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{{Use American English|date=December 2023}}

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{{Infobox television episode

| Seriesseries = [[Community (TV series)|Community]]

| Title = Advanced Introduction to Finality

| season = 4

| Series = [[Community (TV series)|Community]]

| Seasonepisode = 413

| Airdateairdate = {{Start date|2013|5|9}}

| Episode = 13

| production = 411

| Airdate = {{Start date|2013|5|9}}

| writer = [[Megan Ganz]]

| Production = 411

| Writerdirector = [[MeganTristram GanzShapeero]]

| guests = * [[Joe Lo Truglio]] as Mark

| Director = [[Tristram Shapeero]]

* [[J. P. Manoux]] as Dopple-deaner

| Episode list = [[List of Community episodes]]

* [[Erik Charles Nielsen]] as Garrett

| Prev = [[Heroic Origins]]

* [[Richard Erdman]] as Leonard

* [[Charley Koontz]] as Fat Neil

* Danielle Kaplowitz as Vicki

* David Neher as Todd

* [[Luke Youngblood]] as Magnitude

* Marcy McCusker as Quendra

| Prevprev = [[Heroic Origins]]

| next = [[Repilot]]

| season_article = Community season 4

| Episodeepisode_list list = [[List of Community episodes]]

}}

"'''"Advanced Introduction to Finality"'''" is the thirteenth episode13th and thefinal season finaleepisode of the [[Community (season 4)|fourth season]] and 84th overall episode of the [[NBC]] sitcom ''[[Community (TV series)|Community]]''. It originally aired on May 9, 2013.

In this episode, Jeff Winger ([[Joel McHale]]) is set to graduate and expects things to go quietly. But when the darkest timeline breaks through, the evil counterparts try and make things messy.

The episode received mixed reviews and was watched by 3.08 million viewers, attaining an 18-49 rating of 1.3<ref name=4x13ratings/> and rising in ratings from the [[Heroic Origins|previous episode]].<ref name=4x12ratings/>

== Synopsis ==

==Plot==

Jeff's old partner, Mark, offers Jeff a partnership, saying his skills as a lawyer are as sharp as ever. Back on campus, the study group reveals they made a party in Jeff's honor because he is graduating and suggest having a wedding-like party. Jeff meets with Britta and reveals that he is conflicted about leaving Greendale. He then hatches a plan to bring out Abed's instability by leveraging his delusions about multiple timelines.

Jeff's ([[Joel McHale]]) old partner Mark ([[Joe Lo Truglio]]) offers him a position at his law firm, arguing Jeff is still a great lawyer. Jeff agrees to consider it.

At Greendale, Jeff applies for graduation in Dean Pelton's ([[Jim Rash]]) office with little fanfare, but he eventually agrees to have a proper ceremony. Later, he confesses to Britta ([[Gillian Jacobs]]) he is worried about how leaving Greendale will affect the group, particularly Abed ([[Danny Pudi]]). He decides to roll a die and watch Abed's reaction, given Abed's fear of other timelines.{{efn|As seen in "[[Remedial Chaos Theory]]."}} However, the die lands on its edge and no number comes up.

Jeff suggests rolling a die to determine who will bring soda to the party. When he rolls the die it lands on the seam between tables, not landing on any number. When this happens, Evil Jeff appears in the Dean's office. In order to push Jeff toward taking the new job, Evil Jeff sets out to alienate Jeff against the rest of the study group. Evil Jeff first insults Annie who then runs away upset when she later encounters Jeff. When Jeff tries to apologize to Annie he unknowingly meets up with Evil Annie, who accepts his apology but steals his phone during a hug.

Evil Jeff appears at Greendale, seeking to alienate Jeff from the study group and push him toward Mark's offer. Evil Jeff insults Annie ([[Alison Brie]]); Annie later encounters Jeff and runs away upset, to Jeff's confusion. Abed meets Evil Jeff and recognizes him as a doppelgänger. Abed is shot with a specialized [[Paintball marker|paintball gun]] and is sent to the "Darkest Timeline". There, Abed finds Evil Abed, who has become good again and provides his counterpart with supplies to defeat the doppelgängers.

