like a nerd mixed with a dork or something
It's difficult to get in the mindset that it's summer what with the, you know, torrential downpour of hail we had yesterday afternoon. It feel so hard and thick, it looked as if there was a layer of snow on the ground. A lot of people might not think anything of this, but we don't get snow in my little pocket of Northern California (if we do, it never sticks), so it was a new sight. But really, though, I love going out this time of year. Although, to be fair, I'd rather take what we have going on right now as opposed to the norm.
I also wish every album that I downloaded lately hadn't been staggeringly boring. Someone give me some good recommendations for things, because I am dying. I wasn't expecting anything from the latest Death Cab and maybe it'll grow on me in a way that their last album eventually did, but boy, this was a let down. Also, if someone could rec me some good pop music, that would be lovely. I'm having a craving for some right now.
Despite all of that, things have actually been proper busy the past couple of days. Family issues are still on-going and I'll detail those later in a locked post since this one is to be public. During a period of boredom over the weekend when I had the place to myself for a few days and not much else to do, I asked for some top five suggestions on my Tumblr that I would turn into picspams. The lovely Linds had asked me for my top five favorite episodes of Parks and Recreation. Needless to say, I thought hard on that one. How could I possibly narrow it down to just five? I mean, I can single out maybe five episodes in total that were sub-par compared to the rest. I can barely choose my top five favorite episodes from season three alone, but I digress. So, I came up with a solution. I'd expand it to top ten with five episodes selected being pre-Adam Scott/Rob Lowe joining the cast and five selected post-Adam Scott/Rob Lowe. And even though that too was difficult, I got it done. Of course, while making this, I felt the urge to switch out one or two, but I stuck to my guns.
For the record, this is in chronological order. There is no way I would have been able to rank them and don't even ask me to try. This would have been up sooner, but I've only been able to work on it a little at a time. Oh well. Better late than never, right?
2.04, Practice Date
LESLIE: One time I accidentally drank an entire bottle of vinegar. I thought it was terrible wine. Once I went out with a guy who wore 3-D glasses the entire evening. Oh, one time I rode in a sidecar on a guy's motorcycle and the sidecar detached and went down a flight of stairs. Another time I went to a really boring movie with a guy and while I was asleep he tried to pull out one of my teeth. I literally woke up with his hand in my mouth. We went out a couple of times after that, but then he got weird.
I'm still a relatively new viewer of the show as I only began watching just before season three started. I was fortunate enough to get wind of the fact that the first two seasons were on Netflix's instant watch service (and they still are in case anyone has a hankering to watch), so I took advantage of that on a week when I was sick and devoured those two seasons in two days. I regret nothing. Usually when I'm watching many episodes in blocks like that, everything tends to blend together and it's difficult to distinguish which episode is which. I never had that problem with Parks, thankfully. I knew I wanted to start from the beginning with the pilot because, despite everyone warning me that it's the second season where the show really starts to blossom, I can't not start at the beginning. I actually don't think the first season is as bad as people make it out to be, but it does pick up considerably the next year.
And it was this episode that cemented this show for me. This was the episode that I went from merely enjoying it to full-on loving it. While I have grown a little tired of the treatment that Jerry receives, this was early enough in my watching in which it didn't bother me as much (and also because he wasn't the only one being teased here, so it helped balance the scales a little bit - though they were harsher with him than the others). As you will also notice with the rest of this list, I also have an affinity for episodes that emphasis the ensemble or emphasis various friendships. In this case, you've got the friendship between Leslie and Ann, plus the workplace game with everyone else. The Leslie/Ann friendship is actually one of my favorite things about this show and this episode is so good for them and shows the lengths they're willing to go for each other. You've got Ann who basically takes a half day to help Leslie prepare for her date because she sees how nervous she is and how much she wants help. These two are legit wonderful. One of my favorite moments of this series in general is Ann pretending to be Dave, because it leads to some comedy gold (from Torple to Ann's faces to "I'm lucky to have a friend who would spend the whole day being mean to me."). I wish there were more close female friendships on television that are as delightful as Leslie and Ann.
Also, can we talk about Tom having once dressed up as a Jedi for Halloween? This makes his ribbing of Ben for his Star Wars references all the more amazing to me. It could just be a continuity error, but honestly, I'd like to think of it as Tom deflecting. I also enjoyed both April's and Donna's varied reactions in showing amusement over the game. "I like games that turn people against each other." Me too, April. Me too. AND DUKE SILVER. This will never not be hilarious. They ought to bring Ron's alter ego out again for the next season. Make it happen!
One last thing: I enjoyed the progression of Leslie/Dave in the first half of season two. I wasn't super invested in them (probably because I whipped through these episodes so fast and Louis C.K. was only in a handful of episodes anyway), but any time Leslie is happy, it makes me happy. The writers were really smart in developing Leslie's love life after season one. I love when guys fall for ladies because of their intelligence and competence. It's so refreshing and lovely to see unfold! Their whole relationship gets sweeter in retrospect when you get that line in season three about Dave being the meanest guy in their department until dating Leslie softened him. Aww. I guess Leslie Knope just has that kind of effect on people. Sidenote: the portion of the blooper reel with Amy and Louis from this episode is brilliant. I die every time.
2.09, The Camel
LESLIE: The mural that normally resides here is called "The Spirit of Pawnee" and it's very controversial. We've had someone throw acid at it, tomato sauce. Someone tried to stab it once. We really need better security here. We also need better, less offensive history.
To me, this is the show's equivalent of a bottle episode. That is precisely why I love it. You've got basically the entire ensemble cast all sequestered in the same area and playing off one another. These people mesh so well together and that group dynamic shines in episodes like these. This was also the first episode, I believe, in which we saw Ron and Andy interact in a significant capacity. That relationship really blossomed as the series progressed, particularly in season three, to where Ron became something of a surrogate father for Andy and helped him out with his problems, etc. For a guy who claims to not care for a lot of personal interaction in the workplace, he sure does show a great deal of caring for his current co-workers. It's one of my favorite facets of Ron. I also dare anyone to not laugh out loud whenever Ron lets out that moan followed by Andy's reactions to it. It kills me.
Another aspect of this episode that I enjoyed was Tom and his fascination over the abstract shapes. His reactions to it are absolute gold. And I loved that everyone was hating on the shapes in the beginning, but when it came time to present their camel before a board, you've got Ann sticking up for the shapes. It's such a nice little touch. Everyone's artwork had me rolling and each one was perfect representation of who these characters are. Tom, of course, pays an art student to design something, Ann makes something really trite and cute-sy, Donna does a version of "The Last Supper" with celebrities from Indiana (Jesus Greg Kinnear!), Leslie's is a notable, if horrific, event from Pawnee's history ("This is our English Patient"), April's is an attention-grabber with how awful it is, and Jerry's is actually brilliant, but no one cares (I like this theme of Jerry actually being quite talented and artistic, even though I wish he were appreciated more). Their selections are so perfect. Speaking of art, I cannot get over how truly horrible the murals of City Hall are. My god, they are offensive. It's like, the more murals we get introduced to, the worse they get.
