Why Advanced Dungeons and Dragons is the Best Episode of Community

[@tylermsc]

A lot of people think I made this video because I was mad that it got taken down, but if you check the dates you'll see this video was actually published 4 months before that happened. This essay came straight from a love of this episode, and not from any place of frustration or contempt. I hope it comes off that way, and thanks for watching

[@charlierockstar1717]

didnt even know this episode existed thank uu

[@ZoneOut167-h5m]

This and remedial chaos theory are top 2 for me as well

[@abhinavg3514]

Exactly even I was wondering if they really didn't want to show the blackface why not just cut changs scenes out

[@abhinavg3514]

Someone should make a fantasy animated episode with the guys as the roles they're playing, with the elf and dragon and everything

[@ningenJMK]

Make some more!

[@gerudoking3180]

Fans: This is the best Community episode Netflix: You didn't see anything...

[@abbytje7769]

GerudoKing absolute disgrace they removed it

[@batmankissingbatcow]

Both Netflix and Hulu removed it so it seems like a Sony decision

[@natalicekravitz]

@@batmankissingbatcow Not necessarily. Sony didn't share any comment about the case. Episode is still on Prime.

[@carlhoffman9408]

Right??

[@lking1540]

So messed up, hes an elf not a black person.

[@remychase]

"I attack them using my... additional notes." "It has no effect." Genius writing.

[@dskim24]

I take my throwing knife and throw it.... knife-style.

[@kaitheguy7832]

Reminds me of Chris Prat's improvised line in Parks and Rec: "Leslie, I typed your symptoms into the thing up here and it says you could have... Network connectivity problems."

[@reu8190]

I’m I’m gonna o

[@abhishekjiwankar1]

When Pierce dies in Season 5, Fat Neal gives an eulogy on the Radio and calls him "the best DnD player" Which is just amazing.. it also shows that the Fat Neal continued to be friends with Pierce..

[@RG-zt4ox]

Apparently they did play through the entire show

[@seanakinskywalker2619]

And without the episode existing anymore new viewers lose some context

[@iambuttdix9692]

"Its time to level up."

[@Oniphius1]

@@seanakinskywalker2619 Also, the second D&D game when they reference this one.

[@theperson8539]

It also feeds into the character arc that leads to the documentary episode... I just realised that a ton of episodes from Season 2,3,5 and 6 have been called the best ones (especially season 2). I think that just means that Community is a significantly better show than most ever have the chance to be.

[@CassReidIsSomeone]

Also Annie's proficiency at the seduction makes her apartment being above a sex shop not just a joke but an actual contribution to the plot.

[@selfactualizing]

Everyone tried not to sexualize her and she did it herself

[@jackcoogan310]

I didn't think about Dildopolis' effect on her psyche! Also I saw Alison Brie talking about that scene and apparently it was like a 10 minute improv of increasingly filthy sex acts. Didn't even need the sound to give me that weird tingly feeling.

[@Novakane78]

@@jackcoogan310 Alison and her hubby Dave Franco have nude pool parties - she is very well versed in the erotic

[@evanislost]

2 fingers? 3? ...4 fingers?! OK.. *spanking motions*

[@emilyanne3910]

I never thought about it that way!

[@finn544]

I’ll never forget when Shirley says “so we just gonna ignore that hate crime” and Chang responds with “I’m a dark elf”

[@jflanagan9696]

"I'm an elf, not a nerd."

[@nevincox8205]

Netflix did

[@kanton4108]

Right? And it wasn't technically black face because he painted his entire body the colour of a dark elf. I can't believe this episode was removed from many streaming services because people confused it for black face. The show even knew this by having Shirley say that line. Chang is the most oblivious character. Of COURSE he'd paint his entire body black to fit into the game and the study group.

[@dervakommtvonhinten517]

its neither hate nor a crime. that was such a stupid line by shirley and unfortunately also a lie many garbage humans use

[@__-my6wy]

@@dervakommtvonhinten517 ok.....

[@FuzzyBunny28]

So Netflix didn’t realize that Shirley recognizes the blackface and then it is explained that’s its a dark elf...like really it’s a joke on Chang and not racial.

[@addamazeing]

Well it's funny *because* it's racial, that's kind of the joke, I'm not saying I agree with Netflix decision, I don't, I think it's dumb, or even that I think it's racist or offensive, but the joke *is* racial. At least in my opinion, you might disagree though :/

[@queenelizabeth8145]

It was a racial joke though, that was the whole point of the joke

[@avacasey9693]

Yeah if Netflix always had a problem with fictional characters in community being accidentally racist the whole show would be censored

[@gaussiano3388]

@@addamazeing yes, It Is a racial joke. But the joke is not "hey, Chang Is Black", the joke is that he has Zero sensitivity and he does not realize that he's being racist.

[@addamazeing]

@@gaussiano3388 yep

[@AllPwrflSteve]

My favorite joke in the series was when Abed wouldn't let Jeff talk to the gnome because he didn't speak gnome so Britta has to do all the talking until it goes off the rails and somebody says "will you just ask him about the Pegesus" and the gnome says "Did you say Pegasus? A word I understand in any language" The look Jeff gives Abed after that has me rolling every time.

[@fenharel3991]

Steve McElroy That’s what I love about this show. All of their looks when the camera isn’t focused on them is gold

[@liarenee8132]

My favorite part is annie seducing the gnome maiden on the pegasi stable, it always crack me up

[@mellownisty]

lia renee wait wasn’t it a half elven maiden or am I misremembering. Just being pedantic

[@janetbeatrice9505]

Why don't I remember this?

[@knotsnights6940]

@@liarenee8132 Allison Brie is basically famous for pretending to be innocent and naive while everyone around her reacts in shock and horror.

