TV Review: Parks and Recreation-- The Debate

An episode both written and directed by the dynamite Amy Poehler could only ever be amazing, right?  That's the attitude I went into watching "The Debate" with, and even so it managed to exceed my high expectations.  I think a lot of the reason the writing works so well in this episode is because Poehler clearly knows and understands all of the show's characters, not just her own.  She takes time to highlight the best and most interesting aspects of each player's personality, sometimes within the space of only a few lines or moments. 

This episode, as the name probably indicates, features Leslie's much-hyped political debate with her opponents, including Bobby Newport (played even more fabulously in his second appearance by Paul Rudd), Pawnee's own local porn star Brandi Maxx, and two others who don't really merit me looking up their names but who provide some auxiliary amusement nonetheless (one is a literal gun-nut, the other is a wildly hyperbolic animal rights activist).  As we've established in previous weeks, Leslie needs this win, and she needs it bad.  Both she and Ben are equally focused and determined to win, and rather than creating tension between them, this energy is something that seems to enhance their affection for one another, as well as remind us just how well they complement each other. 

Of course, that can only lead us naturally to the couple on this show who never has and (in all probability) never will compliment each other:  Tom and Ann.  They finally appear to be broken up for good, and somehow Tom seems surprised by this turn of events.  No one else is actually surprised that this breakup has occurred, and Chris even takes the opportunity to promptly capitalize on it by hitting on Ann.  What is surprising is that, following weeks of halfhearted hints that they might be headed for a reunion, she turns him down, declaring that she might just never date anyone ever again.  To me that sounds like a pretty good solution at this point-- we've been down this road with Ann before, and swearing off dudes the last time didn't seem to force her to learn from her mistakes, so maybe a second attempt will do the trick.  That, or she'll find herself hooking up with someone even more absurd than Tom, and we'll be having this discussion all over again.

Many of our other favorite characters are performing at full throttle in this episode, supplying us with lots of laughs.  Andy, April, Ron, and Donna (what an odd team) have been tasked with treating Leslie's wealthy donors to a party to show their gratitude, featuring a viewing of the debate.  Of course, this hardly goes according to plan, and I have to say, I think this episode is worth watching simply for this secondary (even tertiary, really) story line, just to see Andy and April's view of how rich people behave and Andy's go-to method of entertainment when the cable goes out.  Chris Pratt had better be submitting this one for Emmy consideration, that's all I'm saying.

And of course, there's the debate itself, moderated by Pawnee's own Joan Callamezzo and Perd Hapley (because really, could you have imagined anyone else?).  Not only does Leslie remind us why she's someone who needs to be involved in government with her last-minute save, she brings out some compelling arguments from Bobby Newport ("I'm against crime, and I'm not afraid to say so") along the way.  Both Poehler and Paul Rudd are phenomenal in these scenes, with the latter playing his character as such a hapless dope that if you weren't rooting so hard for Leslie, you'd almost want to support him, or at least give him a hug. 

Overall, by the end of this episode things are certainly looking up for the Knope campaign.  Since we've only got a few episodes left to the season, does this mean we might see a Leslie victory come May 10th?  I certainly hope so.

TV Review: Parks and Recreation-- Live Ammo

Oh Parks, I've missed you so very much.  And this episode was well worth the wait.  "Live Ammo" continued the slow heightening of the stakes in Leslie's campaign, this time with a nice healthy round of mudslinging on the part of Paul Rudd's Bobby Newport's campaign manager.

Basically, Leslie wants to save the Parks Department budget from potential cuts, but in fighting for it manages to lose funding for the Pawnee animal shelter.  It then falls to April, who has taken over Leslie's Parks responsibilities (and who plays the role with a perfectly April blend of reluctance and near-enthusiasm), to try and organize a Leslie-esque solution that will allow everyone to go home happy.  Cut to an adorable parade of puppies, kittens, and apparently, a pig, waiting to be chosen by the fine folks of Pawnee.  Unfortunately, even April's best-laid plans can't save the day, and the gang winds up with a gaggle of animals with nowhere to go. 

Of course, Leslie's first solution is exactly what mine would be-- bring all the animals home with her so they don't get sent to a farm upstate (that's what happens, right?).  And even though Ben adorably goes along with this plan for a bit, purchasing dog food in bulk with the Barack to his Michelle (that was one of my favorite lines of the night, incidentally), he convinces Leslie that they need a more sustainable solution.  Leslie comes up with one, but it's an answer that will require her to "commit political suicide."

Apparently this means a secret meeting with Bobby Newport's campaign manager, in which Leslie proposes that Newport announce plans to fund the animal shelter, a move which will give him an advantage going into their upcoming debate.  Now, at this point I may have tuned out the conversation a bit, because I remembered how excited I am to see this showdown in next week's debate-centric episode, penned by none other than one Amy Poehler. 

