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Thursday, January 20, 2011

Parks & Rec: "Go Big or Go Home"

And so it begins again. Parks & Rec finally returns, with first episode of third to say. And all I have to say is, Holy Shit. I'll explain way, after the jump.... 

Let me just say it again.

Holy Shit.

Holy Shit.

Holy Shit.

Holy Shit.

Man alive, am I glad to have this show back. I should probably say why. Parks & Rec continues on the same path of greatness on which it ended season 2.

After a hilarious “previously on” segment, we get a cold open where Leslie rounds up the troops, as the Parks dept. has been reopened, thought mostly just for maintenance. Hungry for more funding, Leslie schemes to have Ann go on a date with Chris, in order to squeeze (word play!) the money out of him. This give us the funny scene with Ann role playing as Chris, but it also allows us to see a deeper side of Chris. Upon learning that his sunny outlook is the result of escaping a early childhood illness, we now have a deeper understanding of how he is who he is. And when he is crushed by learning the date was initially just a scheme, we see he is capable of other emotions, and how deeply they can affect him.

Thought that takes up the majority of the episode, that's not all. In order to curb populist anger, a basketball league, with two teams. (“They'll form a fierce rivalry.”) Though this plot line originally flies under the radar with goofy charm, it takes a dark turn when Tom (as referee) abuses his power when his ex-wife, now Ron's girlfriend, shows up to support Ron, who is serving as a coach. It gets ugly fast; Ron throws a chair across the gym, and Tom's status with Lucy is now in question.

The third storyline, though its almost a runner, involves April and Andy (of course). Though watching Andy pine away for a girl who wasn't currently talking to him was kind of sweet, once April returned, things went a little south. Not only is it hard to look at her new Latin-American boyfriend and not think “plot complication,” but somehow these scenes lacked the chemistry that wad present last season. But the last scene of this plot is promising, so right now I'm okay with riding this one out.

We also now have an arc for the next few episodes, as the Parks dept. is now throwing their weight into throwing a new festival for the people of Pawnee? And if they fail? The Parks dept. will be closed down forever.

Welcome back, Park & Rec. I've missed you.

Feel free to post dissenting opinions below.


Additional Thoughts:

“Okay, but after that, the pizza is out biggest priority.”

“If you're trying to tell me something, I don't know what it is, because you won't call me back.”

“From gladiators into Swansons”

“Crying – acceptable at funerals and the Grand Canyons.”

“And, you did use your tongue.”

“You know what's sexy? Fingerless gloves”

Rashida Jones' Rob Lowe impersonation? Fantastic.

“They're both so beautiful, they probably want to see other naked.”

Ben dancing = hilarious

“Ice town costs ice clown his town crown.” “Yuk.” “Yeah, they were big into puns.”

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