One of the greatest episodes of any sitcom in American television history.
12 Reviews
Iconic
scottemigh30 October 2019
In honor of "Community"- a review of every episode. (S1;E23- "Modern Warfare")
TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness20 January 2017
(This is the twenty-third part in an ongoing series, in which I am writing brief reviews of each and every episode of Dan Harmon's beloved cult- comedy "Community." Originally conceived as a response to NBC's cancellation of the series before it was revived for its final season on Yahoo.)
This is it. The big one. The episode to end all episodes.
This... Is... Paintball.
At this point, there's almost no introducing "Modern Warfare", the twenty-third episode in the first season of Dan Harmon's "Community." It's kind of transcended the series in a strange way. Having become sort-of a mythical symbol of not only the series as a whole, but all high-concept and themed episodes in television at large. It's famous. Beloved. Iconic. Every time someone talks about television and one- off episodes that stand alone, "Modern Warfare" is one of the first things to pop up. And it's definitely for good reason. This just might be not only one of the finest episodes of the season... it might be one of the best episodes of the entire series... And it also might just be one of the best half-hours of television to air in the past ten years.
A loving send-up to all things action and adventure, we follow Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) as he awakens from a nap in his car to discover that Greendale has degenerated in a sort-of post-apocalyptic wasteland. A result of a campus-wide game of paintball announced that afternoon by Dean Pelton. (Jim Rash) Jeff slowly begins tracking down other members of the study-group, who have become ruthless warriors in a struggle to attain the grand price of the tournament- Priority Registration that would allow whoever wins to pick and choose their classes for the following semester before anyone else. And they will be forced to fight against roving gangs of other students and corruption at the highest of levels in their attempts to win!
Part of the great appeal of "Modern Warefare" is that it is quintessential "Community" in virtually every sense... only dialed up to 11 on the insanity scale. The series is renowned and beloved for its wonderful postmodern meta sensibilities, and in every sense "Modern Warefare" is the most dramatic and hilarious example of this. It's one of the most dense and outlandishly hilarious episodes of the series, and virtually every scene... every line of dialog... every visual cue is a callback to something. Whether it be "Die Hard", "Warriors" or "Escape from New York", almost every single aspect in its 22 minute length is a loving homage.
It also doesn't hurt that the episode is helmed by famed action- movie director Justin Lin and written by the talented writer/producer Emily Cutler. Together, the two perfectly capture the essence of the action-adventure genre with ease and deliver laughs and thrills with great consistency. You'll be surprised by just how exciting the episode it, and how Cutler is able to raise the stakes while Lin thrills with dynamic camera-work and top-notch editing. The cast also shines wonderfully, and it's one of those great episodes that gives both Jeff and Gillian Jacob's Britta a lot of keen development and great moments. Which is always appreciated as they are my favorite characters in the series. There's also a few nice sequences with Yvette-Nicole Brown's Shirley, whom often is overlooked in the series.
There's really no other way around it. "Modern Warfare" is a triumphant and iconic episode in "Community" history. A benchmark for the series that came out of nowhere and thrilled audiences. And even to this day, it remains a favorite for fans the world over. "Modern Warfare" easily earns a perfect 10 out of 10.
This is it. The big one. The episode to end all episodes.
This... Is... Paintball.
At this point, there's almost no introducing "Modern Warfare", the twenty-third episode in the first season of Dan Harmon's "Community." It's kind of transcended the series in a strange way. Having become sort-of a mythical symbol of not only the series as a whole, but all high-concept and themed episodes in television at large. It's famous. Beloved. Iconic. Every time someone talks about television and one- off episodes that stand alone, "Modern Warfare" is one of the first things to pop up. And it's definitely for good reason. This just might be not only one of the finest episodes of the season... it might be one of the best episodes of the entire series... And it also might just be one of the best half-hours of television to air in the past ten years.
A loving send-up to all things action and adventure, we follow Jeff Winger (Joel McHale) as he awakens from a nap in his car to discover that Greendale has degenerated in a sort-of post-apocalyptic wasteland. A result of a campus-wide game of paintball announced that afternoon by Dean Pelton. (Jim Rash) Jeff slowly begins tracking down other members of the study-group, who have become ruthless warriors in a struggle to attain the grand price of the tournament- Priority Registration that would allow whoever wins to pick and choose their classes for the following semester before anyone else. And they will be forced to fight against roving gangs of other students and corruption at the highest of levels in their attempts to win!
