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 ABED NADIR
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Bio
Abed Nadir (portrayed by Danny Pudi) is a student at Greendale Community College, so he can one day take over his father's falafel restaurant. Abed had a difficult life growing up, due in part to his parents. His father is a Palestinian from Gaza and his mother Polish American, which was a source of cultural discord. On top of that, Abed's undiagnosed psychological condition also put more strain on the relationship. His mother left his family when he was 6 years old and Abed assumed his father blamed him for it. This created distance between them and resulted in Abed alienating himself further by immersing himself in American pop-culture.
Personality
Abed in Season Two
It is hinted that Abed has Asperger's syndrome due to his inability to pick up on social or emotional cues ("Pilot"). Despite this, Abed is quite intelligent, is fluent in three languages (English, Polish and Arabic) and possesses keen observational skills. He often accurately predicts other people's behaviours ("Debate 109") although it's shown he is not infallable ("Virtual Systems Analysis"). He'll often draw connections to real life situations through pop culture and meta references gained through years of watching TV and movies ("Pilot"). However, he has problems understanding certain emotions and has a particular difficulty with sarcasm ("Accounting for Lawyers"). He is surprisingly athletic ("The Politics of Human Sexuality"), a skilled dancer ("Interpretive Dance"), and a good singer/rapper ("Somewhere Out There", "Spanish Rap"). Besides his love of Filmmaking, Abed also likes to indulge in role-play and often assumes different characters from various genres of entertainment. He has on occasion gone too far in these roles which has threatened his friendship with Troy ("Contemporary Impressionists") and the rest of the study group ("Contemporary American Poultry"). He states his religion to be Muslim ("Comparative Religion") although he doesn't follow the strict tenets of his faith. Even with his eccentricities, Abed has been shown to be very attractive to women ("Physical Education"), ("The Art of Discourse").
Character history
| “ | Britta, I've got self-esteem falling out of my butt. That's why I was willing to change for you guys because when you really know who you are and what you like about yourself, changing for other people isn't such a big deal. | ” |
–Abed, "Physical Education" | ||
Season One
Abed meets Jeff and later joins his fake Spanish study group thanks to an invitation from Britta. He in turn invited a number of other students from their class and the study group was born. Abed was enrolled in business and restaurant management classes to take over his fathers Falafel restaurant, despite his desire to take film classes and become a director. Britta convinced Abed to switch his major to film and even offered to pay his tuition after his father said he would not pay for anything other than business classes. Abed rapidly became well-known on campus for his movies as his short online films became very popular. His began to hang out Troy and by the end of the year they had become the best of friends.
Significant episodes:
"Pilot": The study group is formed thanks to Abed inviting several more people to Jeff's fake Spanish study group. "Spanish 101": Troy and Abed do their first rap together in the episode's end tag. "The Science of Illusion": Troy and Abed team up for a science project involving a mouse they both must sing to. "Debate 109": Abed shows how his keen observational skills allows him to properly predict the behaviors of his fellow study group members. "Physical Education": Abed let's the group try and remold him into another person so he can ask a supposed admirer out on a date. "Modern Warfare': Abed acquits himself well during his first particpation in Greendale's annual Paintball Assasination game. "Pascal's Triangle Revisited": Abed refuses to let Troy move into his dorm room because he believes such a move will result in their relationship "jumping the shark". |
| “ | I am hoping we can move away from the soapy relationship-y stuff and into bigger, fast paced, self contained escapades | ” |
–Abed, "Anthropology 101" | ||
Season Two
Abed's second year at school sees his friendship with Troy become even stronger. He suffers an emotional breakdown at Christmas, including disproving a teacher's theory on the TV show "Who's the Boss?", and assuming a Han Solo persona and helping to lead the Greendale student body against the City College's campus invasion during that year's paintball tournament.
