TV Review: Parks and Recreation 4.06-- The End of the World

This episode is yet another puzzle piece in what has been a very emotionally-engaged season.  I have been enjoying Season 4 because it really does feel like the next natural phase in the evolution of Parks:  we've spent three season now getting to know these characters and their (many, many) quirks and coming to care very much about them (some of us, myself included, maybe a little too much).  And now we're getting the payoff of all that foundation-building in episodes like "The End of the World," which has each of our favorite Pawneeans taking a long look at something significant in his or her life.  An episode like this only works when there is genuine investment in each character's happiness, and I think the impact of this episode is a testament to how well this show has bred that emotional investment.

"The End of the World" gave us a chance to meet the remaining members of Zorp, a cult which took Pawnee by storm in the 1970's.  They have predicted, based on some very sound writings (wink wink), that the world is going to end, and want to use the occasion to hold a vigil in one of Pawnee's scenic parks.  Leslie indulges them, and as the word spreads about the impending apocalypse, everyone's evening takes a turn for the exciting and potentially life-changing.

First we finally got an indication of how Leslie is handling the fallout from her breakup with Ben, and it quickly becomes clear that she hasn't been handling it at all until now.  Forced to watch the irrepressible Shauna Malwae-Tweep flirting with her ex, Leslie enters a downward spiral of jealousy and awkwardness that rivals the cringe-worthiness of season one's "The Reporter" (also, curiously, heavily involving Shauna).  It is almost hard to watch Leslie's attempts to distract Ben, at one point driving him to an abandoned gas station just to keep him from going to a party with Shauna.  And when he reveals that he's known the whole time exactly what she's been doing, the interaction goes from painfully awkward to just painful.  I am so unbelievably thrilled that Leslie is getting a chance to run for office, but watching scenes like this I just want these two crazy kids to get back together, already.

Across town at the now former headquarters of Entertainment 720, Tom and Jean-Ralphio have decided to spend their final ten thousand dollars on a party for the end of the world.  Not only were we treated to another fantastic Jean-Ralphio appearance, but we got further indication that, while he may be a bit down in the dumps right now, Tom is going to be okay eventually (and bonus points for bringing back his former girlfriend Lucy to drive this point home).  I loved the little bromance moment we got with Tom and his erstwhile business partner, and I really hope that we'll still get a healthy dose of their antics in the future.

My favorite plot in this episode, though, is Andy and April scrambling to fulfill all the items on Andy's bucket list.  Every single activity is so undeniably Andy (hold a thousand dollars cash, make the world's best grilled cheese, be an action star), and it is only made better by April's absolutely unquestioning support.  I think the "movie" they made starring Burt Macklin is one of my new favorite things, along with, of course, the final scene when they reached the Grand Canyon.  Not only was this the perfect ending for the episode (especially with the addition of that song as the sun came up), but it was one of the best Andy and April plots we've seen in a long time, reminding us why we fell in love with the two of them in the first place.

What I love about this episode is that it really feels like a hinge in the season, an installment that sort of takes stock of where everyone's head is at and opens a lot of doors for developments in the weeks to come.  In other words, this is the ideal kind of episode to lead in to November sweeps, and the potential game-changers that entails.

TV Review: Parks and Recreation 4.05-- Meet & Greet

So much to say about this episode, starting with how glad I am that we got to see an actual Halloween episode this season, and that it highlighted some of the best this wacky bunch of lovable misfits (and Chris) have to offer.

We open with April and Andy planning the Halloween bash of a lifetime, which for Andy means lots of fun and candy and for April seems to mean something much more macabre.  One fun addition in this scene is the return of Food n Stuff, where, as the name indicates, you can get "all of your food, and most of your stuff."  Also, like Andy, I did not know what a "blood orphan" is.  I looked it up, and let's just say April, you are even more disturbing than I imagined.

We cut over to see what Leslie is up to this week, and find her prepping for a meeting with the owners of local businesses.  What's more, Tom has appointed himself her adviser so that she can better hype herself up and secure votes.  He is, naturally, doing this in exchange for some free exposure for Entertainment 720, which can only spell disaster.  Oh, and just when you're sure the deck isn't stacked against Leslie enough, Tom gets a clearly disturbing phone call from Jean Ralphio just before the meeting. 