In other news, Chris wants Ron to take over the responsibilities of Assistant City Manager (this is following a long string of odd tests, the last of which was a meditation challenge), but just as things are looking up for our favorite carnivore and his plans to "eliminate all departments" within Pawnee's government, we learn that the job may not be Chris' to give if Bobby Newport wins the City Council election.  Not only am I excited by the prospect of potentially dropping the increasingly tedious Chris (not to mention the famously douche-y Rob Lowe) from the show, or at least cutting down his screen time, but I like the way this changes the weight of Leslie's victory--she's now got the success of two close colleagues resting on her shoulders going into the final weeks of her campaign.  As for that whole thread where we were afraid Ann might lose her job, I have to say, it didn't worry me nearly as much as the stuff surrounding Ron-- after all, Ann showed up at City Hall often enough in the 2.5 seasons before she worked there; I can't imagine she wouldn't do the same if she went back to full-time nursing.


Also, this is the episode featuring a guest appearance by Bradley Whitford of The West Wing fame, and I can't decide if I like the understated way they used him, or if I was expecting something more exciting based on the hype. 

Although I don't have extensive thoughts on any of these things, I'd like to give honorary awesome points to a few little features of this episode, in no particular order:
1.  I loved Tom and April bonding, and him essentially mentoring her, not only because he almost never takes on that role, but also because she actually swallowed her pride and asked for advice.
2.  Tom's apartment.  You know the set designers and propmaster have been working on that one for at least a full season.
3.  Ben's embracing his role as essentially Leslies' "first lady," and his hilarious reactions to her more brazen behavior.

Overall, I'm just glad this show made its comeback chock-full of things we've always loved about it, as well as some new complications just in time for May sweeps and the final leg of its season.

TV Review; Parks and Recreation 4.07-- The Treaty

All right, writers of Parks and Recreation, you know us too well.  I can't speak for everyone (though I'm pretty sure my opinion is in the majority), but if I can't have Leslie and Ben actually being together, I will gratefully accept a heavy dose of them being nerds together and arguing (UST, anyone?), which is exactly what "The Treaty" gives us.  It also has a pretty amazing model-UN story, with Andy and April tagging along to help out (and be hilarious).  Throw in Tom and Ron interviewing the worst candidates ever for the former's position in the Parks Department, and a Chris storyline that manages to minimize his annoying factor (mainly because Ann and Donna tell him a bunch of things that make him annoying), and you've got a fantastic episode (directed by Jorma Taccone, no less, who seems to be everywhere these days).

The Model UN project is perfect because it is right up both Leslie and Ben's respective allies, plus it gives them both a chance to gain some perspective on their maturity, which takes a significant plunge in this episode (particularly after Leslie's declaration of war against "Peru").  As a side note (but very important), I loved April and Andy's contributions (if they can be called that), lightening up what could have been another very cringe-worthy Leslie meltdown.  I do like that they make it up to the kids in the end with the kind of Leslie Knope, pulled-from-nowhere solution we've come to know and love.  Oh, and I also adored the scene with Leslie and April by the lockers, because it is a great moment between the two of them, and we haven't gotten one of those in a while.

I'm glad Tom will be re-joining "Tommy's Place" (which is what he has officially dubbed the department), because I miss having him around, and I'd also like to see him take a larger role in Leslie's campaign without the distraction of Entertainment 720.  The video he made for Leslie in "Meet n Greet" shows that he's capable of doing the exact kind of schmoozing/propaganda she's going to need (especially when she gets a rival candidate, which is supposed to happen soon), and I'd like to see him do something productive for his friend and show his growth following his failure as an entrepreneur.

The Chris storyline is kind of boring except for the opportunity it affords Ann to show the transformation she's made from last season.  Also, I tend to agree with her stance on jogging:  "Jogging is the worst!  I mean, I know it keeps you healthy, but God, at what cost?"

Overall a strong episode, very funny and full of some truly great character moments.  It didn't quite reach the scope of last week's epic installment, but it made some important steps forward.

TV Review: Parks and Recreation 4.04-- Pawnee Rangers

At this point I am fairly convinced this show is no longer capable of turning out a bad episode.  "Pawnee Rangers" is the fourth phenomenal episode in a season that has been damn near perfect so far. 

In this episode we get to see Leslie and Ron's dueling scout troops, the Pawnee Rangers and the Pawnee Goddesses (can you guess whose is whose?).  Ron comes at his leadership role with his usual manly stoicism, giving us a hilarious extension of what we saw back in "Go Big or Go Home" with his basketball team.  And Leslie, of course, showers her girl power fueled troop with affection, merit badges, candy, and puppies (no, seriously).  It quickly becomes clear who has the superior troop, as Ron's men-in-training begin to defect to Leslie's group.

Leslie's "little Leslie Knope monsters" are perfect playing against Amy Poehler in this episode, especially when they begin to channel their enthusiastic leader just a little too much (it's 70% pride-inspiring, 30% annoying).  They lead a public forum to determine whether boys should be allowed to join the Pawnee Goddesses, and it is fantastic.  It also leads to Ron's entire troop (including Andy, aka Brother Nature) taking a pledge of womanhood.  The story wraps up really well, though, with Leslie recruiting the best members of each troop for Ron's elite group, The Swansons.  I hope they make a return appearance soon.

