The Dark Secrets Unveiled: Exploring the Darkest Timeline of Community

Highlights

Community's exploration of alternate realities, such as the Darkest Timeline, adds depth and complexity to the show's storytelling.

The episode "Remedial Chaos Theory" is praised for its clever portrayal of multiple timelines and the ensuing chaos that occurs during a seemingly innocent game night.

In the Darkest Timeline, grim and tragic consequences unfold for the study group, highlighting the significance of certain characters and their influence on the group's dynamics.

Although not as popular as other sitcoms of its time, Community has gained a devoted following and become a cult classic. Renowned for its clever humor, meta-commentary, and references to popular culture, the show effortlessly explores a wide range of topics, genres, and concepts, seamlessly transitioning from sitcom to homage to parody. The third and fourth seasons of the show introduced a popular concept known as The Darkest Timeline, an alternate reality where the study group turns evil following a series of unfortunate events.

In Season 3, Community introduces the idea of alternate realities created by a roll of the dice. The few minutes immediately after the dice roll hold great significance, completely altering the trajectory of the characters' lives in each timeline. The Darkest Timeline represents the most dire outcome, where the study group is plagued by tragedy and death. Abed suggests that they embrace their evil sides and find a way to return to the prime timeline, replacing their original counterparts.

Remedial Chaos Theory: Community’s Approach to Multiple Timelines

"Remedial Chaos Theory," the fourth episode of season 3, is widely regarded as one of the series' finest episodes. The concept is simple yet brilliantly executed. After moving into a new apartment, Troy and Abed host a housewarming party for the study group. During a game of Yahtzee, they are interrupted by the arrival of a pizza delivery. Jeff decides who will retrieve it by rolling a die, which Abed points out creates six different timelines. The remainder of the episode explores the events that unfold in each of these timelines, with a different member tasked with getting the pizza in each scenario.

In the Darkest Timeline, Jeff rolls a one, resulting in Troy being assigned the pizza task and a cascade of chaotic events. Troy hurries out to fetch the pizza, accidentally causing Abed's Indiana Jones boulder replica to fall and roll onto the floor. Shirley heads to the kitchen to check her pies in the oven, Britta goes to the bathroom to smoke a joint, and Pierce provokes Jeff to get up and pour himself a drink. As Jeff rises, he unintentionally hits his head on the ceiling fan, prompting Annie to offer assistance and examine his injury in the bathroom.

Heading towards the bathroom, Annie stumbles over a large rock, colliding with a table and inadvertently knocking over Pierce's rum bottle, causing it to spill onto the floor. Rushing to assist Annie, Pierce inadvertently kicks a troll doll, his gift for Troy, across the room. As Annie's bag hits the floor, the impact triggers the gun inside, accidentally shooting Pierce in the leg. The blood from his wound sprays onto Shirley, who is drawn to the commotion. Meanwhile, Britta emerges from the bathroom, alerted by the noise.

Taken aback by the sudden chaos, Britta unintentionally drops her joint, igniting a fire due to the alcohol-soaked floor. The rest of the group quickly attempts to extinguish the flames, just as Troy returns with the pizzas and is greeted with utter shock at the unexpected scene. Noticing the troll doll right in front of him, Troy is horrified and screams, dropping the pizzas. This particular moment becomes a viral Internet meme, attracting a wave of new fans to the show and solidifying its status as one of the most popular sitcom scenes.

What Happened to the Study Group from the Darkest Timeline?

Towards the conclusion of the episode, the group from the Darkest Timeline assembles in the study room to reminisce about the aftermath of that eventful night. It is disclosed that, in this particular reality, Pierce met his demise due to his gunshot wound, Jeff suffered the loss of his arm in the fire, Shirley became dependent on alcohol, Troy lost his ability to speak after attempting to defeat the troll by consuming it, Annie was institutionalized due to her guilt, and Britta opted to dye a section of her hair blue. Abed deduces that they are residing in the darkest and most undesirable timeline, fashioning fake goatees for the group while suggesting that they fully embrace their wickedness and discover a way to return to the original timeline, the one where Abed prevents Jeff from rolling the die. The group rejects Abed's proposal and departs, except for Troy, who dons his fake beard, and the two perform their signature handshake and catchphrase, modifying it to "Evil Troy and Evil Abed."

Throughout the third and fourth seasons of the show, the existence of the Darkest Timeline is sporadically referenced. In the concluding scene of the season 3 episode "Contemporary Impressionists," Troy becomes angry with Abed for incessantly hiring celebrity impersonators. Alone in the Dreamatorium, Abed encounters Evil Abed, who encourages him to fully embrace his darker nature in order to further Evil Abed's own nefarious schemes.

In the season 3 finale, "Introduction to Finality," Troy attends Air Conditioning Repair School and moves out of the apartment he shared with Abed and Annie. This leaves Abed feeling quite depressed. However, Evil Abed takes over his original self's body and decides to recreate the Darkest Timeline. During a therapy session, Evil Abed upsets Britta, leading her to consider changing her hair color, and he also plans to cut off Jeff's arm. But, after hearing a meaningful speech about friendship from Jeff in the courtroom, Evil Abed's disguise falls apart, revealing regular Abed again.

In the season 4 episode "Intro to Knots," Abed wonders what is going on in the Darkest Timeline at that moment. Through a montage, we see Evil Jeff freeing Evil Annie from the mental hospital. They share a kiss, and Evil Jeff informs her that the evil study group is plotting to destroy the prime timeline. In the season 4 finale, "Advanced Introduction to Finality," the evil study group infiltrates the prime timeline at Greendale. They pretend to be their original counterparts and attempt to tear the study group apart. However, Abed is the only one who can see through their disguises and recognize their true identities.

Evil Jeff utilizes a specialized paintball gun to transport the original Abed to a parallel reality known as the Darkest Timeline. There, he unexpectedly encounters his malevolent doppelganger who, surprisingly, has transformed into a force for good. The reformed duplicate equips his original counterpart with special paintball equipment and sends him back to the original timeline. Upon returning to their own reality, Abed arms the study group, leading them into a paintball battle against their wicked duplicates, ultimately banishing each one to the Darkest Timeline. Evil Jeff stands as the final adversary, but Abed reveals to the original Jeff that this series of events merely exists within his own mind due to his fear of graduating. Jeff eliminates his evil counterpart and is transported back to the moment before he rolled the dice, choosing not to toss it. This marks the final appearance of the Darkest Timeline in the show, and the evil study group is never seen again.

Whether the Darkest Timeline was real or merely a product of the characters' imaginations, this concept served as a means for Community to offer a deeper exploration of the study group's dynamics and the individuals' personalities. As the Darkest Timeline materializes upon Troy's departure and the best situation arises when Jeff is absent, it can be inferred that Troy's presence is crucial for the group's stability. However, the prime timeline also showcases that Jeff's presence and leadership skills are vital to the study group's dynamic and their overall camaraderie.