Dungeons and Dragons from Season 5) tends to perform oddly high rolls To the point where it seems almost mathematically impossible. These rolls are also the main points that push the plot forward in these episodes (allowing Pierce to steal Fat Neil’s sword, Fat Neil to destroy the amulet, the Dean to send a message to Jeff via carrier pigeon, and overall dealing high damage in both episodes, specifically Chang’s one hit decapitation by Pierce), making it seem even more unlikely. Motive: Abed claims several times in these episodes that as Dungeon Master he must remain impartial lest the story has no meaning. However, as a supposedly seasoned DND player Abed would also know that high rolls by the players (rolls that give a player exactly what they wanted) are ones that tend to move the plot of the campaign forward the most (the classic critical fail, while at times hilarious, does not do this for the plot), and Abed has made it very clear that he is willing to go to extreme lengths to make “their show” interesting. Think Abed’s documentary in Introduction to Film or Abed’s many personality changes to fit tropes whether it be referencing the Breakfast Club in the pilot or becoming a police captain to get Annie and Shirley to attack Jeff. While at first using weighted dice to rig the game seems out of character for Abed, it is completely within bounds when you look at it like that. Alternative: But of course this could just be the show’s creators knowing that high rolls are the easiest to move a plot forward and twisting the odds a bit in that direction, but as with all fan theories, I don’t think that’s nearly as fun.

[@RustyNips]

I actually like this idea

[@Astrovite]

I heard some theory about Greendale being a subliminal testing facility run by the government. I can't remember the details but it had to do with the missile launch and the Zombie episode. But also incorporated other stuff.

[@batmancompreparo1114]

What do you think about doing a Community Field Guide? I’d be pretty interesting with all the easter eggs they have throughout the show

[@redhorsepapi]

That's what I said! With his way of breaking things down, it would be so good for a show like Community

[@lerua331]

that would be awesome!!

[@johnparker4484]

DO IT

[@cobain3952]

Yes! Yes! Yes!

[@MortanAMrk]

i mean the mountains of behind the scenes stuff would definately make it work well, plus the stories you can talk about.

[@arandomperson8189]

Honestly I would love to see a community Easter egg in multiverse of madness, just see Dr strange portal into one of the paintball games or smth

[@GhostW1thTheMost]

Dr strange portals into a supermarket where britta is buying the dye for that blue streak on her hair

[@Blodhelm]

@@GhostW1thTheMost That got dark real fast.

[@GhostW1thTheMost]

@@Blodhelm yeah i know, i just love dark humor.

[@Screwdriver-lj4im]

i think the eighth chair is just for symmetry tbh

[@ped0ph1LeYouTube]

Community is that one show that can be anything you want it to be. There will never be another show like this. This show is my grounding place. When life become too much of a biatch, I go rewatch it and I'm back to my original self ready to face this god forsaken world.

[@lazy1119]

in seasons 5 ands 6 that seat is for Duncan or the Dean! but really Jeff is on his own because of the way he likes to isolate himself and also be the head of the table, where the leader would sit as Jeff considers himself the leader of the group.

[@xandyw1381]

The study room was built as a public facility for anyone at the school to use. It wasn't until after the beginning of the series that the 7 co-opted it, and therefore it would stay as such. Why change something that is not broke. Plus there are often times where people more than 7 must sit there (Chang).

[@cp-zx7rg]

they don't really make tables for 7 people. I mean I guess it could have been round...

[@hittingyouoverthehead]

To me, more than Leonard, Pierce felt like a Jeff who traveled back in time. Someone who hates his father, is obsessed with the study group because he feels he's important there and is a selfish narcissistic jerk- this describes both Pierce and Jeff. The only problem with this theory is that Jeff is nice to Abed while Pierce isn't (although that might be because Jeff grew to hate Abed later) and Pierce is racist while Jeff isn't (which could be Pierce pretending to make his younger self look better by comparison). This theory could explain why Pierce is always trying to be a father figure to Jeff because he knows how desperately Jeff needs one.

[@Blodhelm]

In the 2001: Space Odyssey homage, Pierce and Jeff are the same person, just with time. Of course that might not count as Jeff was just hallucinating and becoming Pierce would be one of his nightmares, and his direct fear at the time.

