The first season of Parks And Recreation didn't work. It tried to be too similar to The Office but it just felt wrong, so Season 2 served as an extended course correction for the series. Not only did this pay off in spades, but it put the changes into motion that would make Parks & Rec one of TV's best comedies.
Season 2 of Parks and Rec made a bunch of important changes to the series that made it more enjoyable to watch, but the biggest change was that it allowed the characters to enjoy each other's company. In the first season, most of the cast didn't really like each other. They were reluctant co-workers just like in The Office and Leslie Knope was just an obnoxious boss. In Season 2, it actually feels like the cast are friends. Leslie Knope is generally well-liked among her coworkers and most of the office tension comes from the characters just being endearing goofballs. This single shift in the dynamics of the cast made Parks & Rec so much more enjoyable to watch because it wasn't about internal tension within the department anymore, rather it was about external conflict like an art contest, corporate sponsorship, and holding a telethon. Another thing that this season did well compared to its predecessor was make Pawnee seem more like a real town. It had recurring minor characters, annoying residents, and running gags that help you understand why Leslie cares about it so much. Even with all of its faults, Pawnee has all of the charm of a small town, and when the government gets shut down in the last two episodes, you actually care.
While the general tone shifted for the better pretty early on in the season, with fairly iconic episodes right from the get-go, it's hard not to feel like Season 2 was one long transition season at times. The first six episodes were an elaborate way to finally fill in The Pit, ending a joke that had gotten pretty old by the end of Season 1. While the writing was generally funnier pretty early on, it still took quite a few episodes for the "cringe comedy" stylings of Season 1 to truly go away. There was still an awkwardness to a bunch of Season 2's episodes. In addition, the cast suffered from a member who stuck out like a pretty massive sore thumb, that being Mark. While all of the other characters gained their own quirks and charms, Mark was meant to be the average straight-man and ended up being kind of a bore that dragged the show down. He ended up staying around all season until the finale, and I think Parks & Rec became permanently better once he left. In addition, Ben and Chris, two of the show's best characters, didn't debut until the last two episodes of the season. These last two episodes kickstart the show's first story arc, a structure that Parks & Rec would continue to follow and excel at for the rest of its run. As a result, while the general level of quality had definitely increased, it still wasn't until the last two (maybe three if you include Telethon) episodes of the season when Parks and Rec truly and finally came into its own.
Still, there were a lot of strong episodes in Season 2, far more than I could say about the first:
Greg Pikitis: This was the episode that truly won me over once and for all. Leslie frantically trying to arrest the titular teenager is a ton of fun to watch, and the final reveal of how Pikitis managed to get away with his crimes was pretty great. This is also the episode that introduced Burt Macklin, a sequence that instantly made Andy that much more likable.
Ron And Tammy: Tammy II is such a hilarious side character. She does an amazing job of bringing Ron outside of his comfort zone, and the real-life chemistry between both of their actors make their dynamic hilarious. Also, Leslie's hatred for the library is one of the show's funnier running gags.
The Camel: This episode is an underrated gem and not enough people talk about it. It takes a simple concept about an art contest and uses it to give everyone in the cast a chance to shine, whether it's Tom breaking down at an abstract painting or Jerry's "murinal". The titular hodgepodge of paintings is so ridiculous, it's hilarious, and the heartwarming ending perfect sets the tone for the rest of the show.
Telethon: This is still one of the show's absolute funniest episodes. It's a 24-hour rapid-fire series of hilarious comedic setpieces and moments as Leslie tries to pull off a telethon. Once again, the whole cast gets a chance to shine, with highlights being Leslie's attempts at buying time, drunk Tom, Ron's sleep fighting, and especially Perd doing the worm.
The Master Plan: This is one of the most important episodes of the series. Ben and Chris finally arrive to the show, completing the cast, and shutting down the government. It's a massive twist that shifts the show to a more serialized tone, and while that's probably what the episode is more known for, we also have some fun romantic drama and hijinks at the Snakehole Lounge.
Freddy Spaghetti: Parks And Recreation has some of the best season finales I've ever seen from a sitcom and Freddy Spaghetti feels like a perfect end to the season. Not everything is resolved here, the government is still shut down, and Andy ruined his chance at getting together with April, but I love the thematic resolution as Leslie holds a children's concert in spite of the shutdown. Ben shows that he might have a heart, Mark finally leaves, and the twist about Ron dating Tom's ex-wife is both a surprising and hilarious to end the season.
Overall, Season 2 feels like one long transition season for the show, but it finally feels like Parks & Rec has figured out what it wants to be. It's a season packed with fun episodes, and an incredibly strong ending.
3/5 Stars
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