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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

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{{Infobox television episode

| title = Advanced Introduction to Finality

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

| image_size = 300px

| caption = Evil Abed with a paintball gun.

| season = 4

| episode = 13

Line 11 ⟶ 10:

| writer = [[Megan Ganz]]

| director = [[Tristram Shapeero]]

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

* [[JoeJ. LoP. TruglioManoux]] as MarkDopple-deaner

* [[J.Erik P.Charles ManouxNielsen]] as Faux-byGarrett

* [[Erik CharlesRichard NielsenErdman]] as GarrettLeonard

* [[RichardCharley ErdmanKoontz]] as LeonardFat Neil

* Danielle Kaplowitz as Vicki

*[[Charley Koontz]] as Fat Neil

* David Neher as Todd

*Danielle Kaplowitz as Vicki

* [[Luke Youngblood]] as Magnitude

*David Neher as Todd

* Marcy McCusker as Quendra

*[[Luke Youngblood]] as Magnitude

*Marcy McCusker as Quendra

| prev = [[Heroic Origins]]

| next = [[Repilot]]

| season_article = Community (season 4)

| episode_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 make things messy.

The episode received mixed reviews; and the episode 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/>

==Plot==

Jeff's ([[Joel McHale]]) old partner, Mark, offers([[Joe JeffLo aTruglio]]) partnership,offers claiminghim evena afterposition fourat yearshis atlaw Greendalefirm, arguing Jeff is still a great lawyer. Jeff saysagrees he’llto consider it.

InAt theGreendale, studyJeff roomapplies thefor groupgraduation revealsin theDean partyPelton's they([[Jim plannedRash]]) tooffice Jeff.with Laterlittle Jefffanfare, appliesbut for graduation, whichhe causeseventually himagrees to agree tohave a partyproper ceremony. That nightLater, Jeffhe revealsconfesses to Britta ([[Gillian Jacobs]]) he is conflictedworried about how leaving Greendale includingwill whataffect itthe couldgroup, do toparticularly Abed ([[Danny Pudi]]). BackHe atdecides Greendale,to Jeff rollsroll a die toand pickwatch whoAbed's bringsreaction, sodagiven toAbed's thefear partyof toother rehashtimelines.{{efn|As Abed’sseen delusionin of"[[Remedial timelinesChaos Theory]]."}} TheHowever, the die doesn’t landlands on aits numberedge whichand Abedno insistsnumber meanscomes nothingup.

After the die roll, Evil Jeff appears at Greendale., In orderseeking to pushalienate Jeff toward takingfrom the newstudy job,group Eviland Jeffpush setshim outtoward toMark's alienateoffer. Evil Jeff frominsults theAnnie study([[Alison group. He insults Annie.Brie]]); Annie later encounters Jeff and runs away upset, to Jeff's confusion. Abed walks intomeets Evil Jeff and recognizes him as a doppelgangerdoppelgänger. Abed is shot with a specialized [[Paintball marker|paintball gun]] and is sent to the dean’s"Darkest officeTimeline". inThere, theAbed darkestfinds timeline.Evil Abed, thenwho goeshas tobecome “his”good apartmentagain and meetsprovides his doppelgangercounterpart who is no longer evil. Evil Abed gives his counterpartwith supplies to defeat the doppelgangersdoppelgängers.

Jeff goes to apologize to Annie, but unknowingly meets Evil Annie, who acceptstakes andthe opportunity to stealssteal his phone. Evil Jeff goes on to insultinsults the rest of the group. Jeff arrives at his ceremony and is surprised to find no one there. Evil Annie arrives with Jeff's phone and saysurges thathim there is a message from Mark and that he shouldto call Mark back. When Jeff choosestries histo friends insteadleave, Evil Jeff shows uparrives to shootstop him, but Chang dives([[Ken inJeong]]) frontprotects of itJeff.

Jeff goesescapes toand Troyexplains andwhat Abed'shas happened to explainthe what happenedgroup. NobodyAbed believesproves himJeff's untilstory Abedby arrivesreturning andwith shootsthe a “warpspecial paintball gunguns.“ The rest of the Evil Study Group arrives in the prime timeline andto discusstake on their planscounterparts untilbut theare prime study group shows up. Evil Pierce and Britta accidentally shoot themselves. The prime group each eliminates theirslowly doppelgangerseliminated. With only Evil Jeff remaining, Abed explains to Jeffreveals these events are occurring in hisJeff's mind becausedue heto washis anxiousanxieties about graduation. Abed tellsreassures Jeff he ishas not the same guy as four years ago, butbecome a better oneperson who has the group as hisat familyGreendale. Jeff then shoots Evil Jeff sending him back to the darkest timeline. The episode thenand reverts to the moment thatbefore Jeff decided tohe throwthrew the die. He decides against tossing it.

