Community (TV Series) Mixology Certification (2010) User Reviews

Brilliant episode.

[LeoLeoJCeeM · 9/10 · 11 July 2016]

I love this episode, the character development of Troy is great. We all think of Troy as more of a dumb and goofy character most of the time but here we see a side of him we've barely seen, a mature Troy capable of making his own decisions. I understand the other reviewer's problem with the preaching, but i personally didn't take it that way:

-Jeff and Britta were bickering before they even touched the alcohol. That's the way their relationship is.

-Annie's problem with her identity also has nothing to do with the alcohol, the ID card triggered it and the alcohol was just way of making her character do something she normally wouldn't. Normal Annie would probably just repress those feelings until a big "Nooooooooooooo!" came out.

-And Abed failing to grasp reality is not true. He grasps it just fine, he knew the guy was hitting on him but he wanted to talk about the TV show since he has no one to talk about it. Abed is not an insane person, don't forget that.

Troy deciding not to drink alcohol is a major decision in this context. He makes the mature sacrifice for his friends, they all drank to much to drive and Troy is the one who has to be the mature one. And he does it, happily. I didn't see this episode as much of a preaching on how "alcohol is bad and we shouldn't drink it". I saw it more a critique on how people have this idea that being mature is about getting wasted and drinking.

His "sacrifice" and the sweet final scene he has with Annie show that in the day he turned 21, Troy really became a man.

Again, brilliant episode! And due to its nature, don't expect it to be one of the most comedy driven ones.

In honor of "Community"- a review of every episode. (S2;E10- "Mixology Certification")

[TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness · 9/10 · 2 April 2018]

(This is the thirty-fifth installment in an ongoing series. I am in the process of writing brief reviews of each and every episode of creator Dan Harmon's beloved cult-comedy series "Community." This project was originally conceived as a response to NBC's cancellation of the series before it was renewed for a sixth and final season on Yahoo. As this is a hobby, updates will come incrementally and it may take some time for me to complete this.)

In comparison to most previous season two episodes, "Mixology Certification" is unexpectedly quiet and deliberate in its structure and story; as it ponders on heady and lofty ideas such as maturation and addiction. It's a refreshing change-up, providing some much-needed contrast that hearkens back to some of the wonderful character-centric episodes from the more restrained but still stellar first season. All the while, creator Dan Harmon and his merry cast and crew still push the characters and overall narrative forward in new and unexpected ways. And while it might not be one of the season's best, it's still a very charming and well-accomplished installment in the "Community" saga.

It's Troy's (Donald Glover) birthday, and the study-group is shocked to learn that despite an initial misunderstanding, he's actually turning 21. As in the legal drinking age in the US. As Jeff (Joel McHale) and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) bicker over which bar to take Troy to for his first legal drink, Troy faces his future as a grown man, Annie (Alison Brie) has something of a "quarter-life crisis" after realizing that her habitual planning and over-achieving is leading her nowhere... and Shirley (Yvette Nicole Brown) worries, as she is well-known in the local bar circuit due to a few troubled years where she struggled with a drinking problem.

"Mixology Certification" is one of Troy's finest episodes to date in the series, and it really goes to show how invaluable an asset to the series Donald Glover really was. He takes center stage with ease, and gives a thoughtful and well-executed performance that shows us a new side of the character. Bravo, Mr. Glover! Bravo! I also really admired what the episode did for the characters of Annie and Shirley, who get some great moments to shine, in addition to a fair share of good jokes. While the series does on the whole lean on Jeff and Britta quite a bit more than the other characters, it's nice seeing them pushed to the side for an episode. Oh, and Danny Pudi fans fear not. He might not be heavily featured, but Abed does have a quirky little subplot involving delightful guest-star Paul F. Tompkins that provides plenty of giggles and chuckles throughout.

"Community" is one of the best sitcoms in recent memory thanks in no small part to how well it juggles abstract, conceptual comedy and earnest, honest handling of character. And "Mixology Certification" is definitely a prime example of this done very well. While I am going to knock off a single point simply for the fact that the episode does start to feel a little formulaic in its second half, I'd still whole-heartedly recommend it to all fans, new and old alike. And it easily earns a fantastic 9 out of 10 from me.

Secrets and lies

[safenoe · 8/10 · 17 January 2022]

Mixology Certification was kind of like My Dinner with Andre, with the whole cast bonding in a bar with secrets and lies spilling forth on Troy's birthday.

Some viewers thought this episode was a departure from the usual Greendale fare, but it's a worthy episode of season 2.

Six seasons and a movie please.

Wholesome, Brilliant, Powerful

[agedftw · 10/10 · 4 November 2020]

The mixology certification is one of Community's best episodes. It features powerful characterization and character development. In this episode alone, Troy's development into becoming a man, Annie's insecurity about her identity, the impacts of Shirley's past, Jeff and Britta's relationship, and Abed not being able to completely understand everyone come into full display. This episode presents the characters flaws right upfront and center (which is unique) and turns these flaws into sources of development. This episode is beautiful in the way that it shows the beginning of Troy's ark into becoming a man which is finished in Geothermal Escapism.

This is an amazing episode. If anyone is reading this and has not watched Community, I highly recommend that you do because it is an outstanding show and you will not regret it.

one of the best community episodes

[rybot99 · 10/10 · 1 May 2021]

This episode is by far one of community's strongest episodes, it feels so human.

On growing up

[anarchistica · 6/10 · 24 August 2022]

This is a fairly typical episode about what it means to (be) mature. It's not very funny, Annie actually made me cringe and it's a bit too sappy. Also they already did Pierce's wheelchair being clunky.

Normal Community shenanigans with a helping of preachy

[aphorism-766-903797 · 5/10 · 2 January 2014]

This was a pretty average episode on the whole. The "the study group goes to a bar" plot device was okay. However, the episode comes across as preachy bordering on judgemental, by inferring that alcohol only has negative social and psychological effects. The bar evening starts out as fun but ultimately falls to disappointment; Annie becomes depressed about her identity, Abed still fails to grasp another social situation, Shirley relives past issues, Jeff & Brita descend into empty-minded bickering. Despite all his earlier excitement, Troy sees the effects of alcohol on his friends and decides that he is better off to not drink.

Overall, there were a few laughs here and there, but the episode doesn't have the typical whimsy that the rest of season 2 has. I'm not sure if Dan Harmon has a back-story of trouble with alcohol, but the episode missed out on a lot of potential fun that could have been had.