Significant episodes:
"Anthropology 101": Abed tries to orchestrate more shnanigans within the study group starting with a surprise wedding between Jeff and Britta. "The Psychology of Letting Go": In the background of the story, Abed deals with a female student who may be carrying his child and ends up delivering the baby. "Basic Rocket Science": Abed acts as head of "ground control" when the rest of the study group gets trapped aboard the school's new space simulator "The Eleven Herbs & Space Experience". "Messianic Myths and Ancient Peoples": Abed decides to do a meta film on Jesus. "Epidemiology": Abed and the study group must deal with zombie outbreak on campus. "Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design": Troy and Abed build a blanket fort in his dorm room. "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas": Abed has an emotional breakdown and believes everyone is in stop-action animated form. "Intro to Political Science": Sparks fly between Abed and Agent Robin Vohlers. "For A Few Paintballs More": Abed takes on a Han Solo persona and casts Annie as his Princess Leia. |
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| “ | Chaos already dominates enough of our lives. The universe is an endless, raging sea of randomness. Our job isn't to fight it but to weather it together on the raft of life. A raft held together by those few, rare, beautiful things that we know to be predictable. | ” |
–Abed, "Remedial Chaos Theory" | ||
Season Three
Abed's third year at school sees him moving into an apartment with Troy and inviting Annie to stay with them as well. Despite his eccentricities it is hinted by a psychology test he took that he might be the sanest one on the study group. The general darkness of that year coupled with certain actions on his part that put a strain put on his relationship with Troy, made Abed retreat further into his fantasies via his special play room "The Dreamatorium". The study group's expulsion from school and the subsequent loss of Troy to the Greendale Air Conditioning Repair School was enough to cause him to assume the identity of "Evil Abed".
"Biology 101": Abed freaks out over the loss of his favorite TV show and Britta helps him find a show to replace it.
"Digital Exploration of Interior Design": Troy and Abed have a falling out over their latest project, a pillow fort. "Pillows and Blankets": Troy and Abed's disagreement escalates to all out war on campus between thier respective Pillow and Blanket forts. "Virtual Systems Analysis": Annie tries to coax Abed out of emotional breakdown that he has inside The Dreamatorium.
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Relationships in the study group
Abed joined the study group to meet people and to learn Spanish. Although Abed is well-liked and accepted by the group he admits to being the outcast due to his inability to understand or properly express emotions. The observer of the group, he often sits quietly while everyone talks and argues, occasionally entering the conversation with a reference to a TV show or movie that is analogous to the situation. Abed become best friends with Troy Barnes and they are usually seen hanging out together and coming up with crazy ideas to put into action.
Troy
(See main article: "Troy and Abed")
Troy and Abed are best friends whose bromance has been prominently featured on the show. The other members of the study group are both amused and disturbed at how close the two are. Their many misadventures at Greendale inevitably drag their friends into hijinks and the entire school a few times as well. Because Abed is unable to adequately express emotion, and Troy is overly emotional, this has lead to a few conflicts between them. They soon make up, however, as they understand they are better together than apart.
Jeff
Jeff and Abed
Jeff and Abed were the first members of the study group to meet on camera (Abed had met and talked to Britta prior to his conversation with Jeff although it's not shown). As Abed is someone who has trouble understanding others he admires Jeff's ability to easily connect with people. Although Jeff is annoyed at times by his constant pop culture referencing, he respects Abed's opinions and often sees value in his observations. After a brief falling out happened between them, Jeff agreed to help Abed with his problem of connecting with others as long as Abed helps him try to treat them right. Both value their friendship with each other and Abed even created an elaborate deception one time to maintain it.
Annie
(See main article: "Annie and Abed")
Annie and Abed
Abed and Annie share a mostly fraternal dynamic and friendship marked by occasional forays into role-playing. Depending on what persona Abed assumes, Annie has been shown to be attracted to him. The two share a kiss during the second paintball tournament when Abed role plays as Han Solo and Annie assumes the part of his Princess Leia. For now, the attraction is mostly played up as a Running gags, and whether it's indicative of any deeper feelings between them is unclear. Regardless, the two still enjoy a solid friendship and even have a secret handshake.