2.10, Hunting Trip
LESLIE: I think this is gonna be a really good bonding experience with Ron. Guys love it when you can show them you're better than they are at something they love.
I have yet to see a single list of someone's favorite Parks episodes that doesn't include this episode and rightfully so. Again, we have another great ensemble episode that emphasizes a friendship that I love - in this case, it's Leslie/Ron. The way this show progresses various character relationships is a marvelous thing, because they're allowed to grow and develop, but believably so (although, I do think the show needs to take better care in developing Donna beyond stereotyping, but that's another thing entirely and the one flaw when it comes to this show's characterizations). Leslie and Ron are on opposite sides of the political spectrum and they believe in different ideologies, but there's such a real mutual respect there that I love. Leslie has put herself on the line to benefit Ron and he has also done the same for her. This episode especially was a turning point in their relationship. I loved Leslie's sheer determination in wanting to bond with Ron. His initial annoyance made the moment when he tells her at the end of the episode that she's a "stand up guy" all the more sweeter. This show has the uncanny ability to throw together any two (or more) characters into a situation and make it work. It's amazing. I also really liked the juxtaposition of the quote above with her relationships with Dave and Ben and how much they were attracted to her in part because of her intelligence and competence. The amount of throwaway lines that turned out to have some significance later is so great.
Speaking of character combinations, this was the first one to throw together Andy and April in a big way. Who thought this relationship would end up being as delightful as it ended up being? Watching April become more and more enamored with Andy as the day wore on was a charming thing to watch unfold. Her demeanor is often seeped in a load of cynicism and not really caring about anything, which makes those moments when she lets her guard down and we see her genuinely feel something more touching. How could I not have fallen for these two after watching the way she looked at him in this episode? I knew Andy and April were going to become a thing before I started watching this show thanks to places like Tumblr that have prepared me for this, but they were a million times more wonderful than I had originally thought going in. They both balance each other out incredibly well. Bless this show and bless these two for having a ridiculous amount of chemistry. I love that this was developed based on an adlib from Aubrey Plaza at the end of the first season.
This episode also features several of my favorite moments this show has ever done: (1). The cold open in which Andy gives the office piggyback rides. (2). The jump cut talking head and Leslie giving the ranger attitude by spouting off a number of gendered stereotypes. (3). The Predator conversation. I could honestly watching "Hunting Trip" over and over again on a loop without getting bored.
2.11, Tom's Divorce
LESLIE: I don't get men. If they're not wagering their girlfriends in pool, they're trying to steal each others' wives. It makes you question the whole notion of those bromance movies.
This is an episode that I rarely see mentioned, but I have a huge soft spot for it. Aziz Ansari is wonderful when it comes to his comedic timing, this much is true, but he can be so good in those moments when they give Tom a little more depth and some seriousness to work with. His whole situation with Wendy helped to humanize a character that could have been incredibly one-note. I loved his arc in season three for similar reasons. Tom can be awful at times, but it's hard to not feel for him during bits of this episode where he looked as if he were a puppy that had been kicked repeatedly. It's funny, over the course of this season, Tom has developed into one of my favorite characters. For me, he's easily one of the funniest, but the way his character has developed has been ace. I like to think of this episode as an examination of that moment in "Greg Pikitis" in which the camera pans to Tom's face when Wendy mentions their divorce that's forthcoming. I really think that was the first time in which I realized there was more to Tom than what had been seen thus far. I was thrilled to get this episode which dealt with that explicitly.
Of course, this episode isn't all dramatics and seriousness. It is a comedy, after all. It featured a number of hilarious visual gags including April's dinosaur hat, glitter bombs, and Ron effortlessly carrying Tom in his arms (a sight gag that was repeated later in "Ron and Tammy: Part Two"). I loved everyone at the restaurant giving their various reasons of why they like Tom. Moments when these people band together to help another are some of my favorites. They may occasionally annoy each other and be at odds, but at the end of the day, they'll stick up for each other. This is one of the things I love about this show. It takes out so much mean-spirited cynicism that's present in a lot of comedies today. Anyone who knows me knows that I love cynicism and black comedy, but there's something about the overall sweetness of this show that makes it stand out above the rest.
Now, I was less fond of the other subplot with Mark and Andy, but I appreciated it for the purpose of it ultimately being the nail in the coffin for a resurgence of Ann/Andy so the show could then work on Andy/April. It was a great turning point for those relationships and set the course for the rest of the season.
P.S. Ron and the strip club breakfast buffet. Best ever or BEST EVER? You be the judge.
2.22, Telethon
TOM: I can't make it to the telethon tonight, because I have no interest in being there.
I didn't take notice of who wrote this episode until after I watched, but it wasn't surprising to me at all to see that it was penned by none other than Amy Poehler herself. Her episodes really highlight how much of a grasp she has on these characters, especially the Leslie/Ann friendship which gets highlighted in both of the episodes that she has written. Both Leslie and Ann will go to great lengths for each other. Leslie, though tired and having been up for over twenty-four hours goes to Ann's house to lend an ear for listening when she could have easily gone home and slept instead. And Ann still goes to the telethon and stays, because she knows it's important to Leslie (the same could also be said for everyone else who kicked up a fuss about it at first, but still went anyway). Look at the things people do for Leslie because she is fabulous! Everyone loves and respects her a great deal. God, it shouldn't be refreshing and rare to see a lady on television who is admired for her skills and ability instead of being consistently beaten down or her ambitions being played for laughs. For instance, instead of laughing that people were abandoning Leslie in her time of need, we sympathize with her and feel a little angry with Tom for letting her down. It's a small thing, but it makes a huge difference in retrospect.
I just get so much joy out of re-watching this episode. I honestly don't think there's a single thing about it that I don't enjoy. Everything from the hilarious cold open to Ann planning on drawing on Leslie's face was pure gold. I enjoyed the numerous continuity references - the return of the announcers and Mouse Rat (and the song "Sex Hair" that had been mentioned, but not played, several episodes earlier), Sewage Joe, NutriYum bars, Pawnee being an obesity hot spot, etc. This show is about the closest as any show has come to me with continuity levels just slightly below, say, Arrested Development. It's a marvelous thing. "Telethon," for me, is an instant pick-me-up.
2.23, The Master Plan
RON: What exactly will you be cutting? And how much of it? And can I watch you do it while eating pork cracklings?
This is one of those cases in which I enjoyed the special producer's cut so much that it therefore rendered me unable to watch the original cut for any subsequent re-watches. IT HAS RUINED ME. But no, the producer's cut was actually the first version of this episode that it watched since it was the one available when I caught up via Netflix (the same goes for "Freddy Spaghetti," but strangely not "The Set-Up" or "Rock Show," both of which are available as extended episodes on their respective DVD sets). Those additional scenes did wonders for this episode. A point was made in the DVD commentary that it allowed for each character to have their own sort of master plan that they were trying to achieve. Obviously, there's Leslie's written master plan, but I do like how it tied into the motivations of various other characters. In anticipation of any new viewers who may tune into the additions of Rob Lowe and/or Adam Scott, "The Master Plan" has the task of re-introducing these characters and their relationships, but yet it does so in a way that doesn't feel like an obvious re-hash of old topics.