Abed walks into Evil Jeff and immediately knows who he truly is. Evil Jeff shoots Abed with a paintball gun, sending Abed to the darkest timeline. Abed meets his evil counterpart (who is no longer evil). Evil Abed gives Abed some paintball guns in order to shoot the doubles and transport them back to the darkest timeline.

Evil Jeff goes onto apologize to insultAnnie andbut "unvite"unknowingly themeets restEvil ofAnnie, who takes the groupopportunity to steal his graduationphone. ceremonyEvil Jeff insults the rest of the group. Jeff arrives at his ceremony and is surprised to find no one there until the Dean (in a wedding dress) shows up crying and throws his diploma at him. Evil Annie arrives holdingwith Jeff's phone and saysurges thathim heto hascall a message from his old partner and that he should return the phone callMark. When heJeff decidestries to go after his friends insteadleave, Evil Jeff showsarrives upto and threatensstop him, withbut aChang paintball([[Ken gun.Jeong]]) protects Jeff.

Jeff escapes and explains what has happened to the group. Abed proves Jeff's story by returning with the special paintball guns. The rest of the Evil Study Group arrives in the prime timeline to take on their counterparts but are slowly eliminated. With only Evil Jeff remaining, Abed reveals these events are occurring in Jeff's mind due to his anxieties about graduation. Abed reassures Jeff he has become a better person at Greendale. Jeff shoots Evil Jeff and reverts to the moment before he threw the die. He decides against tossing it.

When Jeff arrives at Troy and Abed's apartment, he tries to explain his behavior, but nobody believes him until Abed shows up and convinces the others that Jeff is actually telling the truth. Meanwhile, the Evil Study Group (minus Evil Abed) arrive in the prime timeline and meet Evil Pierce who apparently faked his death, and now has a metal unicycle leg and crutches. They discuss their plans for the study group until Evil Pierce and Evil Britta accidentally shoot themselves and are sent back to the darkest timeline. The real study group then shows up and proceeds to eliminate their evil doppelgangers one by one.

Jeff's graduation ceremony takes place, and he gives a heartfelt speech to the group. Pierce ([[Chevy Chase]]) interrupts the ceremony so he can graduate first. Afterwards, Jeff announces he will decline Mark's offer and search for work at a small firm, allowing him to "help the little guy" and stay close to the group.

With only Evil Jeff left, Abed explains to Jeff that he was stressed about graduation because he thought that Greendale didn't change him; however, thanks to Abed, Jeff realizes that he now has friends and that made his life better. He manages to defeat Evil Jeff and send him back to his own reality. The scene then reverts to the moment that Jeff decided to throw the die (revealing that the events of the episode took place in his own mind), and he instead decides against tossing it. His graduation ceremony then takes place in the study room with the group (sans Pierce), Dean Pelton, the Greendale Human Being, Magnitude, Quendra, Leonard, Garrett, Todd, Fat Neil, and Vicky.

| ==Production = 411=

Jeff gives a heartfelt speech about his time at Greendale but during the ceremony, Pierce breaks in, announcing his intention to graduate first. Jeff announces that he will not be taking the job with his old law firm, but will seek a job at a smaller firm close by so he can stop in on the group whenever he wants.

The season finale aired as the thirteenth episode, but was the eleventh episode produced.<ref name="meganganztweet_nov16">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/meganganz/status/268092136153546752|title=Day one of shooting the finale.|work=[[Twitter]]|last=Ganz|first=Megan|date=November 12, 2012|access-date=May 8, 2013}}</ref> In a [[Reddit]] [[Reddit#IAmA and AMA|AMA]], [[Megan Ganz]] explained that, because it was written in “a pinch”, she wishes that she could have gone back and redone the season finale. She wrote, "I wrote it too long (like... 6 minutes too long) and we had to cut a ton out of it in the edit bay. […] Finales are generally terrible, and I am expecting that people will say this one is trying to [sic] hard, because it is."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ganz|first1=Megan|title=This is probably a bad thing to say...|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/community/comments/181irk/we_are_the_writing_staff_of_nbcs_community_ama/c8arzxp|publisher=[[Reddit]]|access-date=June 13, 2016|date=2013}}</ref>

This is the second "Introduction to Finality" episode of the series, following [[Community (season 3)|season three]]'s finale, "[[Introduction to Finality]]"."

