Parks and Recreation
Whoa! Going into the episode, I didn't expect a major shake-up and didn't even think the subplot of Leslie debate on whether to take the Federal job would even get resolved. In fact, I don't what I expected as I kind of kept forgetting about the Unity concert also. I guess just a low-key business as usual expectation especially with P&R having been announced for renewal so there didn't seem to be much reason to wrap up some of the recent conflicts and story ideas.
However, as the episode went on, I began to question whether or not there was going to be a major shake-up on the show for next season. With the Federal job, it suddenly seemed to indicate that things would suddenly be more far-reaching with Leslie's job being on a national level instead of local level. This would mean new characters and workmates. With her meeting her heroes like the bad boy of the interior, it struck me as though we might be seeing the introduction of a new cast for the next season. Then after Leslie took the job and all indications were that she would be moving, her trying to bring all the staff with her to her new job and them all refusing (except Larry) seemed to make me further wonder just where the show was going. Add in the fact that it seemed all the supporting cast were all getting a triumphant moment or two, it seemed as though it was setting up the goodbyes and final moments for a lot of the characters.
Yet, in the end, the show had a way to make it work that was a fairly obvious solution and so it seemed to be ready to go on as normal but with the team now having a much larger mandate to look after the national parks instead of local Pawnee parks only which could hopefully open up some new territory to mine for comedy gold. But then, the show went there and did offer up the chance for big changes next season with the time jump! I think it leaves the fate of a lot of characters open for change and possibly the chance we may see less of some of them and an introduction of more new characters. Or it could be the same old crew but just "older" and more wiser or slightly changed.
And then, just as I'm getting over the shock of the jump, Boom! Jon Hamm walks on for a quick 30 second cameo that had me wishing he becomes a regular or at least recurring guest star character. I'd love to see Don Draper now portraying someone even more incompetent that Terry (Ha!). He totally could too. Mad Men is wrapping up and filming its final scenes (if it hasn't done so already) so he would be available to join up in filming provided he doesn't now have other film commitments. Jon Hamm can be great for comedy as he proved hosting SNL. Those were some of my favorite episodes and his other appearances on the show have also been gold. It's odd how he pops up on shows for a quick joke like Conan or 30 Rock. Must be the SNL connection.
Man, I love how this episode pulled out all the stops with even most of the third tier characters making a brief cameo like Joan and Perd and the accounting guy that always wants to hire Ben. But best of all, more Jean-Ralphio. I always love his schtick and he delivered again even when sporting 2 ankle bracelets! I've heard this show get compared to other comedies before like The Office but I always think the show most reminds me of Newhart, a comedy from the 80's. Not sure how many have seen it but I think it is worth watching. It's one I like a lot. That show was about a small inn owner, played by Bob Newhart, and the wacky characters he puts up with in a small town. As the show went on, you got to meet more and more of the townsfolk and there would be plenty of recurring guest stars as they played these town folk from time to time. I always liked how the show did that and expanded its cast in that way and allowed for all these people to show up to provide all kinds of different jokes. I think that has been the greatest factor in Parks staying pretty funny after all this time by having these different citizens around to provide jokes that just couldn't be done by the main cast.
Still, this episode re-energized my enthusiasm for the show. I have to admit, this is the first season where I started to wonder if maybe it was all wearing thin. Up to this point, each season had been getting better and better and Season 5 seemed like a slowdown of that momentum but was still very strong and I recommend it a lot. But this season seemed to be a bit more repetitive and a lot of characters just seemed to be spinning their wheels or regressing at times. It still had some great moments and laughs but it just wasn't feeling as amazing as it used to. Hopefully with the changeup at the end of the episode, it will allow for a lot of new possibilities and reignite the crew with new comedy and character ideas and do the impossible by actually still getting funnier as the show continues.
Anyways, that's about all I wanted to mention. It's been awhile since I've just felt the need to rave about Parks so this episode definitely did it's job in entertaining this fan.
Topic: Rate the last TV show you've seen (Read 1347850 times)