What I loved the most, though, was that despite two new additions to the cast, each character had a moment to shine. In my opinion, this is probably one of the most well-constructed episodes to date. It also features one of the most hilarious reaction shots to date with Ron's face after hearing the government will be shut down indefinitely. I laughed so loud the first time I watched this that I ended up missing Leslie's line about circus music after it happened. That, and Tom's look of excitement when Lucy agrees to go on a date with him. Clearly this show recognized the gold that it had with that face when they added it to the opening credits the following season.
With a show that already has a sizable cast, adding in anyone was going to be a feat. To add in two new cast members simultaneously almost seemlessly is quite the skill and I think the show did that well with the characters of Ben and Chris in this episode. I still think they could have balanced out the dynamics better in season three, because I do think there were some relationships that were thinned out a bit to make some room, but this is something that can be easily fixed next season (season three is still my favorite overall, to be honest). It's really sad how quickly I took to Ben the moment he was introduced. Sure, this was probably some residual love for Adam Scott from past projects, but I enjoyed his adversarial dynamic he had with Leslie in the beginning that morphed into mutual admiration. In a way, there's a part of me that misses their first interactions and them being a bit antagonistic, but they've been so enjoyable as their relationship progresses that I can't really hate any aspect of their construction. One thing I really loved was how the early conversation of them having a beer together seemed to foreshadow the predicament they find themselves in now with Leslie being torn about her long-held dream of holding public office and her relationship with Ben that she cares a great deal about. Well played, writers. Well played.
3.02, The Flu/Flu Season
BEN: That was amazing. That was a flu-ridden Michael Jordan at the '97 NBA Finals. That was Kirk Gibson hobbling up to the plate and hitting a homer off of Dennis Eckersley. That was...that was Leslie Knope.
For me, this episode set the gold standard for the rest of the season. I knew after this aired that we were in for a treat. I still think that this should be Amy Poehler's Emmy submission tape, because she was especially brilliant in this. It strikes a good balance between physical, slightly zanier comedy and her usual flawlessness that she brings to this character. If this isn't her tape, I'll be surprised. I also have a feeling this episode will be Rob Lowe's submission (although, I have some issues with the way he's been conducting himself in preparation for the Emmy races, this would be a smart choice for him and his delivery of, "Stop. Pooping" always leaves me cackling.
I mentioned earlier how much the relationship between Ron and Andy has progressed and this is another episode that stressed this quite a bit. Early on in the episode, Ron explains how he once worked with someone for three years without talking to him or knowing his name and he considered him the "best friend he ever had." Then, by the end of the episode, we've got Ron enjoying his time with Andy and even helping him a little with April (something he also does in "Media Blitz" when he gives April a talking-to). On the surface, Ron and Andy are polar opposites, but watching them interact enjoy each other's company is a joy to see. Like I said earlier, this show is so good at throwing together characters who you wouldn't think would get along due to polar opposite personalities, but yet they strangely work.
One of the things I wasn't fond of was April's treatment of Ann. I'm okay with the fact that they probably won't ever be chummy with one another, but being around Andy was doing wonders for April's character that it felt like a character regression. It was one step forward, three steps back, basically. I did like, though, that Ann wasn't a complete punching bag for April's behavior. She held it in because she was on the clock and she's a professional, but once her shift ended, she let it out on April. And here's one of the things I love about Ann. She can be "sweet, beautiful Ann" one minute and yet she also has a rather fierce side to her. Ann gets some unbelievably harsh treatment from this fandom (and it's the one thing about this fandom that I don't like), but I personally love her and especially in this episode. Also, while I wasn't fond of the isolation of her character in the beginning of this season and the way Chris handled their break-up, I did enjoy Chris and Ann together for the most part. Ann is usually so in control of herself and her relationships (no one has ever broken up with her, she usually does the dumping) that it was interesting to see her out of her element a little and off her game. It was also funny. This season was so good in letting Rashida Jones stretch her funny bone a little, because she's so vastly underrated and often stuck in the straight man role, reacting to everyone's crazy.
Another big progression in this episode was the development of Leslie/Ben. I'm off the opinion that this is the episode where he fell for her. Just before and during her presentation, he goes from feeling apprehensive to pure shock to being absolutely smitten. I have a fondness for men who appreciate how good ladies are at the things they do, which is why I loved the construction of their relationship so much. A lot of it was built on the fact that they both have a similar work ethic and she impressed him with the way she did her job and the fact that she did it well and a lot of people respected her for it. I cannot get over how well this relationship was constructed. I get the overzealous attention the fandom has placed on Leslie/Ben and how that can be frustrating, but I can still enjoy them without demeaning the other relationships and characters present within the show. I still think the final scene with the waffles and soup remains my favorite scene between them to date.
3.07, Harvest Festival
RON: All of you be quiet! Andy, she's mad because you said "awesomesauce" instead of "I love you too." April, he loves you. Stop being a child. Tom, you're clearly at fault here. Blaming Jerry won't save you. Jerry, we both know you were shotgunning funnel cakes instead of watching Li'l Sebastian, so everyone apologize to everyone else!
My love for this episode cannot be adequately expressed with mere words. It was everything I wanted it to be and more and I had a lot of high hopes riding on it considering the Harvest Festival was the culmination of a huge chunk of the driving force of the first half of the season. Needless to say, it did not disappoint. I mean, any episode that had Ron Swanson squealing with glee at the sight of a mini-horse in the cold open was bound to be a great one, right? It's hard to top something like that. The cold open remains one of my favorite things, because everyone's reactions had me rolling. And then there's poor Ben, who just doesn't understand (I love that this is something they carried over into the finale, by the way).
So much great character investment!
First, you've got more progression between Leslie and Ben. Interestingly enough, a few of the episodes I've chosen on this list feature significant turning points for the development of their relationship (the first time they met, the one in which Ben fell for her, this one that was the culmination of all their hard work, the one in which Leslie starts to take notice of what she has in Ben, etc). Interesting. I never really clocked that until I put this list together. Watching them in this episode made me grin from ear to ear. They are so delightfully dorky with his comparison of her to a ninja crossed with a Jedi (HIGH COMPLIMENT) to their secret handshake to their faces and just generally everything. It was such a momentous step for Leslie to call the Harvest Festival their project ("it's ours"), because up until then, she only ever vocalized it as her project, her job that she was putting on the line. Although he did hesitate at approving the festival in the first place, as you see him fall in love with the town (and Leslie), the project becomes increasingly important to him because he too wants it to succeed. I could honestly go on and on with how in love I am with the way this relationship has been constructed, but this is a topic I've already exhausted before and I won't bore you all again.