[@Paradoxis16]

"I cast shape change on Duquesne" "What shape?" "Faaaaaaaaat"

[@saiyanroyalty229]

"How fat?" "Make him as fat as Fat Neil? " It gets me every time

[@mellownisty]

I think Neil’s sad looks of despair is the saddest i’ve felt watching Community. It was heartbreaking. It made their triumph that much more impactful

[@fluetz_420]

This made me nearly spit out my cornflakes, I forgot about that joke entirely thank you so much

[@stillatin]

Get out of my chair! You're stretching it! I still say this to people, even skinny people

[@Aliens1337]

@@saiyanroyalty229 That line was straight up ruthless. He said it to an obese kid who had been bullied his whole life and severely depressed. His only escape was D&D where he can be a better version of himself and escape reality. Then Pierce completely shattered it. Chevy had such a chilling presence in that episode. Downright evil. Such a shame he dislike the show's writing.

[@theolay]

Fortunately for everyone they solved racism by taking this episode off Netflix.

[@TokyoBlue587]

theolay All they accomplished is calling more attention to this episode and making more people seek it out on other streaming services.

[@MandiezLane]

Especially because the leave in the episode where pierce does blackface and yelowface with his hand puppets. Then proceeds to put on the most offensive puppet show. Netflix done fucked up.

[@Raizle777]

Bullshit, now I’m on the episode where they play it the second time, and I’m like wtf when did they play it THE FIRST TIME 🤨, than I come to find they removed it, this sucks.

[@theolay]

@@Raizle777 That sucks man, its genuinely one of their best episodes. All about helping people who are struggling and stopping bullying. But we can't have that positive message because someone looked inappropriate.

[@megetu2942]

Racism is NO MORE

[@oldcdog91]

Chang, without a trace of irony, saying "I'm an elf, not a nerd", always cracks me up.

[@kornobi_3165]

Joel has talked about how amazing Chevy’s performance was in this episode. I completely agree.

[@tylermsc]

Kornobi Starcatcher I 100% agree too, Dan even admits Chevy was great as pierce, it’s just who he was behind the scenes lol

[@pairot01]

Agree. Too bad it started the trend of his character becoming a straight up evil in the group. Season 1 Pierce was the best, oblivious and impolite while still dropping wisdom from time to time, sometimes unaware

[@Lost_01]

tylermsc what happened behind the scenes?

[@kushv463]

Daniel Kinney He was notoriously difficult to work with during the time of the show

[@kushv463]

Joaquin Pirotto Kinda makes sense though. He kept being kicked off to the side by his friends so he slowly becomes angered. That’s what makes his characterization so relatable because people in a friend group could be affected.

[@dribcc]

This episode has such an important messages. And instead of just editing around the 1 racist joke they pulled the entire episode. This was the best suicide awareness PSA I’ve ever seen

[@GerBarne]

Racist?? He's a dark elf...

[@rebeccalan4831]

@@GerBarne it’s still black face

[@F1nchDuh]

@@rebeccalan4831 but black face is putting on makeup to intentionally make fun of the race. In this instance it isn't blackface

[@GerBarne]

@@rebeccalan4831 No it isn't. Are coal miners or chimney sweeps doing black face at work? No. Context matters. The context of Chang having his face painted black was to role play as a dark elf, not a black person.

[@kilgoreplumbus1360]

@@rebeccalan4831 It is not blackface, it was Drow face. Was Chang performing a Minstrel act? No, he was playing D&D.

[@Jewlzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

“And as they described themselves walking, so did Abed confirm they walked “. This is such a simple sentence but it has always made me laugh so hard

[@Ertz01]

With Neil intently whispering "I walk with them" being the cherry on top

[@MichaelHattem]

“I walk with them.”

[@IfIHadMyTimeAgain]

I play d&d and this is so accurate

[@janNowa]

That's not even an exaggeration, we've had entire DnD sessions describing walking before. We call them road trip sessions and the DM made a custom board of different activities we could do while walking for us to put our minifigures on, like foraging or sitting in the cart reading.

[@IfIHadMyTimeAgain]

Milla Saunders your dm sounds awesome

[@senorPachuChay]

Is "Dan Harmon's Story Circle" just the Greendale school flag?

[@tylermsc]

Hahahahahaha holy shit

[@hobokenb0b]

oh my god how I not see it! he's been trolling us the whole time!

[@gabejones8112]

A A A A A A H

[@wonderpotter2674]

A Casual on Survival That’s exactly what I thought when I saw it! Haha

[@AllPwrflSteve]

There's a time and a place for subtlety

[@justinjwood]

After watching this episode recently, you can actually edit out Chang pretty easily. I'm surprised Netflix didn't just do that. I'd rather have a Changless episode than none at all.

[@mendeleyev1790]

maybe is part of the contract like they cant have the episode if they edit it

[@m_milos]

Netflix didn't/doesn't care about racism, they just heard people talking about this episode, so they silently removed it.

[@phoebedarker]

They didn't wanna waste time Chang-ing it

[@sevenprovinces]

I for one do not want to have Changnesia imposed on me by misguided political correctness.

[@margot7011]

Where did you watch the episode?

[@fireflyeclipse]

I started caring about Neil when the teacher called on him as Fat Neil. It broke my heart

[@pairot01]

It's his expression, right?

[@nika8620]

My “overweight” friend was going through a hard time. I showed him this episode to try to cheer him up and he shed a tear during the intro when the students were singing “Hey fatty fatty” to Neil. I felt bad but I wanted him to watch it because it was a great episode.

[@Tai112336]

Even without any audio, every time that guy was onscreen my heart broke. Like Tyler said, Charley Koontz is SO good at being vulnerable (and the Russos are particularly good at directing vulnerability)

[@georgesikorski9891]

Honestly, this show's ability to be funny but also well written and evoke proper emotion amazes me. So many comedies and especially sitcoms just try to be funny with no regard for story or character. It's so refreshing

[@stefankupych6978]

@@pairot01 it comes out during this episode that Jeff's the guy who originated the nickname which is why he feels so guilty and responsible for Neil's well-being.

[@ethanbaker3844]

Troy taking notes and saying “how long?” is one of my favorite jokes in the entire show

[@ClassifiedRanTom]

What joke? I'm still waiting for the answer...