I'd like to interject here and voice my disappointment that this is the second Halloween-centric episode this show has aired, and for the second time, Leslie doesn't get to partake in the festivities.  And while I enjoyed the story arc for her in both season 2's "Greg Pikitis" and this week's episode, I can't help but wonder if this is a missed opportunity.  Leslie seems like exactly the type of gal to get extremely invested in over-celebrating Halloween.

We cut back over to April and Andy's, where we are introduced to the very first version of Ben that I do not find remotely attractive, and that is passive-aggressive Ben.  He's pissed that Andy and April have decided to plan and execute this party without him, but rather than saying that like a grown person he decides to be petulant about it.  I get that you learned this behavior from your estranged parents, Ben (and nice drop-in with the backstory there, writers), but when Andy and April are both behaving more maturely than you are, you're doing something wrong.

The party quickly gets into full swing, and there are a ton of little fun things going on.  Orin, April's infinitely creepy friend (who is apparently a "genius"), makes an appearance, and Ron shows up in his pirate Halloween costume (he literally has one costume he wears every year).  The latter quickly becomes distracted by the many things wrong with Andy and April's ramshackle house, and appoints himself handyman, purchasing tools for them (and the sequence where he goes through their existing "toolbox" is hilarious), and then making the necessary repairs while everyone else dances and drinks the night away.  Ron does, however, need a sidekick with "small hands", and selects none other than Ann Perkins, which makes her (and me) incredibly happy.  I loved her and Ron's bonding in this episode, and I hope that this is some progress for both of their characters that doesn't get erased or ignored in future.

Back at Leslie's meeting, Tom is skillfully steering things downhill, at least for Leslie.  His attempts to publicize E720, which it is pretty clear by now is tanking, overshadow all of Leslie's efforts to appeal to the business community.  She tries to turn it around without losing her cool, but Tom is in rare form and she (understandably) gets frustrated, leading to one of their worst arguments/fights to date.

The next few scenes are filled with an almost unprecedented level of violence for this show, although it is all done in the name of hilarity and, oddly, character development.  First we see both Andy and April try to push Ben to confront his annoyance with them, each using different tactics.  I love that they both approach him like a sibling, because it indicates something about their current dynamic, and I love the idea of forcing Ben, who is probably the least physically aggressive character on the show, into an absurdly extended wrestling match (that was Andy's tactic, not April's, just to be clear).  And as if that dose of rough-housing isn't enough, we go back to a super angry Leslie who nearly drowns Tom for his attempted hijacking of her campaign event.  Luckily, no permanent damage appears to be done, and when Tom confesses that his company is bankrupt, the friendship seems repaired as well.

Back at the party, Andy finally pushes Ben to fight back, and earns himself a broken nose for his troubles.  It's okay, though, because the entire experience brings the bizarre co-habitating trio closer together than ever, with Ben asking for some basic respect ("Stop referring to my bedroom as a common space!"), and Andy and April asking that he not be such a little bitch in future (okay, that last part was my wording, not theirs).

How does Tom make things up to Leslie?  Well, by showing her the video biography he had originally made to air at the meeting.  This video, judging by the brief clips of it we saw, is a masterpiece on par with the phenomenal Lil' Sebastian memorial tribute, complete with Tom's ridiculously accented voiceover (it's Southern this time!).  For Leslie, though, this is a huge gesture, and it actually brings her to tears.  Once again, Tom surprises not with his douchiness, but with the surprisingly thoughtful gestures of which he occasionally proves capable.

Overall, this episode was both funny and sweet, and it moved several plots forward as well as giving insight into several characters.  Translation:  pretty much the best Halloween episode you could ask for.  Oh, except for the sub-plot with Chris.  I think I might have fallen asleep during that one, except for the moments where I felt really, really bad for Jerry for having to put up with "Sherlock Traeger."