Part of the great appeal of "Modern Warefare" is that it is quintessential "Community" in virtually every sense... only dialed up to 11 on the insanity scale. The series is renowned and beloved for its wonderful postmodern meta sensibilities, and in every sense "Modern Warefare" is the most dramatic and hilarious example of this. It's one of the most dense and outlandishly hilarious episodes of the series, and virtually every scene... every line of dialog... every visual cue is a callback to something. Whether it be "Die Hard", "Warriors" or "Escape from New York", almost every single aspect in its 22 minute length is a loving homage.
It also doesn't hurt that the episode is helmed by famed action- movie director Justin Lin and written by the talented writer/producer Emily Cutler. Together, the two perfectly capture the essence of the action-adventure genre with ease and deliver laughs and thrills with great consistency. You'll be surprised by just how exciting the episode it, and how Cutler is able to raise the stakes while Lin thrills with dynamic camera-work and top-notch editing. The cast also shines wonderfully, and it's one of those great episodes that gives both Jeff and Gillian Jacob's Britta a lot of keen development and great moments. Which is always appreciated as they are my favorite characters in the series. There's also a few nice sequences with Yvette-Nicole Brown's Shirley, whom often is overlooked in the series.
There's really no other way around it. "Modern Warfare" is a triumphant and iconic episode in "Community" history. A benchmark for the series that came out of nowhere and thrilled audiences. And even to this day, it remains a favorite for fans the world over. "Modern Warfare" easily earns a perfect 10 out of 10.
One of the best concept episodes ever! Aside from S3 E4
Br4ve-trave1or26 May 2018
As I'm making my way through what is a insanely flawless TV series I stumble across a gem---a half parody with homage all rolled into 30 minutes. This episode is the grand slam of the season where you say finally, "Dan Harmon and the creative minds behind this series are truly gifted!!" Now I know what the list of the most creative things about this series and why paintball is so special! Since I'm just watching community for the first time ever, it took me around 5-6 episodes to get it and I wondered why the most unique-special-stand out episode was right towards the end, and after processing it I came to the conclusion that this season was paced perfectly. It grew and grew as you went along. Something began to happen where you started noticing all these high concept episodes and pop culture vibe about this show making it one of the best comedies I've ever seen!! I thought I had seen the last of all the great comedies since The office and arrested development. Sure, Brooklyn 99 is consistently great and you can count on having a good time watching the good place. Theres been funny series since I've binged the office a couple of years ago but nothing that filled the void and parks and rec couldnt do it BUT community does! It's a stand out comedy as one of the best and this episode is one of the best episodes I've ever seen executed in a series!!!
If you're having doubts about this show having just begun watching it, hang in there it turns into a complete monster and will you have you laughing like crazy and in awe at the creative juices! Joel McHale is essential to this and it's awesome to see Donald Glover before he created his own series. You will mark this episode "Modern Warfare" as the one episode to go with the mount Rushmores of best high concept episode of all time!
If you're having doubts about this show having just begun watching it, hang in there it turns into a complete monster and will you have you laughing like crazy and in awe at the creative juices! Joel McHale is essential to this and it's awesome to see Donald Glover before he created his own series. You will mark this episode "Modern Warfare" as the one episode to go with the mount Rushmores of best high concept episode of all time!
Maybe the most hilarious episode yet
jimjo12166 May 2010
The "paintball" episode is hilarious! After the usual pre-titles opening scene, the entire episode is shot to look like an action movie. That's what's great about "Community": the sense of heightened reality. It allows for some wonderfully absurd satire.
In this episode ("Modern Warfare"), the entire student body at Greendale is engaged in a last-one-standing paintball war. Everyone wants to win The Prize. (The prize itself is a great satire on the college experience.) Armed with paintball guns, our heroes make their way through a war-torn campus, ever wary of the glee club who might snipe them from the trees.
The episode is filled with classic action movie moments: slow-motion moves, jumping off walls, sliding on floors, tragic "deaths", suspicions of betrayal, hails of gunfire, and Mexican stand-offs galore.
Joel McHale runs around in a sweaty wife-beater while his buddies wear battle gear. People are dodging paint pellets, ducking for cover, ambushing their enemies, and avenging their fallen friends. Not your typical day at school.
The hilarity is topped off by Senor Chang's (Ken Jeong) appearance toward the end as a bada** mercenary for the dean. (The music alone makes his entrance priceless.)
