Episode Rankings: Parks And Recreation

If you're a fan of The Office or sitcoms in general, you need to watch Parks And Recreation. Season 1 may be rough but it's only six episodes, just push through it and you'll find a fantastic comedy, with a consistent level of quality, lovable cast of characters, and some well-earned wholesomeness. Here's my list of its episodes:

1. The Debate (S4.20)
2. Leslie And Ron (S7.04)
3. The Comeback Kid (S4.04)
4. Moving Up: Part 2 (S6.22)
5. The Fight (S3.13)
   
6. The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show (S7.06)
7. Fancy Party (S3.09)
8. Leslie And Ben (S5.14)
9. Lil Sebastian (S3.16)
10. One Last Ride: Part 2 (S7.14)
11. Moving Up: Part 1 (S6.21)
12. London: Part 2 (S6.02)
13. Win, Lose, Or Draw (S4.22)
14. The Trial Of Leslie Knope (S4.09)
15. Emergency Response (S5.13)
16. Freddy Spaghetti (S2.24)
17. Ron And Tammy II (S3.04)
18. Ann And Chris (S6.13)
19. London: Part 1 (S6.01)
20. Telethon (S2.22)
21. Halloween Surprise (S5.05)
22. Ron And Tammys (S4.02)
23. Soulmates (S3.10)
24. One Last Ride: Part 1 (S7.12)
25. Operation Ann (S4.14)
26. Ron And Diane (S5.09)
27. The Camel (S2.09)
28. Pawnee Rangers (S4.04)
29. Ron And Tammy (S2.08)
30. Flu Season (S3.02)
31. The Master Plan (S2.23)
32. Two Funerals (S7.11)
33. Harvest Festival (S3.07)
34. End Of The World (S4.06)
35. Ron And Jammy (S7.02)
36. The Bubble (S3.15)
37. Animal Control (S5.18)
38. Greg Pikitis (S2.07)
39. Time Capsule (S3.03)
40. Born And Raised (S4.03)
41. New Beginnings (S6.11)
42. Two Parties (S5.10)
43. Sweetums (S2.15)
44. I'm Leslie Knope (S4.01)
45. Flu Season 2 (S6.19)
46. Citizen Knope (S4.10)
47. Bailout (S5.16)
48. The Cones Of Dunshire (S6.09)
49. Go Big Or Go Home (S3.01)
50. Summer Catalog (S2.20)
51. The Set Up (S2.13)
52. Hunting Trip (S2.10)
53. Filibuster (S6.06)
    
54. Save JJs (S7.06)
55. Ms Knope Goes To Washington (S5.01)
56. Camping (S3.08)
57. Prom (S6.18)
58. Pawnee Commons (S5.08)
59. Bowling For Votes (S4.13)
60. The Pawnee Eagleton Tip-Off Classic (S6.03)
61. Are You Better Off? (S5.22)
62. The Possum (S2.18)
63. Correspondents Lunch (S5.15)
64. Soda Tax (S5.02)
65. Mrs Ludgate-Dwyer Goes To Washington (S7.08)
66. Practice Date (S2.04)
67. Road Trip (S3.14)
68. The Stakeout (S2.02)
69. Smallest Park (S4.08)
70. Park Safety (S2.19)
71. Campaign Shake Up (S4.17)
72. Galentine's Day (S6.17)
73. Jerry's Retirement (S5.20)
74. 94 Meetings (S2.21)
75. Eagleton (S3.12)
76. Live Ammo (S4.19)
77. Tom's Divorce (S2.11)
78. Donna And Joe (S7.07)
79. Campaign Ad (S4.12)
80. Partridge (S5.17)
81. Ben's Parents (S5.06)
82. Article Two (S5.19)
83. Pawnee Zoo (S2.01)
84. Second Chunce (S6.11)
85. Meet And Greet (S4.05)
86. Leslie's House (S2.14)
87. Leslie Vs April (S5.07)
88. Lucky (S4.18)
89. Bus Tour (S4.21)
90. Rock Show (S1.06)
91. Recall Vote (S6.07)
92. Anniversaries (S6.14)
93. Jerry's Painting (S3.11)
94. One In 8,000 (S6.20)
95. Woman Of The Year (S2.17)
96. Sweet Sixteen (S4.16)
97. Ann's Decision (S5.12)
98. Galentine's Day (S2.16)
99. Flouride (S6.08)
100. Media Blitz (S3.05)
101. 2017 (S7.01)
102. New Slogan (S6.16)
103. The Treaty (S4.07)
104. Beauty Pageant (S2.03)
105. Sex Education (S5.04)
106. Pie Mary (S7.09)
107. Christmas Scandal (S2.12)
108. Gryzzlbox (S7.05)
109. Pilot (S1.01)
110. Swing Vote (S5.21)
111. Indianapolis (S3.06)
112. The Banquet (S1.05)
113. Sister City (S2.05)
114. Dave Returns (S4.15)
115. Dopplegangers (S6.04)
116. Women In Garbage (S5.11)
117. The Reporter (S1.03)
118. The Wall (S6.15)
119. Kaboom! (S2.06)
120. William Henry Harrison (S7.03)
121. How A Bill Becomes A Law (S5.03)
122. Farmers Market (S6.12)
123. Canvassing (S1.02)
124. Gin It Up (S6.05)
125. Boys Club (S1.04)

