“Remedial Chaos Theory” – still the high water mark of the series for me and many others – presented a series of alternate timelines that diverged from one seemingly minuscule moment. Though the potential reality of alternate timelines may appeal to theoretical physicists, the argument has been made that the alternate timelines actually all only took place in Abed’s head. At least as far back as “Debate 109” (Season 1, Episode 9), Abed has displayed such a deep understanding of the group as to practically be able to predict the future. So it is a little odd that the timeline that has been revisited on occasion – the one in which Troy got the pizza, i.e., “the darkest timeline” – has become so decidedly unrealistic. And each time it has been revisited – the tag of “RCT,” the Season 3 finale, the tag of “Intro to Knots” – it has been clear that it was in Abed’s head. As demonstrated in “Virtual Systems Analysis,” Abed has become so close to his friends and therefore too emotionally invested to be able to always have the wherewithal to make the accurate predictions he has made before.
But the return of the darkest timeline in “Advanced Introduction to Finality” is not a look into the head of Abed Nadir, but that of Jeff Winger, he who has constantly repeated, “Abed, there are no other timelines.” Jeff is finally set to graduate, he’s ready to get back to his old life, and his friends are supportive of him – but something doesn’t feel right. The “It Was All Just a Dream” trope is one that should be used with great care, as it can come off as little more than a “get out of a jail free” card. The just a dream reveal in this episode gets away with that by making it immediately clear that the darkest timeline plot is a dream, or, more specifically, a daydream (and therefore Jeff has more control over how the fantasy goes than he would if he were asleep). Jeff indicates as much when he declares, “I just need to give Abed a chance” – for his own sake, he needs to examine his role within the group by considering an alternate timeline, the way Abed does so so readily. Jeff has a nagging fear that going back to his old life will lead him to also go back to his old jerkass ways. Thus, the alternate timeline that Jeff uses to work through this issue in his head is the darkest timeline.
Since Jeff is not as practiced as Abed at considering alternate timelines, the Evil versions of everyone in Jeff’s head are wildly cartoonish and huge exaggerations of each character’s trademark characteristics. This would be a problem if this were all supposed to actually be taking place in reality (or the reality of Community, that is, a reality which is … not most of this episode). Luckily, it is a fantasy, and we are allowed to laugh at it. The repartee between Evil Jeff and Evil Annie – as previewed in the “Intro to Knots” tag – wins my vote for the funniest element of Season 4. Their passion for each other is thrilling, while their deviousness towards everyone else is entertaining – it’s like a more insane version of “Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design.” Actually, scratch that, “Conspiracy Theories” was already plenty insane – “less grounded” is a better description. Evil Jeff wishing that Evil Annie were even younger really seems to get some people’s goats – too bad that their prudishness gets in the way of appreciating something so hilarious. Seeing Evil Abed – who is not evil anymore – as a sci-fi shaman was also a treat. True, Abed is already a shaman anyway, but it was nice to see him in the shamanistic beard and robe. Unfortunately, all the other evil iterations of the study group amounted to little more than a few quick gags. And Abed’s declaration that they finally made paintball cool again was a bit premature – if something is truly cool, it should not have to be announced so baldly.
As for reality, Jeff’s graduation ceremony was nicely understated but also a little oddly extravagant. With the theme of “marriage,” Jeff being wed to the Human Being was certainly a memorable sight gag. The presence of Leonard, Quendra, Neil, Vicki, Todd, and Magnitude was a little strange, and strangely heartwarming. And of course, the use of the “Greendale Is Where I Belong” musical cue is guaranteed to always tug at my heartstrings. And finally, Pierce also graduates, which was was probably the most decent way possible to finish up Chevy Chase’s run on Community. B+
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