Additionally, the Goddesses hate Ann.  I feel kind of bad that most of the stories involving Ann this season have been her trying to get people to be nice to her, but this one is too hilarious.  It's mostly because she just tries to gosh darn hard to get people to like her, and she just fails almost every time (though that scheme with the fish seems to work out pretty well; then again, maybe she just gets along better with boys).  I also like that as much as the Goddesses hate Ann, they love April.

And if that all weren't enough to make this episode extremely appealing, I haven't even gotten to the hilarious subplot involving Tom, Donna, and Ben.  Donna shows her compassionate side by sensing that Ben is feeling a bit off (though she does erroneously attribute it to Game of Thrones' cancellation at first), and convinces Tom to take him along with them on their "Treat Yourself Day" field trip.  What in the world is "Treat Yourself Day", you ask?  Well, it sounds like just about the best day ever, and something that is right up Donna and Tom's alley.  It's all about relaxation and spending money on frivolous items (there is a fashion show sequence involved, the full version of which I fervently hope is included in the deleted material from this episode).  Anyway, Ben predictably finds this pretty insane at first, given his lack of interest in high-end clothing and spa treatments (him trying to get acupuncture is one of the most hilarious moments in the episode), until Donna and Tom convince him to buy something ridiculous he's interested in.  And believe me, I tried to imagine what this might end up being, and I was absolutely wrong.  It's okay though, because the real result is far more hilarious than anything I might have dreamed up.

I cannot deal with Ben dressed as Batman, especially since they make him wear the costume the rest of the episode/day.  It's just too ridiculous and over the top, and just when you think it can't get anymore absurd, Batman breaks down and starts crying over his breakup.  There are moments in television that are almost too much, and this is one of them.  Fortunately, the heart to heart with Tom and Donna that follows saves it from becoming too painful to watch.  I really like this friendship because I was initially really disappointed by Ben's whole "I have nothing to stay in Pawnee for" stance, and I am glad to see he's learning that Leslie doesn't have to be his whole world (and probably shouldn't be, if he's crying in public over her).  It's a rare subplot that has both laugh-out-loud absurdity and genuine character development, but this one absolutely raises the bar.  Not to mention the tag, which gives us a fantastic snapshot of how life is going over at Casa Ludgate-Dwyer-Wyatt.

Also, there's a third plot where Chris starts dating Jerry's daughter.  That I don't care about so much (or at all).

TV Review: Parks and Recreation 4.03-- Born and Raised

I knew going into this episode that it would be difficult to top last week's Tammys extravaganza.  And yet, Parks managed to outstrip even my high expectations, again.  Every single person in this episode had something funny to do, and it was outrageous and topical while also moving the larger plot line forward in a much-needed way.  "Born and Raised" is my favorite episode of this season so far, and we're only three weeks in-- that can only bode well for the future.  Here are the soundbites I loved most:

"We removed most of my poems, emotional ramblings, and pictures of unicorns."  --Leslie, on how her book was edited to be more campaign-friendly

"The Time Traveler's Optometrist"  --pronounced by Leslie to be "unreadable," and I absolutely believe that

Ben:  "Wow, you guys are really cute together."
Tom:  "I'm cute together with everyone."

Leslie Knope:  Author, Immigrant

"There's only one man for the job... Burt Macklin,FBI."  --Andy

"I will get my one minute of small talk, dammit!  It will be casual, and it will be amicable!"  --Ann

"That's a...powerful metaphor."  --Ben

"Quick, start talking about nerd stuff!"  --Tom to Ben, trying to ward off Joan's advances

"Let's just say the message boards are going nuts."  --Ben, world's most lovable nerd

"Pawnee Hospital was overrun with raccoons at the time."  --Marlene Griggs-Knope, on why she had to birth Leslie in Eagleton

"I wonder who else was born in Eagleton...Voldemort, probably."  --Leslie

Aaaand let's just leave it at that.  Fantastic episode was fantastic.

TV Review: Parks and Recreation, 4.02-- Ron and Tammys

I've discovered a new inability to write about this season's episodes after just one viewing, because there has been so much going on.  Therefore, I waited until I was able to re-watch "Ron and Tammys" to make sure I did my best to capture all of it.

This episode was absolutely hilarious, and such a nice reprieve from the angst and drama of last week's premiere.  Of course, it's usually a safe bet that any episode featuring Ron and the wacky women in his life is going to be pretty funny, but this one outdid even my high expectations.  Tammy 1 is truly a terrifying character, and I loved the way they wrote her as having just as much control over Ron as Tammy 2, but in a completely different way.  And I have to agree with Leslie that for as bizarre as Ron gets around his second ex-wife, the neutered version of him (the one who has to call Tammy 1 for permission to eat lunch with Leslie), is far more terrifying.