Parks And Rec (Season 7)

Parks And Rec's Season 7 follows a three-year time jump into 2017, resulting in a season that feels far removed from the rest of the season, yet simultaneously a nearly perfect way to end the show.

Season 7 takes place in 2017. Leslie and Ron are reeling from an intense argument, Gryzzl is trying to buy the Newport land in Pawnee, and pretty much everything is different. I kinda like this season story-wise. Leslie and Ron's conflict is believable, and the episode where they make up is one of the series' best. I actually think the Gryzzl conflict is a bit dull, but its resolution in Save JJ's is satisfying. However, the second half of the season after most of the department reconcile is where Season 7 really starts to shine. Pretty much every member in the cast gets their own satisfying story resolutions, all culminating in the series finale that shows us their full futures. 

There's a real sense of finality to all of Parks And Rec's seventh season that helps it feel so impactful. Right from the very first episode, it's made clear that this is the final season, and it's easily as its best when wrapping up character arcs. I think writing-wise, Season 7 is a bit hit-or-miss at times. While some episodes are amazing and hilarious, there are other episodes like William Henry Harrison and Gryzzlbox that are somewhat lacking in humor, being far more plot-driven. Despite this and the season's short length, however,  Season 7 is also willing to experiment with bottle episodes, an episode entirely about Johnny Karate, and a series finale composed of flashforwards. Even moreso than Season 6, this season's high points are super high and its low points are fairly low.

As a result, there are some really good episodes this season:

Ron And Jammy: While not the best Ron And _____ episode of the bunch, this second episode is not only really funny, but it actually made me feel bad for Jamm. Having an episode briefly pairing him up with Tammy 2 was an inspired decision and led to some great comedic moments.

Leslie And Ron: This is easily one of the show's best episodes, entirely revolving around Leslie and Ron's dynamic, why they split up, and how they can rebuild their friendship. Despite is somewhat sad nature, Leslie And Ron is a very funny episode, and seeing them reconcile is as heartwarming as it is hilarious.

The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show: I adore this episode. It's a heartwarming sendoff for Andy and April, which also just being hysterical. The Pawnee commercials featuring the show's minor characters, each segment utilizing different members of the cast, Johnny Karate is a love letter to Parks And Rec and is a high point in a season with a whole bunch of high points.

Two Funerals: This was a great and heartwarming penultimate episode. I really liked Tom trying to make a super spectacular proposal to Lucy only to just decide on something low-key, along with Ron finally accepting change. And I don't think there would ever been a perfect ending for Jerry (Larry? Garry? I kinda lost track) than him becoming mayor.

One Last Ride: While I still feel Moving On was a more impactful ending, I quite like getting this much closure on all of the characters (we also see Ann and Chris which does give it a few points). I like how each member of the cast gets their own segments that intersect with everyone else, as if we're getting shown potential future episodes of Parks And Rec. And I also like how the finale leaves a few things ambiguous like who between Leslie and Ben became president.

Overall, I really like Season 7, even with how different it is. There's a sense of finality to the whole season, as everyone gets a satisfying, heartwarming, and funny resolution to their character arcs. It's a memorable and unique final season for one of my favorite shows.

