I recently finished watching Parks and Recreation all the way through for the first time. I’d been meaning to watch this show for a while now, but I’ve been busy or just haven’t gotten around to it. I did try to watch it a while back, but like a lot of character-centric comedy sitcoms, the first season is a bit rocky (since even the writers and actors are still trying to figure out the feel of the show and characters). I couldn’t really get into it at the time. But since I’ve been home, my parents have been watching it. I was slowly drawn in and I eventually decided I needed to start over. I did and soon I surpassed my parents and now I’ve finished the series.
What a show! A lot of people compare it to The Office, which yes, I can see that because of the similar documentary-style set-up, kooky characters, and rather boring setting (aka an office or a lowly government job), but I think the shows have different tones. Both rely on the characters, but in different ways. In The Office, a lot of the comedy comes from how inept, idiotic, and awkward their characters are whereas Parks and Rec’s comedy comes from how crazy, exaggerated, and goofy their characters are. I felt like Parks and Rec often was very true to life (though in an exaggerated way most of the time). It often frustrated me because I was like, “But this is how people are!” and it made me mad because the stupid and unreasonable people usually won. The Office made me cringe and Parks and Rec made me angry.
That’s not to say I didn’t totally love the show though. There were plenty of knee-slapping moments. As per the norm, I felt the need to compile a list of my favorite episodes. This was a little tough since I’ve only seen most of the episodes once. There were a few standout ones that I definitely remembered (those are my number ones), but coming up with a top 10 took a lot of reviewing.
However, I’ve done it and here we go (DISCLAIMER: There will be spoilers.)
10) 3x14- Road Trip
Chris sends Leslie and Ben on a trip to Indianapolis for an important meeting. Fearing she will be unable to resist her strong romantic feelings for him any longer, Leslie attempts to “anti-seduce” Ben through boring conversation topics, horrible music, and ugly clothes. Meanwhile, Tom tries out a gameshow idea on Andy, April, Donna, and Jerry called “Know Ya Boo.”
Obviously, the highlight in this one is the “will-they-won’t-they” of Ben and Leslie. It’s just like FINALLY the tension between the two of them is confronted. I love how Chris randomly shows up just when they’re expressing themselves and ruins everything. Haha! Gotta love him. “You wanna Boggle?” I also appreciate this one for exploring the complexities of April and Andy’s relationship too; they're not perfect and they ARE very different, but at the end of the day, they totally love and support each other.
9) 3x07- Harvest Festival
The Harvest Festival has, at last, arrived. Things seem to be going perfectly smooth-- they even got Pawnee’s icon Li’l Sebastian to make an appearance. But things begin to unravel when reporter Joan Calamezo gets wind of a phony curse put on the festival by the Wamapokes (which is only spurred on by Li’l Sebastian’s disappearance).
This episode really starts to show the extent of Leslie and Ben’s growing friendship. I love their excessive secret handshake. Haha! There’s so many things that happen in this one. Like Andy’s “awesome sauce” response to April saying “I love you”, Tom trying to blame Jerry for losing Li’l Sebastian, everyone getting mad at Ben for not understanding why Li’l Sebastian is a big deal, or the horrible animated recreation of when the chief visited Leslie in her office. I “awesome sauce” it all! Haha!
8) 3x16- Li’l Sebastian
Pawnee’s treasure and icon Li’l Sebastian passes on, so the Parks Department decides to hold a memorial in his honor. However, things get a bit chaotic when a maintenance worker catches Leslie and Ben kissing and they send him home early in exchange for his silence.
One of my favorite running jokes in the series is how much everyone loves Li’l Sebastian (except for Ben, of course, who just doesn’t get it). I love this episode because of how far everyone goes to commemorate Li’l Sebastian. Also the song Mouse Rat writes is actually kind of a bop. It gets stuck in my head a lot. It’s like “A Candle in the Wind” but 5000x better... that’s why it’s called “5000 Candles in the Wind.” LOL
7) 3x05- Ron and Tammy II
Hoping to get revenge on Ron for dating his ex-wife, Tom brings Tammy II to a party as his date. However, it was all a ploy by Tammy to get to Ron and after a wild night, the two end up remarried. The Parks Department holds an intervention with Ron in an attempt to break the spell Tammy holds over him.
As ridiculous and disgusting Ron and Tammy II's relationship is, it’s weirdly funny also. Mostly because of the other characters’s reactions to them. I liked this one more than the first Tammy encounter because of how completely out of character Ron gets; his cornrows, the Kimono robe, missing part of his mustache (which the explanation behind is outrageous!). I love the video he makes for himself for the intervention. Also, the way Tom gets all tangled up in the madness is too funny! His confrontation with Tammy at the end had me in stitches.
6) 2x10- Hunting Trip
Leslie and the other women in the Parks Department decide to crash the men’s annual hunting trip. While out, someone accidentally shoots Ron in the head which then begins a series of mishaps and cover-ups.
My favorite quote: “Men love it when you show them you’re better at something they love.” Haha! Boy, does Leslie understand men. I love all the other awkward moments of Leslie and the other girls trying to fit in with the guys. And then Ron getting shot in the head is golden! I was honestly baffled on who did it throughout. And then Donna seriously FLIPPING OUT over her Mercedes was hilarious! This episode also showcased how caring and genuine Leslie is for her friends which I appreciated. Then, of course, this is the episode that really kicks off the relationship between April and Andy who are OTP for life!
5) 3x09- Andy and April’s Fancy Party
After dating for a month, Andy and April decide to throw a fancy dinner party with a surprise ending. Meanwhile, Ben plays with the idea of staying in Pawnee permanently.