As if that weren't enough, this episode also introduces us to Ron's mother, who is predictably the source of most of our Ron's core values.  She is badass and hates the government and has a room in her house full of just guns (which Andy delightedly discovers), and she decides to help Leslie and her sidekicks bring Ron back from the edge.  How is she going to accomplish this?  An old-fashioned drinking contest of course.  I think I spent most of this scene alternately wondering what the heck that stuff would even taste like (all I could come up with was Leslie's take, "POISON"), and laughing hysterically at Leslie's intoxicated antics.  This show has shown us drunk Leslie on several occasions, but this one is absolutely my new favorite.

And because this show loves its viewers enough to top off a fantastic A plot with a wonderful B plot, we got to see Ben thrown into the crazy world of Entertainment 720.  First, it must have slipped my mind that Ben has never met Jean Ralphio before-- their interactions were priceless, not to mention they resulted in Ben being given the nickname "Jello Shot" (which should give you an indication of the integrity of this company).  Anyway, Tom asked Ben to take a look at 720's finances, which are pretty dismal ("they'll be bankrupt by the end of...this sentence").  Ben tried to talk sense into Tom, but I don't know how much our favorite would-be entrepreneur took the advice to heart.  It seems that Entertainment 720 may be doomed to failure, which is kind of a shame-- I would have liked to see them in an actual event-planning or promoting situation.  Maybe we'll get to see another adventure with this ridiculous duo before they lose whatever money they have left.  Oh, and also-- using Ben in the tag to give an incredulous tour of the office and staff of Entertainment 720?  Genius. 

There was also an annoying and far too long C plot involving Chris and Ann filming a PSA for diabetes.  Because the rest of the episode was so stellar this plot was made even more tedious by comparison, and left many viewers (myself included) wondering what purpose, exactly, Rob Lowe serves on this show anymore.  They could have easily left this out and incorporated Ann into a different story line somehow, because as it is now, she's stuck in the episode's only dull moments.

I hope next week sees a return to Leslie's campaign (because you know there are potential hijinks galore), and returns to the plot momentum that was so abundant in last week's premiere.

TV Review: Parks and Recreation, 4.01-- "I'm Leslie Knope"

I would normally be extremely ashamed of how late this review is, especially since I had a boatload of thoughts (some coherent, others not so much) the minute "I'm Leslie Knope" concluded on Thursday.  However, a bout of illness and a weird kind of writer's block prevented me from writing up my thoughts until now.

This episode was just about everything I could've hoped for in a premiere, and a premiere for this show nonetheless.  It was funny but genuinely heartfelt, and it accomplished everything it needed to in order for the season to really get rolling in episode two. 

We saw a lot of the fallout from last season's finale-- Tom plugging his new company at the Parks Department (although as April pointed out, they don't seem to be doing much in the way of actual work), Ron hiding in his cabin from Tammy 1 (and growing a truly fabulous beard in just a couple of weeks), and April serving as Andy's would-be mentor as he navigates the uphill climb from his career as a "shoe-shinist."  We got a fantastic humorous story line for Ann (finally!), but the most important part of this episode was Leslie, and the decisions she faced.

It would be dishonest to say that I didn't devote a large amount of time this summer to wondering how Leslie would negotiate a breakup with Ben (which I considered inevitable), and whether I would be okay with it.  After watching the premiere, the answers are (respectively):  flawlessly, and yes, I am beyond okay with it.  Despite the fact that the writers have further established Ben Wyatt as one of the most impossibly perfect men in the universe, the breakup was absolutely true to both characters and simultaneously heartbreaking and satisfying for the viewers.  They set up the actual breakup scene so well (and with so many fake-outs) that by the time Ben actually gave his little (adorable) speech, I was breathing a sigh of relief for both of them.  I know that there is a bigger plan in place for this couple (who are undeniably perfect for each other), and so for now I am perfectly content with watching Leslie pursue her dream and watching both of them figure themselves out.  When (not if) they do get back together, the relationship will be a hundred times stronger for having overcome this rough patch.

Also, the tiny teaser preview we got of Patricia Clarkson's performance?  Amazing.  Rumor has it next week's episode will feature Ron and all the Tammys in his life, and I am definitely looking forward to it.

Fall TV 2011: Parks and Recreation, Season 4

Of all the shows I'm really invested in, I think it's fitting that this will be the last one to premiere, because it is the closest to my heart and the one that never fails to make me smile.  Parks may have just been snubbed out of a much-deserved Emmy award (but we don't need to get into that here...), but I have full faith that Season 4 is going make this show's status as one of TV's best something that simply cannot be denied.