[@ultrabigfella]

@@ClassifiedRanTom when Annie is describing how she is wooing the elf maiden, Troy is taking notes and asking questions.

[@nicerock5506]

No Sanctuary they were telling a joke

[@ultrabigfella]

@@nicerock5506 aah, my bad.

[@commandercaptain4664]

"Asking for an Abed..."

[@thiagosilva_1984]

That scene of Chang walking slowly, and disappearing with that Eagle sound in the background was fantastic, I always look forward to that scene

[@jackalope2302]

I laughed so much at that I took 6d8 psychic damage. I thought I was gonna slowly fade away to fake Enya too.

[@remyratatata]

The genuine look of surprise on Jeff's face when Britta answers with 'Sex' to his 'What am i not good at?' always gets me.

[@mich-l]

everytime

[@thebrutusmars]

It’s so perfect

[@aino1010]

Y e s !!!!!!

[@linggatsos9042]

Jeff's look was the funniest response I have ever seen. This episode was definitely the funniest.

[@voiceappeal]

„Beg your pardon?“ lol

[@dj2neo]

Welp, not anymore. Since according to Netflix, this episode doesn't exist.

[@richardgurney1844]

Luckily I watched the episode for the first time before it got taken down. It was one of my favourites. What's wrong with the episode?? PC gone crazy

[@JSchroederee]

Wow I lucked out, I’ve been watching for Community for the first time and saw this episode a couple weeks before it was pulled

[@dizzy1255]

I hate that Netflix did this, because my friend had just started watching and he was only a few episodes behind this one when it got removed.

[@xxxdumbwordstupidnumberxxx4844]

@@richardgurney1844 It was due to the blackface (Chang's drow makeup). I understand why they removed it, but I think that they should really just release a new edit of the episode without that. It would be difficult, but not impossible. And honestly, that joke wasn't that funny, so removing it doesn't fundamentally change the episode. Although I should point out that Hulu did this as well, since most people seem to just be pinning it on Netflix.

[@OurHoneymoan]

@@xxxdumbwordstupidnumberxxx4844 but he was a dark elf.....

[@koalasquare2145]

Its a shame that this episode was removed from Netflix for using elfface

[@radagast7200]

Dark Elves Matter... or something. Nobody knows the rules anymore.

[@FrederickTheGrt]

Not sure what this youtube video is talking about. I just watched all of the seasons of Community on Netflix and never saw an episode like that.

[@jaspertheirmajesty9771]

@@FrederickTheGrt they actually did make it! netflix just removed it for being racist despite them discussing it in the episode.

[@MegaDcmp]

@@jaspertheirmajesty9771 that' the joke

[@MegaDcmp]

@@FrederickTheGrt I actually watched Community for the first time on Netflix this year, and I'm glad I did so before they scrubbed this episode

[@redsoxfred]

Why Advanced Dungeons and Dragons WAS the Best Episode of Community

[@ohBoyahandle]

Its finally time to pirate!

[@CRydon200]

@@ohBoyahandle yeah

[@ander.wong1756]

Its still on amazon prime

[@amedeobini7517]

It is still online on Prime Video. Glad it wasn't removed from there too

[@thatkidakanolanplays6432]

Muffl Sand hell yeah

[@mooglare]

aaaand now one of the best episodes of the show has been removed from netflix bc of chang’s “blackface.” he was cosplaying as an ELF and they all acknowledge how problematic it is right away

[@Jack_______oh]

"acknowledge how problematic" lmao okay schizo

[@rogerzhang5993]

Jack the fact you called this completely normal comment a schizo comment points towards you being the schizo here actually

[@mooglare]

Jack did you not watch the part where shirley asked “are gonna acknowledge the hate crime that just occurred?”

[@ciciandgoobie2188]

I’m black and was 0% offended this cancel culture is some bullshit and in its self is problematic

[@gracegargoyle]

King Cozy offensive doesn’t necessarily mean it has to hurt you personally, you can still notice that other people affected WERE offended. “Drow’s” origins offended a lot of people and that’s what Harmon was portraying with Chang’s part and the scene in questions. That the racism in the cosplay and LARPing community has affected real people but people defend with “it’s just cosplay”.. so how far is too far?

[@apex403]

Big bang theory: Penny: "What are you guys doing tonight? It's friday" Leonard: "Playing D&D" *INSERT INSANE LAUGH TRACK* Leonard: "Want to join" *LAUGH TRACK CONTINUES ON FOR 30 SECONDS! THE JOKE IS THEY'RE PLAYING D&D !!! ON A FRIDAY!!!!!! WHAT NERDS!!!!* Community: Let's tackle a very realistic situation regarding self esteem and suicide from depression and exclusion... what should we do? Tackle it head on with D&D to try and find a equalizer to connect to somebody and make them feel important. This is why Community is the ultimately superior show

[@tylermsc]

Amen

[@stevewood694]

One review for BBT took the words right out of my mouth by calling it, "Nerd Blackface". It wasn't a show for nerds, it was a show for people who knew nothing about nerds. Community did nerds right, as did Chuck.

[@PSdu11in]

Bazinga

[@AnonYmous-mc5zx]

Community calls attention to the absurdity of things, but doesn't just rub it in our faces. It just...passively turns them into the main focus of the episode while, through Jeff's character, making it 100% natural, occasionally calling what they're doing "stupid" and unnatural...before diving right back into it.

[@SmartSmears]

This is true, but also jabs at Big Bang Theory have gotten pretty old

[@chappell5945]

Let all accept though that the episodes best moment is the death of senior Chang’s character. The fact that he immediately dies after FINALLY getting accepted into one of the groups activities is funny in itself but when you add the black face, the sudden kick in of the Chinese ballad, the scream of noooooooo, everyone’s reaction in the group, and the walk away... it’s perfection.

[@IfIHadMyTimeAgain]

Joseph Chappell also how he just fades from existence at the end

[@momsspaghetti7152]

Bro facts Ken Jeong carried so much of that show

[@bboyValentis]

Its not a blackface its a "drow" face

[@Elite_Gamer_1337]

the fade away as he left had the whole room laughing here. good times.