In the tag, "Evil Troy and Abed In The Morning" check in on timeline 5 and show us that Britta and Troy have a baby named Chewbacca (an "African" name meaning "He who hunts bounties"). Evil Jeff appears, saying that the show Evil Troy and Evil Abed host is not watched by anybody and does not exist anymore, to which Evil Troy and Evil Abed shrug in agreement, but smile to the camera and sing their theme song anyway.

During Jeff's graduation ceremony, "SIX SEASONS AND A MOVIE" is seen written on the chalkboard as the first words of several sentences. The show's production code of #411 is seen in the upper -right corner.

==Continuity==

In "[[Remedial Chaos Theory]]," Evil Abed made a pact with Evil Troy to go to the real timeline and destroy it.

* Jeff talks to his former work colleague about not trying cases other than "yams and sandwiches." This is a reference to both "Basic Lupine Urology" (episode 17 of [[Community (season 3)|season 3]]) where Jeff is in a mock trial over who destroyed the group's yam experiment, and "Introduction to Finality" where Jeff spoke for Shirley against Pierce in an another mock trial ran by the dean over who own's Shirley's sandwich shop.

== Cultural references ==

* The study group's evil doppelgangers cross over and return from the Darkest Timeline. The timeline plot point was introduced in "[[Remedial Chaos Theory]]", episode 4 of the third season after the roll of a die to decide who would collect the delivered pizza.

The clothing worn by the Evil Study Group resembles costumes from the [[The Matrix (franchise)|''Matrix'' series]], and the final shootout in which Jeff stops the bullet shot by evil Jeff references a similar scene in ''[[The Matrix]]''.<ref name="avclub">{{cite web |last=VanDerWerff |first=Emily |date=May 9, 2013 |title="Advanced Introduction to Finality" S4 / E13 |url=https://www.avclub.com/community-advanced-introduction-to-finality-1798176768 |access-date=May 9, 2013 |work=The A.V. Club}}</ref>

The scene in which Evil Jeff first appears in the Dean's office references the scene in the film ''[[The Terminator]]'' when the titular character is introduced.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

* Greendale is listed in the closing scene right after Jeff's graduation as being "Est. 1974" which conflicts with episode 11 of the season, "[[Basic Human Anatomy]]", where it is revealed that Leonard had been at Greendale since 1968.

==Cultural references==

* Jeff and Mark refer to each other as Tango and Cash, respectively.

* Evil Jeff teleports across timelines in a style similar to that used in ''[[The Terminator]]''<ref name="twitchfilm">{{cite web|url=http://twitchfilm.com/2013/05/review-community-s4e13-advanced-introduction-to-finality-or-to-greendale-or-not-to-greendale.html|title=Review: COMMUNITY S4E13, ADVANCED INTRODUCTION TO FINALITY (Or, Is It?)|work=[[Twitch Film]]|last=Umstead|first=Ben|date=May 9, 2012|accessdate=May 9, 2013}}</ref>

* Jeff stops a paintball bullet in mid-air like Neo does in ''[[The Matrix]]''<ref name="hitfix" />

* Evil Abed tells Abed that ''[[The Cape (2011 TV series)|The Cape]]'' has been running for at least three seasons. In reality, it was cancelled after its first.

==Production==

The season finale aired as the thirteenth episode, but was the eleventh episode produced.<ref name="meganganztweet_nov16">{{cite web|url=http://twitter.com/meganganz/status/268092136153546752|title=Day one of shooting the finale.|work=[[Twitter]]|last=Ganz|first=Megan|date=November 12, 2012|accessdate=May 8, 2013}}</ref>

This is the second "Introduction to Finality" episode of the series, following [[Community (season 3)|season three]]'s finale, "[[Introduction to Finality]]".