Where We Left Off:  As we overcame our collective grief at Lil' Sebastian's funeral service, loose ends cropped up in virtually every corner.  Tom has resigned from his position with the Parks Department in order to go into business with the irrepressible Jean Ralphio, establishing Entertainment 720, a high-end conglomerate of...something (Tom explains it better).  Andy and April are taking a big step in their relationship-- she's going to be the new manager of Mouse Rat, his band!  Ron is currently somewhere cowering in fear because the implicitly terrifying Tammy 1 has rolled back into town.  But the biggest cliffhanger at all is what we saw happen for Leslie in the finale's last few minutes:  she's being vetted to run for political office in Pawnee, a lifelong dream of hers, but there can't be any scandals to dig up.  And unfortunately, her secret relationship with Ben is a scandal as big as they come.

What's Ahead:  The showrunner's have intimated that the season premiere will have Leslie making her decisions on both professional and personal fronts (though in typical Leslie fashion, she will likely try to avoid a confrontation with Ben for as long as possible), and it will not be an easy choice.  We're going to get a glimpse of the "rise and fall" of Entertainment 720, and we'll be seeing not only Tammy 1 but also Tammy 0 (Ron's mother) as early as the season's second episode.  Considering the fact that this is already quite a bit of chaos and there are still a handful of characters to be accounted for, it is shaping up to be a pretty busy season for everyone in Pawnee.

What I'd Like to See:  Much as it breaks my heart to admit it, I just can't foresee a scenario in which Leslie gets to both run for office and keep Ben, so I'm predicting we're going to see a breakup by the end of the season opener.  It'll likely be a reluctant breakup, but a breakup nonetheless.  What gives me hope in the face of this is two things:  one, we will (hopefully) get to see Ben with a story line of his own, unattached to his relationship with Leslie; and two, Mike Schur has spoken on numerous occasions of Leslie experiencing "buyer's remorse" with regard to her decision, and he has suggested that whichever choice she makes will likely be reversed or altered by the second half of Season 4.  So I think we'll see a breakup in the name of Leslie's political aspirations, but I think she will be very disillusioned by the world of politics and will either drop out of or lose her race by the midpoint of the season, leaving the door open for a reconciliation with Ben.  This would give both characters time to experience valuable growth as individuals and to realize how much they mean to each other, and I think their relationship will only be stronger for it in the long run.

As for the rest of the gang, I'm really excited to see some great stories for the unsung supporting players on this show.  I can't wait to see Tom's hijinks over at Entertainment 720, and how he deals with watching his dream essentially go up in flames.  Ron and anything to do with anyone named Tammy is bound to be hilarious, and Andy and April are sure to continue stumbling toward adulthood together.  What I'm really pulling for this season, though, is a better arc for Ann, Leslie's BFF.  Last season we saw her descend into a kind of pathetic trend of serial dating, and not a whole lot else.  She works at City Hall now, so there are a lot more options for her as a character, and I'd love to see her collaborate with the Parks department on something awesome.  I'm not sure what will happen with her and Chris; for my part I hope they remain just friends, but we'll have to see what the writers have in mind for that.

Overall, it will be very difficult for this show to destroy the unshakable foundation it has spent three seasons building, and no matter what happens (even if, sigh, all my predictions are proven wrong), I'm sure it will be the same hilarious and heartfelt show we've all come to know and love.

Premiere Date:  Thursday, September 22nd.

Parks and Rec Season 4 Updates!

Switching gears back to television just for a moment, I enjoyed immensely this interview with Mike Schur, executive producer of Parks and Recreation.  He talks a bit about what we'll see going on in Season 4, which returns on Thursday, September 22nd!

Very interested to see Tammy 1, Ann and Tom's respective story lines, and of course, what happens with Leslie and Ben.

Parks and Recreation Season Finale: Two Roads

Wha...?  But they were (I was) so happy!  And then--but are they--wait, what did I just watch?

That's the summation of how I felt about the last five minutes of "Lil Sebastian," when we saw Leslie's game-changing moment and hints at the potential fallout.  But there is almost a full two episodes to cover before we get to that.  First, let's check how I did on my finale predictions:

*Lil Sebastian was the one to die, as expected.

*We did in fact see Tom hand in his resignation to pursue his dreams

*Ann did have an interaction with Chris, though it was different from what I expected.  Chris is surprisingly still in the dark about Ben and Leslie, and so their conversation had nothing to do with the wayward couple.  I did like that Ann seems to finally be over her past with Chris, and that they were able to talk as friends.  I initially hoped that Chris' musing after she left was a sign that he might relax his policy about inter-office dating just a little, but by episode's end that wasn't even the biggest problem on the Ben/Leslie front.

*In fairness, I think the interview I cited in my predictions oversold the Ron/Tammy thing a bit.  I was expecting an actual storyline rather than a relatively minute interaction, though I am interested to meet Tammy #1 (and see who'll be playing her), and to find out why she strikes so much fear(?) into Tammy #2, who bolted upon seeing her.

*As I forecasted, little developments with Andy and April were all we saw, like the show was trying to check in with them every time we needed a cute moment.