[@IDiggPattyMayonnaise]

Dismissing Chang quickly when he should've been accepted was kind of a running gag. The pop and locktoberfest, the vote between him and Dr Rich, cooperative polygraphy, and a couple more.

[@TheTroystreet]

Community is so great you can literally make a video with the title “Why [insert any episode from Community] is the best Community episode ever.

[@tell-talehearts4462]

Well except for: 'Why Intro to Felt Surrogacy is the best Community episode ever'

[@Anarchristian_Beanz]

@@tell-talehearts4462 I'd take "Intro to Felt Surrogacy" over "The Art of Discourse" any day. It's the "Scott's Tots" of Community.

[@92brunod]

@@Anarchristian_Beanz I hope you've come to realize how wrong all of what you said is.

[@andersonelam513]

It’s super easy to forget that nearly this entire episode takes place in one room

[@ufhjfu4326]

hold on it doesnt though lol pierce was in a broom closet for half the episode and jeff kept taking people outside the room to talk in private

[@IDiggPattyMayonnaise]

Not if you watch the show regularly. It's a thing they constantly bring up--bottle episodes. That's how good the writing is.

[@stillatin]

Something else that's good is that after fat Neil was introduced, he wasn't just forgotten he kept coming back in other episodes which was dope too

[@cuac232]

Fat Neil wasn't introducced this episode, though. Duncan called him Fat Neil a few episodes before this in anthropology.

[@katelynoreilly6144]

The only thing I wish was to maybe see more of Neil and Vickys relationship develop in the background

[@MegaDcmp]

I loved the bit in Anthropology class: "Neil is fine." "Not from an actuarial standpoint."

[@alejandrofonseca9084]

Yeah there were so many characters especially with abed that we never saw again that I would have loved to see again. Especially the secret service agent, I understand why she never appeared again but if there were a few nods or references to her and maybe another appearance would be cool

[@riverstyx8126]

And after pierce died, he's Neil x said when he was the best dnd player he'd ever played with, implying that they did end up playing together again after this episode

[@Zarolea]

My favorite was the 7 different timeline episode. You really get insight into each character, their role in the group, and their relationships with each other.

[@noyroza]

I used to think fondly of that episode but on second watch it made me uncomfortable. I did enjoy how they laid it out and made every single detail in it cause a pretty convincing chain reaction, but something about the devastatingly different results made it seem like the group has nothing in common and like they hated each other and were held together by luck. It felt to me like the show shot itself in the foot by implying that, since we knew the characters so well at this point that we as fans could contradict that.

[@DParkerNunya]

Remedial Chaos Theory is a fantastic episode, with some of the best memes to boot, but this one hits a little harder, emotionally

[@elplaceholder]

My favorite is the dystopian one, its so absurd

[@vexed_684]

@@elplaceholder i don't remember. which one was that?

[@sidarthur8706]

it annoys me because besides abed they'd all have to be unable to count past 6 for it to make sense

[@masonbernheim7629]

My favorite episode will always be Remedial Chaos Theory. The way every detail of it is important to how things play out in different timelines and the information learned in one timeline is useful to another, fantastic. Edit: For my turn, I feel sorry for P̶i̶e̶r̶c̶e̶ ̶H̶a̶w̶t̶h̶o̶r̶n̶ Netflix

[@tylermsc]

Very good take that I definitely respect! Damn haha might have to make a vid on that one now

[@maryamyounis896]

Mason Bernheim agreed

[@LethallxVanity]

Remedial chaos theory is without a doubt the best episode of Community, bar none. Maybe one of the best on TV. I will say, though, that it wouldn’t be a great episode to introduce somebody to the show because its brilliance is partially a result of how well we already know the characters and care about the outcomes of their lives. I think it’s a perfect... maybe 4th or 5th episode to show somebody :)

[@thebrutusmars]

One of my favorite episodes, I can’t say it *is* my favorite, but it’s definitely up there is Critical Film Studies, the one with Abed and Joel doing My Dinner with Andre while the entire gang is trying to do a Pulp Fiction birthday party for Abed. It’s maybe less humorous, but it, to me, was a really big and meaningful episode to the series.

[@unknow11321]

same, its my favourite episode too

[@Maazin5]

I attack them using my... Additional Notes 😂 reminds me of Chris Pratt's "Network connectivity issues" from Parks and Rec

[@karikari6549]

Maazin5 or when the dean was on the phone going “can I just say that I loved you in..innnnnnnnnnnn..... IMDB”

[@fedor4655]

Don't let that distract you from the fact that Chris Pratt had CGI muscles

[@brentbullock981]

“leslie i googled your symptoms and it says you might have... network connectivity issues”😂😂😂

[@yungindio]

Also love how similar Troy and Andy can be sometimes.

[@IfIHadMyTimeAgain]

Fun fact: that line was improvised

[@tromboner98]

I just watched community for the first time, and had to find out about this episode after binging the whole series. I feel like I missed out by not seeing it in order. I was also confused in the second dungeons and dragons episode when they talked about playing dungeons and dragons again

[@a-muse6567]

True but there were times the show referenced (and even had "clips" from) events that never actually took place in the storyline, like the time they all went to the wild west town in S2E21 Paradigms of Human Memory

[@quazimushumofo3532]

The "additional notes" line is 100% genius

[@Icarus961]

"It has no effect"

[@kees1117]

I feel like it’s a semi-inside joke for D&D players, whereas most of the other references don’t require actual playing experience to understand.

[@jcarson3721]

Reminds me a lot of "Network Connectivity Issues" from Parks & Rec.

[@marktroup2978]

Definitely a great episode, but picking a “best” episode of Community is not even possible. I could narrow it down to maybe 20 best episodes if you held a (paint)gun to my head.

[@tylermsc]

Mark Troup I agree 100% this is more of taking a look at the argument for why this is the best episode, I don’t think I could actually pick one either!

[@stankyleg7094]

My personal favorite is a fist full of paintballs

[@andrewnibbi]

Mixology certification has always been one of my favorites because of how much Troy matures in the span of that one episode, but it really is impossible to pick an absolute favorite.