During Jeff's graduation ceremony, "SIX SEASONS AND A MOVIE" is seen written on the chalkboard as the first words of several sentences. The show's production code of #411 is seen in the upper right corner.

==Reception==

===Ratings===

In its original broadcast, the episode was viewed by 3.08 million American viewers, and received an 18-49 rating/share of 1.3/5.<ref name=4x13ratings>{{cite web|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda|title=Thursday Final Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory', 'Grey's Anatomy', 'American Idol', 'Vampire Diaries', 'Two and a Half Men', 'Wipeout', & 'Elementary' Adjusted Up; 'Glee' Adjusted Down|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/10/thursday-final-ratings-big-bang-theory-greys-anatomy-american-idol-vampire-diaries-two-and-a-half-men-wipeout-glee-adjusted-down/181920/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607023334/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/10/thursday-final-ratings-big-bang-theory-greys-anatomy-american-idol-vampire-diaries-two-and-a-half-men-wipeout-glee-adjusted-down/181920/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 7, 2013|work=TV by the Numbers|access-date=May 10, 2013|date=May 10, 2013}}</ref> It displays a significant rise in viewers and ratings from the previous episode "[[Heroic Origins]]."<ref name=4x12ratings>{{cite web|last=Bibel|first=Sara|title=Thursday Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory', 'American Idol', 'The Vampire Diaries', 'Two and a Half Men', 'Grey's Anatomy', 'Glee','Parks and Recreation' & 'Hannibal' Adjusted Up|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/03/thursday-final-ratings-the-big-bang-theory-american-idol-the-vampire-diaries-two-and-a-half-men-greys-anatomy-gleeparks-and-recreation-hannibal-adjusted-up/180875/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506031620/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/03/thursday-final-ratings-the-big-bang-theory-american-idol-the-vampire-diaries-two-and-a-half-men-greys-anatomy-gleeparks-and-recreation-hannibal-adjusted-up/180875/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 6, 2013|work=TV by the Numbers|access-date=May 4, 2013|date=May 3, 2013}}</ref> The finale also tied in 18-49 ratings with the [[Community season 3|third season]] finale "[[Introduction to Finality]]," but beat it in viewers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/18/thursday-final-ratings-american-idol-greys-anatomy-30-rock-adjusted-up-touch-scandal-adjusted-down/134984/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522001613/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/18/thursday-final-ratings-american-idol-greys-anatomy-30-rock-adjusted-up-touch-scandal-adjusted-down/134984/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 22, 2012|title=Thursday Final Ratings: 'American Idol', 'Grey's Anatomy', '30 Rock' Adjusted Up; 'Touch', 'Scandal' Adjusted Down|last=Bibel|first=Sara|date=May 18, 2012|work=TV by the Numbers|access-date=May 18, 2012}}</ref> The show placed third in its timeslot and ninth for the night.<ref name=4x13ratings/>

===Critical reception===

In its original broadcast the episode was viewed by 3.08 million.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kondolojy|first=Amanda|title=Thursday Final Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory', 'Grey's Anatomy', 'American Idol', 'Vampire Diaries', 'Two and a Half Men', 'Wipeout', & 'Elementary' Adjusted Up; 'Glee' Adjusted Down|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/05/10/thursday-final-ratings-big-bang-theory-greys-anatomy-american-idol-vampire-diaries-two-and-a-half-men-wipeout-glee-adjusted-down/181920/|work=TV by the Numbers|accessdate=May 10, 2013|date=May 10, 2013}}</ref>