This was also a good episode for Andy and April, a couple who, interestingly enough, have seemed to get better after getting together rather than taking the opposite approach. I'm glad that April's surliness over Andy's comment only lasted throughout this episode, because I've grown a little tired of April regressing back to a petulant state when things don't quite go her way. Thankfully, this is something they've smoothed out while still retaining characteristics that make April who she is. Andy being Andy, of course, didn't think anything of his reaction, because it was pure Andy to say something like that. Of course he's going to use the word "awesomesauce" to mean "I love you." Speaking of which, Andy had some really great lines in this episode with my favorite being the following: "You know where I would hide if I was a horse? The merry-go-round. Think about it. You just stand still right next to the other horses and no one would ever know. It's the perfect crime." Oh, Andy. You're fine, but you're simple.
We also see Ann go on her trajectory path that leads to "The Fight" several episodes from now. I know a lot of people weren't fond of Ann's arc this season (and there are a couple of things I do take issue with), it was interesting to see her go completely on a spiral. This was a part of Ann that we had never seen. This is an Ann who doesn't know quite what to do with herself after being rejected, because she's never been rejected before. In a way, she reminds me a lot of a close friend I have who, from the moment I met her in middle school to today, has rarely spent time being single and often does the dumping out of a self-preservation thing. To be honest, I see a lot of her in Ann, which is why I understand where they were going with Ann's arc this year. I do love, though, that this brought a little bit more screentime for Donna. I only wish they would give her more of a storyline on her own without being Ann's wingman (though, I did enjoy that here and in "Fancy Party" as well).
P.S. Fun fact: They were playing the same Tom Petty song from the ending when I walked into Starbucks this morning. It made me return back home for another re-watch of this episode.
3.09, Fancy Party
APRIL: I guess I kind of hate most things, but I never really seem to hate you. So, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Is that cool?
Rationally, marrying off a pair of characters that have only been dating for less than four episodes shouldn't have worked, but yet it strangely did. My reactions were very much on par with Leslie's throughout this entire episode. I'm not fond of impulsive marriages anyway, let alone with this two and the fact that they haven't been dating long. I thought it was a recipe for disaster. Most of my doubts have been absolved with the remainder of the episodes. I love that this show subverts a much of the will-they-won't-they nonsense with these two. Hey, let's marry them off a few episodes after they get together! If this were any other show, the wedding would have been a fake out. Andy or April would have realized at the last minute that this was probably an unwise impulse decision or someone would have interrupted. Instead we got a pair of characters who knew exactly what they were doing yet wanted to do it anyway, because they love each other and why not enjoy the time that they have right now? One of the greatest things is that the writing never talked down to Andy and April. It also wasn't overly saccharine. It struck just the right tone. Everything about this played out more perfect than I could have ever imagined. AND THEY HIGH-FIVED EACH OTHER AT THE ALTAR. Perfect, perfect, perfect - as was their faces throughout the entire marriage scene. Chris Pratt, you slay me with your face. Also, I mentioned above how much I enjoyed moments in which April lets her guard down and allows herself moments of genuine caring and there was so much of it in this episode. Her dancing with and hugging Ron followed by telling Leslie that she loves her were lovely. This was, without a doubt, probably the sweetest episode of Parks to date. It really is.
And once again, there's the progression of Leslie and Ben. For the first half of the season, it was about Ben falling for Leslie and Leslie being too occupied with the Harvest Festival to notice, but here is where we see the first signs of her noticing. The scene in which he tells her he's thinking about staying and asks her for advice is played so well by Amy. There are moments in which it looks as if she's struggling to her words out. Everything is just so awkward and unsure and it's a classic move of him going to her and wanting her to ask him to stay, but what I loved the most was that despite him asking for her advice, he accepts Chris' offer independently of her telling him he should stay. He does this before she tells him. He was going to stay anyway.
Just...this episode. It's the closest I've ever come to crying due to non-humor related reasons.
3.13, The Fight
LESLIE: We need to remember what's important in life - friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn't matter. But work is third.
This episode is giving "The Flu" a run in the race for my favorite episode of all time. It is perfection in a 20+ minute package and it's another episode that was improved even further by the release of a producer's cut (they spoiled us with the amount of extended episodes this year, didn't they?). I don't even want to go into how many times I've re-watched this one. The number would sicken you all.
After looking through this list, I'm sure you all can pinpoint certain aspects of this show that I love based on what gets emphasized in the episodes that I've chosen. Though, to be fair, there are some relationships that I enjoy on this show that are prominent focal points in certain episodes, but get dragged down a little by not as interesting other storylines (which is part of the reason why, as much as I adore Leslie/Ben, "Road Trip" isn't on this list, although if I could choose one more episode to include, I might have gone with "Jerry's Painting" and "The Bubble," both of which featured significant interaction with the two of them). So yes, if you haven't noticed it by now, the Leslie/Ann friendship is one of my favorite things - and, in fact, it was one of the things that drew me to checking out this show in the first place, because I'm a sucker for well-written female friendships due to the lack of them on television. It was nice to see in this episode the writing acknowledge that Leslie and Ann hadn't been spending as much time together. This was one of my gripes earlier in the season - that their interaction was cut down from the previous season and most of their meatier scenes failed to pass the Bechdel test (they were usually all about Chris in those earlier episodes). I liked that the show address this and imply that it was intentional. Of course, that doesn't make me wish any less that we had more one-on-one interaction this season, but I understand it from a narrative standpoint what they were going for. Besides, they were long overdue to have their first big dust-up. I love that we've got an episode that cements their friendship and how much they care about each other, but yet it's a friendship that's not without its problems.
THIS WAS ALSO THE EPISODE IN WHICH EVERYONE GOT PLASTERED AND EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT. What I love about all of those talking heads is that they basically hit every single stage that I go through personally when I'm drunk. The accuracy was frightening. I only wish NBC hadn't aired part of Ron's drunken dancing in their promos for the episode, because I would have love to have been unspoiled for that, but considering they also provided a .gif of that moment and put it up on their website, obviously they know gold when they've got it. I also enjoyed the accurate portrayal of the hangover state. It's miserable and never pretty. Of course your hair is going to be a mess, loud sounds are going to hurt, and you'll suddenly forget why you had the urge to put on snowpants and go sledding in sunny weather. Of course.
The amount of continuity in this one was glorious - Andy and April roleplaying characters that have been shown before in previous episodes, more Jean-Ralphio (him also being used again by a member of the Parks Department to dance with in a moment of frustration), the club owner coming back, a reference to Andy knowing about Ben's feelings for Leslie in the producer's cut, the councilman that Leslie keeps bumping into awkwardly, etc. All of the little references and continuity details sprinkled in each episode is like finding delicious Easter eggs. It also featured more character development for Tom, which I talked about enjoying before, as well as a scene between Ann and Ben, which I had been wanting for ages. I mean, it was a little predictable for it to be Ben the one to take the first step in trying to patch things up between Leslie and Ann, but I had been looking forward to seeing them interact with each other one-on-one without Leslie being there physically (even though the conversation was about Leslie). I mean, these are two people whom Leslie cares about a great deal. I'll always welcome more interaction, to be honest. What I really loved about this scene in particular was the inclusion of the following line in the producer's cut that wasn't in the original: "I don't know you that well, but you're clearly very important to Leslie and that must mean you're a pretty great person." Aww. It melts my heart.