"Community" has proved over its first season that it's a fresh new sitcom that knows comedy. Each character brings something different to the table and the show is witty and absurd and full of satire. I like some episodes better than others, but I absolutely LOVED this wonderful homage to action flicks. This is "Community" at its most inspired. Brilliant.
In this episode ("Modern Warfare"), the entire student body at Greendale is engaged in a last-one-standing paintball war. Everyone wants to win The Prize. (The prize itself is a great satire on the college experience.) Armed with paintball guns, our heroes make their way through a war-torn campus, ever wary of the glee club who might snipe them from the trees.
The episode is filled with classic action movie moments: slow-motion moves, jumping off walls, sliding on floors, tragic "deaths", suspicions of betrayal, hails of gunfire, and Mexican stand-offs galore.
Joel McHale runs around in a sweaty wife-beater while his buddies wear battle gear. People are dodging paint pellets, ducking for cover, ambushing their enemies, and avenging their fallen friends. Not your typical day at school.
The hilarity is topped off by Senor Chang's (Ken Jeong) appearance toward the end as a bada** mercenary for the dean. (The music alone makes his entrance priceless.)
"Community" has proved over its first season that it's a fresh new sitcom that knows comedy. Each character brings something different to the table and the show is witty and absurd and full of satire. I like some episodes better than others, but I absolutely LOVED this wonderful homage to action flicks. This is "Community" at its most inspired. Brilliant.
Justin Lin puts Community back on track
safenoe10 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The previous episode (the Schmitty Duh one) was a letdown but thankfully acclaimed director Justin Lin puts Community back on track and then some with Modern Warfare.
Jeff and Britta finally succumb to the beast with two backs, and Jeff is kind and redeems himself by handing the paintball prize to Shirley.
Jeff and Britta finally succumb to the beast with two backs, and Jeff is kind and redeems himself by handing the paintball prize to Shirley.
Finally the first paintball episode
anarchistica20 August 2022
Modern Warfare is the start of what might be Community's finest tradition - the paintball parody. Taking elements from The Walking Dead, Battle Royale (the movie), The Matrix and every 80s action movie ever Justin Lin gives us a hilarious, creative and ridiculously over-the-top episode that also manages to work in some character growth. Absolutely love it.
Community at its best
melir1624 July 2020
When I first started watching Community, I wasn't sure wheter or not I wanted to continue. I liked the humor, the characters and settings were interesting and I could see that it wasn't your typical sit com but I still thought that the show hadn't found its voice yet. I know that this is the case for lot of brilliant series, especially comedies where you have to get used to the humor (it was the same with the first season of The Office and I ended up loving it), so I kept watching. The second half of the season started to get better until this episode. THIS is where Community becomes Community (and by it I mean amazing) and finds its true identity, this is the game changer. If you are not 100% sure on wheter or not to keep watching then this episode will make up your mind.
Modern Warfare contains the classical meta-humor and it's a wonderfully realized parody of post apocalyctic and action movies. It starts with a normal cold open where it's announced that Greendale will have a paintball fight with some huge prize that is still unknow. As Jeff wakes up from a nap, he founds the school empty and wrecked a la 28 Days Later and then there are some interesting (and fun) twists and turns. I'm not giving this episode a 10 just because I know there will be some more good stuff coming up.
Modern Warfare contains the classical meta-humor and it's a wonderfully realized parody of post apocalyctic and action movies. It starts with a normal cold open where it's announced that Greendale will have a paintball fight with some huge prize that is still unknow. As Jeff wakes up from a nap, he founds the school empty and wrecked a la 28 Days Later and then there are some interesting (and fun) twists and turns. I'm not giving this episode a 10 just because I know there will be some more good stuff coming up.
Community Favorites
grahamisaweirdo7 May 2020
Totally overrated
sleepfire-3081016 September 2023
As a huge community fan, this episode has an incredibly overrated rating. It wasn't a bad episode, but there are much better episodes than this one. And it definitely doesn't deserve the score it got.
For example, the paintball episodes in the second season were more fun and beautiful. There is no reason for this episode to become iconic. We cannot see anything incredible, both in terms of script and direction.
For example, the paintball episodes in the second season were more fun and beautiful. There is no reason for this episode to become iconic. We cannot see anything incredible, both in terms of script and direction.
For example, the paintball episodes in the second season were more fun and beautiful. There is no reason for this episode to become iconic. We cannot see anything incredible, both in terms of script and direction.
