Ep 12. Heroic Origins

As the twelfth episode of the fourth season of the beloved sitcom Community, "Heroic Origins" is a standout episode that explores the origin stories of each of the members of the study group. Throughout the season, the show has teased the idea that the group's paths may have crossed before they all ended up in Spanish class together, and this episode finally delivers on that promise.

The episode begins with Abed (Danny Pudi) proposing that the group write their origin stories as comic book characters, a concept that is immediately embraced by the group. The episode then jumps back in time to show each character's backstory, beginning with Jeff (Joel McHale). We see how a younger Jeff struggled to fit in at school and eventually joined the debate team, where he first met his eventual nemesis, Alan (Rob Corddry).

From there, we learn about how Britta (Gillian Jacobs) and Annie (Alison Brie) crossed paths at a protest rally, and how Troy (Donald Glover) went from being a high school quarterback to a reckless daredevil with a love for trampolines. Shirley's (Yvette Nicole Brown) backstory involves her failed marriage and subsequent decision to go back to school, where she encountered Pierce (Chevy Chase) and eventually joined the study group.

Finally, we see how Abed's love of pop culture and movies led him to create imaginary friends, including a superhero named "The Inspector". All of the characters' stories converge in the present day, where the group realizes that they all inadvertently helped each other overcome obstacles in their pasts.

Aside from the clever storytelling device of showing each character's backstory, "Heroic Origins" is also notable for its references to previous seasons of the show. For example, we see the return of Rob Corddry's character, Alan, who was last seen in season one's "Interpretive Dance". Additionally, Abed's Inspector Spacetime obsession is referenced, as his imaginary friends include a time-traveling robot and a British detective.

Overall, "Heroic Origins" is a standout episode of Community that showcases the show's clever writing, love of pop culture, and knack for tongue-in-cheek humor. While the fourth season of the show is generally considered weaker than the previous three, this episode proves that the show still had creative ideas and a talented cast and crew.