4/5 Stars

My ranking of the Parks and Rec seasons is:

1. Season 3: Despite its short length, Season 3 is a relentless series of iconic and hysterical episodes that never let up. The Harvest Festival storyline is also great, and the debut of Ben and Chris pretty much completes the show.
2. Season 4: While not as consistently hilarious as Season 3, the core election storyline is easily the best plotline of the show, and comes with some of my favorite episodes in Parks And Rec.
3. Season 5: The first two-thirds of Season 5 is fantastic, and all that build-up to Leslie and Ben's wedding is great. The final third, while still good, feels tacked on and noticeably weaker.
4. Season 7: Even as someone who doesn't love timejumps, I really liked Season 7. It had a lot of great episodes, gave all of the characters satisfying farewells, and has a real sense of finality to it.
5. Season 2: While definitely an improvement on its predecessor, Season 2 still hasn't quite perfected the series' formula. Lots of great episodes but also plenty of duds, and Mark still needed to leave.
6. Season 6: Season has a fantastic opener and a fantastic ending, but it drags in the middle and the recall vote storyline is easily the most frustrating part of the whole show.
7. Season 1: Yeah, this season is still pretty bad. The characters, tone, and writing just isn't on point yet, and the only saving grace is the fact that it's mercifully short.

My ranking of the Parks and Rec finales is:

1. Moving Up: As much as I enjoy Season 7, I would totally be fine with this being the finale. All of the season's storylines converge, everyone gets a satisfying ending, and all of the callbacks to the show's prior running gags are very well-executed.
2. Lil Sebastian: The decision to build the finale around a pretty minor character actually paid off in spades and helps to give this episode a grandiose feel, while also packing in a ton of cliffhangers and major points of plot progression.
3. Win, Lose, Or Draw: Leslie winning the election is such a grand and satisfying moment that I absolutely love, but even with that singular focus, every character gets plenty of screentime and the final few minutes is a relentless series of hooks for Season 5.
4. One Last Ride: One Last Ride is just heartwarming, each of the flash-forwards feel like a mini Parks And Rec episode that we would've gotten if the show had continued onward into the future.
5. Freddy Spaghetti: While it doesn't really resolve much, Freddy Spaghetti is an incredibly densely-packed finale that gives the entire cast something to do. Also Mark leaves.
6. Are You Better Off?: As mentioned above, I don't like the recall vote storyline and I hate this episode for introducing it. Thankfully, Andy's pregnancy test subplot saved it for me.
7. Rock Show: Rock Show isn't a bad season finale, it actually packs a pretty crazy cliffhanger, but it really suffers from the general lack of quality in Season 1's writing.

Favorite Episode: The Debate

Parks And Rec (Season 6)

Season 5 ended on a fairly shaky hook for the next season involving Leslie facing a recall vote. It only makes sense that Season 6 is at its best when it's far removed from that fairly depressing premise.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it, Parks And Rec's sixth season gets off to a rough start. After a pretty fun premiere, the season starts with a story arc where Leslie gets recalled from city council, which just doesn't sit well with me. Pawnee's citizens have always been a bit insensitive, but it's usually played for comedy, and you can still understand why Leslie loves the town so much. This arc has pretty much everyone Leslie has worked for throughout the show turn against her, which just feels antithetical to the idealistic tone Parks And Rec has been maintaining these past few seasons, instead this whole initial arc just felt cynical. Thankfully, the rest of this season had some pretty great storylines to make up for it. I thought the merger with Eagleton was a super cool premise, and I wish the season devoted more time to it. I also thought Ann and Chris's departure was well-executed, along with that big unity concert at the end of the season. 

While I'm not a fan of the direction this season went in a lot of the time, the writing is shockingly consistent with the past four Parks And Rec seasons. Most of the episodes are generally still funny, especially post-recall vote, and at its best, this season has some of the best moments in the series. The final storyline about the unity concert in particular feels like it could have ended the show as a whole, tying up everyone's storylines in a satisfying manner. My only other gripe with the season is with how many characters left at certain points. Andy leaves to London for the first half of the season, and once he returns, Ann and Chris leave soon after. They're replaced by a character named Craig, who can definitely be entertaining at times, but he also screams nonstop. Just hearing him talk can get grating at times, which is why I'm glad he got toned down a bit in Season 7.

