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

[kyrieanne]

I think the phrase "slipping through her fingers in stages" is a good way of describing the arc the writers have chosen. They could have handled this lots of different ways, but this is the one they chose.

I'm going to steal from a post I wrote on tumblr this morning and say it again here: There has been some worry on tumblr that Leslie’s “realization” about wanting to get back together with Ben will come without a proper arc, that we won’t see that ah-ha moment. I hate to break it to people, but I doubt the show will hire a sky writer to paint it out that clearly for us. I think there have been potential ah-ha moments: when he broke up with her, when she saw him flirting with Shauna…etc. but to have an epiphany moment is not this show’s style of story telling. The producers pointed to the time when Ben said Pawnee was filled with weirdos who care as the first time Leslie thought she could really like the guy. That moment was the first in a long, gradual process of Ben winning Leslie over by being Ben. That is more their style.

Leslie’s talking head - about boyfriends are the ones who love you and marry you - I think that revealed an internal struggle that she is having, but hasn’t fully resolved yet. Remember, for Leslie friends are the most important relationships in her life. They are her loved ones and until Ben we haven’t seen a romantic relationship take that place (or even really challenge it) in Leslie’s life. For her to recognize that she can’t live without Ben as her friend, I think, is more significant than we may be giving credit.

The scene between them in the classroom made me smile. If people worry about the deftness of the writers then I think you should rewatch this scene. There is conflict, but it is not angst ridden. There are lots of feelings, but they are honest and the “treaty” is not a perfect solution. If you listen carefully, Ben doesn’t jump on the opportunity. He says he’ll think about it. He is still skittish and unsure. Leslie lays all her cards on the table and tells him how important he is to her and she gets something in return, but it isn’t everything. This time Leslie Knope doesn’t get to have her waffles and eat them too.

What made me happiest about the classroom scene was the teasing between them - about the naked work out videos or whatever that way - that is what I wished we had seen more of when they were together. We got it last week in the doorway scene at the end and it reminds me of the calzones conversation they had. We got to see them having fun together in the way good friends do. The rest will come.

And I'll add my vote for fill in the blanks...though I know a little bit about what you were considering for "Take a Bow" and would hate for those scenes not to be in there... so ask yourself what kind of story you would like to write and write that one. :)

[cypanache]

Yeah I saw your tumblr post. It's part of the reason I elucidated where my need for a little more clarity on Leslie's feelings come from. I do get that there won't necessarily be one single aha moment (which is why I called it a 'Flu Season' moment or series of moments).

However, we are running out of time for what portion of Leslie's emotional journey will take place before they get back together. Particularly since as you said Parks doesn't do 'big reveal moments'. Yes friendship is super important to Leslie and believe me I don't belittle the fact she wants him as a friend and she's going to fight for that in any way. I think that's incredibly telling. But it's not the same thing as being in a relationship with someone, and yes I can see her struggling with that I had just originally thought she'd make that leap without having her hand forced by the prospect of losing even the friendship, and I'll admit to being a little disappointed that losing Ben may once again be the catalyst for Leslie owning up to her feelings.

It's not that I don't think Leslie will get to where I want her to go eventually, it's that I'm sorry but she's not there yet, and I don't think she's going to get there in a single episode (I hope they're not going to try to do it in a single episode). There's nothing necessarily invalid about that choice and truthfully I think Parks will continue to handle it with deftness and nuance. And it could make for a really great back half. I'm just having to come to terms with not getting it all at once. (I'm very greedy sometimes).

[kyrieanne]

Yeah, I should apologize for not posting coherent thoughts in response to your lovely ones. I am trying to finish up something for work that has eaten my whole weak, but I wanted to comment on this before I forgot so I stole what I said on tumblr when what I really should have said is: AMEN.

I don't think I share the depth of your concern, but I do agree with the thoughts. I have always been greedy for more of Leslie's emotional journey than what we're shown and especially when it comes to Ben. I think a 'Flu Season' type of series of moments is possible, though it would also work if they get back together and Leslie is still falling in love with him. But something needs to happen.

I keep coming around to the fact that the show has always shown romance as the one area of Leslie's life where she might be emotionally truncated - not incapable, but not as confidant and insightful as she is in other emotional relationships. I don't want that to be an excuse, but I do think the writers are shaping her arc based on that fact. For her to say you can chop up all the parts of a relationship and pick from them like a buffet is incredibly immature. Ben has been the one who is most emotionally mature between the two of them. I like that the writers are letting Leslie not handle this as well as she should and I like that they are willing to show Ben clearly in the right in most of these situations. It doesn't turn him into a saint because obviously he was also petty in this last episode, but it does knock our girl off her pedestal a little without dragging her through the angst mud.

Some of the reactions yesterday on tumblr after that preview clip came out just kind of annoyed me. I had already written my thoughts, but I didn't realize I was in the minority in how the writers are handling this arc. Some people ranted and raved at how mean Ben was being, how this arc wasn't being handled well, and how we need to see Leslie's ah-ha moment. I had to ignore it because it bothered me more than was normal. I don't think your thoughts fall into that category at all. You are pushing the characters for more while trusting the writers/show at the same time. I agree with you for what I *want* for Leslie's character (and Ben's) and I hope that we get it...

(Hope this was more coherent!

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