*I admit that I was completely off the mark in my assessment of what would happen with Leslie and her job.  Chris' overhaul of the Parks Department seemed not to affect her at all, busy as she was with other matters, and the political recruitment plot was not something I was expecting to see this early in the show's run (though in fairness I guess they want to move it along and set up for a potential game-changer in a season or two.  Leslie isn't going anywhere any time soon, but Ben might be?  I was disappointed and surprised by this, but we'll get to that, I promise.

First, let's go all the way back to the beginning of "The Bubble" when things were a little bit sunnier.  Ben was super awkward this episode, in a way that was almost difficult to watch.  His meeting with Leslie's mom was a particular example of this, and  I'm just glad they didn't put us through watching the entire exchange.

We saw Tom and Andy get banished to the fourth floor per Chris' revamping of the department, and I loved Andy's irrational enthusiasm about helping out with such a menial task, in contrast with Tom's loathing, which built nicely (I especially enjoyed him bickering with the elderly women in the office).

Leslie teaching Ben how to deal with her mother was amusing, and Ms. Knope Sr. liking him maybe a little too much was doubly so.  Two things bothered me about this plot initially:  one, Leslie and Ben were spending way too much time together to be legitimately passed off as just work, and two, I don't think Leslie actually did any of her own work all day.  These things both proved to be a hint of things to come in the night's second episode (their many failures at secrecy and the relationship in general impacting the quality of their work), but it seemed like they were being too reckless right off the bat.  Both of them said on several occasions that they both didn't want to break up and didn't want to get fired, I just thought that neither did a very good job of showing that they meant it.  The only person I was glad to have find out about their relationship was Leslie's mom, especially because her approval of Ben clearly meant a lot to her daughter.


 Let's move on to talk about "Lil Sebastian," where my heart started to crack (and not because of the mini-horse funeral upon which the episode's plot focused).  There is a lot that happened in a very short time, and a lot of questions left unanswered, which means I will undoubtedly spend my summer wondering where things are headed.

Right off the bat we got more of Ben and Leslie just sucking at keeping their relationship a secret, to the point of it being really frustrating.  I mean, they kept their attraction to each other secret for ages (Ben didn't even know for sure that Leslie was into him until "The Fight"), but now they're suddenly incapable of behaving like adults?  I know why it was written this way, and what it was intended to do, I just still don't know if I buy it.


I really liked Ron being the first one to find out about the relationship, although I'm a little disturbed by how long he stayed on the line after Ben accidentally called him (and more than a little disturbed at the content of the conversations he overheard).  I liked that he was upfront with Leslie about the risk she was taking, assuming that fatherly role he sometimes does (reluctantly) when it comes to her.  You could tell that he doesn't actually oppose their relationship, just opposes losing his most valuable employee.

Chris' struggle with death during the funeral proceedings and his health "scare" probably should have humanized him a little, but I couldn't not laugh.  It was just so absurd to think that someone so obviously concerned with prolonging his life and health has never fully realized that he's eventually going to die.



And of course that last scene with Leslie.  She and Ben had just agreed to really try to tone it down (in other words, to do what they should have been doing the entire time) and be as professional as possible, when she was approached by political recruiters (would that be their official title?  I know nothing about this).  The Leslie Knope enthusiast in me was overjoyed that she's finally being recognized for her work and offered an opportunity that she desperately wants, but the Ben and Leslie "shipper" part of me wanted to cry.  Of course they aren't just going to let her get away with choosing between her current job and her boyfriend; they're going to throw another wrench entirely into the machine and make her choose between him and her biggest aspiration.  The episode left it up to us to speculate on what her "no" to the scandals question meant (is she going to break up with Ben?  or did she just do herself in by lying about the first thing they asked?), not to mention that sad look through the window. 

I honestly don't know which way it will go; there are obvious downsides no matter what.  If she stays with Ben she risks her political career blowing up in her face before it's even gotten off the ground; if she dumps him she's sacrificing a relationship that at least two people in her life have expressed support for (not to mention the implication that she's already happier with Ben than she has been with anyone in the past).  Both the relationship and the career can make her happy, but Leslie (and the viewership) is learning that in a non-ideal world, you usually only get to choose one path to potential happiness.

I'm going to count down the days until September trying to find a loophole wherein she can have both.  Because Leslie is above all else an average gal, like you and me.  And if she can have the best of both worlds, maybe we can too. 

TV Discussion: Parks and Rec Predictions

I've been saying it since January, but Parks and Recreation is honestly the best show on television right now, and is getting about one micron of the credit it so deserves.   I will be sad to see it go after only 16 installments this season, but I am overjoyed that it is (rightfully) coming back for season 4 in September.  Four months isn't that long....right?

Anyway, I've been anticipating the finale a lot, as anyone who reads this blog or has had to endure my endless musings will tell  you, and I thought in anticipation of tonight's wrap-up I would put all my thoughts out there for consideration (not to mention I like having all my predictions outlined so I can check later to see if I was right).