Britta
When it comes to Abed, Britta tends to take a more protective role towards him and worries about his obsession with pop-culture and inability to distinguish reality from fantasy. On several occasions he has had to reassure her he understands the difference. However, during the study group's third year at Greendale together that changed. He engages in more role playing in his newly created play room called The Dreamatorium and runs up a high tab hiring celebrity impersonators to take part in his activities. He eventually admits to having problems and needing therapy and asks Britta, who had declared psychology as her major, to help him.
Shirley
Shirley, much like Britta, often treats Abed in a motherly way. Along with Jeff, she too gets annoyed by his childish antics and sometimes questions how close his close relationship to Troy really is. For the most part, Shirley tries to be tolerant of other religious beliefs of the study group including Abed. A running gag on the show sees her trying to convert the other members of the study group to her faith, she suggested that Abed be baptized once while he was in a catatonic state. One time she and Abed did manage to come to an understanding on their different beliefs when he filmed a religious viral video for her church . ("Messianic Myths and Ancient Peoples").
Pierce
Abed and Pierce
Abed has the least interaction with Pierce in the study group. Pierce has a tendency to mispronounce Abed's name as "Ay-bed" and make racist comments about his heritage. Like the rest of the study group, Abed tolerates Pierce's comments and doesn't take them seriously. Pierce is often jealous of the close relationship Troy and Abed have and expresses disappointment that they won't let him in on their shenanigans. His envy of their friendship is a meta reference to the fact that originally Pierce and Troy were to be best friends in a "Beavis and Butthead" type capacity. In an alternate timeline, Abed calls him out over his jealousy which Pierce accidentally admits to ("Remedial Chaos Theory").
Other notable relationships
Gubi Nadir
Abed's relationship with his father , Gubi Nadir, has been strained since his mother left them both. He at first wanted Abed to take over the family Falafel restaurant business. This changed after he saw a video Abed produced about his own childhood. Gubi was moved so much by it that it made him realize his son had talent. He and Abed came to an understanding and Gubi agreed to pay for his classes, saying that he wanted Abed to do whatever he wanted if it helped people understand him. Gubi later returns for the school's "Family Day" BBQ and brought Abed's cousin Abbra with him.
Appearances with Abed: "Introduction to Film", "Basic Genealogy"
Agent Robin Vohlers
During Abed's second year at Greendale, the Vice president was due to visit the Greendale College prompting a visit from the Secret Service to make sure the campus was safe. Abed immediately noticed thier covert surveillence of the school which brought him to the attention of Agent Vohlers. Despite finding no evidence that he was a threat, she continued to investigate him. Abed suggested she had romantic motives for her actions which she denied. They later had a "date" by watching a Kickpuncher movie in his dorm room, although she was viewing it while outside inside in a surveillence van.
Appearances with Abed: "Intro to Political Science"
Pavel
Pavel is a Polish student at Greendale introduced in Abed's first year at school. Because of their shared Polish heritage (they often speak to each other in their native tongue) and the fact that they used to live next to each other in the school dormitory, they have become good friends. He has a laidback and easy-going disposition and is very accepting of Abed's quirks. He assisted Troy and Abed in the creation of their first blanket fort, Fluffy Town. Pavel, along with Garrett, is also seen assisting Abed as a member of his film crew in various episodes.
Appearances with Abed: "Social Psychology", "Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design", "Intro to Political Science"
Toby the fanboy: TV Line reported that the British comedian Matt Lucas, best known for his work on the BBC sketch show "Little Britain", has been cast as a new friend of Abed's. They will meet at an "Inspector Spacetime" convention and his friendship with Abed will be something that puts a strain on Abed's bromance with Troy.