[@itskiyawhitaker9222]

I'd have to say Remedial Chaos Theory tops it for me

[@JulianTimMusic]

Mark Troup some of my favs are definitely: -The claymation Christmas episode -The paintball episodes -D&D episode -The hidden trampoline episode -The timeline episode with the dice roll -Halloween zombie episode -the purple pen episode -the chicken maffia episode -the episode where pierce's will is read and they all get sperm

[@MahkyVmedia1]

The greatest compliment is what Neal says to Pierce at the end. "That was the best game of my life" A friend who's able to play a good bad guy is priceless. I've played some epic games of D&D and the best ones are always when you have someone new come into the game and they try and mess with everyone cuz they don't really know what's going on.

[@zackspiker_]

It has Disco and Dragons vibes throughout.

[@kuma2448]

I accidentally got into Community when I clicked on the " Advanced Dungeons and Dragons" episode thinking it was just a RPG show.

[@saiyanroyalty229]

I think Dan Harmon does a show called Harmonquest that does this exact thing

[@kayrupe125]

Definitely watch Harmonquest, then.

[@waynebairstow3906]

Does it make anyone else laugh that even Community fans call Neil "Fat Neil"? Like, there's only one Neil. You can actually just call him Neil.

[@tylermsc]

Well technically there is also bald Neil :)

[@fakename2956]

tylermsc there was other “Skinny” “not that skinny” “black” Neil but we never see him

[@poindexterflex3528]

Not from an actuarial standpoint.

[@ives6622]

@@fakename2956 "Yeah but I don't see the world through that lense"

[@alexricky87]

If you rewatch the first season you see when Jeff dubbs him Fat Neil which is a long setup which pays off in spades.

[@maddybordner8122]

I watched this video a couple of days ago, and it had its intended effect, and I watched the show in it’s entirety. And honestly man I’m in tears and I just wanted to come back to this video and thank you for making this video bc it really did help me find my favorite show.

[@tylermsc]

Wow thank you so much for sharing this!!!! Damn now I’m in tears haha this comment made me so happy

[@Karragh]

Fat Neil DID appear before this episode, though obviously as an extremely minor character, but he's in all of season 2 as a fellow student in Anthro.

[@riffhammeron]

Annie with the elf-maiden is the funniest thing ever on any show. Ever.

[@lowlypieceofdata7542]

And abed’s sigh right after was hilarious

[@MonkeH_]

"For how long?" -troy

[@babypluto3679]

She’s a bit younger we try to not sexualize her

[@MonkeH_]

@@babypluto3679 "try not to"

[@dbinfl]

Absolulely agree. My wife and I had to replay that scene right then. Didn't even wait to the end of the episode.

[@kingblork]

Worst part of it is that they explain the black face joke with Shirley but Netflix is still stupid enought to cancel it :/

[@yasmimsilvarodrigues2154]

exactly. the joke wasn't at black people's expense, but at chang's stupidity for not realizing it was blackface. a joke about racism isn't necessarily a racist joke, but i guess netflix doesn't care about an entire episode because of ONE joke that wouldn't work so well today.

[@m_milos]

I'm not gonna comment on whether I think it's a good joke or not, but just because a joke is explained, doesn't mean it's ok. If someone makes a joke which includes a million different slurs and someone else says "Oh, you're so stupid, this is an example of someone stupid, dear viewer, and someone whom you should not be like, and who is in the wrong regarding this joke that was said a couple moments ago", it doesn't excuse the slurs. Impact > intent. Again, I'm not talking about a specific joke, just generally.

[@Samson16436]

@@m_milos agreed. Imo, if a group feels offended, listen to them. Now idk much about the discourse regarding this specific incident, how it played out, what was said and by whom etc but if they're offended then that's that and it should be respected. I love this episode, sucks for me that it's not on netflix anymore. But my feelings about that are not exactly above what the offended group might feel. It shouldn't be that hard to recognise and put others' feelings over your own right? It's just a show..

[@connorcampbell-bisson8721]

Bit late, but I'm pretty sure the point of the joke was basically: Group is uncomfortable with Chang's blackface, Chang explains himself (with the "nerd" rebuttal as to why he's still wearing normal clothes over it), Group realizes Chang isn't being a racist, he's being an idiot, and they all move on because the stupidity isn't worth commenting on further.

[@samus88]

@@yasmimsilvarodrigues2154 It is NOT blackface. Black people could literally not fucking exist and Chang would still paint himself PITCH FUCKIN BLACK, a color not a single fucking human being actually has on their skin, because the fictional species is "dark elf". The joke is that Shirley, a black woman, makes EVERYTHING about race, and thus thinks Chang is doing "blackface", just as you are. Chang is just cosplaying, and painting your skin a non-normal color is literally key in cospalying, just like any fucking She-Hulk cosplayer has to paint herself green, or Starfire cosplayers orange. Painting your skin =/= racist.

[@sick4652]

This was quite a good episode, but pillows and blankets will be my all time favorite. The Changlorious Bastards goddamnit 😂

[@pairot01]

"The All Tomato" was such a great joke, it took me by surprise and had me crying my eyes out in laughter

[@objectivelyawesome]

I agree. The writing was so sharp, and who the hell satirizes Ken Burns documentaries? That’s why Community is the best comedy ever. They never go for the low hanging fruit. Leonard likes this post.

[@IfIHadMyTimeAgain]

What about the pillow man?

[@SchulzEricT]

As I've seen a few times in other comments, it's not even possible to narrow it down to one. Perhaps a top-10 or so. Pillows and Blankets is def in there. The Law and Order parody definitely is too (I'd choose that one over any other if you were trying to introduce somebody to Community, not this one, as good as it is). This D&D one. The Meow Meow Beans episode. At least one paintball. The one where they are in the video game. That's probably my top tier.