[@jenm1]

All the characters in the study group are supposed to be reflections of jeff in some way or another. The paranormal theories ruin that imo

[@Iliadic]

@@jenm1 Explain. I'd like to hear how each of them relates.

[@ACMH98]

To me, it's more showing WHAT Jeff can become. He can become Pierce, if he doesn't start reflecting on his actions and their consequences. Which, over the course of the show, he does.

[@nobody-wz7lw]

abed explains why he knows hes ina TV show to the fbi woman that investigates him by spying on him with a squad he says something along the lines of "im used to being the only observer so i can tell when im being observed"

[@RobertPiotrowski96]

I just finished the series and I'm heartbroken. I like realism in tv shows/movies, but I prefer sitcoms with happy endings, even if not entirely realistic. Community is full of fantasy, but ending is so grounded in reality and bittersweet, that I would likely never rewatch this show. I like my dramas dramatic, and my comfort shows comforting. Still, great show 😉

[@Cavemanner]

Just finished my third rewatch. The dread upon approaching the ending is REAL, but the ride is so worth it every time!

[@madisonlemieux2242]

The end of this literally made me laugh so hard!!! I love your edits so much, they are so well done!

[@juliangames6338]

For the truman show theory I actually noticed that jeff mentions in the episode when troy leaves im pretty sure that he never stepped foot out of colorado

[@DasZombieProductions]

You know your Community I hope you tackle this show next when the final The Office Field guide is finished

[@stevenginsberg8471]

Yes, let's see a Mulverine Community Field Guide. Great for your next big project!

[@SuperJoesutton]

"Why did they sot them in a space for 8 people?" For real? How many tables have y'all scene that would only sit 7 people? Its just a study room desk.

[@Fatikis42]

...the 8th chair. You know that tables tend to be shaped as squares and rectangles, right? And with standard school desks when you need seating for 7 you will always get seating for 8. Literally, this is just a desk. That is why in other episodes when at round tables there tends to be 7 seats. Abed is aware. I agree. I subscribe to the Community is purgatory/hell theory and Abed knows. We have a demon appear later in the seasons as many know.

[@themillersthree]

the dean with his pitchfork

[@Bingbongles9million]

That 8th chair thing is ridiculous, there 8 chairs because the table has 8 spaces for chairs. Like am I missing something? I’m actually dumbfounded by the stupidity involved in trying to find a deeper meaning for why a table that sits 8 people would have 8 chairs.

[@soumavoz8949]

They were just trying to have fun, man. Also, it's not only the fact of existing an extra place as consequence of logic (8chairs minis 7 characters equals 1), but why, of all members of the study group, it was right next to Winger. Os it because he's the protagonist? Is it for showing his leadership role or his loneliness?

[@10KProductions]

Great vid my dude! Community is such a fun series

[@scottclowe]

I can see why these are all less known theories... I regret letting them occupy space in my head. They don't deserve it.

[@adamnielson42]

Yeah, I clicked on this video thinking "I wonder what other fans think about little details of community" and now I've come to the conclusion that I'm not sure I want to be called a community fan anymore

[@MATTHEWMYTHHAVEN]

two npcs in dialog

[@krn91]

wait you guys are walking in slow mo 🚶🏼‍♂️

[@g4brielb0nfim]

I love your Community videos! Who knows, someday, after your The Office field guide ends, for us to not become orphans, you could do a Community field guide

[@maxencekab3496]

On that Chang / Jeff thing, chang is chosen as jeff's replacement for his role in the deans commercial for greendale

[@maxencekab3496]

On the Jeff / Leonard theory I don't see Jeff going to war, Leonard have been there tho and have a family

[@bazookasniper5167]

Leonard was watching in the bushes as well

[@abigailguessis1218]

The 8th chair is to show how Jeff is not close to anyone specific in the group, that’s why in season 5 Duncan takes the seat as he is the closest person to Jeff, it’s just a character detail

[@briantidwell651]

Oh young one, don't you know anything? Once you reach Level 11 Laser Lotus, your ghost can not only clone itself (lvl.9 ability) but it can now also travel through TIME... the other chair was just another Pierce.... OBVIOUSLY 🤷‍♂️😆😆😆😆😆

[@zeenkosis]

Obviously 😂😂😂😂

[@frankspaetz9310]

