First, the Parks writers have one hell of a grasp on politics in elections. In this episode we learn that Leslie is slowly gaining on Newport and is a real threat, so the Newport’s use their Sweetums money to hire a bigwig new campaign manager straight from D.C. Everything about Jennifer Barkley is spot on perfection. From reading newspapers in Arabic, always being a step ahead, being friendly but don’t take it personally when I destroy you, right down to the brilliant spin for Bobby Newport’s Spanish getaway. That spin in itself was referencing Gingrich’s cruise to Greece. I used to think that only shows like The Daily Show or The Colbert Report could properly satirize politics, but damnit if Parks isn’t giving them a run for their money, albeit in a different format. The political satire is taking up a decent chunk of this season’s plot, and if it hadn’t been done properly it could have been a disaster. I think by this point I’ve learned to never bet against either the Parks writers or the amazing cast.
Second are Ben and Leslie, or more specifically how their relationship is evolving. Working with someone that you’re in a relationship with is a tough situation, which is why I predicted a couple of reviews back that there might be trouble ahead for these two lovebirds. I have officially changed my position. These two are clearly soul mates, and even if you don’t believe in that sort of thing it’s easy to see that they work well together as a team while keeping things romantic, although sometimes in a creepy way. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, proposal by the end of the season. And even if that doesn’t happen I’m pretty sure these two are meant to last.
Lastly we come to April. The perpetual child is finally starting to grow up? We’ll see, but at least in this episode we started to head in that direction. I’ve often complained that in this season April has been more of a static character than a dynamic one, so it’s good to see a real shift coming to April. To summarize; the Parks department needs a new Leslie, AKA someone who actually gets things done around there. April steps up and solves a hilarious sanitation issue, and Ron decides to for once support her in actually achieving something in the workplace. Of course she could never be the new Leslie, but she’s been answering phones for Ron since the second season, so something new can only be a right step for her character.
Thanks so much for reading this, and sorry again that it’s a day late! Also I know that I skipped over a lot of the plot details for this episode, but I promise I’ll cover them or at least make jokes about them in the ‘Random Thoughts’ section. As always, please leave me comments! It’s the only way that I know to see if people are actually reading these. I’ll see you next Friday to talk about the last episode before the show goes on temporary hiatus. It should be a good one; Sean Hayes plays a journalist who interviews Leslie!
Random Thoughts:
- I so wanna see a full episode of ‘The Final Word with Perd’, ‘Meet the Press’ meet your match!
- Did anyone else catch the list of other candidates that Leslie is running against? Porn star Brandi Maxxxx is back, which I can’t wait to see her and Leslie again, and also the terribly named Fester Trim along with the exotic Manrico Della Rossa.
- More spot on political analysis; seniors are the only people that vote.
- I’m pretty sure there are national disability laws that require all public buildings to have ramps, but for the show it makes sense that a place as odd as Pawnee would be ramp-less.
- I have lived in Florida my entire life, which has made me somewhat of an expert on the elderly, so I can attest that all depictions in this episode now matter how hilarious are entirely accurate.
- We have a new and slightly insane Pawnee quirk to add to the list! Sucking on the water fountain head when you drink from the water fountain pretty much tops my list for the most hilarious and disgusting thing done on this show.
- Loved April’s little victory walk after she shut Ann’s door.
- I absolutely loved when Leslie was asking about Joe Biden, this has been a long running joke for awhile now.
- Naïve and Untested, yet is an entrenched bureaucrat? I swear they stole this line from an actual campaign interview somewhere.
- Leslie’s scooter presentation was amazing, and I loved the Knope campaign stickers all over the scooter. Ramps are so much more fun than elevators anyway!
- Maybe it was in bad taste, but I thought that Andy’s suicide water balloon vest was hilarious.
- Ramp to Nowhere? Stolen from the real life Bridge to Nowhere controversy.
- Aaaaand Donna had the best line of the night; see the Leslie Void quote below if you need a refresher.
- Leslie had a great comeback in the debate with Jennifer, shame that she’s such a slippery bitch and made up a cover story for the Spanish Floozy Fiasco.
- I really hope that Jennifer’s lies backfire on her, that would be an awesome turn of events.
Favorite Quotes:
- “That’s a hilarious image, a foot in a mouth?”
- “He’s like a brilliant, sexy, little humming bird.”
- “Look, I don’t have a lot of time.” “Oh God I’m so sorry! Cancer?”
- “Not enough ramps is the number three complaint among seniors, right behind everything hurts and I’m dying.”
- “Reminds me when my dad made me choose which of my pet calves I had to slaughter with my own hands for my sixth birthday. I couldn’t choose, so I slaughtered both of them. And they were delicious.”
- “She’s eating egg salad with Colin Powell! That’s the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen!”
- “As a candidate I appreciate your strategic mind, but as a woman all I care about is your slight but powerful body.”
- “Trust me you can do better than Joe!” “No, I don’t think I can.”
- “Do I look like I drink water?”
- “Ned Jones is here! Say hello to Ned Jones! Make way for Ned Jones!”
- “Bobby Newport thinks that the stairs should do the work for you˙!”
- “Everything I’m wearing is suede! Everything I’m wearing is suede! Everything I’m wearing is suede!”
- “This is a rare example of where wasting a full day of work is a bad thing.”
- “I think Ben’s already filling the Leslie Void.”
- “As a rule, you shouldn’t take advice from your opponents campaign manager.”
- “I didn’t realize that you were pro-landmine?”
- “I don’t wanna do things. I wanna not do things, just like you taught me.”