Jeff’sJeff's graduation ceremony then takes place, withand the group (without Pierce). Jeffhe gives a heartfelt speech aboutto his timethe at Greendalegroup. Pierce breaks([[Chevy intoChase]]) interrupts the ceremony so he can graduate first. At a dinner in the study roomAfterwards, Jeff announces he will decline Mark's offer and search for work at a small firm, andallowing nothim taketo Mark’s"help offerthe solittle heguy" canand stay close to the group.

In the tag, "Evil Troy and Abed In The Morning" check on Timeline 5 where Britta and Troy have a baby named [[Chewbacca]] (an "African" name meaning "He who hunts bounties").

==Production==

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|accessdateaccess-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]]|accessdateaccess-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]]."

''Community'' was only renewed for its [[Community (season 5)|fifth season]] the day after "Advanced Introduction to Finality" aired; so at the time, the episode was potentially the series finale.

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.

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

== Cultural references ==

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}}

==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|accessdateaccess-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|accessdateaccess-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|accessdateaccess-date=May 18, 2012}}</ref> The show placed third in its timeslot and ninth for the night.<ref name=4x13ratings/>

===Critical reception===

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|accessdateaccess-date=May 10, 2013}}</ref> GabrielleEmily MossVanDerWerff of TV''[[The FanaticA.V. Club]]'' was positivefar more negative, sayingrating the episode a D, "thisdescribed the episode wasas an"repetitive excellentand tributethat to''Community'' thewas, slow-burn"no characterlonger developmenta show that's capable of Jeffmuch Winger."<refbeyond name="tvfanatic">{{citerepeating web|last=Moss|first=Gabrielle|title=Communityelements Review:it Notthinks Withoutthe Myaudience Studywill like over and Group|url=http://wwwover again.tvfanatic.com/2013/05/community-review-not-without-my-study-group/|" work=TVShe Fanatic|date=Maynamed 9,the 2013|accessdate=Mayepisode 9,the 2013}}worst of the season.<ref name="avclub" /ref>

AlanGabrielle SepinwallMoss of [[HitFix]]TV Fanatic was less favourablepositive, statingsaying, "Thethis actual non-dream graduation ceremonyepisode was sweet,an butexcellent nearlytribute everythingto leadingthe upslow-burn tocharacter itdevelopment wasof aJeff messWinger."<ref name="hitfixtvfanatic">{{cite web|last=SepinwallMoss|first=AlanGabrielle|title=SeasonCommunity finale reviewReview: 'Community'Not -Without 'AdvancedMy IntroductionStudy to Finality': The folly of evilGroup|url=http://www.hitfixtvfanatic.com/whats-alan-watching2013/season-finale05/community-review-communitynot-advancedwithout-introductionmy-tostudy-finality-the-folly-of-evilgroup/| work=HitFixTV Fanatic|date=May 9, 2013|accessdateaccess-date=May 9, 2013}}</ref> EmilyAlan VanDerWerffSepinwall of [[The A.V. ClubHitFix]] was negativeless favorable, andhe ratedcalled the episodeplot aof D,the sayingepisode ita wasmess, "no longer abut shownoted that's capable of much beyond repeating elements it thinks the audienceending willwas like over and over againsweet."<ref name="avclubhitfix">{{cite web|last=VanDerWerffSepinwall|first=EmilyAlan|title="Season finale review: 'Community' - 'Advanced Introduction to Finality"': S4The /folly E13of evil|url=http://www.avclubhitfix.com/articleswhats-alan-watching/season-finale-review-community-advanced-introduction-to-finality,97134/-the-folly-of-evil| work=The A.V. ClubHitFix|date=May 9, 2013|accessdateaccess-date=May 9, 2013}}</ref>

== Notes ==

<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}}

* {{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:2013 American television episodes]]

[[Category:Community (season 4) episodes]]

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

[[Category:Television episodes about paintball]]