For example, the paintball episodes in the second season were more fun and beautiful. There is no reason for this episode to become iconic. We cannot see anything incredible, both in terms of script and direction.
Outstanding Episode
vatosloco8924 September 2014
This is the first episode of Community that will later define and characterize typical Community-episodes.
The first few minutes start as usual. But then after Jeff wakes up, he wakes up in a post-war scenery....
This episode is depicted as a kind of parody, but also kind of an homage to action movies. It is not that much exaggerated as parodies are most times. Parody episodes are just about making fun of the clichés....but in this episode of Community it fits all in. The whole story of the Season arc is developing, you get the know the cast better, more important: you get to know the atmosphere and state- of-mind at the Community college better, and all these nice developing scenes are surrounded with brilliant action scenes. The plot is very well and it looks like they made right choices everywhere (Chang as the psycho Headhunter, the slow-mo scenes).
And then sometimes, you briefly leave the action scenery for a quick moment of reality "in a TV series" and find yourself sucked in from the happenings only to realize "oh it's only blood..no paint!" :D
One of the best early episodes, outstanding from the other episodes so far...in a different way. Community has more of these nice half-parody, half-homage episodes and all of them are good.
10/10
The first few minutes start as usual. But then after Jeff wakes up, he wakes up in a post-war scenery....
This episode is depicted as a kind of parody, but also kind of an homage to action movies. It is not that much exaggerated as parodies are most times. Parody episodes are just about making fun of the clichés....but in this episode of Community it fits all in. The whole story of the Season arc is developing, you get the know the cast better, more important: you get to know the atmosphere and state- of-mind at the Community college better, and all these nice developing scenes are surrounded with brilliant action scenes. The plot is very well and it looks like they made right choices everywhere (Chang as the psycho Headhunter, the slow-mo scenes).
And then sometimes, you briefly leave the action scenery for a quick moment of reality "in a TV series" and find yourself sucked in from the happenings only to realize "oh it's only blood..no paint!" :D
One of the best early episodes, outstanding from the other episodes so far...in a different way. Community has more of these nice half-parody, half-homage episodes and all of them are good.
10/10
Come with me if you don't want paint on your clothes.
sharky_5523 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Every Community fan remembers the first time they watched Modern Warfare. For teenage me, it was sprawled out face down on my bed, in standard definition, on a high school issued laptop. Blockbuster it was not. The episode began like any other, with the study group's bickering and hijinks, and a lackadaisical Jeff retreating from the drama for a nap in his car (in classic Winger fashion, he puts immense effort into looking like he doesn't care). Roll title sequence; another day at Greendale, right?
But Jeff wakes up in his car to a very different community college, with the sky tinged an apocalyptic orange, and the camera craning up to reveal a campus in ruins. That's when I stopped lying on my stomach, and sat up a little straighter; was this really the same modest sitcom about a study group of misfits? Abed's mafioso turn in the Goodfellas-inspired tale two weeks back, Contemporary American Poultry, had given us all a taste of the boundaries that Harmon was willing to push, but Modern Warfare had us immediately, hook, line, and sinker. Looking back, it's no exaggeration to say that this was the concept episode that kick-started it all. Its success ushered in a new era of storytelling for the series, with season two the show's creative and aesthetic peak, the two-part paintball sequel its adventurous finale.
Harmon enlisted Justin Lin of Fast and Furious fame to direct, and the result is bold, in-your-face action, a striking departure from your normal sitcom camera set-ups. Right from the get-go we witness this in Abed's slow motion wall-jump as he leaps to Jeff's defense, screen emblazoned with his calling card and title. The episode is packed to the brim with allusions to action classics, which serve to both underline the insanity of the melee (Chang brandishing his machine gun one-handed ala Tony Montana) as well as poke fun at the entire farce (Jeff's McClane-esque final confrontation and bullet barrage directed towards the dean). The pastiche is effective on both a broad and specific level; listen to how the music swells and see the relief plastered on Troy's face when he is reunited with Jeff in the beginning. I couldn't for the life of me pinpoint that moment to a specific movie, but it's instantly recognisable as how comrades react after seeing through a long battle. Glover sells it with all the boyish charm he can muster; it's been all of sixty minutes since they've seen each other, but it might as well have been an endless string of hellish weeks.