As mentioned before, despite my several issues with this season, its high points are some of the show's highest:

London: I love how grand this season premiere is. It starts with a wedding between Ron and Diane, and evolves into a big trip to London. It's a lot of fun to see the characters goofing around in London, but I also really liked seeing Leslie snap from the frustration of dealing with Pawnee. She was definitely echoing my opinions on the whole recall vote situation.

Ann And Chris: This episode was a perfect sendoff to these two. After six seasons, the Pawnee Commons are finally opened in one of the most satisfying scenes of the series. And the final shot where Ann and Chris drive off and the rest of the team goes off to get brunch could once again be a perfect end to the series as a whole.

Flu Season II: While probably not as good as the original, this is still an incredibly funny and entertaining sequel to one of the show's most iconic episodes. And the big reveal at the end that Leslie is pregnant is an exciting way to kickstart the end of the season.

Moving Up: This is one of my favorite season finales of all time, it's perfect in nearly every way. It's funny, it's heartwarming, it's emotional, and while it packs a super enticing hook for Season 7, it could have been a perfect series finale as well. The trip to San Francisco was fun, Leslie's conflict about leaving Pawnee was engrossing, the Unity Concert was beautiful (especially 5,000 Candles In The Wind), Tom's restaurant success was satisfying, Ron revealing Duke Silver was awesome, and once again, the time jump was exciting. I adore Moving Up, it's easily one of the show's best.

Overall, Season 6 struggles from an oddly depressing start and a bunch of character absences, but its high points are insanely high, and it sticks the landing better than any other season in the series.

3/5 Stars

Parks And Rec (Season 5)

After two phenomenal seasons, Parks And Rec had to dip in quality somewhat. Despite that, the fifth season is still really good overall, only suffering from some unfortunate network interference.

Season 5 was originally intended to have 13 episodes and it absolutely shows. The first 14 (13 + Women In Garbage) episodes of the season form a pretty perfect storyline about Leslie and Ben reuniting and getting married, while Leslie deals with being part of the city council and her new rivalry with counselor Jamm (I hate Jamm by the way). Most of the episodes throughout this first segment of the season are excellent, I'd genuinely put Season 5A on par with Seasons 3 & 4. However, the season got nine more episodes, one of which was placed fairly early on, resulting in a Season 5B that felt a bit more aimless. There were some storylines like Leslie learning that the citizens want to recall her and Tom's unhealthy relationship with Jean-Ralphio's sister, but it felt nowhere near as well plotted-out as the first fourteen episodes. And while there were some great episodes, Season 5A was far and away the better season.

Despite my gripes with the season's structure, Parks And Rec's Season 5 still pretty much nails the humor and tone of the series. The characters are still incredibly likable this season, even moreso in the case of Chris and April. Chris's arc about going through depression is incredibly well-executed, and April has developed far enough that seeing her actually try to work and put in effort is exciting. This also might be one of the series' most lighthearted seasons, in a good way. All of the wedding proceedings for Leslie and Ben lead to some of the most heartwarming moments in the whole show. And I while I may not love Season 5B, it's also absolutely hilarious at times, between the Animal Control department, the Sapersteins, the adorable sing-along of Time After Time, and the Star Wars filibuster episode. 

There were a lot of really memorable episodes this season, but particular in 5A:

Halloween Surprise: This episode was just plain adorable. Ben returning to Pawnee and proposing to Leslie in the house that they wanted to get together is such a sweet and iconic moment in the series.

Ron And Diane: I really like Diane, she's absolutely perfect for Ron, so seeing her finally meet Tammy 2 was such an exciting prospect. And the fight between Tammy and Leslie was absolutely hysterical. We also get to see Jerry's family in full and just how happy his life actually is.

Two Parties: Two Parties feels like the quintessential Parks And Rec episode. The main plot about Leslie stopping Jamm from ruining the lot is fun and satisfying, but I really like the subplot about Ben and the boys all having their own ideal bachelor parties. There's no conflict or drama, it's just half of the cast having fun and being friends with each other. It's this time of warm-hearted comedy that's why I love this show so much, and the fact that the episode was able to be so adorably sweet and genuinely funny is a testament to how excellent Parks And Rec's writing is.