First off, I have to say, this episode has easily the funniest scene out of the entire series: Ron’s tooth-ache scene. Holy moly! I literally had tears coming out of my eyes and I had to go back and watch it again because it was so hysterical! The rest of the episode, though, is also very good. I love April and Andy so much! They’re just the funniest and cutest couple. There’s so much going on at this party that’s hilarious. I particularly love April’s friend Orin who just freaks everyone out. I also love that April’s ex-gay boyfriend and his boyfriend are part of the ceremony. So random.
4) 5x14- Leslie and Ben
While at the gala for the new park, Leslie and Ben make the spontaneous decision to push their wedding forward three months. Their friends rush to put together all the preparations in time. Meanwhile, Councilman Jamm is bitter that Leslie got one over on him and proves to be a major roadblock for what could be the happiest day of her life.
What a perfect episode! The wedding they end up having is actually my ideal wedding; it’s elegant, but simple and only consists of friends just having a good time together. And Ben and Leslie are totally the cutest, amiright? Also, it was about time Councilman Jamm got punched in the face.
3) 4x11- The Comeback Kid
After her campaign managers leave her when her relationship with Ben gets exposed, Leslie rallies her friends to set up her own campaign with Ann as her manager. Although tenacious and spirited, the crew has zero know-how and limited resources. Meanwhile, Ben explores his different hobbies during his unemployment.
Where do I even start with this one? The complete train wreck that is the rally where they slip and slide on the ice? And Gloria Estefan’s “Get On Your Feet” just makes it 10x funnier. Or what about the tiny stage, the short carpet, the ridiculous banner with just Leslie’s eyes on it? Haha! And then that horrible basketball dunk. The other half of the episode with Ben and Chris is also amazing! Freakin’ Ben and his hobbies. “Could a depressed person do this? No!” The Low-cal Calzone Zone. Bahaha! The real clincher is when they finally watch his stop motion video that he’s been working on for three weeks and it’s only like two seconds long. OMG I died!
2) 3x2- Flu Season
A bout of flu sweeps through Pawnee and Ann is left caring for April (who hates her), Chris (who has a complete physical breakdown), and Leslie (who is determined to escape). Ben and Tom decide to take on Leslie’s presentation for the Chamber of Commerce since she is sick, but Leslie refuses to let them go without her and will do whatever it takes to make an appearance.
Apparently a lot of Leslie’s sick hallucinations were improv by Amy Poehler (-"If I was sick could I do this?" -"What are you doing?" -"Cartwheels. Am I not doing them?"). That’s where a lot of the comedy comes from. However, easily, the funniest part of the episode are Chris's scenes. His over-dramatic reactions to himself and everyone else being sick are hilarious. And then his complete breakdown once he’s admitted into the hospital is just the best! I also love the end where Chris and Ben decide to stay in Pawnee a bit longer for ONLY professional reasons *wink wink*. The little scene where Ben visits Leslie in the hospital at the end is cute, with the soup and all. Haha!
1) 3x13- The Fight
A job for Health Department Public Relations Director becomes vacant and Leslie tells Ann to apply. Meanwhile, Tom encourages his coworkers to come to the Snakehole Lounge to promote his own drink invention, Snake Juice. Instead of staying home and preparing, Ann comes to the club with everyone else which upsets Leslie. Snake Juice completely wastes everyone and as Leslie and Ann get increasingly drunk, their disagreements escalate into an enormous fight.
The best part of this episode is how totally blackout drunk everyone gets because of Snake Juice; as Donna says, “it’s basically rat poison.” All their different reactions to it are laugh out loud hilarious. And then the part where they all pile into the car with Jerry literally strapped to the top is the cherry on top. I died! I also love April and Andy’s roleplaying. There’s so many comedy gems in this episode, I couldn’t even list them all. -"I feel great. I ran a 5K this morning." -"Really?" -"No, I threw up in the shower." Bahaha! Or Andy puking on Kyle's shoes. So unexpected! LOL. And then the whole fight with Leslie and Ann puts an interesting look on their relationship. I also appreciated the whole “this is so high school” conversation Ann has with Ben. It’s just a golden episode!
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
6x09- Cones of Dunshire
Leslie tries to come to even terms with Councilman Jamm while Chris literally referees their encounter. Ben returns to his job at the accounting firm for the third time where they welcome him like a king.
2x19- Park Safety
While in one of the parks, filling hummingbird feeders, Jerry is mugged and injured. Incensed, Leslie launches a campaign for safer parks and to also increase the budget for the park rangers.
4x04- Pawnee Rangers
In an effort to fight inequality, Leslie create a girls-only wilderness troop to combat Ron’s boys-only troop and the two groups passive-aggressively compete in the woods to be the best one. Back in town, Tom and Donna go out for a “Treat Yo’ Self” trip to the mall. They decide to take Ben since they’ve noticed he’s been down and might need a day off. Meanwhile, Jerry takes Chris out to lunch with his inexplicably attractive daughter.
7x02- Ron and Jammy
Leslie goes to try to win over Councilman Jamm’s vote for a major project, but finds he is dating a familiar face: Tammy II. And she has an iron hold on him. Leslie is forced to go to Ron and the two of them team up to help Jamm escape Tammy’s clutches.
5x10- Two Parties
Chris and Ann are busy getting ready to throw bachelor/bachelorette parties for Ben and Leslie. Leslie’s party is ruined when she finds out Councilman Jamm is turning lot 48 into a Paunch Burger. So she and her friends come up with ways to delay this plan. While at Ben's party, the other men realize that none of them have had a bachelor party (even though most of them have been married). So they go out and have bachelor parties for all of them.
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