Yes, I said it, one of the best episodes this season. For me it’s currently tied with ‘Ron and Tammy’s’ for the number one spot. Is that the reason why I was so late in writing this review? No, I usually write these reviews at work, and let’s just say work yesterday was filled with a heavy dose of drama, which then carried on to the evening. But it’s Saturday morning and I’m ready to tell you why this is a near perfect episode for me, with only one very small gripe.
Generally on Parks the characters are paired up in groups of two or three and then are left to their own plots that rarely interconnect. The use of the ‘end of the world’ trope connected all the storylines perfectly without mashing them together. Some of the lesser-used side characters were a bit left out of the mix, Jerry, Chris, and Ann had nothing to do, but that’s really nothing new for poor Ann. Of course the backdrop for the end of the world is a cult named ‘The Resonabilists’, because who could argue with that? We’ve actually heard Leslie mention them and their great god Zorp before, when Leslie talked about the town’s previous slogans. Everything that came from the Zorp worshippers was pure gold. While I was watching the episode as it aired I was worried that I wasn’t going to be able to type down everything that I loved, so I made a best attempt in my Favorite Quotes section below. If I could transcribe this entire episode I would, it was that funny.
The Zorp enthusists dialogue was hilarious, but even more hilarious was Leslie’s interaction with them. Amy Poehler did an amazing job pulling of a multi-layered look of feigned interest and contempt. But even more importantly we answered a question that has been nagging me since she broke up with Ben; why is it that Leslie hasn’t broken down like Ben has? Well we found out today that she’s perfectly fine as long as no one else dates Ben. Remember the Leslie in season one who couldn’t function properly after she figured out that Shauna slept with Mark? Well that crazy Leslie made a return when she found out Shauna wanted to continue her record of sleeping with guys-Leslie-has-been-with-and-still-likes. This sets off a round of character growth for Leslie, which always a good thing, where she gradually learns that she needs to let Ben go. And yes that means dating other people. Despite all this, she would still want to spend her last night on earth with Ben.
Tom may seem to stay blissfully unaware of the coming of Zorp, but for him the end of Entertainment 720 is the end of the world. And he is going to spend every last dime throwing a kick-ass going away party. Don’t waste your time thinking about what’s next for poor Tom Haverford, he lives in the now, and the now is blowing up with a money-grabbing machine, giant inflatable pirate ship with bubbles, and a shrimp wall. Did I forget the Bengal tiger? It’s an amazing send off and a good way to close out the 720 storyline, I’ll worry about what happens to Tom in the next episode, but for this episode it was a fun ride that ended in some old friends. Lucy is back! She was a real grounding force for Tom in the past, and despite this brief appearance I really hope she comes back to Pawnee permanently.
April and Andy have pretty much ended up paired together every week since their marriage. This episode is no different, and before they die a fiery death Andy has a few things he wants to cross off his bucket list, and April wants to help. And here’s where my issues come in. As hilarious as it was watching Andy hold money, burst through a glass door and attack Jerry to save the beautiful Janet Snakehole, and drive to the grand canyon in record time, I’m more worried for the long term story for these two. While Leslie’s doing some growing up, and even Tom’s learning, April and Andy have pretty much remained stagnant. Except for the brief episode where Ben tried to get them to act like adults by buying real dishes, these two haven’t changed well since the start of the show. Change is good, and these two need something new to happen in their lives, and soon. After all, you can’t be young and irresponsible forever!
Like I said in the intro, this was an amazing episode. Not only hilarious, but genuinely touching for all the major characters this week. And more importantly it was a neatly tied together by the end of the episode; I hate it plots are left hanging. Pawnee and the earth is still alive and kicking, and the Zorp leader reinterpreted the texts to discover that the world is actually going to end another day, as long as it’s free. I can’t wait to see that crazy bunch of old cultists in future episodes, the possibilities are endless. What if Zorp appears in a piece of grilled cheese? Or there’s a sighting? Or a new prophet to deliver an updated message about organizing and the destruction of mankind? I can’t wait for what we see next week in the Greatest Town in America, Pawnee.
Random Thoughts:
- Really Andy, remake Kazaam? Another generation doesn’t need to suffer through the horror.
- I felt so sorry for that bank attendant, having to count out a thousand dollars in ones justso that Andy could hold it.
- Loved the running joke, of ‘you can cash that check, TOMORROW!’, and then everyone chuckles. It’s nice to see a sense of humor about the apocalypse.
- Ahh more Leslie Knope Headlines, she really should have a second career in journalism, I mean ‘Zorp Schmorp?’ Classic.
- I really enjoyed the Zorp-ists as satirizing a nice mix of scientology and the recent apocalypse craze from Harold Camping of Family Radio.
- More of the Janet Snakehole Drama! Which at this point has turned into a bad James Bond movie, the best kind.
- Chris’ hair is now back to normal! Not sure if that started in this episode or if I just happened to notice it now.
- I haven’t really mentioned Ron much, as he pretty much stuck to the sidelines in this episode, but his End of the World goal is to make money off of those other idiots. A true capitalist at heart, that’s our Ron.
- Mick Jagger was apparently a gas station enthusiast at a young age, who knew?
- I completely missed on my first viewing that April stole her dad’s car!
- Ann Chris is going out with Jerry’s daughter! Stay away! Trouble!
- Am I the only one thinking that for someone who is irresponsible with money, Tom sure made that ten thousand dollars stretch! I really think he could have a career in party planning, but I would much rather see him back with the gang at the Parks Department.
- The world’s going to end on a Thursday? At least give me the weekend to party.
- The sappy song at the end was something that I would normally hate, but I actually liked it this time around!
Favorite Quotes:
- “Turns out when you think the world is ending you don’t aim so carefully in the Port-o-Potty’s”
- “Tonight the followers of Reasonabilism will be joining together to await the return of Zorp, the giant lizard god who will destroy the earth with his fire cleansing judgment. Also light refreshments will be served.”
- “I say we invest our ten large, then I accidentally get fun over by a city bus, and then we start our own hip-hop label.”
- “The end. By Leslie Knope.”
- “Well that was definitely something. I know that move.”
- “Arghh my face! My face! My face… is just fine Mikhail Petrov!”
- “Janet Snakehole belongs to Mother Russia now!”
- “Looks like this Siberian Husky is going to be Russian, off to jail.”
- “That was symphony for the righteous destruction of humanity, in E minor.”
- “Wait, I wanna change my answer. I’ll go with bolt cutters.”
- “I actually forgot they ever dated. I was trying to hit that!”
- “Dawn is nigh! Zorp the surveyor approaches, and all earthly debts will be repaid to the original source of life in the universe! Last call for doughnuts.”
- “I’m trying to find a way to be annoyed by it, but I’m coming up empty.”
- “Where’s all the faces. The presidents?”
- “Well math is hard.”