Emergency Response: The penultimate episode of Season 5A is easily one of the show's funniest episodes (and it's even funnier post-2020). Seeing the department completely fail at preventing a fictional pandemic is just so funny to watch, there are so many hilarious lines throughout. Yet, it also manages to have a really emotional ending, with Leslie and Ben deciding to get married now and Chris learning Andy failed the police test.

Leslie And Ben: Ron punched Jamm in the face! Oh, and Leslie and Ben get married but that's not as important. All jokes aside though, this is easily one of the sweetest and most satisfying episodes in the series. It's not as funny as Emergency Response, but it gives Leslie and Ben the memorable wedding they deserve, and I'd be perfectly fine if this was the season finale.

Animal Control: This episode was just plain hilarious, between Ron trying to work while being sick, and April trying to get a new Animal Control department. Both of these storylines are great, with Ron at his comedic best, and I like how April gets to show off her intelligence in resolving the Animal Control conflict.

Overall, Season 5's first fourteen episodes are excellent, probably one of the sweetest and most heartwarming stretches in the series. Season 5B, while funny, just doesn't compared and feels tacked-on.

4/5 Stars

Parks And Rec (Season 4)

At this point in the show's history, Parks And Recreation has really started to hit its stride, and Season 4 managed to be just as good as its predecessor, if not moreso in some aspects.

Parks And Rec's fourth season is centered around a storyline about Leslie running for city council, making the whole season essentially an election arc. At first, the election doesn't have much importance outside of forcing Leslie and Ben to break up, but halfway through the season, Leslie's campaign managers leave on her and she has to recruit the Parks & Rec department to help run the campaign. At this point, the season gets really good, as we have episodes based on making an ad, composing a jingle, winning over voters, and going on a tour. I love the fact that, despite this being a simple city council campaign, it's played as if it's the US presidency election because that's how important it is for Leslie. We also meet Leslie's main opponent Bobby Newport, played by Paul Rudd. He's absolutely hilarious in every single scene he appears in, and I'm honestly kind of sad he was only relegated to this season. I think some can complain that the election takes over too much of the season, but personally, I adored this arc. It was funny, compelling, and satisfying, and it managed to include some excellent political humor.

As for the other characters, I already mentioned Leslie's relationship with Ben which is finally solidified halfway through the season. The first few episodes do a great job of continuing from the Season 3 finale, with the hilarious Entertainment 720 storyline setting the stage for many of Tom's entrepreneurial ventures in later seasons, and the long-awaited appearance of Tammy I more than living up to the hype. The only storyline I didn't love from this season was Ann and Tom dating throughout the second half, but it's funny enough that I don't hate it too much. Generally, this season is just really funny and well-written. I don't think it's as funny as Season 3 overall, but it's still a lot of fun. I also think this is the season where Parks And Rec's positive spirit really takes over, even compared to the previous seasons. Most episodes have some sort of incredibly heartwarming and genuine moment, even when things get rough for Leslie, and the season finale where she wins the election is easily one of the most triumphant moments in the series.

There are a lot of top-notch episodes in Season 4, but these are the highlights:

Ron And Tammys: After all this time, we finally meet Ron's first ex-wife, and it was more than worth it. Tammy I is hilariously terrifying, and the big jug-drinking competition at the end of the episode is both intense and leads to one of Ron's most badass moments. I also really like the subplot where Ben is walking through Entertainment 720 and realizes how poorly run it is.

Pawnee Rangers: Yeah, sure, the main plotline about the Pawnee Rangers is a funny and well-written showcase of Leslie and Ron's dynamic, Ben crying in a Batman suit is so sad and bizarre that it circles around to funny, and we get the first taste of how happy Jerry's family is, but we all know why this episode is so iconic: Treat Yo Self Day!

End Of The World: This is an underrated and heartwarming episode with a cute premise. Pawnee's big cult claims that today is the end of the world, and while everyone in the department knows that's not the case, they decide to treat it as if it was. Tom holds a big final party and reunites with Lucy, Leslie and Ben make amends, and Andy tries to complete his bucket list. It's such a sincere episode, I can't help but love it.

The Trial Of Leslie Knope: The big turning point for the season, Leslie's political career is in danger after she came clean about her relationship with Ben. Despite the high stakes, this episode was just so much fun. The jokes are great, I love how it brought back old characters, and the final scene where Ben and Leslie confess their love for each other is incredibly sweet.