Some favorite quotes:

"My parents would keep everything bottled up and subtly hint at what's bothering them, and after 36 years they are still....divorced!"  --Ben

"I stand by my decision to avoid salad and other disgusting things."  --Leslie

"This looks like a party for Tom's face."  --Leslie

"I don't like to throw around the word butthead too often, but....Tom is being a real dick."  --Leslie

"There are no rules."  --April, on dealing with her sister

"We're brothers."  --Andy, after Ben broke his nose

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.

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: Parks and Rec's OMG-worthy Episode

So, it turns out the non-stop Blogger outage yesterday might have been a stroke of luck for anyone reading this, because I think if I'd tried to blog about "Road Trip" last night, it would have looked something like this:
                      "Leslie and BEn OMG SO HAPPYSFLDKSFJDSLGJ G."

Seriously though, I'm such a shameless fan-girl when I've really gotten invested in an onscreen couple.  But since I've now watched the episode through twice (and watched the last scene, as predicted, approximately 200 times-- not entirely my fault, Tumblr fans are notorious for posting repeat GIFs), I think I should be able to actually articulate some real thoughts about what happened (and yes, there were other things that happened in the episode, believe it or not).

Leslie and Ben were not the only couple that we got a romantic gesture from last night.  Andy and April, who got into a tiff following Tom's "Know Ya Boo" game (complete with CGI dog co-host!), found themselves at odds over April's lack of pride in Andy's music.  To be fair, I have to agree that Neutral Milk Hotel, which I doubt most of the people who watched last night have ever heard of, is amazing.  But you should know by now April, that your shoe-shining, formerly pit-dwelling husband has a bit of a fragile ego at times.  Anyway, they made up, with her playing one of Mouse Rat's songs in a public display of vulnerability (and unexpected musical talent).  The plot itself was a bit predictable, but I think the point was to let us focus on the Leslie/Ben goodness without too much distraction.

And of course, Ron's "lesson" about government with the little girl at his office?  Precious.  For some reason, I love it when a misanthropic grown up befriends a kid or a cute animal; it's never not hilarious and kind of endearing.  My favorite moment was probably him asking her to autograph her original essay (Prompt:  Why does government matter?  Her Ron-influenced answer:  It doesn't.).

Well now that that's out of the way, let's get to the good stuff.  Leslie and Ben's road trip was the perfect next step for them, especially following the opening scene ("that was the most sexual tension I've ever seen in a conversation about documents"), and I could not have been more pumped.  Leslie's attempt to be the anti-seducer was hilarious (Whale sounds!  Learning Mandarin!  Johns Hopkins' dorms!), as was Ann's "sabotage" via the one and only Al Green.  I loved that Ben didn't let Leslie's bizarre behavior deter him-- yet another sign of how great these two are together.  And when they were doing the presentation and he talked about how "special" Pawnee is?  If you watch Leslie's face during that, you can basically see her falling in love with him all over again.  Such a great moment.

The heart to heart at dinner was such an amazing payoff for weeks upon weeks of these two dancing around each other, and I think there was a collective audience half-sigh of relief.  We also got a classic Leslie line:  "I'm going to go make out with him now.  On his face."  Then of course Chris had to show up and ruin things, again.  I'm sorry Rob Lowe, but you are quickly becoming the face of the most annoying character on television.  Sleeping under the same roof at Chris' condo (at his insistence) must have been torture for Leslie and Ben-- I don't think I've ever felt such strong sympathy for two attractive people who are inevitably going to live happily ever after.

And that kiss.  Oh my goodness, that kiss.  Both of them seemed to shed their awkwardness in that moment and were just two people ridiculously in like (maybe love) with each other, and it was fantastic.  It was so reminiscent too of the first kiss Jim and Pam shared on "The Office" (makes sense, given the shows share producers and some writers), but it was also trickier because the tyranny of Chris and the threat of hurting their careers lingered in the room with them.  "Uh-oh" just about sums it up.

Season finale next week offers up an hour-long two-part episode that I for one cannot wait to see.  I've read some speculation on what's going to go down, but rather than spoil you I think I'm going to just advise that you watch it if you weren't planning to already.  I fully anticipate a fantastic conclusion to a phenomenal season of television.

