5th Place: Advanced Introduction to Finality (Season 4)
While I did find Advanced Introduction to Finality pretty good, I really do enjoy the timeline storylines, especially knowing more about the darkest timeline, this all seemed underwhelming compared to all other paintball episodes. Sure, we get to meet the evil doppelgangers but their mission was a little silly -get Jeff to take his old job back when it looks like he was going to anyway.
It was barely a paintball episode and we did not get to see the usual warfare of “paintball going too far,” we had already seen 3 amazing paintball episodes so this one seemed like it was lacking that epic warfare we all look forward to seeing in these kinds of episodes.
Also, something about it all being in Jeff’s head at the end of the episode is not satisfying. The “it was all a dream” aspect has been done time and time again so I guess this was Community’s turn to take a shot at it, but if it was all going to be in Jeff’s head I wish it was a bit more eventful and epic.
What I did like about it was the idea that Jeff was having this internal struggle about what to do about school, his job and the group – it was kind of cool to see him come to a realization and face his darkest timeline self. Still, for paintball episodes at least this deserves last place to me.
4th Place: Modern Espionage (Season 6)
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Modern Espionage’ as it brought back the nostalgic feeling of the old paintball episodes. After the somewhat underwhelming paintball episode in Season 4, it has been three seasons since we’ve had a decent one. The concept of an underground sport secretly orchestrated by the school’s janitors was quite amusing, and the covert shooting added an inside joke for the viewers to relish in the spy theme.
There were several standout scenes, such as the unexpected display of prowess by the Dean in the elevator. Who would have thought he had it in him? Additionally, the kitchen cafeteria and the collaboration between Jeff and the Dean in the Museum of Custodian Arts provided plenty of excitement.
My only suggestion is that I would have preferred if Frankie (played by Paget Brewster) had been secretly involved in the game by the end. It would have been thrilling if she had suddenly emerged and shot them with a paintball gun, teaching them a lesson about the consequences of playing and damaging the school. In my opinion, this alternative ending would have been more satisfying than simply calling them all babies and making them feel guilty for participating in a game. Therefore, this episode ranks fourth on my list. Although the ending needed some improvement, the rest of the episode showcased some fantastic undercover paintball action.
3rd Place: For a Few Paintballs More (Season 2 – Part 2)
It is hard not to place this in the top 2, the plot twist of finding out Greendale has been hijacked by City College and the all-out carnage that pursues after this is amazing. We get to see Abed as a Han Solo-esque character, we get to see them come together as a school to beat City College and the double or (triple) cross Piers pulls off, it is certainly an action-packed episode where you don’t know who will win.
I loved seeing Troy’s plan come together, and the teamwork of Brita and Shirley when it seems all hope is lost. This was a great second part of the 2nd paintball episode as we get to see the whole mood of the episode transition from the Western theme back to the warfare theme that we all loved from the first paintball episode in season 1.
This episode has both great aspects of the first and second paintball episodes, however, it is reliant on the first part that made it so good, this is why, even though it has some of the most epic paintball scenes, this episode falls into third place.
2nd Place: Modern Warfare (Season 1)
2nd Place had to go to the first season’s paintball episode, it was such a hit when it came out. It was almost number one but I think we can all agree on what the number one spot goes to. Modern Warfare set us up for paintball joy over the next few seasons of Community and we did not expect it to take us there. After Jeff takes an hour’s nap in his car he wakes up to find the school in shambles with paint everywhere. Thus, introduces him to the world of paintball the students had taken control of due to the promise of the prize; priority registration. When Abed and Troy explain this to him he suddenly realizes the true value in the prize and how he could utilize it to his benefit – as others did too – causing them to give their all into what was supposed to be a friendly game of paintball.
Modern Warfare is one of the best paintball episodes, it shows just how far the students would go, starts to show people in teams as they try to not only win but just survive in the game where everyone is out to get them. You get to see all the characters fully commit to paintballing in their own way and it’s pretty badass.
I would put this episode in first place but there is a stronger episode which places this just shy of first falling into second place.
1st Place: A Fistful of Paintballs (Season 2 – Part 1)
When the second paintball episode arrived on Community, I knew they were about to deliver something even bigger, considering the tremendous success of the first one in the initial season. People had been eagerly anticipating another paintball episode, and the second season certainly lived up to the hype. “A Fistful of Paintballs” stands out as the ultimate paintball episode, with its captivating Western theme that added a dramatic touch and transported us beyond Greendale, into a whole new world within the school. The episode starts by highlighting Annie’s solitude; she has meticulously established and fortified her base. Soon, we witness her reunion with Abed and Troy, who talk about meeting up with other group members as if they are separated by vast distances and significant time has passed since their last encounter.
Pierce has set up his own makeshift saloon in the cafeteria, creating a vibrant community where Vickie dances, people gather to play cards around the tables, and they have designed a “safe zone.” It’s a remarkable way to experience the thrill of the Wild West through the exhilaration of paintball battles in the air.
While Modern Warfare gave us a war on school grounds, in this paintball episode we saw the students prepare for the game by creating a whole different world within the school grounds – something I’m sure that we all wish would happen at our schools. The creativity and execution of this paintball episode did not disappoint and that is why I believe this episode is rightfully deserved the number one spot.
I love Community and am excited to continue more content involving this show, stay tuned for more Community posts in the future!
Do you agree with this ranking? What do you think should be number 1? Let me know what you think in the sit-comments below! 🙂
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