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

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

{{Infobox television episode

| title = Advanced Introduction to Finality

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

| caption = Evil Abed with a paintball gun.

| season = 4

| episode = 13

Line 9 ⟶ 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==

MarkJeff's ([[JoeJoel Lo TruglioMcHale]]) offersold Jeffpartner Mark ([[JoelJoe McHaleLo Truglio]]), hisoffers old partner,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, Jeffhe 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|other timelines]]."}} However, the die lands on its edge and no number comes up.

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 doppelgangerdoppelgänger. Abed is shot with a specialized [[Paintball marker|paintball gun]] and is sent into the "Darkest Timeline". There, Abed finds Evil Abed, who has become good again and provides his counterpart with supplies to defeat the doppelgangersdoppelgängers.

Jeff goes to apologize to Annie but unknowingly meets Evil Annie, who takes the opportunity to steal his phone. Evil Jeff insults the rest of the group. Jeff arrives at his ceremony to find no one there. Evil Annie arrives with Jeff's phone and urges him to call Mark. When Jeff tries to leave, Evil Jeff arrives to stop him, but Chang ([[Ken Jeong]]) protects Jeff.

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==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]]."

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.

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== 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 Group|url=http://wwwlike over and over 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" />

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>

In a retrospective ranking of all 110 episodes of the series, Cory Barker of [[TV.com]] ranked this episode last, describing it (along with season 4's "[[Conventions of Space and Time]]") as "everything you loved about ''Community'', only broken apart into a million pieces, and reconstructed without a soul".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/news/greendale-forever-ranking-all-the-episodes-of-community-143378138401/ |title=Greendale Forever: Ranking ALL The Episodes of ''Community'' |last=Barker |first=Cory |date=June 11, 2015 |website=[[TV.com]] |access-date=May 15, 2020}}</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}}

{{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]]