When I wrote about Fred Durst’s planned CBS sitcom this morning, I segued into talking about last night’s brilliant episode of “Community” (S3E04, “Remedial Chaos Theory”), which I called “one of the best episodes of comedic television I’ve ever seen.” But the thing is, it’s EVEN BETTER than I realized.
The episode presented seven different timelines for a scene at a party — one reality for each character who went downstairs to get the pizza. The show had a happy ending with the seventh reality, but that may not be the reality the show’s writers are using. When Do I Laugh picked up on some telling clues:
- The episode begins with a brief argument about whether Troy and Abed live in apartment 303 or 304. This episode was season three, episode four. What this hints at is that this episode takes place before the last one.
- In every timeline except Jeff’s (supposedly the real one), Pierce mentions that he had sex with Eartha Kitt in an airplane bathroom. He tells Omar in 303 that the members of the study group are the only ones he’s told about that event.
- Abed’s timeline is the only one in which Shirley finds out that Britta smokes pot. In 303, when Britta burns the list, Shirley says, “oh no! She’s got her marijuana lighter!”
- In Abed’s timeline, he finds a nickel. At the beginning of 303, he gives Pierce a coin to pay for the water fountain.
- This isn’t a proof, but from a storytelling perspective, Jeff and Annie kissing is the biggest event in any timeline (other than Pierce dying). Their relationship in 303 is alternately very friendly and extremely strained, which makes sense in a post-kitchen-make-out timeline.
All of this has been layered into a sitcom that has 22 minutes of airtime each week. Dan Harmon and his writing staff create the deepest f**cking comedy on TV.
UPDATE: In response to this theory, Harmon tweeted, “Sorry, no. I wouldn’t intentionally confuse viewers that much” and later added this blog post clarifying what happened.
![[avatar]](http://p.uproxxcdn.com/photo/226/thumb)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/both-the-great-gatsby-movies-combined-nbcs-she-ra-other-mashups-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/the-office-series-finale-recap-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/20-the-office-series-finale-gifs-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2013/05/rainn-wilson-tears-up-in-this-farewell-from-the-cast-of-the-office-150x150.jpg)
So you’re saying I should go back and actually watch this show?
In the immortal words of troy: this is is wrinkling my brain
My god, it was truly brilliant. Just fantastic writing all around. I never picked up on the 303/304 trick at the beginning
Those crafty jackrabbits.
According to writer Megan Ganz, Gillian Jacobs came up with the 303/304 bit. [twitter.com]
It’s like if the guys who wrote Lost were funny and actually knew what they were doing!
They drew me in with Alison Brie, but they get me to stay with episodes like last night’s. That was one of the best episodes on network tv I have seen in years.
Curiouser and curiouser. Earlier I read on twitter (from nbccommunity): @GillianJacobs wrote the “Is it 303? I thought it was 304″ gag in tonight’s episode.
I had no idea that even was a gag. Lately I’ve been watching the show more out of obligation than enthusiasm but last night’s episode was a lightning bolt of a reminder of just how brilliant it can be. Troy’s candy cigarette sight gag got the biggest laugh from me.
I’m with you, gecko. Holy shit-balls, that is Breaking Bad-level story-crafting right there….
I watch the show because it’s great fun, but lately I’m really enjoying how Britta is being portrayed. I know everyone loves Annie, she’s awesome, but Gillian Jacobs deserves some props too.
The start of this season has been pretty weak, but last night blew my mind.
Any comedy that got me to read up on quantum mechanics deserves more credit than it is getting. Brain wrinkled indeed.
But they all seem to be getting along well at the beginning of 303, which wouldn’t really make sense after the events of Abed’s timeline. Community is the only sitcom I feel the need to rewatch. Just rewatched Abed’s timeline and I’m rewatching 303 now.
Sorry to double comment but Shirley and Britta also team up for lab in the next episode which also wouldn’t make sense considering how things were left off in Abed’s timeline.
I think there’s room in our hearts for Annie and Britta.
Between her pizza dance and her insistence on singing “Roxanne” at the top of her lungs, Britta kind of stole the show last night.
Until Evil Troy and Abed, of course. More Evil Troy and Abed!
Smegga, thanks for saying you thought the first two episodes were weak, too. For the two weeks leading up to last night’s episode I was convinced that part of me had died.
The Troy candy cigarette sight gag was my favourite, and Britta’s really high pizza dance is a close second.
Apparently the pizza dance was Gillian Jacobs’ creation as well, she tweeted “All it said in the script was “Britta does a silly dance.” So…I’m totally responsible for the ‘Me so hungee dance.’”
I can’t wait for the episode when Evil Troy and Evil Abed invade Community Prime. You know this will happen. You know it in your hearts.
As clever as all this may be I’d be kind of disappointed if, in future episodes, Annie hasn’t moved in with Abed and Troy as per Jeff’s timeline. It would be even better if she moves in with Evil goatee sporting Abed and Troy.
Not sure if it matters but there was also discussion of alternative worlds in the Model UN episode…someone has been reading David Deutch’s “The Fabric of Reality”
I feel like the writers of this show do shit like this just to say they did it and to prove how “brilliant” they are. Don’t get me wrong, shit like this is cool and this is far and away my favorite show currently on TV. It just sort of comes across as pretentious and unnecessary to me at times (especially after reading the Dan Harmon interview that was posted here a few months ago).
Just stick to making the characters/dialogue funny and don’t lose yourself in this “we are more than just sitcom” angle they are perpetually stuck in.
I really hope the next paintball war is between the evil study group and the good study group, kind of like a Fringe crossover
@Helen Hunt – I just thought that the show had been so good consistently, that when it came back it just seemed a little off. I watch the show to laugh, but I felt the first three episodes of this season showed how much the group were behaving like jackasses.
I’m invested in these guys, showing us their flaws is fine, but when it makes me feel uncomfortable for rooting for the group, it’s less enjoyable.
dude…
[inception.davepedu.com]
@smegga community since the middle of last season had those chunks where it more felt like dan Harmon showing off he can do serious stuff as well as comedy.
@ Helen Hunt and her magical cunt
You really need an avatar, or, I really need you to get an avatar.
@kwan The episode wasn’t as entertaining as some for me, but from a drama/writing point it was pretty brilliant.
Some additional insight from Harmon:
“It aired out of order because it was a bitch to edit. I’m sorry it’s not more complicated than that, but I’m sure glad the explanation isn’t more sinister.”
[is.gd]
I thought it was an ambitious idea, but the episode just didn’t deliver the laughs. I love the show, it’s originality and the characters, but I didn’t think this episode was very funny.
Best line of the show was Chevy Chase yelling “Feel the terror of the Norwegian troll!!” It’s brief but that shit cracked me the fuck up.
Pics of the white board from the writer’s room as they were figuring out the episode
[danharmon.tumblr.com]
Just caught up on my hulu queue last night. I am a huge Joel/Jeff fan, but I liked how they explored that he can be a killjoy and that he needs to be removed sometimes to let the group really have a moment. I mean, you can’t have a real friendship with someone until you’ve sung at the top of your lungs together. Fact.
@PhxMST3KGirl Agreed. On another note, is it just me, or is the group’s dynamic resemble an inbred family at times? #TheFrakIsWrongWithMyBrain
It was pretty awesome but it’s still the Kubrick episode that blew me away. That was some seriously nerdy tv making and didn’t detract from the show overall.