OK, I’m a good five years late to have only just finished the last season of Parks and Recreation. I am often late to these things actually, but I am so happy I found it. So happy in fact, that I felt it deserved its own blog post, even given that it’s not solely relevant to people in their thirties. Therefore I’m billing this one as something you must watch by the time you turn 30, or asap if you’re already there!
I’ve been aware of it for ages of course, and had the odd chuckle at the various Chris Pratt memes I’ve seen when browsing Instagram, but hadn’t felt any particular compulsion to seek it out. Back in the good old days of around 6 months ago though, when we could all actually travel, my husband and I were on honeymoon in California. One night we were just getting ready for dinner and it came on the TV in the background.
I know now the scene I watched was in “Campaign Ad” from season 4, where Leslie Knope (played of course by the incredible Amy Poehler) is running for city council against Bobby Newport (Paul Rudd). In this episode, Leslie and her campaign manager/boyfriend, Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) are disagreeing about the angle of her campaign ad. Their opposition are going for the attack, trying to demean her own messages of positivity and cast doubt and shade over her as a person. Ben believes they have to use a similar method to get one over on them, however this doesn’t fit with Leslie’s style and she’s uncomfortable using a negative angle. They each try crafting an ad the way they think it should be in order to boost Leslie’s position in the polls, and although Ben’s attempt gains the votes of their peers, she still can’t bring herself to run it. Leslie and Ben work together on it and create something new in the end, which works for the campaign, but crucially, keeps Leslie’s integrity intact.
Having now watched the show in its entirety, I can see that this storyline was another brilliant depiction of Leslie and Ben’s awesome relationship – more on that later! But it was actually a scene with Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) that initially cracked us up and got us intrigued enough to start the box sets. A sub-plot of the episode is that the ever-positive, puppy-like Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe – drool) is essentially trying to make friends with Ron, who is bemused and uncomfortable with this. In one part, the look of panic in Ron’s eyes and his desperate, failed attempt to shut his office door before Chris walks in is comic gold.
When we got back from our honeymoon, we wanted to try it from the start, and quickly fell in love with it. Here are some reasons why it’s so great:
The women are fierce
I can safely say the leading lady, Leslie Knope, has stolen my heart. In the first series I think the writers didn’t quite find their feet with her; she was likeable but ever-so-slightly tragic. However, in the subsequent seasons she becomes this force of nature – a passionate, smart, driven, goofy, thoughtful, gregarious workaholic who remains endlessly endearing whilst also able to impressively bust some balls when she needs to.
There are a number of supporting female characters who are all just as striking without ever veering into stereotype. April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) for example is this beautiful, dark, sullen-yet-soft character with a unique black humour, delivered with such penetrating coldness that would make you simultaneously offended yet desperate for her to like you. Donna Meagle is so effortlessly cool, you would be dying to go for a cocktail with her.
Then there’s Leslie’s best friend, Ann Perkins, played by Rashida Jones. She’s likeable, but arguably less punchy than the other female characters – but this is for a reason. I recently watched the 10th anniversary interview and I loved how Rashida described it. “Ann’s fine,” she says, laughing. “But Leslie thinks she is the most perfect person in the world.”
It highlights how the Leslie-Ann dynamic in Parks and Rec is a love letter to female friendships. Leslie does genuinely think Ann is perfect, and is by her side through thick and thin. They don’t always agree on everything, either, which means they bring out the best in each other. As a woman, I relate to this hugely and feel so lucky to have relationships like that, and find it a little sad that men often don’t.
And if that’s not enough, Michelle Obama appears in it, for Christ’s sake. Watch it!
It promotes healthy, balanced relationships
Leslie and her husband, Ben, have this wonderfully geeky, fun, supportive partnership. They’re always equal and their happiness truly derives from each other’s. Ben is infinitely proud of his kick-arse wife and defends her publicly when they encounter some archaic, sexist views about what his wife “should” be doing while he’s running for governor. Not that she needs it, mind – she’s of course more than capable of speaking for herself, but she values his support and is buoyed by it. You may have guessed that I feel that Ben is totally dreamy in every sense of the word.
Andy Dwyer and April Ludgate are another example – they’re both childlike in a lot of ways, and incredibly different in their personalities, but their love for each other is palpable and a joy to watch.
The show also demonstrated how south things can go when a relationship isn’t healthy or balanced. Take Ron Swanson and his (numerous) ex-wives – the Tammys. When either of them come back into his life during the show, he’s reduced to a shell of his former self in various, highly amusing ways.
It’s hilarious without being mean
There’s something about Parks and Rec’s humour that’s so refreshing. It gets most of its genuine laughs without poking fun at anyone, any specific social group, or relying on stereotypes. On the rare occasion that it does, it’s either
- Completely and utterly deserved, for instance, the awful councilman Jam
- Balanced with a payoff for that person – take Gerry (also Garry/Larry) Gurgidge for example. He’s the butt of every office joke, blamed for everything, cut off mid-sentence, the works. Sometimes you even feel sorry for him. But he takes everything cheerfully, and has an insanely beautiful family at home who dote on him.
Plus, the comedy delivered by characters such as Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) and Ron Swanson – to name my two favourites – is just fabulous. A lot of the show was improvised, and I think you can feel that original energy coming through.
It’s joyful
When a show can balance comedy with true sincerity and avoid slush, you know it’s a good one. I’ll admit I cry quite easily at TV and films, but you’d have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by some of the scenes in Parks and Recreation. To name one in particular, when Leslie and Ben decide to rekindle their relationship after temporarily separating, in an effort to avoid Leslie’s campaign being negatively affected, I sobbed like a baby. He even took the rap for the whole thing to protect her. Sniff.
Ultimately, it’s a show about friendship and human connections, and how they really do underpin everything we do. The final episode looks way ahead into the future and gives you a really satisfying glimpse of where each character ends up. It’s a fabulous ending which gives the fans what they want without seeming too contrived.
So, I came for Ron, stayed for Leslie, and loved everyone in between. Yes, even John-Ralphio, who is incredibly irritating and selfish, yet I can’t help but laugh at the way he siiiings his sentenceeeees.
As I write this in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve recently found out they released a special lockdown episode on NBC. Let’s hope it’s available in the UK soon!
On that note, I guess the only thing left to say is, especially during lockdown: remember to treat yo’self.
Are you also a Parks and Rec fan? Let me know in the comments…
XD
Thirty Secrets 