The Comeback Kid: Easily one of the show's funniest episodes, Leslie tries to relaunch her campaign only for everything to go completely wrong. The iconic hockey rink scene is so entertaining, the sheer amount of chaos that ensues leaves me in tears from laughing every single time, it's easily the funniest sequence in the whole show. But even aside from that, we also get depressed Ben which is the point that I really started to warm up to the character.

Operation Ann: Parks And Rec's Valentine's Day episodes were always somewhat hit or miss, but this was easily the best of the bunch. The big scavenger hunt was the perfect blend of funny and sweet that I love so much about the series, and while I'm not the biggest fan of the storyline, I won't deny that the reveal of Ann and Tom going on a date is a pretty impressive one.

The Debate: This is my favorite episode of Parks And Rec, it's pretty much perfect in every single way. The titular debate is absolutely hysterical, packed with quotable lines and funny political humor, but what makes this episode even better is the fact that we get to see what happens behind the scenes, from Andy holding a viewing party to Chris and Tom talking to reporters. Every single member of the cast has something to do, and it all culminates in an incredibly satisfying and heartwarming final speech from Leslie. 

Win, Lose, Or Draw: Once again, Parks And Rec absolutely kills the season finale. It continues to impress me how every character has their own individual subplot, yet the half-hour episode still manages to hit all of its emotional beats. As I mentioned before, Leslie winning the election is an amazing moment, but there are so many exciting setups for Season 5, from Andy trying to be a police officer, to Ben leaving to DC.

Overall, Season 4 is another excellent season for Parks And Rec, packed with great episodes and sweet character moments. The election arc manages to be compelling, funny, and incredibly heartwarming, serving as probably the peak of the series.

5/5 Stars

Parks And Rec (Season 3)

After Season 2 helped fix most of Parks And Recreation's crippling flaws, it was time for Season 3 to show just how good this series could get. Despite a shortened length due to the writer's strike, Parks And Rec's third season is one of the funniest sitcom seasons ever produced.

Parks And Rec's third season introduces the arc-based structure that the series would end up following for pretty much the rest of its runtime. The first half of Season 3 is built around the Parks and Rec department coming back together and trying to hold a harvest festival to restore their budget. The second half of the season doesn't have a story arc, but it's packed with a ton of incredibly funny episodes to make up for that. I like the harvest festival arc, though it's not my favorite in the show, it does a good job of forcing the cast to work together on a big project. This season also does a great job of fleshing out Ben and making him one of my favorite characters. Back in Season 2, he just seemed like an obstructive bureaucrat, but in this season, he slowly starts to gain respect for Leslie, only to develop feelings for her. He also gets a lot more comedic moments that allow him to goof off a bit. I also think the budding romance between Andy and April is incredibly sweet, as is their sudden wedding, along with Ann getting job at the Parks department near the end of the season.

But while I do enjoy a lot of the storylines and character work, Season 3 really shines in terms of the comedy. Overall, this season is an absolute riot from start to finish. There are so many hilarious and memorable episodes that utilize the entire cast, and both the writing and the performances manage to come together to form some iconic moments. For example, Chris getting sick, Ron getting himself arrested, Tom accidentally matching with Leslie, the Snakejuice scene, and so much more. I also admire that this show is willing to have episodes where not too much happens outside of the characters getting a chance to spend time together, like Fancy Party and The Fight. The cast is so naturally entertaining and funny that I could watch thirty minutes of them just casually hanging out at work, and it would probably be one of my favorite episodes of the show. I also think it's interesting that Parks And Rec has pretty much entirely dropped the inspiration that it took from The Office. There's still a handheld camera but it's nowhere near as prevalent, nor are the talking heads or darker tone. Instead, Parks And Rec maintains what made last season so good, the fact that the characters actually like each other. Despite the more light-hearted tone, however, storylines like the harvest festival and Leslie's feelings for Ben still manage to give the show a compelling conflict anyway.

There are so many amazing episodes this season and I had a bit of a tough time narrowing it down, so here's my massive list of highlights:

Flu Season: While I don't think this is one of the show's best episodes like a lot of people do, Flu Season is still an incredibly fun time that takes a simple premise and wrings a ton of comedy out of it. There are so many iconic moments and performances here, along with some great character development from Ben.

