Season 4, Episode 18
When it was first introduced, Leslie's run for city council seemed like another creative boon to Parks and Recreation. After all, season three saw an uptick in quality thanks to the Harvest Festival arc, and the rest of the season was similarly driven by Leslie and Ben's budding relationship, so it would make sense that another, even more inclusive arc would make for another great season, especially one that would place Leslie outside of her element and hopefully let us know more about her. And for the most part, the show has done that, and done it very successfully, but as we reach the later parts of the season, some parts of this arc are starting to wear a little thin, especially in regards to Leslie herself.
By my count, Leslie's run for office has introduced five new characters to the show's world: the two original party representatives that led the early part of Leslie's campaign, Bobby Newport, Jen Barkley, and, with tonight's episode, Buddy Wood, and with each one, the stakes have risen higher and Leslie has grown less like herself. Given the general setup of the season, this is to be expected in part, and it worked last week when Leslie's confrontations with Jen forced out a darker side of her, or when Bobby Newport reveals her tougher side.
But the show seemed to overplay its hand with Buddy Wood in this episode. While there are a lot of good ideas here – Leslie being drunk for an interview, her interviewer being generally dismissive of Pawnee and raising her ire, and her culling the support of the airport staff – but they don't really gel together here. The largest stumbling block here is the fact that Leslie is only partially successful in acting sobering, yet back in “The Flu” it was shown that Leslie is so motivated that she can overcome a much loopier, fever-and-drug-addled state to deliver a speech to a room full of people, thus creating a conflicting picture of the character. What I think would have worked better is if the episode had cut the drinking part of this plot out, and just had Leslie unable to control her anger (because we do now how personally Leslie takes the town) and the interview had gone south from there.
Of course I understand why the drinking had to take place, in order to show us how the campaign in affecting Ben, and I think the idea and the execution of this part of the story, but I don't think enough screen time was given over to it to make it truly effective. The campaign's effect on Ben and Leslie's relationship is a much more important aspect than I think the show is treating it as, and I think trying to split it between Ben's stress and Leslie's mistake robbed both stories of their full potential.
The much better storyline here was the B-plot featuring Andy, April, Ron, and Andy's Women's Study professor. It's always been refreshing to see Ron, one of the most masculine characters on all of television able to make room to be a feminist (as well as non-judgmental when it comes to sexual orientation, based on “Operation Ann”) and to see another reminder of this was a nice moment, especially in how Ron's hyper-masculinity was able to show up Chris' less-aggressive PC nature. It's fitting that this episode was written by Nick Offerman, and that he was able to perfectly blend two character traits (masculinity and feminist leanings) that society treats as incompatible, but really aren't.
There were a C- and D-plots to fill out the half-hour, and while the Tom and April plot has already grown tiresome with it's repetition (seriously, let's hope the show was serious about Ann breaking up with Tom in the tag, even if it means the whole storyline pretty much a waste), the C-plot was pretty good in it's simplicity. By my recollection, this is the first time second-tier characters Jerry and Donna have had a plot to themselves, and it was something of a proud moment for Jerry (however small), as he proved himself capable enough at a task to impress Donna enough with his envelope-stuffing skills to get her to stick around. (It's quite possible there was supposed to be a sexual suggestion to this plotline, what with all the licking Jerry was doing, but really, nobody wants to think about that.)
After this episode, Parks and Recreation is taking a short break in order to do some schedule shuffling after that whole Community fiasco, but it will be back April 19th for a straight run to finish out the season. While this wasn't the highest note to go out on, let's remember all the good that has come out of this season so far, and hope those finale episodes will provide similar heights. And that shouldn't be too hard, considering the last run will have more appearances by Paul Rudd, and an episode written and directed by Amy Poehler.
Quotes and Other Thoughts:
“Are you hitting on Leslie for me?”
“'Nympho' means you're addicted to sex, and since it's on the butt, there are other implications. So those are a maybe...”
“I told you, if you can't remember what some woman did, just tear up and say 'She changed my life.'”
“We'll let you pay for your own food, because of he equality.”
“It's like dealing with a strict mother, who I am strangely attracted to. Ben is like a MILF.”