And I'm spent. You'd think I'd be bored of talking about this show by now, but considering that everything else I watch has been massively disappointing this season (I'm looking at you, Doctor Who), this is only to be expected. I'd definitely love to hear about other episodes not listed here that you all would put on your list. :)
I also wish every album that I downloaded lately hadn't been staggeringly boring. Someone give me some good recommendations for things, because I am dying. I wasn't expecting anything from the latest Death Cab and maybe it'll grow on me in a way that their last album eventually did, but boy, this was a let down. Also, if someone could rec me some good pop music, that would be lovely. I'm having a craving for some right now.
Despite all of that, things have actually been proper busy the past couple of days. Family issues are still on-going and I'll detail those later in a locked post since this one is to be public. During a period of boredom over the weekend when I had the place to myself for a few days and not much else to do, I asked for some top five suggestions on my Tumblr that I would turn into picspams. The lovely Linds had asked me for my top five favorite episodes of Parks and Recreation. Needless to say, I thought hard on that one. How could I possibly narrow it down to just five? I mean, I can single out maybe five episodes in total that were sub-par compared to the rest. I can barely choose my top five favorite episodes from season three alone, but I digress. So, I came up with a solution. I'd expand it to top ten with five episodes selected being pre-Adam Scott/Rob Lowe joining the cast and five selected post-Adam Scott/Rob Lowe. And even though that too was difficult, I got it done. Of course, while making this, I felt the urge to switch out one or two, but I stuck to my guns.
For the record, this is in chronological order. There is no way I would have been able to rank them and don't even ask me to try. This would have been up sooner, but I've only been able to work on it a little at a time. Oh well. Better late than never, right?
2.04, Practice Date
LESLIE: One time I accidentally drank an entire bottle of vinegar. I thought it was terrible wine. Once I went out with a guy who wore 3-D glasses the entire evening. Oh, one time I rode in a sidecar on a guy's motorcycle and the sidecar detached and went down a flight of stairs. Another time I went to a really boring movie with a guy and while I was asleep he tried to pull out one of my teeth. I literally woke up with his hand in my mouth. We went out a couple of times after that, but then he got weird.
I'm still a relatively new viewer of the show as I only began watching just before season three started. I was fortunate enough to get wind of the fact that the first two seasons were on Netflix's instant watch service (and they still are in case anyone has a hankering to watch), so I took advantage of that on a week when I was sick and devoured those two seasons in two days. I regret nothing. Usually when I'm watching many episodes in blocks like that, everything tends to blend together and it's difficult to distinguish which episode is which. I never had that problem with Parks, thankfully. I knew I wanted to start from the beginning with the pilot because, despite everyone warning me that it's the second season where the show really starts to blossom, I can't not start at the beginning. I actually don't think the first season is as bad as people make it out to be, but it does pick up considerably the next year.
And it was this episode that cemented this show for me. This was the episode that I went from merely enjoying it to full-on loving it. While I have grown a little tired of the treatment that Jerry receives, this was early enough in my watching in which it didn't bother me as much (and also because he wasn't the only one being teased here, so it helped balance the scales a little bit - though they were harsher with him than the others). As you will also notice with the rest of this list, I also have an affinity for episodes that emphasis the ensemble or emphasis various friendships. In this case, you've got the friendship between Leslie and Ann, plus the workplace game with everyone else. The Leslie/Ann friendship is actually one of my favorite things about this show and this episode is so good for them and shows the lengths they're willing to go for each other. You've got Ann who basically takes a half day to help Leslie prepare for her date because she sees how nervous she is and how much she wants help. These two are legit wonderful. One of my favorite moments of this series in general is Ann pretending to be Dave, because it leads to some comedy gold (from Torple to Ann's faces to "I'm lucky to have a friend who would spend the whole day being mean to me."). I wish there were more close female friendships on television that are as delightful as Leslie and Ann.
Also, can we talk about Tom having once dressed up as a Jedi for Halloween? This makes his ribbing of Ben for his Star Wars references all the more amazing to me. It could just be a continuity error, but honestly, I'd like to think of it as Tom deflecting. I also enjoyed both April's and Donna's varied reactions in showing amusement over the game. "I like games that turn people against each other." Me too, April. Me too. AND DUKE SILVER. This will never not be hilarious. They ought to bring Ron's alter ego out again for the next season. Make it happen!
One last thing: I enjoyed the progression of Leslie/Dave in the first half of season two. I wasn't super invested in them (probably because I whipped through these episodes so fast and Louis C.K. was only in a handful of episodes anyway), but any time Leslie is happy, it makes me happy. The writers were really smart in developing Leslie's love life after season one. I love when guys fall for ladies because of their intelligence and competence. It's so refreshing and lovely to see unfold! Their whole relationship gets sweeter in retrospect when you get that line in season three about Dave being the meanest guy in their department until dating Leslie softened him. Aww. I guess Leslie Knope just has that kind of effect on people. Sidenote: the portion of the blooper reel with Amy and Louis from this episode is brilliant. I die every time.
2.09, The Camel
LESLIE: The mural that normally resides here is called "The Spirit of Pawnee" and it's very controversial. We've had someone throw acid at it, tomato sauce. Someone tried to stab it once. We really need better security here. We also need better, less offensive history.
To me, this is the show's equivalent of a bottle episode. That is precisely why I love it. You've got basically the entire ensemble cast all sequestered in the same area and playing off one another. These people mesh so well together and that group dynamic shines in episodes like these. This was also the first episode, I believe, in which we saw Ron and Andy interact in a significant capacity. That relationship really blossomed as the series progressed, particularly in season three, to where Ron became something of a surrogate father for Andy and helped him out with his problems, etc. For a guy who claims to not care for a lot of personal interaction in the workplace, he sure does show a great deal of caring for his current co-workers. It's one of my favorite facets of Ron. I also dare anyone to not laugh out loud whenever Ron lets out that moan followed by Andy's reactions to it. It kills me.
Another aspect of this episode that I enjoyed was Tom and his fascination over the abstract shapes. His reactions to it are absolute gold. And I loved that everyone was hating on the shapes in the beginning, but when it came time to present their camel before a board, you've got Ann sticking up for the shapes. It's such a nice little touch. Everyone's artwork had me rolling and each one was perfect representation of who these characters are. Tom, of course, pays an art student to design something, Ann makes something really trite and cute-sy, Donna does a version of "The Last Supper" with celebrities from Indiana (Jesus Greg Kinnear!), Leslie's is a notable, if horrific, event from Pawnee's history ("This is our English Patient"), April's is an attention-grabber with how awful it is, and Jerry's is actually brilliant, but no one cares (I like this theme of Jerry actually being quite talented and artistic, even though I wish he were appreciated more). Their selections are so perfect. Speaking of art, I cannot get over how truly horrible the murals of City Hall are. My god, they are offensive. It's like, the more murals we get introduced to, the worse they get.
2.10, Hunting Trip
LESLIE: I think this is gonna be a really good bonding experience with Ron. Guys love it when you can show them you're better than they are at something they love.