Ron And Tammy II: I adore all of the "Ron And ____" episodes, but this one just might be the absolute best. Tammy is at her most hilarious, manipulative, and cartoonish here, especially the part where she gets Ron arrested. Ron with cornrows and his mustache screwed up is a picture I will never be able to unsee. I also like how this episode gives new meaning to the fact that librarians suck in this show.

Harvest Festival: This climactic resolution to the initial arc is honestly kind of tough to watch at times given just how much goes wrong for the characters for most of the episode. However, the curse premise is still really funny, the whole cast gets a chance to shine as they prepare the festival, and the heartwarming resolution is incredibly satisfying.

Fancy Party: There isn't much of a plot to this episode, it's mostly just about April and Ann secretly holding a wedding disguised as a party. The only real conflict is Leslie's fear that they're rushing things, but it gets resolved quick. But despite all that, this is one of my favorite episodes of the show. Without a silly plot in the way, Fancy Party is just an endless series of cute character interactions, great comedic gags, and moments so heartwarming it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's easily one of the coziest episodes of television ever made and a great watch if I'm ever feeling down.

Soulmates: This episode is absolutely hysterical from start to finish. The storyline about Tom accidentally matching with Leslie on a dating site is just so funny, and Aziz Ansari gave one of his funniest performances in the show. I'm also a big fan of Ron and Chris's vegan vs meat storyline, I think it's really cute.

The Fight: This is easily one of the show's funniest episodes and is packed with Parks And Rec's most iconic gags (Janet Snakehole, the coffee scene, Jan Cooper). It's storyline about Ann deciding whether or not to get a job is solid on its own, but it's the fact that this episode is a relentless flurry of jokes that all manage to hit that really makes it memorable for me. And that's not to mention the Snakejuice scene where everyone gets drunk, which is probably the funniest moment of the show.

Lil Sebastian: As I mentioned before, Parks And Rec nails its season enders, even in a truncated season like this one. The event held for Lil Sebastian's death is a perfect blend of heart and humor, and we get the show's most iconic song, 5000 Candles In The Wind. I also think compared to most of the show's finales, Lil Sebastian perfectly balances plot progression and comedy. Aside from just being a genuinely funny episode, the hooks for next season are exciting, from Tom's new entertainment company, to Leslie running for city council, to the prospect of finally meeting Tammy I. It's a truly amazing final episode for a truly amazing season.

Overall, Parks And Rec's third season is probably the peak of the series. It has some entertaining storylines, amazing comedy, and tons of memorable episodes, utilizing the entire cast to its absolute fullest.

5/5 Stars

Parks And Rec (Season 2)

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

Parks And Rec (Season 1)

Parks And Recreation is one of my favorite comedies of all time. It's heartwarming and well-plotted with a strong cast of characters. However, I'll be the first to admit that Season 1 is absolutely horrendous.

The storyline of Parks And Recreation is fairly simple. Leslie Knope is trying to turn a giant pit in the middle of her town Pawnee into a common park, as requested by her new friend Ann. Ann's boyfriend Andy broke his leg falling into the pit, but has been using it as an excuse to lie around and slack off. The storyline is fine, though the general story doesn't have much plot progression, with pretty much zero progress being made on "The Pit" by the end of the season.

The main problem with Season 1 of Parks And Rec is that it tries to emulate the tone of The Office, but completely and utterly fails. It's not edgy or biting, it's just bland. The sympathetic qualities of characters like Leslie Knope and Andy Dwyer are pretty much nonexistent, so they aren't fun to watch. Leslie's feelings for her colleague Mark isn't compelling at all, and Andy pretending to have a cast so he can stay at home isn't fun to watch either. 

The humor is lackluster as well, completely lacking moments that made me laugh. There are a few solid scenes like Leslie's introductory scene and the finale's cliffhanger, but they just felt like the exception rather than the rule. There are no notable episodes this season either, nothing really worth talking about throughout. I will give credit where credit is due, however, "Rock Show" is a solid finale with some funny moments and solid set-up for Season 2, but it just felt too little too late at this point.

Season 1 of Parks And Recreation is boring, at least when it isn't thoroughly awful at some points. It feels like the antithesis of everything the series ended up becoming. Dark, drab, and dull.

1/5 Stars