“Okay, both of the cabs in this town are busy...”
“We found a small piece of carpet without a horrifying smellscape.”
“If they got together, they would create the most beautiful super baby, who would rule us all. But what it Super Baby became too powerful?”
“Tomorrow this gets broadcast around the entire Indiana-sphere.”
“That's so sweet. I've never had a boyfriend offer to commit arson for me before.” “Eh, it gets old.”
“Hey kids, go buy yourselves a Walkman. How much is a Walkman these days? Probably more than 20. Here's 25.”
But the show seemed to overplay its hand with Buddy Wood in this episode. While there are a lot of good ideas here – Leslie being drunk for an interview, her interviewer being generally dismissive of Pawnee and raising her ire, and her culling the support of the airport staff – but they don't really gel together here. The largest stumbling block here is the fact that Leslie is only partially successful in acting sobering, yet back in “The Flu” it was shown that Leslie is so motivated that she can overcome a much loopier, fever-and-drug-addled state to deliver a speech to a room full of people, thus creating a conflicting picture of the character. What I think would have worked better is if the episode had cut the drinking part of this plot out, and just had Leslie unable to control her anger (because we do now how personally Leslie takes the town) and the interview had gone south from there.
Of course I understand why the drinking had to take place, in order to show us how the campaign in affecting Ben, and I think the idea and the execution of this part of the story, but I don't think enough screen time was given over to it to make it truly effective. The campaign's effect on Ben and Leslie's relationship is a much more important aspect than I think the show is treating it as, and I think trying to split it between Ben's stress and Leslie's mistake robbed both stories of their full potential.
The much better storyline here was the B-plot featuring Andy, April, Ron, and Andy's Women's Study professor. It's always been refreshing to see Ron, one of the most masculine characters on all of television able to make room to be a feminist (as well as non-judgmental when it comes to sexual orientation, based on “Operation Ann”) and to see another reminder of this was a nice moment, especially in how Ron's hyper-masculinity was able to show up Chris' less-aggressive PC nature. It's fitting that this episode was written by Nick Offerman, and that he was able to perfectly blend two character traits (masculinity and feminist leanings) that society treats as incompatible, but really aren't.
There were a C- and D-plots to fill out the half-hour, and while the Tom and April plot has already grown tiresome with it's repetition (seriously, let's hope the show was serious about Ann breaking up with Tom in the tag, even if it means the whole storyline pretty much a waste), the C-plot was pretty good in it's simplicity. By my recollection, this is the first time second-tier characters Jerry and Donna have had a plot to themselves, and it was something of a proud moment for Jerry (however small), as he proved himself capable enough at a task to impress Donna enough with his envelope-stuffing skills to get her to stick around. (It's quite possible there was supposed to be a sexual suggestion to this plotline, what with all the licking Jerry was doing, but really, nobody wants to think about that.)
After this episode, Parks and Recreation is taking a short break in order to do some schedule shuffling after that whole Community fiasco, but it will be back April 19th for a straight run to finish out the season. While this wasn't the highest note to go out on, let's remember all the good that has come out of this season so far, and hope those finale episodes will provide similar heights. And that shouldn't be too hard, considering the last run will have more appearances by Paul Rudd, and an episode written and directed by Amy Poehler.
Quotes and Other Thoughts:
“Are you hitting on Leslie for me?”
“'Nympho' means you're addicted to sex, and since it's on the butt, there are other implications. So those are a maybe...”
“I told you, if you can't remember what some woman did, just tear up and say 'She changed my life.'”
“We'll let you pay for your own food, because of he equality.”
“It's like dealing with a strict mother, who I am strangely attracted to. Ben is like a MILF.”
“Okay, both of the cabs in this town are busy...”
“We found a small piece of carpet without a horrifying smellscape.”
“If they got together, they would create the most beautiful super baby, who would rule us all. But what it Super Baby became too powerful?”
“Tomorrow this gets broadcast around the entire Indiana-sphere.”
“That's so sweet. I've never had a boyfriend offer to commit arson for me before.” “Eh, it gets old.”
“Hey kids, go buy yourselves a Walkman. How much is a Walkman these days? Probably more than 20. Here's 25.”
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