[@pauld7777]

I agree with you that the pilot doesn’t represent the show very well. When I first heard about how great it was I watched the pilot and wasn’t impressed so I decided not to watch until like 2 weeks later and I realized it’s greatness

[@Rougarou99]

Some of the best shows heavily diverge from their pilots. The Office and Parks and Rec both had so-so first seasons.

[@MastalinkZ]

Speaking of "bad" pilots: Rick and Morty has one of the worst pilots I've ever seen and I really like the rest of the show. Glad I tried to continue watching it a few weeks later.

[@cqrql]

to me the only comedy show with a nearly perfect pilot is arrested development

[@cqrql]

@@MastalinkZ bojack horseman's pilot feels like an entire different show

[@FreaktifulWhispers]

You watch the pilot and think "oh right, another college comedy with the cool guys and the bad jokes", and you keep watching with low expectations because "it's just another college comedy"... and then paintball happens.

[@janmelantu7490]

“I attack them with my…additional notes” Kills me every time

[@luis-billperez3179]

I can’t believe Netflix just pulled this episode

[@Paulafan5]

I can. Idiots run the entertainment industry. Next they'll pull movies about miners who have soot on their faces.

[@rondog835]

J B I'm in the same boat, where did you watch the episode tho?

[@selmasabinsky3976]

@@rondog835 I know im a little late, but its on prime video

[@jorgeaguilar8696]

Hulu pulled it too

[@codyhanson1344]

Why is it being pulled? Is it because if black face or something?

[@calamaria9221]

I can't believe we would have never gotten this episode if it was turned in on time.

[@farinal]

This is the same studio that thought nobody was watching Community due to low TV ratings so they cancelled it only to find out after that it was one of the most watched shows online.

[@DPMusicStudio]

Now.... imagine how many other great episodes were turned down by the executives. Because I'm sure that wasn't the only time the net execs acted like a bunch of nobs.

[@loggior.speedweed4345]

and now we don't have it

[@idkidc7513]

My favorite thing about the community "community" is how everyone has a full essay of why "x" or "y" episode is their favorite. Mostly because it reflects how well made this series was made (with the exception of the 4th season)

[@kazookie7036]

The 4th season isn't that bad either, just not as aggressively awesome

[@brunoemf90]

I wish to hear the African-American fans of Community’s reaction to the episode being taken down by Netflix because of Chang’s “blackface”. It is clearly addressed in the episode, even pointed out by Shirley and explained immediately afterwards. I’m not gonna go out of my way and say it can’t be offensive to anyone, but IMO it was a great moment of the episode and it had the Community brand of humor, without having the intention to offend. It’s very unfortunate that the episode has been pulled.

[@LeoSRL300]

I bet most black people are not offended by it. It's always the people with "white guilt" that assume everything is racist towards black people.

[@commandercaptain4664]

@@LeoSRL300 Indeed. It's a social overcorrection to disguise the fact that reparations aren't a thing to them.

[@loggior.speedweed4345]

@@LeoSRL300 funny you say that, because it's true. I've seen it happen. In episode 6 of Hellsing Ultimate Abridged, there is a joke character called Jeb from North Carolina who joins the vatigan in a catholic crusade of London. He makes an N-word joke in it and I was watching someone, who was white, react to it. He said exactly what you'd think when that line was uttered, and boy did I chew his stupid privileged ass out in the comment section.

[@tedros6917]

@@LeoSRL300 am black, can confirm. (not to say that i'm representative of all black ppl tho). this is my second favourite episode (next to remedial chaos theory) and i was seriously peeved when they took it down. i dont know anyone who really thought it needed to be removed

[@Lav6019]

As a black guy who jumped on the community train after the episode was taken down didn't even "notice" it. When I noticed I didn't see the episode, I initially assumed the suicide theme was too much (a poor assumption considering) . The comments are what pointed out black face to me.

[@josieparker4710]

I actually really like Britta’s character. The way she perceives the world is interesting

[@Oniphius1]

"You will never understand"

[@misanthropicservitorofmars2116]

It’s a common college student Marxist mindset. Idk if that’s interesting, it’s everywhere these days.

[@MyDestinyDear]

I think she has good intentions underneath it all

[@jenniferstevens9992]

I love her so much

[@TheImapotato]

@@misanthropicservitorofmars2116 Yep, but she is one of the good ones, she only votes on The Voice

[@MrM-u3h]

Netflix and Hulu's idiocy is proof physical media is still relevant.

[@chrissandoval7675]

owed the dvds and rebought when they came out on blu ray. great extras, great commentary and you didn't have deal with publicity seeking nonsense. much love to my fellow human beings. as a great man once said, "pop, pop."

[@giovanna5380]

wait what did hulu do?

[@liliesaregoodfortheliver2954]

@@giovanna5380 Hulu, like Netflix, took this episode off their platforms, so it can no longer be seen.

[@afillm]

You can pirate it my man.

[@Merlincat007]

It's on Amazon Prime, if that's any help

[@thedreamisstilldead]

I don't know if it's my favourite episode, but you do a good job of showing something that is common in the run of this show: the ways in which writing, directing, costuming, and acting are all elevated by each other. That is, some of the jokes are funny on paper. Some of the jokes work because of choices made by the director. Some of the jokes are made by their delivery (Annie's improv lovemaking probably the most notable). As you note, the sound design of this episode contributes to its impact. Unlike pedestrian sitcoms that follow a predictable formula of setup-joke-punchline, Community often demonstrates there is humor to be found in different qualities of the production.

[@tylermsc]

Thank you for the thoughtful comment! I definitely agree they had a great team behind the show

[@slowtowners7178]

Netflix removed this episode but didn’t remove the white abed or Pierce’s blackface handpuppets

[@yahellevy]

Don't give them ideas

[@dll7658]

Because whites don't matter right?

[@oneringtorulethemagicarp7199]

there isnt a racist history of black people wearing white face or hand puppets being black. the episode shouldn't have been removed but there are distinct historical situations that determine why blackface is now regarded as inherently racist

[@DrLipkin]

@@oneringtorulethemagicarp7199 Except that the hand puppets were deliberately and explicitly racist. But that was the joke.