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 Round-Up: Comedy Night Done Right, Indeed

Community- "Competitive Wine Tasting":  This episode was such a perfect return for this show, and one that I think indicates a very successful final leg of season two.  It had everything that makes this show great-- Jeff with his standard smarminess fully loaded once again, Abed being a television-savant, Troy and Britta (we'll get to that in a minute!), and of course, Pierce meeting his racist, shallow match.  Minimal Shirley, Chang, and Annie proved to be a good thing this week as well.

First the Jeff and Pierce story:  well executed and genuinely intriguing, not to mention funny.  I really enjoyed the contrast between Jeff's disbelief that any girl could choose Pierce over him, and then his subsequent striving to protect his friend from the same woman.  He was charming and sympathetic, but still managed to have a few lines that made you want to roll your eyes at him.  Also, I am loving the way that Annie gets incorporated more and more as Jeff's conscience, warning him when he's about to go astray.  If I can't have them as a couple, then I'll take this as an alternative.

And speaking of couples... what was going on with Britta and Troy?  This was clearly a follow-up to what we (arguably) saw beginnings of in "Interpretive Dance," with that weird hint of tension between them.  And of course, the writers do seem interested in proving this season that they'll literally pair anyone together for at least a small arc.  Troy's line in their little talk at the end there, when he hinted that he wanted Britta to be attracted to him threw me off, but in a good way (I think).  I think they're both cute and definitely cute together, and I'm all for random pairings if they make at least a little bit of sense.  I like that we got a little bit of setup for something more, if the writers choose to go that direction, but not so much that I'll be devastated if it doesn't happen.

Parks and Recreation- "Fancy Party":  Well, shit.  All I can really say is that this was an adorable-ness overload.  No, wait, I'll say more-- I'll say that I'm pretty sure this is the best episode of any of the shows I review this entire season.  It was just perfect in every regard, and when I'm done gushing and getting myself un-choked up, I'll be able to articulate actual thoughts.

I never thought this show would have the ability to make me laugh hysterically and genuinely tear up in the course of the same episode, but this one did, and it was April and Andy's surprise wedding that did it.  I loved every moment of it, from the shock of realizing they weren't going to have some kind of disruption from Leslie or Ann or one of themselves, to the absurd preciousness of Andy's vows.  I'm so glad that this show doesn't feel the need to adhere to the "rules" of TV relationships-- I was worried they'd spend the rest of this season not allowing Andy and April to be happy together but putting roadblocks in their relationship every other episode for the sake of drama.  But they went the opposite direction, and I know I'm not the only viewer who appreciates that.  Yes, the marriage will probably not be perfect (even though as far as couples go, this one is just about  perfect), but I'm excited to see what happens next, and if nothing else just bask in the pure happiness of witnessing the occasion.

Leslie and Ben, you two are killing me.  This tension reminds me of (and may even be worse than) those early days of The Office when Jim and Pam were falling in love with each other but refusing to acknowledge it.  I say that this might even be worse because in the case of Leslie and Ben it's clearly mutual (whereas I was always just a little unsure of Pam's feelings), and both Leslie and Ben are free to pursue a relationship, they're just not quite brave enough yet.  But just watching even their faces when they talk to each other gives me goosebumps-- there's so much chemistry, and they seem to care about each other so much.  I'm glad we got to see Leslie's side of it too; all that talk about being afraid to jump into something, and then during Ron's pep talk you know she was thinking about Ben.  As much as I was just about dying for something big to happen between these two, I'm kind of glad it didn't get thrown in on top of all the other developments in this episode.  I thought their conversation about Ben staying in Pawnee was the perfect closing for them, plus that means that when we finally do get something more, it can be the focus of its own episode.

As for sweeps, I'm not sure how they're going to be able to top this.  Something interesting I did read though is that the show has confirmed that in the course of sweeps a character will die.  I'm hoping it's someone more on the periphery (maybe Jerry or Donna), where it wouldn't grind things to a halt but it might persuade certain characters to take advantage of the moment before them.  What I am worried about now that I'm writing this is that it will be Andy or April who dies, seeing as one of his lines in the episode was about life being short, not to mention the fact that on TV there's never a whole lot of safety in the wake of so much joy, because if good things happened all the time we wouldn't watch

** This entry is so long that I'll do a separate review of The Office tomorrow after I've watched it.