Andy’s Goodbye
Continuing with the trend of giving all the Parks players their happy endings, this past week focused on sweet moments for a couple of the
characters. First up was Andy Dwyer in “The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show.” The episode is presented as an actual episode of Andy’s
public access children’s show, full of karate chops, learning lessons, and being nice. It is, in fact, his very final episode of the show, as he’s getting
ready to move to Washington D.C. with his wife for her new job.
First of all, “The Johnny Karate Super Awesome Musical Explosion Show,” should be an actual kids’ show. I’ve seen some of the kids’ shows on TV nowadays,
and “TJKSAMXS” would be a “super awesome” addition to the lineup (although it’s got a ridiculously long name even in initialism form. It’s such a perfect
way to make good use of Andy’s general childishness, and more specifically his earnestness. That is the way in which he has always been the complete
opposite of April -- where she would mask any true feelings with sarcasm and refuse to engage, Andy has always worn his heart on his sleeve and never
hesitates to celebrate that which excites him. Undoubtedly, this openness is part of what attracted April to Andy in the first place. It’s the most
endearing part of his character. Sure, he may be a little dumb, but he is also incredibly honest and kind, and those are great qualities to encourage in
children. The goodbye song in the show is so in tune with who Andy is as a character, which great lines like, “Karate’s not about fighting…it’s about being
kind and honest while you’re kicking for the stars!”
One of the segments of the show is about being nice to someone, and Andy chooses to be nice to April for his final show. However, April’s immense guilt
over pulling Andy away from something he loves, brings her to tears and causes her to run backstage. At which point Andy (and a camera) follows her and
reassures her that she is what he loves, and he’ll just find the next cool thing to do when they’re in D.C. -- and I don't doubt it. His unfailing kindness and optimism
shine through always -- it's basically like he runs through life knocking things off the walls unintentionally and smiling. Andy is sometimes like a human
tornado of smiles.
Parks
has always been a show with a lot of heart, that hasn’t been afraid to embrace things with 100% enthusiasm, and Andy Dwyer is like the poster boy for that.
He’s excited to work with his friends, he has fun taping straws together, he gives people hugs to show them he cares, he works hard to apologize when he’s
done something wrong, and he throws himself into a project full-on (sometimes literally) even if he doesn’t actually know what he’s doing. Andy occupied a
bit of an awkward position at the start of the show, as the “loser boyfriend” of Leslie’s Pit-Park Catalyst/New Best Friend, Ann Perkins. He didn’t work in
the Parks Department, he didn’t have any real connections to the Parks Department, he just happened to fall into a dangerous pit, which then set
in motion the story of the first season. But Andy found his way more organically into the Parks family, and the show would be very different
without his puppy dog-like enthusiasm standing in stark contrast to the doldrums of local politics. And where would Parks and Rec be without Chris
Pratt’s killer improvs? He gets the credit for one of my favorite lines of all time, “Leslie, I typed your symptoms into this thing up here, and it says
you may have network connectivity problems.”
Thank you, Andy Dwyer, for showing that “talent” is not the only thing that’s important. Sometimes you just need a big heart and a big smile.
Tom’s Goodbye
The episode “Two Funerals” features the funerals of two important Pawneeans – the oft-discussed and much-beloved, Mayor Gunderson, and Ron’s barber of 40
years, Salvatore. But it also features Tom’s big final moment, as he prepares to propose to his girlfriend, Lucy. A wistful Leslie, looking to create some
more beginnings in the wake of so many endings, (and unable to figure out how to organize an underground dance competition), decides to help Tom propose to
Lucy. She’s so enthusiastic about the idea that she goes along with Tom’s very Tom-like (re: extravagant) proposal plan; a multimedia experience where Tom
plays a Bond-like agent with a mission. Together they organize an elaborate film shoot, complete with handsome stunt doubles and ambiguous accents. The
whole proposal scheme is scrapped though, as soon as Tom meets Lucy at the airport. He sends Leslie to go get a few supplies and redirects the whole
proposal into a much simpler and more meaningful affair. Tom’s decision to switch directions with the proposal shows his growth over the years. Instead of
focusing on the flash that he craves, he realizes that the proposal is about his relationship with Lucy, and not just him showing off. Turns out to be a
good move, because she accepts!
The development of Tom and Lucy’s relationship over the season has been really quick, but in all fairness to the show, they’re trying to tie things up for
everyone, and time is one thing they do not have. So that aside, Tom and Lucy are a pretty good pair, because while she does enjoy Tom’s flash on occasion,
she also seems to ground him a lot. Also, she just seems like a pretty cool gal. Having enjoyed Lucy’s arc on the second and third season of the show, it
was nice to see her come back for the wrap-up. Tom has come a long way since his early days on the show, when he was in an unhappy green card marriage,
floundering away his money on failed business ventures like Snake Juice or Entertainment 720. Some people haven’t grown up quite as much though…
*cough* Jean-Ralphio *cough*
Back to the funerals. Mayor Gunderson finally makes his first on-screen appearance! Dead. And of course, he’s played by Bill Murray. Because it was Murray
or Bust. They must have a whole lot of miracle juice over that Parks to pull off what they have done over the years, so somehow it doesn’t even
surprise me that they actually managed to get him. It just makes sense. And of course Mayor Gunderson had an open marriage and a 40+ year old relationship
with Ethel Beavers, who delivers a eulogy for him as he lies in state in the council room. The search for a new (interim) mayor provides the returns of some other great Pawneeans, including Bobby Newport, Joan Calamezzo, and The Douche. Oh Pawnee, I am really going to miss your wild and crazy
citizens. Including Salvatore, may he rest in peace.
I can’t believe the final episodes of Parks and Recreation are almost upon us! Although it’ll will certainly be sad to say goodbye to the show, considering the amount of fantastic potential series finales they’ve served up over the years, I can’t wait to see what they’ve got for their big finale. Presumably it’ll be filled with some familiar faces, oodles of laughs, and quite a few on and off-screen tears.
What did you think of this penultimate block of episodes? Are you ready for the finale two-parter? Is there anything you really hope to see before the show fades to black for the last time? Let us know below!