[@Elimbi1]

@@oneringtorulethemagicarp7199 if blackface was inherently racist that would mean that a black person doing blackface would be a black person being racist against black people. Are you sure you know what inherent means?

[@khandarwilliam5439]

I actually knew Russo brothers from Community first It was really surprising to watch Winter Soldier and it was great "These guys directed Community??"

[@wahuigi6843]

I first felt bad for fat neil during anthropology when John Oliver was roasting him.

[@vond5829]

Netflix be like: "Advanced Dungeons and Dragons? You go drow so sunovabiach!" "Cuties? Aww, who's my favourite pole dancers"

[@scottymacdewder5229]

Personally, I nominate "Remedial chaos theory"

[@tylermsc]

I’m working on a video about that episode lol

[@scottymacdewder5229]

@@tylermsc nice! I'll keep an eye out

[@starseed96]

Meow Meow Beenz is also great

[@wjgranger5]

I described to my wife that I love this episode because it is so over-the-top yet down-to-earth at the same time.

[@tylermsc]

Wow I love that!

[@jbyungwoo]

Exactly! This also goes to all of the parody/homage episodes with wacky premises. Love how the show always goes all the way and has a big heart at the same time.

[@glavintimothy]

A while ago (2 years ago) This episode was only ~legally~ available on Amazon prime for anyone wondering where they might be able to find it

[@chrisb3892]

Important message about mental health and caring for your fellow humans. Netflix: "Yeah, but one character cosplays as a dark elf, soooooooo BANNED!"

[@camthedestroyer1490]

Everyone: Advanced Dungeons and Dragons is my favorite episode! Netflix: WELL TOO BAD! SAY GOODBYE!

[@davidranney8723]

The second AD&D episode in season 5 is also great. Professor Hickey interrogating the trolls absolutely floored me.

[@DJ-ob8sk]

What seals it for me is Annie being in the scene but saying nothing. Her smirk and smile says more than any dialogue could.

[@lauranewkirk3870]

It's a bottle episode, mostly! One of my favorites, one of many!

[@tylermsc]

i somehow cut out a part where I mention that there are shots of pierce in a closet and didn’t realize until after I uploaded to KZbin haha but agreed so many good episodes to choose from

[@thatssofetch3481]

It’s great how Netflix has completely revived interest in community.

[@jwill7998]

...and they removed this epidsode

[@thatssofetch3481]

J Will Yeah I just found out about that. So dumb. Same as the episodes of IASIP they removed. It’s so obviously mocking blackface, and didn’t even garner any negative opinions.

[@Kawabong]

Interest in Community never died

[@figlermaert]

A 10 minute video about a 22 minute show and I’m still invested . Nice job

[@matinmustafa1]

“How do you make a tabletop compelling?” *Laughs in critical role

[@tylermsc]

You ever watch Harmon quest? If you like critical role you’ll love it

[@calebreed6248]

Effin A, matin mustafa

[@TheDelinear]

I think (given that clip was apparently from 2019 and Harmon obviously knows TTRPG can be compelling) the inference in what he's saying is "how do you make tabletop compelling (in 2011 to a mostly traditional TV audience)?"

[@CheredaReneeShaw]

Exactly

[@Loial731]

You guys may also be interested in Dimension 20 by college humor check it out

[@yuhyuh7603]

*Neil. Unless the point of still calling him "Fat Neil" is that it no longer bothers or defines him.

[@donovanlight6278]

I prefer real Neil with pipes of steel

[@kazookie7036]

The risqué blackface joke isn't even as bad as the molestation jokes etc, Netflix took an important part of the show off to be ahead of cancel culture

[@mari_3kyu]

If they remove this they have to take the whole show down 😭 Remove the Dean, remove every jew joke, remove the Trampoline episode ending

[@DrZaius3141]

It's an indication of today's time. Whenever someone does something racist or otherwise horrible and gets called out for it, they will IMMEDIATELY point at something completely different and say "what about that?". Whataboutism didn't start with Trump, but he certainly took it an ran with it. How is that important? Even with the "blackface" of AD&D being firmly rooted in a context that doesn't make it offensive, there are some Nazis who are just waiting to create a horribly racist show and when someone criticizes them for the blackface they use they could have just gone: "Community did it too!"

[@brandongalvan6603]

I purchased this episode on KZbin just for the sole purpose of watching it whenever I feel like it.

[@rishigupta8467]

It’s on Netflix now lol. It’d be much better to just get that

[@alexbeltran6668]

Its been on hulu for years 🤨

[@psychoticsnowflake7239]

Rishi Gupta Alex Beltran Well now buying it is the only place you CAN get it. So Brandon isn’t so crazy after all.

[@kateweber2885]

pouring one out for this today

[@justJT44]

The most moving thing in this episode is that Chang actually died for the group!

[@vichkovski]

Funniest moment for me is the defeated "haa zaa" troy says , the second time

[@dw1419]

Just FYI it's spelled "huzzah" and it's an exclamation that is basically an archaic version of "hurrah" and "hooray" #themoreyouknow

[@itsmry04]

Troy was always my favorite character and that one line always makes me laugh

[@arlyquino]

Yes!!! I just added that up above as well. I've laughed all 27 times I've seen it.

[@fedor4655]

@@dw1419 was that an explainabrag

[@dw1419]

@@fedor4655 I feel complisulted by your question.

[@BertleMcGertle]

Netflix just pulled this episode. I'm going to pull my subscription.

[@SpazzerMcFly]

I’ve seen this video a few times, but I come back to it because this episode is also my favorite in all of community. Possibly in all of sitcom in general. Literally for my wedding, all of the groomsmen stayed at my house for the weekend and we watched this episode over and over. Every time someone would come over that hadn’t seen it, we would instantly put it on again. Truly one of the best times of my life

[@declup]

5:58 "... gave more depth to Annie's character" -- I have a different take. It seems to me that the writers often incorporated Alison Brie the _actor_ into the storylines. Brie has boundary-less levity as well as off-the-charts, um, charisma, and I think the writers, as their fondness of the actor grew, felt compelled to share Brie's joie de vivre with all of Community's viewers. Alison Brie becomes at times a kind of eighth member of the study group, and this goes unnoticed because Brie's personality is so unusually open-minded and gleeful that it fits in a comedic context.

