10 Times Donald Glover Stole The Show In Community

Intermediate Documentary Filmmaking is another example of the show using the mockumentary format to best tell its narrative, using a linear fly on the wall approach instead of adopting a futuristic perspective like in Pillows and Blankets. The entire episode is brilliant, but once again, the star is Troy.

Pierce is faking his own death, making the study group believe that he's dying in a hospital bed to get revenge on them undervaluing him, using the possibility of his passing to give final "gifts" that will inflict psychological torture. Jeff gets a potential visit from his absent father, Shirley gets a tape of the group supposedly badmouthing her behind her back etc. However, for Troy, he arranges an act of sheer cruelty, bringing in his hero LeVar Burton to spend time with him, knowing that Troy will be too overcome by anxiety to utter a word.

The reaction Pierce was desiring couldn't come close to the extravagance of Glover's performance, with his unblinking stare whenever he's near Burton contrasting against his howls of screams in another room while singing the Reading Rainbow theme. Troy talking about how he just wanted a picture because you can't disappoint a picture is sublime, hilarious while revealing the signifiance of his emotional attachment to LeVar. No one else could have nailed the uproarious melancholy quite like Glover.