Comments | annakovsky: Parks and Recreation and Mediocrity

annakovsky

Parks and Recreation and Mediocrity

Feb 02, 2012 16:11

I wrote this whole thing after last week's Parks episode, and it might be a really unpopular opinion but whatever, I'm going to post it now before tonight's because I am pretty concerned about the direction the show is going and I don't knowwwwwww, you guys. There hasn't been an episode I super loved and instantly wanted to rewatch since The Treaty ( Read more... )

parks and rec

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frey_at_last February 2 2012, 21:23:04 UTC

we're in a Pam Beasley situation, where we have brought up Leslie having big dreams, and raised the possibility of her getting those dreams, but because of the PREMISE OF THE SHOW, AS SEEN IN ITS TITLE, she cannot get those dreams while remaining on the show, so she will have to fail at themIt seems like this is that one thing that really sucks about perpetual sitcoms that just go on and on for indefinite seasons. Not that P&R has gone on that long, but now that it's in its, what, 4th season? Around 50-75 episodes? It's hitting that pothole. Because either you have comedy with no real character conflict and no real character investment, or else you have comedy with characters who have goals and a central conflict and THAT'S WHAT MAKES PEOPLE CARE. But if it becomes evident that the conflict is going to remain a conflict for the entire length of the series... you can't care anymore. I'm not even thinking about the other women comedy protagonists like Pam or Liz Lemon (because I do tend to care about them more), but virtually any other ( ... )

annakovsky February 2 2012, 21:30:31 UTC

Ugh, yes, it's really so true! I hoped Parks could go for a little while longer before it hit that stage, buuuuut it's been a lot of episodes where I'm not feeling it, which is depressing.

Even thinking about something like How I Met Your Mother or Friends, that aren't based around a workplace -- like, either they start having babies and the show changes, and it can't hold it together anymore, or else they stay exactly the same, which just gets depressing. I can't think of any perpetual sitcom that managed to keep the interest going, because they really are stuck between that rock and hard place. Haha, maybe this should teach me to stop getting invested in sitcoms. Or, um, television.

(Though on the plus side, I've been pretty into 30 Rock since it's been back, more than I was before the break, so maybe shows can pull me back in later?? Haha especially if they have Jack being super inappropriately into Liz.)

moireach February 2 2012, 22:18:24 UTC

(Oh good, looks like the new LJ comment pages don't let you copy your text out if it freezes while trying to post.)

How have we not even talked about Liz's secret boyfriend situation? And Jack's betrayal face? I don't even ship it, really! And yet!

annakovsky February 2 2012, 22:20:52 UTC

OH MY GOD HOW HAVE WE NOT. RIGHT??? Jack's REACTION!!! Um, Jack, the only reason to feel that betrayed is if you feel sexy feelings for Liz Lemon. Also that she was keeping it a secret from him! JUST GET MARRIED, YOU GUYS. Ugh, whenever they do the thing where they know each other better than they know themselves I ship it hard, but the amount of FEELINGS it was giving me, especially considering it is something I don't even normally ship that much either!!!

(Haha, like, I want stupid weird babyfic where Liz mothers Jack's baby and stuff. EW, SELF.)

moireach February 2 2012, 22:23:38 UTC

Ummm, you do realize that this

( ... )

annakovsky February 2 2012, 22:29:06 UTC

Ahahahahaha, I totally do, to the point where I almost used a Ron/Leslie icon on my last comment to you. I will do so now. I AM SAD AND PREDICTABLE IN MY INTERESTS.

(ON PARKS RIGHT NOW I LEGIT WANT LESLIE TO CANONICALLY LEAVE BEN FOR RON. SO.)

P.S. I rewatched the Michael Scott Paper Company arc last week, and it still makes my heart soar. And me ship Pam/Ryan. And Pam/Michael.

moireach February 2 2012, 22:34:35 UTC

OH GOD, WHY DID WE NOT REWATCH MSPC WHEN I WAS THERE? Maybe because my heart couldn't take that much joy/nostalgia/longing at once.

Dude, all those great Yuletide fics got me on the Ron/Leslie train too. Even despite my mustache racism. Also the show has been 'shipping them pretty hard this season. Especially wrt the "jerky dude has secret feeeeelings" trope I may have recently been emailing with someone about.

annakovsky February 2 2012, 22:40:02 UTC

OH GOD WE REALLY SHOULD HAVE. It is just as amazing as you remember it being. Remember how they do delivers at 5 in the morning in a van together, all sleepy and cranky?????

Yesssssssssssss, the Ron/Leslie train!!!!!! OH GOD, I HAD ACTUALLY NEVER THOUGHT TO COMBINE THE JERKY DUDE HAS SECRET FEELINGS TROPE WITH RON/LESLIE BUT OH NO I'D BE SO INTO IT. Sometimes I actually feel like the show is canonically putting forward a Ron who is secretly in love with Leslie -- haha, like, at one point he says something wistful about people changing and it KIND OF SEEMED TO ME LIKE IT MIGHT BE SECRETLY ABOUT LESLIE DATING BEN. Also he was pretty upset when he found out they were secretly dating. Hahaha, ::writes ship manifesto:::

frey_at_last February 2 2012, 22:46:20 UTC

this equation is fact

moireach February 2 2012, 22:38:46 UTC

PS WRITE THAT BABYFIC, you know you'd love it.

annakovsky February 2 2012, 22:43:43 UTC

D: D: D: DON'T ENCOURAGE ME.

moireach February 2 2012, 22:45:12 UTC

Fine. You don't encourage me wrt terrible, wretched Jeff/Annie feelings, then.

annakovsky February 2 2012, 23:05:49 UTC

NOT GONNA HAPPEN, WRITE THE LONGING JERK FIC INSTANTLY PLIS.

moireach February 3 2012, 03:23:01 UTC

JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING HOTTER THAN ENNUI/INAPPROPRIATE UNRECIPROCATED FEELINGS AND ALSO POSSIBLY SEXY TEXTING DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE ANY TIME TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. Except discuss it endlessly.

frey_at_last February 2 2012, 22:46:00 UTC

WRITE IT WRITE IT

I NEED IT

annakovsky February 2 2012, 23:07:57 UTC

OH NO WOULD YOU BE INTO IT TOO??? But augh, right? Jack having all these fatherly feelings was REALLY GETTING TO ME, and you know what lady is really into babies????? AND ALSO JACK? AND HE IS INTO HER? Haha, I'm kind of surprised it's not already happening on the show.

Also ugh apparently I need a Liz/Jack icon these days, this one 30 Rock icon is not adequate.

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