[@kierandudson44]

Can’t believe they removed this episode, I hate this world sometimes

[@ru9275]

That's the problem with political correctness :/

[@Loz20365]

@@ru9275 no not really. This is why people should pirate content they like. Companies will always act in unpredictable ways

[@rylaicrestfall2500]

@@ru9275 True. These snowflakes are ruining everything. We always have to comply with their emotional hangups that everything is now totally about them.

[@veespa_]

My favorite episode is S02E09 - Conspiracy Theories & Interior Design, by far. “Would that this desk were a time desk...” (for a moment of regret) & “ex-cheddar-uh!” (et cetera) are two quotes I use all of the time.

[@Anarchristian_Beanz]

"Just talk to your dad, Craig" "Would that this hoodie were a time hoodie"

[@bigbird6978]

it’s so good

[@oliviah.5846]

WOULD THAT THIS DESK WERE A TIME DESK

[@veespa_]

@@oliviah.5846 seeing this quote always makes me smile! although, that smile does come from the lips of a ghost in the shadow of a unicorn’s dream…

[@Rpartin93]

I just realized Harmon’s story circle looks like the Greendale flag.

[@alyseharrell1344]

Annie’s lips were easy to read during the sex scene and I had to be my favorite part of the episode.

[@alonedownthere47]

"i cup her right breast, then her left"

[@alonedownthere47]

"i pull out my HUUGE member"

[@commandercaptain4664]

I tried to read Annie's lips only to realize that I was lovingly focused on Annie's lips. I LOOKED AT THE TRAP, RAY.

[@lolaverse01]

What did she say?

[@TheAyeAye1]

Thank you for brining this show to my attention. Just watched for the first time, and it was so excellent.

[@tylermsc]

Thank you for letting me know I love comments like this!!!!

[@whatahoot1185]

Came here to pay respects

[@it-s-a-mystery]

I"m just here to be upset about the loss of this episode. I now understand why owning sometimes > streaming

[@tiagghho]

just torrent it man

[@jaredc5791]

You could take out the word "sometimes." Physical media is always better to own it.

[@it-s-a-mystery]

@@jaredc5791 big disagree. Physical media takes up physical space, and is worse for the environment. I dont have infinite room. At the end of the day, I just torrented Advanced D&D. But it's a bad precedent. I'm probably going to start digitally storing more things that I don't want to risk something like this happening to

[@vfxstar7019]

For people that are watching on Netflix, the episode is still on amazon prime. I discovered this episode excited because of this video. I was done watching everything from Community until I saw I started watching this video at some point in my history box, so thank you, this episode was really great indeed!

[@danielruiz8259]

And Netflix just pulled out the episode for the "Blackface" scene smh

[@Anotherdiego7484]

Daniel Ruiz You could say that Netflix Britta'd it??

[@ashutoshmohapatra7320]

This episode was my introduction to Community a couple of years ago. KZbin had randomly recommended me a clip from this episode which got me interested enough to check out the whole show. Community is one of my all time favorite shows and this episode still remains my favorite episode of the whole show.

[@julcaos]

"You are the AT&T of people!" is a Class A insult... I forgot the name of this episode, and now I'll watch it again. Great stuff man.

[@DJ-vg1pr]

Fun Fact: Community never actually went over budget

[@tylermsc]

I just saw that in the darkest timeline podcast lmao

[@C.Dat.guyoverthere]

Using Roxanne in Remedial Chaos Theory though came with a heavy price.

[@libbybollinger5901]

Even with ABBA in the season 2 Halloween episode? I heard Harmon spent, like, $30,000 on it.

[@tauren00]

Its been removed from Netflix because of Chang's "blackface", that's fucking ridiculous

[@wizzolo]

one of the best community episodes, and the best depiction of a D&D session in any series ever.

[@ray53208]

"Real Neil with Pipes of Steel"

[@_yaboi_O1]

This episode (S2 E14) was takin off Netflix for Changs “blackface”

[@loggior.speedweed4345]

it's not really blackface

[@2DPossum]

What's amazing is I saw this episode only one time back when it came out, and for some reason remember it with special effects and actual costumes. They did a great job

[@TheVojvoda]

Bruh they took this down due to blackface but.. They literally call it racist like a million times.

[@alia1549]

I love how in the Aerodynamics of Gender episode (S2E7) when the girls teach Abed how to be a bitch, there’s a preview of the next episode. Whenever he’s calculating info, kinda like a robot? There’s extra notes on the side of the screen that say something like “current cycle: Britta/Annie/Shirley.” I thought that was a bit weird, but imagine my surprise when the very next episode discussed how Abed was tracking their cycles!! I loved it.

[@fullmetalheel]

"I don't like being excluded, Jeff! Do you?" "YES!" I can relate to this mentality so well

[@radalox]

Who's here after its been removed from Netflix?

[@lukeyoung5709]

Who’s here after Netflix removed the episodes?

[@lukecarter9005]

BANNED TOO HOT FOR TV BECAUSE COSPLAY AS A DROW oooohhhhhhh

[@MrNobbless]

Hulu too

[@georgecant-stand-yeh5451]

It’s stupid

[@jeanantonpadua4716]

Wait? They removed that. Lucky me, I watched that episode before it gets removed hahahaha.

[@ianmccreary331]

Just found out trying to rewatch it

[@SilentMovies.]

I'm still upset this episode was removed from streaming services. The melodrama tied perfectly with the silent desperation of an outsider trying to find his place. This was a bottle episode with higher stakes than a missing pen.

[@MultiGile2]

I love Britta in this episode 🤣

[@thejawgz6719]

She’s like the AT&T of people.

[@fenharel3991]

Guys we gotta do something about these gnomes!

[@archuro1018]

I just realized that the story circle looks like greendales flag

[@tiagghho]

this explains why rick morty is shit