Sadness Baths and Geopolitical Problem Solving: Aka Cy has thoughts

[cypanache]

Normally I would just post this over on tumblr but it's long and tumblr hates me right now.  So the point is I have now seen 'The Treaty' twice and have watched the preview clip for 'Smallest Park'.  And given this and what I've read of the spoilers for the next two episodes, I have some thoughts that I'm working through regarding this arc.

These

Comments

[cypanache]

I have to admit, those first three episodes directly after the breakup where she felt like such a blank page, I was having a lot of trouble filling in the gaps for her character emotionally. I was trying, but I was also trying not to assume to much, and I do think that period is part of what triggered Ben's tailspin because that could not have been easy for him to watch. But once they gave me something to latch on to with End of the World, then the whole three previous episodes fell completely into place more and felt emotionally right for her.

Which is why even as I'm trying to work through my thoughts and might have a few reservations I'm keeping in mind that Parks plays a longer game than most sitcoms. Like you I'm generally very trusting of the writers here. But I'm also trying to figure them out and where I think they stand emotionally at this or that moment in time, which means thinking about 'okay what parts are in place right now, what parts are still missing, what can be reasonably accomplished in the known period of time'.

While I know the spoilers, the more I think about it, the more I think they will not be perfect or even particularly functional when they get back together. They'll be happy, but they are going to be a little bit messy still emotionally. There will still be some imbalances to their relationship, and I think that's actually going to be really good for them not feeling stagnant in the long run.

You know the more I think about it, the more sold I am on the idea that them getting back together in not the culmination of Leslie falling in love with Ben but the beginning. I think Ben is one of those guys you meet in the quiet moments, in the up close and personal. She needs to be with him to really take that slow slide, and I think it's actually going to be kind of beautiful to watch it play out.