Luke Kalamar – Parks and Recreation
As every TV viewers knows now, whether or not a show is picked for an award isn’t a determining factor of quality anymore. It’s simply a justification of what your own personal thoughts are towards a program. Case in point, NBC’s absolutely outstanding comedy Parks and Recreation. This show and its cast outside of Amy Poehler (Leslie Knope) annually grace TV snubs lists during awards season. It’s truly a shame because everyone on here deserves recognition. But as any fan knows, Parks and Rec doesn’t need nominations for people to consider it a top-tier TV program. It’s able to prove its merits simply by being a great show. In regards to this final season especially, which began on January 13th, every episode has been nothing short of spectacular. This is a show that is fully prepared to ride off into the sunset at the top if its game. Despite everything that I have watched this month, Parks and Recreation is handily my favorite program, without a doubt in my mind.
So much of this final season has worked. It’s easily one of the best finale seasons I’ve seen in long time. What makes it great is how it’s both a celebration of the show’s history and does a phenomenal job tying up loose ends. In the most recent episode, “Gryzzlbox/Save JJ’s,” we had Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) moving on from Ice Town and the last hurrahs for JJ’s and Treat Yo’ Self. In the episodes before, there was a conclusion to Councilman Jamm’s (Jon Glaser) antagonism, possibly the last look at Tammy 2 (Megan Mullally), and a celebration of both Joan Callamezzo (Mo Collins) and Perd Hapley (Jay Jackson). Clearly the writers want the show to end on the best note possible and they are seriously pulling that off. There are only four episodes left but it’s not unreasonable to think we’ll see the returns of many other supporting characters, outside groups, and hilarious events.
It’s tough to top an episode like “Leslie & Ron” as well. Initially aired on January 20th right after “William Henry Harrison,” “Leslie & Ron” focused exclusively on the two lead characters. Something happened between Seasons 6 and 7 that caused these two best friends to split and viewers have been desperate to find out why. All we knew up to this point was it had to do with something called “Morningstar.” I will not spoil what that was here, but their ensuing discussion hit every necessary beat for gripping, character focused television. It was funny, chaotic, tragic, and heartwarming all at the same time. Poehler and Nick Offerman gave absolutely dominant performances, with Offerman especially showing us a side of Ron Swanson that we have never seen before. I’m not holding my breath that the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will suddenly use this time to praise Offerman for his work on the show. They’ve constantly proven unreliable in that department, and it admittedly doesn’t matter. Yet if there was an episode that gave him the best shot, it is unequivocally this one.
NBC’s choice to air two episodes a week and essentially burn through the final season is proof that the network doesn’t know the crown jewel they have in their lineup. Fortunately for the viewers though, this allows Parks and Rec to burn that much brighter weekly, albeit for a shorter amount of time.
To read our weekly Parks & Rec reviews, click here.
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