I have yet to see a single list of someone's favorite Parks episodes that doesn't include this episode and rightfully so. Again, we have another great ensemble episode that emphasizes a friendship that I love - in this case, it's Leslie/Ron. The way this show progresses various character relationships is a marvelous thing, because they're allowed to grow and develop, but believably so (although, I do think the show needs to take better care in developing Donna beyond stereotyping, but that's another thing entirely and the one flaw when it comes to this show's characterizations). Leslie and Ron are on opposite sides of the political spectrum and they believe in different ideologies, but there's such a real mutual respect there that I love. Leslie has put herself on the line to benefit Ron and he has also done the same for her. This episode especially was a turning point in their relationship. I loved Leslie's sheer determination in wanting to bond with Ron. His initial annoyance made the moment when he tells her at the end of the episode that she's a "stand up guy" all the more sweeter. This show has the uncanny ability to throw together any two (or more) characters into a situation and make it work. It's amazing. I also really liked the juxtaposition of the quote above with her relationships with Dave and Ben and how much they were attracted to her in part because of her intelligence and competence. The amount of throwaway lines that turned out to have some significance later is so great.
Speaking of character combinations, this was the first one to throw together Andy and April in a big way. Who thought this relationship would end up being as delightful as it ended up being? Watching April become more and more enamored with Andy as the day wore on was a charming thing to watch unfold. Her demeanor is often seeped in a load of cynicism and not really caring about anything, which makes those moments when she lets her guard down and we see her genuinely feel something more touching. How could I not have fallen for these two after watching the way she looked at him in this episode? I knew Andy and April were going to become a thing before I started watching this show thanks to places like Tumblr that have prepared me for this, but they were a million times more wonderful than I had originally thought going in. They both balance each other out incredibly well. Bless this show and bless these two for having a ridiculous amount of chemistry. I love that this was developed based on an adlib from Aubrey Plaza at the end of the first season.
This episode also features several of my favorite moments this show has ever done: (1). The cold open in which Andy gives the office piggyback rides. (2). The jump cut talking head and Leslie giving the ranger attitude by spouting off a number of gendered stereotypes. (3). The Predator conversation. I could honestly watching "Hunting Trip" over and over again on a loop without getting bored.
2.11, Tom's Divorce
LESLIE: I don't get men. If they're not wagering their girlfriends in pool, they're trying to steal each others' wives. It makes you question the whole notion of those bromance movies.
This is an episode that I rarely see mentioned, but I have a huge soft spot for it. Aziz Ansari is wonderful when it comes to his comedic timing, this much is true, but he can be so good in those moments when they give Tom a little more depth and some seriousness to work with. His whole situation with Wendy helped to humanize a character that could have been incredibly one-note. I loved his arc in season three for similar reasons. Tom can be awful at times, but it's hard to not feel for him during bits of this episode where he looked as if he were a puppy that had been kicked repeatedly. It's funny, over the course of this season, Tom has developed into one of my favorite characters. For me, he's easily one of the funniest, but the way his character has developed has been ace. I like to think of this episode as an examination of that moment in "Greg Pikitis" in which the camera pans to Tom's face when Wendy mentions their divorce that's forthcoming. I really think that was the first time in which I realized there was more to Tom than what had been seen thus far. I was thrilled to get this episode which dealt with that explicitly.
Of course, this episode isn't all dramatics and seriousness. It is a comedy, after all. It featured a number of hilarious visual gags including April's dinosaur hat, glitter bombs, and Ron effortlessly carrying Tom in his arms (a sight gag that was repeated later in "Ron and Tammy: Part Two"). I loved everyone at the restaurant giving their various reasons of why they like Tom. Moments when these people band together to help another are some of my favorites. They may occasionally annoy each other and be at odds, but at the end of the day, they'll stick up for each other. This is one of the things I love about this show. It takes out so much mean-spirited cynicism that's present in a lot of comedies today. Anyone who knows me knows that I love cynicism and black comedy, but there's something about the overall sweetness of this show that makes it stand out above the rest.
Now, I was less fond of the other subplot with Mark and Andy, but I appreciated it for the purpose of it ultimately being the nail in the coffin for a resurgence of Ann/Andy so the show could then work on Andy/April. It was a great turning point for those relationships and set the course for the rest of the season.
P.S. Ron and the strip club breakfast buffet. Best ever or BEST EVER? You be the judge.
2.22, Telethon
TOM: I can't make it to the telethon tonight, because I have no interest in being there.
I didn't take notice of who wrote this episode until after I watched, but it wasn't surprising to me at all to see that it was penned by none other than Amy Poehler herself. Her episodes really highlight how much of a grasp she has on these characters, especially the Leslie/Ann friendship which gets highlighted in both of the episodes that she has written. Both Leslie and Ann will go to great lengths for each other. Leslie, though tired and having been up for over twenty-four hours goes to Ann's house to lend an ear for listening when she could have easily gone home and slept instead. And Ann still goes to the telethon and stays, because she knows it's important to Leslie (the same could also be said for everyone else who kicked up a fuss about it at first, but still went anyway). Look at the things people do for Leslie because she is fabulous! Everyone loves and respects her a great deal. God, it shouldn't be refreshing and rare to see a lady on television who is admired for her skills and ability instead of being consistently beaten down or her ambitions being played for laughs. For instance, instead of laughing that people were abandoning Leslie in her time of need, we sympathize with her and feel a little angry with Tom for letting her down. It's a small thing, but it makes a huge difference in retrospect.
I just get so much joy out of re-watching this episode. I honestly don't think there's a single thing about it that I don't enjoy. Everything from the hilarious cold open to Ann planning on drawing on Leslie's face was pure gold. I enjoyed the numerous continuity references - the return of the announcers and Mouse Rat (and the song "Sex Hair" that had been mentioned, but not played, several episodes earlier), Sewage Joe, NutriYum bars, Pawnee being an obesity hot spot, etc. This show is about the closest as any show has come to me with continuity levels just slightly below, say, Arrested Development. It's a marvelous thing. "Telethon," for me, is an instant pick-me-up.
2.23, The Master Plan
RON: What exactly will you be cutting? And how much of it? And can I watch you do it while eating pork cracklings?
This is one of those cases in which I enjoyed the special producer's cut so much that it therefore rendered me unable to watch the original cut for any subsequent re-watches. IT HAS RUINED ME. But no, the producer's cut was actually the first version of this episode that it watched since it was the one available when I caught up via Netflix (the same goes for "Freddy Spaghetti," but strangely not "The Set-Up" or "Rock Show," both of which are available as extended episodes on their respective DVD sets). Those additional scenes did wonders for this episode. A point was made in the DVD commentary that it allowed for each character to have their own sort of master plan that they were trying to achieve. Obviously, there's Leslie's written master plan, but I do like how it tied into the motivations of various other characters. In anticipation of any new viewers who may tune into the additions of Rob Lowe and/or Adam Scott, "The Master Plan" has the task of re-introducing these characters and their relationships, but yet it does so in a way that doesn't feel like an obvious re-hash of old topics.