The episode received mixed reviews from critics. Eric Goldman of [[IGN]] rated the episode "good" at 7.6, saying, "as far as being a fun, nostalgia-packed episode, that may be the very last one, it mostly worked."<ref name="ign">{{cite web|last=Goldman|first=Eric|title=Community Review: Not Without My Study Group|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/10/community-advanced-introduction-to-finality-review?abthid=518c49f0778c162029000037| work=IGN|date=May 9, 2013|access-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref> Emily VanDerWerff of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' was far more negative, rating the episode a D, described the episode as "repetitive and that ''Community'' was, "no longer a show that's capable of much beyond repeating elements it thinks the audience will like over and over again." She named the episode the worst of the season.<ref name="avclub" />

EricGabrielle GoldmanMoss of IGNTV ratedFanatic thewas episode a "good" at 7.6positive, saying, "asthis farepisode aswas beingan aexcellent fun,tribute nostalgia-packed episode, that may beto the veryslow-burn lastcharacter one,development itof mostlyJeff workedWinger."<ref name="igntvfanatic">{{cite web|last=GoldmanMoss|first=EricGabrielle|title=Community Review: Not Without My Study Group|url=http://www.igntvfanatic.com/articles/2013/05/10/community-advancedreview-introductionnot-towithout-finalitymy-review?abthid=518c49f0778c162029000037study-group/| work=IGNTV Fanatic|date=May 9, 2013|accessdateaccess-date=May 109, 2013}}</ref> GabrielleAlan MossSepinwall of TV Fanatic[[HitFix]] was positive,less sayingfavorable, "thishe episodecalled wasthe anplot excellentof tributethe toepisode thea slow-burnmess, characterbut developmentnoted ofthat Jeffthe Wingerending was sweet."<ref name="tvfanatichitfix">{{cite web|last=MossSepinwall|first=GabrielleAlan|title=Season finale review: 'Community' - Review'Advanced Introduction to Finality': NotThe Withoutfolly Myof Study Groupevil|url=http://www.tvfanatichitfix.com/2013whats-alan-watching/05/communityseason-finale-review-notcommunity-withoutadvanced-myintroduction-studyto-group/finality-the-folly-of-evil| work=TV FanaticHitFix|date=May 9, 2013|accessdateaccess-date=May 9, 2013}}</ref>

Alan Sepinwall of [[HitFix]] was less favourable, stating, "The actual non-dream graduation ceremony was sweet, but nearly everything leading up to it was a mess."<ref name="hitfix">{{cite web|last=Sepinwall|first=Alan|title=Season finale review: 'Community' - 'Advanced Introduction to Finality': The folly of evil|url=http://www.hitfix.com/whats-alan-watching/season-finale-review-community-advanced-introduction-to-finality-the-folly-of-evil| work=HitFix|date=May 9, 2013|accessdate=May 9, 2013}}</ref> Todd VanDerWerff of [[The A.V. Club]] was negative and rated the episode a D, saying it was, "no longer a show that's capable of much beyond repeating elements it thinks the audience will like over and over again."<ref name="avclub">{{cite web|last=VanDerWerff|first=Todd|title="Advanced Introduction to Finality" S4 / E13|url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/advanced-introduction-to-finality,97134/| work=The A.V. Club|date=May 9, 2013|accessdate=May 9, 2013}}</ref>

== SynopsisNotes ==

<references group="lower-alpha" />

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{reflist}}

==External links==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130602101131/http://www.nbc.com/community/episode-guide/season-4/705397/advanced-introduction-to-finality/episode-413/744382/ "Advanced Introduction to Finality"] at [[NBC]].com

* {{imdbIMDb episode|2855096}}

* [http://www.nbc.com/community/episode-guide/season-4/705397/advanced-introduction-to-finality/episode-413/744382/ "Advanced Introduction to Finality"] at [[NBC]].com

* {{imdb episode|2855096}}

* {{tv.com episode|community/advanced-introduction-to-finality-2819830}}

* [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/CommunityS4E13AdvancedIntroductionToFinality "Advanced Introduction to Finality"] at [[TV Tropes]]

{{Community (TV series)}}

[[Category:Community2013 (TVAmerican series)television episodes]]

[[Category:2013Community televisionseason 4 episodes]]

[[Category:Television episodes written by Megan Ganz]]

[[Category:Television episodes about paintball]]