Warning: Full spoilers for the episode follow.

Just having cursory knowledge of the existence of Ken Burns' Civil War documentaries for PBS should have been enough for you to absolutely love Thursday's "Pillows and Blankets." The Burnsian style was given a Community twist and the result was an exceptional conclusion to the Troy and Abed friendship arc.

From the opening shot of the slow-motion feathers filling the hall, and the stirring narration of Keith David (who, yes, was in Abed's beloved The Cape), you knew this was going to be an instantly classic episode. And as the episode progressed, you were never let down. The Civil War-style PBS doc of this great pillow altercation never faltered. It never veered away from the concept, never lost its momentum. From beginning to end, this was a stand-alone production, all while fitting perfectly within the ongoing story.

The obvious homages to the episode's inspiration were perfectly executed. The "letters home" were now retold text messages and Facebook posts. The use of slow panning shots of still images was also a highlight; especially considering how many times this technique was used. One might think it risky using still images for at least 50 percent of the half hour, but Community nailed it. Then there were the small touches like the "very old student" recounting simply facts like, "New Fluffytown didn't care who you were," or Troy's stilted, echoing radio address to the people of Blanketsburg.

The details of this episode were outstanding. The maps, the diagrams, the wordplay ("The North Cafeteria, named after Admiral William North, is located in the western portion of East Hall.") I loved how the initial battle scene from last week's episode was recreated here and show through cell phone cameras, adding to the fact that this whole ordeal is a continuation of events and not just a random departure from the norm.

And that's what truly made this episode a classic. With all its tricks and homages, at its heart it was still a touching story about Troy and Abed coming to terms with their growing, and yes, adult friendship. The ending, where the pair couldn't stop fighting hours after the conflict had ended made your heart sink a little. It may have only lasted a few episodes, but Troy and Abed's uncertain friendship was as strong arc made ever better with this fantastic conclusion.

If I had any complaint it would be that Vice Dean Laybourne (John Goodman) wasn't involved in some form. It was clear last week that we was masterminding the turmoil between the two friends, so it could have been interesting to see a little backstory there, perhaps with Laybourne playing the Civil War part of a plantation owner. But his absence can be explained away by the fact that none of the other characters knew of his involvement so it wouldn't really come up in this documentary.

Overall, "Pillows and Blankets" was a stellar episode Community, twisting a pop culture reference in a way that not only provided laughs but a well-told story with heart.

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