Your channel needs more subscribers! Your videos are very high quality

[@chatur_boy]

Good work on the MCU edit. Fun Stuff

[@chingizzhylkybayev8575]

The whole Community/Endgame montage was just pure joy

[@xLordOfNothingx]

"The 8th chair is for you" I know for a act thats made up because I just watched every episode and didnt notice there was an empty chair lol

[@brickbladestudios7690]

season 4 is better then season 5 I dont get why people hate it

[@JonTheJedi]

Same here man, season 4 never felt off to me one bit. In fact I wish the show ended at season 4 because it really felt like it was supposed to with Jeff coming to terms with his graduation and really struggling to let Greendale go and move on with his life. Only to come back in with season 5's first episode show that him being good for once failed and left him more broken than he was at the start of the show. It was a real slap to the face of his character development.

[@colin7574]

Community and Brooklyn 99 take place in the same universe. In both of the shows, Let's Potato Chips exist, and in one of the episodes, Britta plays the B99 theme song on her boombox.

[@angelic5424]

I just watched a video about Let's potato chips recently. It's a fake brand product that's made by a specific company for prop use. It's actually been used in many shows. Although "keep ya' damn hands off my Let's" seems to be a Community invention. 😊

[@nrpbrown]

Love this show, i appreciate the video

[@davidgalloway9472]

I love that gas leak year alternative timeline theory, that’s good!

[@oliverclaxon7878]

That Truman show theory is absolutely amazing, and what I believe now

[@angelic5424]

I don't know if this is a widespread theory in the fandom, but I read a fanfic with the premise that Jeff is Abed's Tyler Durden. I don't think it's really plausible in the show canon, but it was a neat idea.

[@alyssalovethedj]

Doooood This was a good episode! 🎉

[@samuellawrencesbookclub8250]

Again Leonard is another mirror to Jeff as the leader of his group of 'Hipsters', who bare a resemblance to the Study Group, but this is more about story-telling than time-travel.

[@colton8171]

Its a study room that anyone can book. There is space for a chair, so they put one there. The room isnt exclusive to the greendale 7

[@AspenFrostt]

wow that mcu one is fun

[@rodrigobatoca8102]

Would be the greatest thing of all time if that thing with the mcu actually happend

[@mhikari92]

The 8th seat is there because.....It's a table in a study room in a community college school building that , the original purpose is to hold meeting from a group of 8 (and under).......the community gang isn't the one who is allowed to use it.(At least , in the pre-season1 era , isn't.)

[@anjailbakeer]

I thought we all knew abed is aware he is in a show?

[@Ppppftt]

More than aware of being in a show, Abed approaches life itself as if it was a show.

[@dusktomidnight7207]

hope u do community field guild after office

[@SkateFallen1424]

I have a theory about the 8th chair. Bear with me cuz it's a little out there, but I think it's because the table has 8 spaces for chairs

[@neferpizzastudios2733]

The first 3 theories are the most boiler plate tier-2 of an iceberg chart type theories.

[@Glitch-qj3nj]

8 chair its like " -Hello friend " in mr Robot?

[@jrice6337]

My fan theory is: this is the greatest written show ever.

[@babygorilla4233]

Interesting that there are 8th chair theory's, sadly its not backed up if you've watch all the extras. The 8th chair does have an actual purpose though, guests its where jack black sat, and I don't think they actually had guest group members after that 😂 I think the 8th chair is you is spiritually correct though cause a good amount of shots are shot from there.

[@rockoutmichigan]

My theory: Pierce faked his own death. To get away from Dan Harmon's ego.

[@Sturdywitda30]

6 seasons and a movie 🎥 🍿 🎦

[@maverickREAL]

Almost done with Season 1 so I won't watch this whole thing until I'm a good chunk in, but I am nursing the theory that Abed, in-universe, is a trickster god with metamorphosis and clairvoyant tendencies. He doesn't know he's being filmed but he knows there's a higher power who's watching Earth for entertainment. He's tapped into knowledge of common actions and things people do and say with this knowledge, and he tries to push things into a favorable direction with his actions and words. He knows how EVERYONE ticks, but doesn't want to interfere with their lives so he does it somewhat sparingly. I'm going to cite the April Fool's episode from S1 here, specifically when he starts feeding cop movie commissioner lines to Dean Pelton and he just says them without question up until a line about calling the mayor. He did it to push things along to a satisfying conclusion, feeding in the most obvious lines for the situation. I dunno, maybe I'm losing it.