First let me say that this is all speculation based on my analysis of the show and the sources I've read teasing what might happen in tonight's concluding episodes, so no all-out spoilers here.  I will warn though, without trying to sound arrogant, that I'm fairly confident in some of my predictions.  Most of my thoughts are in response to this article on Entertainment Weekly's website in which Mike Schur goes into some of what might be going on in the finale.

Let's start with Tom.  As much as I adore Aziz Ansari (and barring a big career jump for him, feel pretty confident they'd be able to work him back into the show in some capacity), I'm fairly certain that this is the end of Tom's run with the Parks Department, or at least the finale will leave it looking that way.  We saw in "The Fight" that Tom's attempts at entrepreneurship aren't simply gimmicks for attention; he really wants to make a name for himself, and believes he can do it. Chris' oppression of Tom's creativity is very likely going to come up again tonight, and based on the scoop about Jean Ralphio's business proposal, I think it's probable that Tom will decide that now is the time to cut his government ties and strike out on his own.

What about Ann?  This season has seen her devolve a little bit (although it has been nice to see Rashida Jones break from exclusively playing the straight-man to Leslie's crazy), and we haven't gotten as substantial a story for her as I would have liked to see (in a near perfect season, this was one of the few minor flaws).  I'm intrigued, though, by what Schur has to say about her finally coming to terms with her relationship with Chris.  I think the idea of Ann getting closure opens the door for her to communicate with Chris again, and I think we may see her either stand up for Leslie and Ben outright, or else say something to fundamentally change his mind.  The more I think about it, the more I think I like the idea of Ann being the unsung hero(ine) of the hour.

Ron (and Tammy) seem to have a lot coming up in this episode as well, though I'm more hesitant to speculate on this one because Ron is a much more difficult character to read.  I'm getting the impression, though, that while most of us would expect him to be the first to help Leslie out of whatever mess she manages to get herself and Ben into, the personal issues he's dealing with will take center stage and will either prohibit him from helping or simply make him dismissive to any concerns beyond his own.

From what I can tell, Andy and April are going to be very much the "B" storyline during these two episodes, which I think will be very fitting.  Their relationship was a critical thread at the end of season 2 and the first half of season 3, and they've been on such a fast track since reconciling that I think giving them a slow, steady series of bumps in the road, teaching them how to take care of one another, is really the best approach.

And of course we have to talk about Leslie and Ben.  I think I'm finally done squealing and giggling over the last minute of "Road Trip," but from the sound of it "The Bubble" (at least before the conflict ensues) is going to have me turning to mush all over again.  I hope they'll give us a few moments of giddy happiness before Ben and Leslie inevitably turn the situation into a disaster.  I'm interested to see how the news of their relationship spreads, and how other people react.  I'm most intrigued to see if Chris will be as much of a douche about the revelation as we've been set up to expect (at this point my money's still on 'yes').  It seems that their decision to be together is going to leave one (possibly both) of their careers hanging in the balance, and I was sure it would be Ben's until I read the article mentioned above.

Schur says that there will be an "out of nowhere curveball" for Leslie in the final scene, and my gut is telling me, against (almost) all logic, that we are going to see Leslie Knope step down as the Deputy Director of the Parks Department.  There are really only a couple of scenarios in which I could see this happening, so let me outline it as best I can:

*If it came down to one of them (Leslie or Ben) having to quit their job to keep their relationship (assuming they're committed enough to do that), my money would be on Ben 98% of the time.  He's not as attached, his skills are probably more transferable, and Leslie is much more established in Pawnee.  Additionally, I just don't think Leslie is serious enough about Ben to quit her job for him.

HOWEVER...

*There is this nagging plot point of Chris trying to drastically restructure the department, and it sounds like he's going to be pretty aggressive about it.  Let's suppose he wants to alter the Parks Department in such a way that Leslie's job and perhaps her staff will be very different, to its detriment.  The fact that Chris is actively preventing her relationship in conjunction with him making her beloved job virtually unrecognizable may well prompt her to issue her resignation by the episode's end.

I have to stop here; there are already way too many thoughts in this for one post.  But I am so excited to watch tonight, and even if I'm wrong about absolutely everything, I know the show will deliver like it has been all season, and leave me wishing September could start tomorrow.

TV Review: The Parks and Rec Gang's All Here...and They're Wasted

I've decided to recap each half of last night's Parks and Recreation Double-Shot Bonanza individually, if only because I'm anticipating having a lot to say, and most of my thoughts on "Road Trip" are still gushing and hitting random keys on the keyboard.

I don't think I fully realized that Leslie and Ann have never had an honest-to-goodness fight before, but I really liked the way the show handled it.  Each of them got a lot off her chest, and even though they were all viciously hungover the next day (literally and figuratively), they resolved it in a way that was very honest and realistic.  Bonus points for having Ben be the one to extend Leslie's olive branch on her behalf, and double bonus points for it leading to Ann's revelation that his feelings for their yellow-haired friend were mutual.