What I loved the most, though, was that despite two new additions to the cast, each character had a moment to shine. In my opinion, this is probably one of the most well-constructed episodes to date. It also features one of the most hilarious reaction shots to date with Ron's face after hearing the government will be shut down indefinitely. I laughed so loud the first time I watched this that I ended up missing Leslie's line about circus music after it happened. That, and Tom's look of excitement when Lucy agrees to go on a date with him. Clearly this show recognized the gold that it had with that face when they added it to the opening credits the following season.
With a show that already has a sizable cast, adding in anyone was going to be a feat. To add in two new cast members simultaneously almost seemlessly is quite the skill and I think the show did that well with the characters of Ben and Chris in this episode. I still think they could have balanced out the dynamics better in season three, because I do think there were some relationships that were thinned out a bit to make some room, but this is something that can be easily fixed next season (season three is still my favorite overall, to be honest). It's really sad how quickly I took to Ben the moment he was introduced. Sure, this was probably some residual love for Adam Scott from past projects, but I enjoyed his adversarial dynamic he had with Leslie in the beginning that morphed into mutual admiration. In a way, there's a part of me that misses their first interactions and them being a bit antagonistic, but they've been so enjoyable as their relationship progresses that I can't really hate any aspect of their construction. One thing I really loved was how the early conversation of them having a beer together seemed to foreshadow the predicament they find themselves in now with Leslie being torn about her long-held dream of holding public office and her relationship with Ben that she cares a great deal about. Well played, writers. Well played.
3.02, The Flu/Flu Season
BEN: That was amazing. That was a flu-ridden Michael Jordan at the '97 NBA Finals. That was Kirk Gibson hobbling up to the plate and hitting a homer off of Dennis Eckersley. That was...that was Leslie Knope.
For me, this episode set the gold standard for the rest of the season. I knew after this aired that we were in for a treat. I still think that this should be Amy Poehler's Emmy submission tape, because she was especially brilliant in this. It strikes a good balance between physical, slightly zanier comedy and her usual flawlessness that she brings to this character. If this isn't her tape, I'll be surprised. I also have a feeling this episode will be Rob Lowe's submission (although, I have some issues with the way he's been conducting himself in preparation for the Emmy races, this would be a smart choice for him and his delivery of, "Stop. Pooping" always leaves me cackling.
I mentioned earlier how much the relationship between Ron and Andy has progressed and this is another episode that stressed this quite a bit. Early on in the episode, Ron explains how he once worked with someone for three years without talking to him or knowing his name and he considered him the "best friend he ever had." Then, by the end of the episode, we've got Ron enjoying his time with Andy and even helping him a little with April (something he also does in "Media Blitz" when he gives April a talking-to). On the surface, Ron and Andy are polar opposites, but watching them interact enjoy each other's company is a joy to see. Like I said earlier, this show is so good at throwing together characters who you wouldn't think would get along due to polar opposite personalities, but yet they strangely work.
One of the things I wasn't fond of was April's treatment of Ann. I'm okay with the fact that they probably won't ever be chummy with one another, but being around Andy was doing wonders for April's character that it felt like a character regression. It was one step forward, three steps back, basically. I did like, though, that Ann wasn't a complete punching bag for April's behavior. She held it in because she was on the clock and she's a professional, but once her shift ended, she let it out on April. And here's one of the things I love about Ann. She can be "sweet, beautiful Ann" one minute and yet she also has a rather fierce side to her. Ann gets some unbelievably harsh treatment from this fandom (and it's the one thing about this fandom that I don't like), but I personally love her and especially in this episode. Also, while I wasn't fond of the isolation of her character in the beginning of this season and the way Chris handled their break-up, I did enjoy Chris and Ann together for the most part. Ann is usually so in control of herself and her relationships (no one has ever broken up with her, she usually does the dumping) that it was interesting to see her out of her element a little and off her game. It was also funny. This season was so good in letting Rashida Jones stretch her funny bone a little, because she's so vastly underrated and often stuck in the straight man role, reacting to everyone's crazy.
Another big progression in this episode was the development of Leslie/Ben. I'm off the opinion that this is the episode where he fell for her. Just before and during her presentation, he goes from feeling apprehensive to pure shock to being absolutely smitten. I have a fondness for men who appreciate how good ladies are at the things they do, which is why I loved the construction of their relationship so much. A lot of it was built on the fact that they both have a similar work ethic and she impressed him with the way she did her job and the fact that she did it well and a lot of people respected her for it. I cannot get over how well this relationship was constructed. I get the overzealous attention the fandom has placed on Leslie/Ben and how that can be frustrating, but I can still enjoy them without demeaning the other relationships and characters present within the show. I still think the final scene with the waffles and soup remains my favorite scene between them to date.
3.07, Harvest Festival
RON: All of you be quiet! Andy, she's mad because you said "awesomesauce" instead of "I love you too." April, he loves you. Stop being a child. Tom, you're clearly at fault here. Blaming Jerry won't save you. Jerry, we both know you were shotgunning funnel cakes instead of watching Li'l Sebastian, so everyone apologize to everyone else!
My love for this episode cannot be adequately expressed with mere words. It was everything I wanted it to be and more and I had a lot of high hopes riding on it considering the Harvest Festival was the culmination of a huge chunk of the driving force of the first half of the season. Needless to say, it did not disappoint. I mean, any episode that had Ron Swanson squealing with glee at the sight of a mini-horse in the cold open was bound to be a great one, right? It's hard to top something like that. The cold open remains one of my favorite things, because everyone's reactions had me rolling. And then there's poor Ben, who just doesn't understand (I love that this is something they carried over into the finale, by the way).
So much great character investment!
First, you've got more progression between Leslie and Ben. Interestingly enough, a few of the episodes I've chosen on this list feature significant turning points for the development of their relationship (the first time they met, the one in which Ben fell for her, this one that was the culmination of all their hard work, the one in which Leslie starts to take notice of what she has in Ben, etc). Interesting. I never really clocked that until I put this list together. Watching them in this episode made me grin from ear to ear. They are so delightfully dorky with his comparison of her to a ninja crossed with a Jedi (HIGH COMPLIMENT) to their secret handshake to their faces and just generally everything. It was such a momentous step for Leslie to call the Harvest Festival their project ("it's ours"), because up until then, she only ever vocalized it as her project, her job that she was putting on the line. Although he did hesitate at approving the festival in the first place, as you see him fall in love with the town (and Leslie), the project becomes increasingly important to him because he too wants it to succeed. I could honestly go on and on with how in love I am with the way this relationship has been constructed, but this is a topic I've already exhausted before and I won't bore you all again.
This was also a good episode for Andy and April, a couple who, interestingly enough, have seemed to get better after getting together rather than taking the opposite approach. I'm glad that April's surliness over Andy's comment only lasted throughout this episode, because I've grown a little tired of April regressing back to a petulant state when things don't quite go her way. Thankfully, this is something they've smoothed out while still retaining characteristics that make April who she is. Andy being Andy, of course, didn't think anything of his reaction, because it was pure Andy to say something like that. Of course he's going to use the word "awesomesauce" to mean "I love you." Speaking of which, Andy had some really great lines in this episode with my favorite being the following: "You know where I would hide if I was a horse? The merry-go-round. Think about it. You just stand still right next to the other horses and no one would ever know. It's the perfect crime." Oh, Andy. You're fine, but you're simple.
