Dan Harmon’s show Community has been off the air since 2015, yet it doesn’t stop die-hard fans from rewatching the show, especially since it’s still available on Netflix. One of its biggest draws is the incredible friendship between Abed Nadir, the seemingly heartless meta character, and Troy Barnes, the popular yet naive jock. Even though Community follows seven main characters, Troy and Abed often steal the spotlight due to their crazy antics and compelling relationship.
Though their friendship is challenged at times, it serves their relationship in the long run. They often bring out the best in one another, and their contrasting personalities balance each other better than any other character pairing in Community. As such, there’s a reason their bromance has a legacy beyond the show.
Troy and Abed stand amongst other great TV bromances, from Breaking Bad‘s Walter White and Jesse Pinkman to Friends‘ Joey and Chandler. Like any good bromance, the most important thing is their affection for one another. Abed and Troy make it clear they prefer each other’s company over anyone else’s. They are always hanging out together, watching movies, making blanket forts or laughing at their inside jokes. They even have an iconic secret handshake that Pierce tries to buy from them in Season 2, Episode 22, “Applied Anthropology and Culinary Arts”.
A lot of Community‘s best episodes also revolve around these characters. For example, Season 5, Episode 5, “Geothermal Escapism,” is the last episode with Troy, and Abed must come to terms with his best friend’s departure. It stands out not only as a fantastic episode but also as one of the most emotional. After four incredible seasons together, Troy and Abed take stock of their friendship and move forward beyond the confines of community college and the same old routine. Though it’s a sad episode for Abed and fans alike, it’s an important conclusion to their friendship and provides closure for everyone.
But their legacy doesn’t stop when Troy leaves. In fact, it gives fans a chance to revisit all the duo’s best moments. Their relationship is so integral to the show that almost every post-credit scene has them in it. While all the characters have their funny moments, Troy and Abed work best together and generate the most laughs. This is why Community leans so heavily on the bromance — it works really well for entertainment purposes.
Most importantly, Troy and Abed bring out the best in each other. Abed is considered a rather cold, heartless, meta character who is more concerned with TV and movies than real life. On the other hand, Troy is sociable, popular and easy to talk to, albeit a little naive. Together, they balance each other out. When Abed gets too weird, Troy brings him back to reality. When Troy gets too anxious about real-life problems, Abed helps calm him down with happy distractions. It’s a perfect give-and-take that rewards the characters and fans all at once.
Ultimately, many fans were sad to see Community go after six seasons, but Troy and Abed remain an iconic bromance that will far outlive the show. They provide many of the most memorable moments with their hilarious dynamic and crazy hijinks. While their activities may seem weird and random at times, they ultimately balance the more “adult” members of their study group. Their bromance is heartwarming, genuine, and one of Community‘s best features, hands down.
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