As someone with an absurdly high tolerance for alcohol, I'd be very interested to try Snake Juice.  It sounded right up my alley-- caffeine, booze, Kahlua-like flavor-- but I digress.  I loved the way that everyone jumped on board with Tom's latest crackpot scheme, with hilarious results.  Just seeing how everyone reacted to the drank was worth the entire episode, especially Leslie's angry demands that Jean Ralphio "dance up on her."

Overall, this episode was not only hysterical, but it was a great setup for the next installment.  It ended up being a huge blessing that they both aired in the same night, because I think I might have died of anticipation if NBC had made me wait seven whole days to find out what was coming next.

TV Review: Parks and Rec Paints a Picture of Perfection

Holy hell, it's insane how badly I need Ben and Leslie to get together.  It's insane how palpable the tension between them is getting (Even Andy noticed! Granted, he thought it was because Leslie had stolen money from Ben, but still...).  It's more insane that every time I think this show can't get better, it just does.

So many great things to talk about in this episode (extended by 10 minutes because apparently the TV gods are listening to my prayers--and yes, there are TV gods).  Jerry's Painting--the name of the episode, and possibly the best/most hilarious piece of artwork I've ever seen.  Ben as April & Andy's roommate-- I think whichever writer came up with that story needs an Emmy like, now.  So hilarious, and they did it without making Ben look like too much of a square or the newlyweds look too stupid/oblivious.  And of course I loved Ben's conversation with Andy about his and Leslie's relationship.  It was cute and perfect and oh gosh, I'm gushing again.

There was some really great character stuff in this episode that I really appreciated.  I like that we've been taking a very subtle turn with Chris' character; his bubbly attitude started out charming but now his refusal to break from his ways is becoming a problem for multiple characters, not to mention that his perkiness is getting more and more annoying with each scene that he's in.  I just love the irony of this, given the way that they showed him making Ben be the "bad guy" last season.  And Leslie was just...luminous this episode.  Amy Poehler deserves Emmy consideration for this episode (not that she didn't already, but if I had to pick a performance to submit, it'd be this one); she just brought everything to the table that makes her so wonderful and really pulled out all the stops.  She was just so nuanced, from the obvious angst over Ben to her escalating confidence and willingness to stand up to Chris (among others).  I think this is (hopefully) a set up for her being bold enough to push things with Ben where they definitely need to go, ideally some time before Season 3 concludes.

And on an only vaguely related note, how adorable was Leslie this week?  I've grown accustomed to Ben being ridiculously cute in his own awkward way, but I definitely underestimated Leslie's ability to be genuinely charming (I like to think that Ben just brings out the best in her).

Additionally, Ron's speech at the art opening.  I died.  Seriously.  This man takes approximately 2 minutes total screen time and walks away with some of the most memorable quotes.  that's probably a skill that ranks pretty high on the Pyramid of Greatness.

TV Review: The Writers of Parks and Recreation May Be My "Soulmates"

There were so many things going on in this episode that I adored.  To name a few:  Chris taking the team on a journey to the natural foods store; April and Andy being the cutest boring married couple in the world; Ann taking the sluttiness up a notch (I'm sensing potential for an intervention, Leslie Knope style, in the near future); literally every single thing that Tom said/did; and of course my favorite development of the night....any guesses?  Anyone?

Let's talk about that first, since I'll just be distracted trying to write on anything else.  I cannot express how worried I was when Ben shot Leslie down in their first scene together.  I mean, I was pissed.  You can't just build up someone being attracted to someone else for an entire season then have them drop it like nothing happened.  Fortunately, I held out hope, knowing that the writers over at Parks would never be so incompetent (I mean, it isn't Glee, folks).  And alas, they redeemed themselves in the end:  Ben just doesn't want to get himself or Leslie fired, because Chris has a policy against inter-office relationships.  (Sidenote:  I was totally thinking to myself, "Well that's hypocritical, what about him and Ann?", and then I remembered that she doesn't actually work in their office.)  At any rate, I'm glad that they both know how the other feels now, and I'm interested to see how they're going to handle this.  The obvious answer (and hope) is some kind of secret romance, but unfortunately neither Leslie nor Ben strikes me as capable of being particularly stealthy.  I just hope they don't spend the rest of the season pretending that the revelations in this episode didn't happen (again, it isn't Glee, and I need to remember that).

But backtracking just a little bit, I want to take a moment to examine the LOLZ factor of the Leslie and Tom saga with which this episode gifted us.  Point number one:  Tom looks like such a creeper in his online dating profile photo.  Point number two: That little smile he aimed at the camera, the one where you could almost see him deciding to mess with Leslie, that was like the smile of a hilarious baby angel, and I think Aziz Ansari needs to make that face like, all the time.  Point number three:  Tom's three wishes.  Enough said.  Point four:  The kiss, and Tom's reaction/description with Ben afterward was so perfectly awkward.  Moments like these and plot lines like this one would probably never work on any other show, and that's part of what makes this one so fabulous.

Bonus moment of hilarity:  Ron comparing watching the vegans in the natural foods store to watching animals in the zoo.  So, so good.