[@senti4921]

Two Community Cast members play main Characters in Fortnite... Let that sink in...

[@TheGreenDevil]

I saw that the creator’s confirmed that the 8th chair represents you, the viewer

[@joelincz8314]

i like the last one :)

[@firebean-qy9dx]

i do believe in the leonard jeff theory, if you watch, the only time that jeff is nice to leonard is in season 3 when jeff is on anti-anxiety pills and “doesn’t hate himself anymore”

[@adamnielson42]

Isn't he nice to everyone at that point though?

[@keynbrosdahl2925]

Matt Patt proved that Abed is the Ass Crack Bandit

[@jakethet3206]

Narcissists have very high opinions of themselves, and thus, they don’t hate themselves. Therefore, Jeff is not “a narcissist who hates himself,” because that’s impossible.

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodgh29]

Time spent hating yourself is still time spent obsessing over yourself! I think a lot of self hatred is narcissistic. It’s complicated.

[@jakethet3206]

@@yourfriendlyneighborhoodgh29 But I didn’t say narcissistic people spend a lot of time obsessing over themselves (though many surely do.) What I said is that narcissists have high opinions of themselves, it’s literally a defining characteristic of narcissism. Therefore, Jeff is precluded from being narcissistic because it’s been made clear his behavior stems from deep seated insecurities. Which, again, it’s the opposite of being narcissistic. Did you understand that?

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodgh29]

@@jakethet3206 it’s interesting- not only can narcissists hate themselves, some people think it’s part of what narcissism can stem from sometimes, since if you have a lot of insecurity you might be more obsessed with your own image and validation from others. Both self hate and self love are types of self obsession, which I think is what makes you a narcissist. Genuinely sorry if I got stuff wrong or if I came off like I was trying to correct you, I just think it’s an interesting conversation. : )

[@jakethet3206]

@@yourfriendlyneighborhoodgh29 Narcisists admire themselves. That’s the opposite of not liking yourself. I’m sorry, you are wrong about what narcissism is. Just… completely wrong. Real narcissists do not hate themselves. Don’t know what else to tell you.

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodgh29]

@@jakethet3206 it’s possible to admire yourself and have self-hatred at the same time imo, and if you google self-hatred and narcissism you can find some interesting stuff! I’ve already summarized it as best I can in my last reply, so I recommend you look it up yourself if you want to learn more. It’s fine to not agree and I’m genuinely not trying to be a jerk or anything, I just think about it differently based on what I’ve learned over the past couple years.

[@poldek270]

Nahh, the eight chair is for the guests, buddy, profesor duncan or Ben

[@Luke_wait_for_it_marengo]

The ACB is Annie.

[@yeet66937]

4:00 this is only the Netflix version

[@SebO.Fuentes.]

Which is the other version? I have only watched Community on Netflix

[@yeet66937]

@@SebO.Fuentes. everything except Netflix; so: Hulu, Sling, Philo, KZbin Tv, and the original version that aired on NBC

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

Yeah but The Spider- man is still it's own universe, the captain marvel ep is hard to watch, and Jeff didn't have hair plants in 2004

[@imfpredicts]

Turns out I like Community so much I am willing to sit through this horseshit.

[@ashspike5232]

I dont think it's abed and the gang are being b secretly filmed, I think he's knows he's fictional

[@rileyolson6008]

They’re probably definitely in an asylum

[@redhorsepapi]

#sixseasonsandamovie

[@jasonlefler3456]

I just hope they don’t get any Season 4 stink on the #andamovie…

[@DroLED_Music]

The 8th chair represents where I make semen

[@Lenastar23]

Sorry but Chang and Jeff aren't even the same personality type- they are just both intuitive thinkers.....

[@minihooperprod.8332]

Jesus Christ is lord and savior amen

[@kalebclemons]

broooo plz plz plz do a series on Community the way u break down The Office. there are SO many Community fans out here

[@hugo-ig7kl]

I think the 8th chair was just because they had the Dewey episode coming

[@iamanowl26]

These are really scraping the bottom of the barrel