We also see Ann go on her trajectory path that leads to "The Fight" several episodes from now. I know a lot of people weren't fond of Ann's arc this season (and there are a couple of things I do take issue with), it was interesting to see her go completely on a spiral. This was a part of Ann that we had never seen. This is an Ann who doesn't know quite what to do with herself after being rejected, because she's never been rejected before. In a way, she reminds me a lot of a close friend I have who, from the moment I met her in middle school to today, has rarely spent time being single and often does the dumping out of a self-preservation thing. To be honest, I see a lot of her in Ann, which is why I understand where they were going with Ann's arc this year. I do love, though, that this brought a little bit more screentime for Donna. I only wish they would give her more of a storyline on her own without being Ann's wingman (though, I did enjoy that here and in "Fancy Party" as well).
P.S. Fun fact: They were playing the same Tom Petty song from the ending when I walked into Starbucks this morning. It made me return back home for another re-watch of this episode.
3.09, Fancy Party
APRIL: I guess I kind of hate most things, but I never really seem to hate you. So, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Is that cool?
Rationally, marrying off a pair of characters that have only been dating for less than four episodes shouldn't have worked, but yet it strangely did. My reactions were very much on par with Leslie's throughout this entire episode. I'm not fond of impulsive marriages anyway, let alone with this two and the fact that they haven't been dating long. I thought it was a recipe for disaster. Most of my doubts have been absolved with the remainder of the episodes. I love that this show subverts a much of the will-they-won't-they nonsense with these two. Hey, let's marry them off a few episodes after they get together! If this were any other show, the wedding would have been a fake out. Andy or April would have realized at the last minute that this was probably an unwise impulse decision or someone would have interrupted. Instead we got a pair of characters who knew exactly what they were doing yet wanted to do it anyway, because they love each other and why not enjoy the time that they have right now? One of the greatest things is that the writing never talked down to Andy and April. It also wasn't overly saccharine. It struck just the right tone. Everything about this played out more perfect than I could have ever imagined. AND THEY HIGH-FIVED EACH OTHER AT THE ALTAR. Perfect, perfect, perfect - as was their faces throughout the entire marriage scene. Chris Pratt, you slay me with your face. Also, I mentioned above how much I enjoyed moments in which April lets her guard down and allows herself moments of genuine caring and there was so much of it in this episode. Her dancing with and hugging Ron followed by telling Leslie that she loves her were lovely. This was, without a doubt, probably the sweetest episode of Parks to date. It really is.
And once again, there's the progression of Leslie and Ben. For the first half of the season, it was about Ben falling for Leslie and Leslie being too occupied with the Harvest Festival to notice, but here is where we see the first signs of her noticing. The scene in which he tells her he's thinking about staying and asks her for advice is played so well by Amy. There are moments in which it looks as if she's struggling to her words out. Everything is just so awkward and unsure and it's a classic move of him going to her and wanting her to ask him to stay, but what I loved the most was that despite him asking for her advice, he accepts Chris' offer independently of her telling him he should stay. He does this before she tells him. He was going to stay anyway.
Just...this episode. It's the closest I've ever come to crying due to non-humor related reasons.
3.13, The Fight
LESLIE: We need to remember what's important in life - friends, waffles, and work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn't matter. But work is third.
This episode is giving "The Flu" a run in the race for my favorite episode of all time. It is perfection in a 20+ minute package and it's another episode that was improved even further by the release of a producer's cut (they spoiled us with the amount of extended episodes this year, didn't they?). I don't even want to go into how many times I've re-watched this one. The number would sicken you all.
After looking through this list, I'm sure you all can pinpoint certain aspects of this show that I love based on what gets emphasized in the episodes that I've chosen. Though, to be fair, there are some relationships that I enjoy on this show that are prominent focal points in certain episodes, but get dragged down a little by not as interesting other storylines (which is part of the reason why, as much as I adore Leslie/Ben, "Road Trip" isn't on this list, although if I could choose one more episode to include, I might have gone with "Jerry's Painting" and "The Bubble," both of which featured significant interaction with the two of them). So yes, if you haven't noticed it by now, the Leslie/Ann friendship is one of my favorite things - and, in fact, it was one of the things that drew me to checking out this show in the first place, because I'm a sucker for well-written female friendships due to the lack of them on television. It was nice to see in this episode the writing acknowledge that Leslie and Ann hadn't been spending as much time together. This was one of my gripes earlier in the season - that their interaction was cut down from the previous season and most of their meatier scenes failed to pass the Bechdel test (they were usually all about Chris in those earlier episodes). I liked that the show address this and imply that it was intentional. Of course, that doesn't make me wish any less that we had more one-on-one interaction this season, but I understand it from a narrative standpoint what they were going for. Besides, they were long overdue to have their first big dust-up. I love that we've got an episode that cements their friendship and how much they care about each other, but yet it's a friendship that's not without its problems.
THIS WAS ALSO THE EPISODE IN WHICH EVERYONE GOT PLASTERED AND EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND NOTHING HURT. What I love about all of those talking heads is that they basically hit every single stage that I go through personally when I'm drunk. The accuracy was frightening. I only wish NBC hadn't aired part of Ron's drunken dancing in their promos for the episode, because I would have love to have been unspoiled for that, but considering they also provided a .gif of that moment and put it up on their website, obviously they know gold when they've got it. I also enjoyed the accurate portrayal of the hangover state. It's miserable and never pretty. Of course your hair is going to be a mess, loud sounds are going to hurt, and you'll suddenly forget why you had the urge to put on snowpants and go sledding in sunny weather. Of course.
The amount of continuity in this one was glorious - Andy and April roleplaying characters that have been shown before in previous episodes, more Jean-Ralphio (him also being used again by a member of the Parks Department to dance with in a moment of frustration), the club owner coming back, a reference to Andy knowing about Ben's feelings for Leslie in the producer's cut, the councilman that Leslie keeps bumping into awkwardly, etc. All of the little references and continuity details sprinkled in each episode is like finding delicious Easter eggs. It also featured more character development for Tom, which I talked about enjoying before, as well as a scene between Ann and Ben, which I had been wanting for ages. I mean, it was a little predictable for it to be Ben the one to take the first step in trying to patch things up between Leslie and Ann, but I had been looking forward to seeing them interact with each other one-on-one without Leslie being there physically (even though the conversation was about Leslie). I mean, these are two people whom Leslie cares about a great deal. I'll always welcome more interaction, to be honest. What I really loved about this scene in particular was the inclusion of the following line in the producer's cut that wasn't in the original: "I don't know you that well, but you're clearly very important to Leslie and that must mean you're a pretty great person." Aww. It melts my heart.
And I'm spent. You'd think I'd be bored of talking about this show by now, but considering that everything else I watch has been massively disappointing this season (I'm looking at you, Doctor Who), this is only to be expected. I'd definitely love to hear about other episodes not listed here that you all would put on your list. :)