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"Parks and Recreation" -- "End of the World": All Will Be Well

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under TV Reviews | Comments (16)

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Last night’s “Parks and Recreation” may have been one of the sweetest episodes of television this season. All the warm and fuzzy magic that once belong to Jim and Pam on “The Office” now belongs to Andy and April, while the will-they/won’t-they sexual tension that characterized the early seasons of “The Office” has been transplanted on to Ben and Leslie. “Parks and Recreation” can take advantage of both halves of the Jim and Pam equation at the same time, though with Andy and April it has the added advantage of two of television’s more unique characters. In fact, if you consider it, many of the character types on “Parks and Recreation” are unique to the show. Certainly Ron, April, Tom and Jean Ralphio, while Leslie and Andy are original variations of more traditional sitcom characters.

Right now, Ben is floating without Leslie to anchor him, but as the the achy exchange between the two at the end of last night’s episode demonstrated, there’s still an abundance of romantic chemistry between the two. I’m not sure, however, if the show could ever sustain the existence of two blissfully happy couples, so if Ben and Leslie ever get together, it may mean the separation of April and Andy. I don’t think my soul could take that. They play off of each other so well, and this season has provided an entirely new dimension for April: She glows. She fucking glows, people.

I liked that Michael Shur toned down Tom Haverford last night and allowed the character to be likable again: I kept thinking that he and Jean Ralphio would find a way to save the company through that “perfect” party, but I’m glad they didn’t. Entertainment 720 has served its purpose. Tom needs to find another entry point into the “P&R” universe.

Robert Pine, who played Herb Scaifer — the leader of the Reasonabalists — provided the biggest laughs last night: The “volcano mouth” line and his exchange with Chris provoked such an extended giggling fit that I had to pause the show to recover. But it was the heartbreaking moment between Ben and Leslie and, especially, the heart-swelling moment between Andy and April at the Grand Canyon that provided last night’s real emotional wallop. Who knew you could take something as lame as the bucket list conceit and turn it into something so touching?

Parks and Recreation. Grade: A-

  • “Turns out when you think the world’s ending you don’t aim so carefully in the porto potties.” — Leslie

  • “Oh my god, they’re gonna have sex in five minutes. I gotta stop this. I gotta keep them away from each other for the rest of their lives.” — Leslie

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  • The Director’s Cut of Last Night’s Episode, with Six Additional Minutes

  • The song at the end was the Gabe Dixon Band, “All Will Be Well.”










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    Comments

    I don't consider myself much of a romantic at all but I'll be damned if last night's episode didn't make me tear up a little bit at the end. It's been a hell of a bad week and I think I needed that dose of sweetness more than I knew.

    Posted by: beckster at November 4, 2011 12:54 PM

    • Well, they finally made up for that crappy Pawnee Rangers episode. Leslie needed to meet up with some things called consequences.

    Posted by: maka at November 4, 2011 12:57 PM

    You forgot Ron agreeing to take a check, the zorpists were laughing at him and his look at the camera was fucking perfect. I felt so bad for Leslie. I like that they played up her season 1 crazy, the reminder was a good way to show how she has grown since Ann has been her friend. April does glow, it's one of the cutest things ever, I hope you're wrong about their eventual break-up.

    Laugh of the night went to Beavis and Butthead, "Jesus said she could do better."

    Posted by: Melody Be at November 4, 2011 12:58 PM

    I have held my entire year's salary in my hand. It was small and sobering to say the least.

    If I won the lottery, I would buy a bouncy house for myself right quick. Not for the celebration party, just for my backyard because that is how I would do.

    Posted by: Mrs. Julien at November 4, 2011 12:58 PM


    Perfect review.

    I cried at the end of the episode. Everything was heartbreaking, in both good and bad ways, and just so sweet. I love how much this show loves its characters, and how consistently hilarious it is while moving them around. Every character had a great moment.

    I'd been complaining a little about how we hadn't seen Leslie much affected by her break-up with Ben, but I also knew it was a matter of time before something happened, and I almost cried at how sweet their last scene was. Leslie's always so closed-up about her personal life, and it was time that we saw that she was bothered by losing Ben. That line where she said she'd want to spend the last day of the world with him made my heart ache. They're so perfect for each other and I love what the show is doing with them.

    "PIRATE THEMED BOUNCY CASTLE. With Bubbles!"

    I love how Jean Ralphio's hair keeps getting bigger and bigger.

    "I'd like to remake the movie Kazam, with Shaquille O'Neil where he plays a genie and I'd like to get it right. "

    I loved this episode. It had everything I love about the show in one perfect little box. It was so wonderfully sweet. How can anyone not love this show?!

    Posted by: figgy at November 4, 2011 1:00 PM

    Figgy, I'm happy to say that everyone I have introduced to the show loves it. I totally teared up for that last Ben and Leslie scene and when Andy and April laid eyes on the Grand Canyon, both such touching and sweet moments, this show is the best.

    Posted by: Melody Be at November 4, 2011 1:03 PM

    Oh! And I love the attention to detail and continuity that this show has. Like how the Zorp cult was mentioned a while back when Leslie read the town slogans.

    Posted by: figgy at November 4, 2011 1:10 PM

    It was the Badlands at the end, an awesome place place, but not quite as deep a hole as the Grand Canyon.

    I finally started watching Parks & Rec (and Community) this season and am head over heels for it. I don't know why it took me so long.

    Posted by: Lee at November 4, 2011 1:41 PM

    But where are all the faces?

    Posted by: admin at November 4, 2011 2:45 PM

    I teared up when they got to the grand canyon. And I've only just recently started watching the show (thanks pajiba). It was such a sweet moment. The rest of the episode was also pretty spot on with the sweet factor. Aside from Ron. He isn't sweet. He is manly without being a jerk or sexist (at least from what I've seen so far).

    Posted by: Dave at November 4, 2011 3:44 PM

    "It says they have Turkey Sandwiches and the Nectar of a Thousand Sorrows."

    "That is so good, it's root beer and red wine!"

    Posted by: figgy at November 4, 2011 5:13 PM

    @Lee- Sorry to break it to you, but it is the Grand Canyon.

    Posted by: Sadie at November 5, 2011 1:01 AM

    Hollywood is obsessed with the grand canyon, and what it can teach us. I guess it's the only thing larger than their ego that they've ever encountered.

    Posted by: John G. at November 5, 2011 5:54 PM

    Pretty sure Ron said "What religion am I? Well, I'm a practising none of your god damn business." rather than "fucking business".

    Posted by: Steve at November 5, 2011 9:37 PM

    Haha nothing like a party with drumlines, a tiger and a bouncy ship that's not for a child's birthday haha. Glad to see Lucy show up, too, even if if Jean-Ralphio invited her without the noble motive that Tom that he had...but yeah, basically the End of the World Party ruled (watch a video clip of that scene at http://vimeo.com/31699074 ).

    Gotta love that they used "Dancer In the Dark" by Dev and glad it got Lucy in the mood to dance. Her chemistry with Tom is great, I hope they figure out a way to write her more into the show.

    Posted by: darci at November 6, 2011 10:04 PM

    Thanks so much for knowing who did that beautiful song at the end. I will definitely need to make it "Song of the Week" over at my blog. I have loved the show since the beginning and it's wonderful how it keeps getting better. I love April and Andy's relationship, it seemed crazy at first, but they fit so well together. Her face was gorgeous in the Grand Canyon scene. For now, their acting is under rated because they sure make being in love believable. It won't be long before people catch on to how talented they are. I hope more people find their way to this perfect show.

    Posted by: Colleenie at November 11, 2011 10:43 PM