Class history
| Semester | Course | Instructor | Classmates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2009 | Accounting | Professor Whitman | Annie, Jeff, Pierce, Shirley, Troy |
| Biology lab | unknown | Garrett, Troy | |
| Film | unknown | unknown | |
| Spanish 101 | Ben Chang | Annie, Britta, Buddy, Jeff, Pierce, Shirley, Star-Burns, Troy | |
| Spring 2010 | Beginner Pottery | Marion Holly | Annie, Jeff, Rich |
| Spanish 102 | Ben Chang | Annie, Britta, Buddy, Jeff, Pierce, Shirley, Star-Burns, Troy | |
| Fall 2010 | Anthropology 101 | June Bauer; Ian Duncan | Annie, Britta, Chang, Jeff, Pierce, Shirley, Alex "Star-Burns" Osbournerns, Troy |
| Feminist Representations in Media | unknown | Annie, Britta, Meghan, Shirley | |
| Spring 2011 | Anthropology 102 | Ian Duncan | Annie, Britta, Chang, Fat Neil, Jeff, Pierce, Rich, Shirley, Star-Burns, Troy, Vicky |
| Who Indeed?: A Critical Analysis of Who's the Boss? | Peter Sheffield | unknown | |
| Fall 2011 | Biology 101 | Marshall Kane | Annie, Britta, Jeff, Magnitude, Pierce, Shirley, Star-Burns (kicked out), Todd, Troy, Vicky |
| Spring 2012 | Biology | Marshall Kane | Annie, Britta, Fat Neil (kicked out), Jeff, Magnitude, Pierce, Shirley, Todd, Troy, Vicki |
Quotes
- “Come with me if you don't want paint on your clothes.”— Abed
- “ Chaos already dominates enough of our lives; the universe is an endless raging sea of randomness. Our job isn't to fight it, but to weather it, together, on the raft of life. A raft held together by those few, rare beautiful things we know to be predictable.”— Abed
- “Ropes? Vines. Vines? Let him finish!”— Britta
- “Us. It won't matter what happens to us as long as we stay honest and accepting of each other's flaws and virtues: Annie will always be driven, Shirley will always be giving, Pierce will never apologize, Britta's sort of a wild card from my perspective, and Jeff will forever remain a conniving son of a bitch.”— Abed
"Documentary Filmmaking: Redux"
- “What happened to just being a fly on the wall?”— Dean Pelton
- “Some flies are too awesome for the wall.”— Abed
- “Britta, zoom in there. There's a clock on the wall.”— Abed
- “Eight plus two, times five...”— Abed
- “Ten after eight.”— Troy
- “I'm gifted in other ways.”— Abed
Trivia.
- Abed's favorite movie is a tie between Ghostbusters, An American Werewolf in London, Back to The Future, Blade Runner, Stand By Me, Stripes, Star Wars IV through VI, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Jaws, Raising Arizona, Jurassic Park, Seven, The Matrix, Goonies, Breakfast Club, Real Genius, Better Off Dead, The Fog of War, and Pulp Fiction. ("[[1]]")
- Abed often does movie spoofs, though he prefers the term homage.
- Abed has trumped two professors' research thesis: He was the exception to Ian Duncan's Duncan Principle, and he disproved Professor Sheffield's analysis of the TV show "Who's the Boss?". Though in reference to the Duncan Principle, Ian Duncan thinks Abed is the exception, but the Duncan Principle is still in effect - it's just that the scientists fell for it before Abed (the test subject) did.
- In the Community College Chronicles, Abed is played by Alan Bruder.
- Unlike the other members of the study group, his age has never been directly stated. It is suggested that he is at least 21, since he was seemingly able to enter The Ballroom and buy drinks for himself during Troy's birthday party with no trouble.
- In the episode “Applied Anthropology and Culinary Arts” Abed mentions that he delivered a baby in the back of a car. In the episode “Psychology of Letting Go” it shows in the background of Shirley watching Annie and Britta oil wrestling that Abed or another random is delivering a baby in the back of the car.