As seen here and in its sequel, many of the laughs stem from the story's complete commitment to the bit, maintaining a solemn tone throughout ("I thought it was paint, but I'm just bleeding. Talk about luck!"). The gang steer into the absurdity of it all, as if it's just another one of those daily Greendale happenings, which precisely identifies why we all fell in love with the show in the first place. See Pelton's desperate cry of "They'll think I'm a bad dean!", which works on both a comedic level when you consider the absolute state of the campus' day-to-day affairs, but also on a general empathetic level. Dean Pelton's the glue that holds this ramshackle shack together. He may be a bad dean, but he's our bad dean.
Modern Warfare is more than just its spoofs, of course, a statement that rings true for all the best Community episodes. Between all the mayhem and the blockbuster appeal of sex, violence, honour, and betrayal, characters are once again forced to confront the cracks in their facades, and ponder on how to deal with them. The plot gradually whittles down the cast until only Jeff and Britta remain, a minor symptom of season 1's journey as the show tried to find its voice and grow beyond the premise of the pilot. The Britta we see here is not nearly as guarded as she initially was, grappling with her insecurities of pretending to be a good person ("My deal is, above all else, honesty."), while Jeff is the inverse in that his deal is pretending not to care, but his rare moments of generosity strike truer. I think we've all been on either side of that coin at some time or another. In this case, both sacrifice their own selfish wishes for Shirley, who needs the prize more than either of them. So there's that character growth for you, and a dash of paintball to go with it. Community at its best.
But Jeff wakes up in his car to a very different community college, with the sky tinged an apocalyptic orange, and the camera craning up to reveal a campus in ruins. That's when I stopped lying on my stomach, and sat up a little straighter; was this really the same modest sitcom about a study group of misfits? Abed's mafioso turn in the Goodfellas-inspired tale two weeks back, Contemporary American Poultry, had given us all a taste of the boundaries that Harmon was willing to push, but Modern Warfare had us immediately, hook, line, and sinker. Looking back, it's no exaggeration to say that this was the concept episode that kick-started it all. Its success ushered in a new era of storytelling for the series, with season two the show's creative and aesthetic peak, the two-part paintball sequel its adventurous finale.
Harmon enlisted Justin Lin of Fast and Furious fame to direct, and the result is bold, in-your-face action, a striking departure from your normal sitcom camera set-ups. Right from the get-go we witness this in Abed's slow motion wall-jump as he leaps to Jeff's defense, screen emblazoned with his calling card and title. The episode is packed to the brim with allusions to action classics, which serve to both underline the insanity of the melee (Chang brandishing his machine gun one-handed ala Tony Montana) as well as poke fun at the entire farce (Jeff's McClane-esque final confrontation and bullet barrage directed towards the dean). The pastiche is effective on both a broad and specific level; listen to how the music swells and see the relief plastered on Troy's face when he is reunited with Jeff in the beginning. I couldn't for the life of me pinpoint that moment to a specific movie, but it's instantly recognisable as how comrades react after seeing through a long battle. Glover sells it with all the boyish charm he can muster; it's been all of sixty minutes since they've seen each other, but it might as well have been an endless string of hellish weeks.
As seen here and in its sequel, many of the laughs stem from the story's complete commitment to the bit, maintaining a solemn tone throughout ("I thought it was paint, but I'm just bleeding. Talk about luck!"). The gang steer into the absurdity of it all, as if it's just another one of those daily Greendale happenings, which precisely identifies why we all fell in love with the show in the first place. See Pelton's desperate cry of "They'll think I'm a bad dean!", which works on both a comedic level when you consider the absolute state of the campus' day-to-day affairs, but also on a general empathetic level. Dean Pelton's the glue that holds this ramshackle shack together. He may be a bad dean, but he's our bad dean.
Modern Warfare is more than just its spoofs, of course, a statement that rings true for all the best Community episodes. Between all the mayhem and the blockbuster appeal of sex, violence, honour, and betrayal, characters are once again forced to confront the cracks in their facades, and ponder on how to deal with them. The plot gradually whittles down the cast until only Jeff and Britta remain, a minor symptom of season 1's journey as the show tried to find its voice and grow beyond the premise of the pilot. The Britta we see here is not nearly as guarded as she initially was, grappling with her insecurities of pretending to be a good person ("My deal is, above all else, honesty."), while Jeff is the inverse in that his deal is pretending not to care, but his rare moments of generosity strike truer. I think we've all been on either side of that coin at some time or another. In this case, both sacrifice their own selfish wishes for Shirley, who needs the prize more than either of them. So there's that character growth for you, and a dash of paintball to go with it. Community at its best.
See also
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