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Parks and Recreation S05E07: "Leslie vs. April"

Our Pawneeans did a lot of growing up this week, each in their own strange and funny way.

But first, OMG! After a lovely opening image of our power couple, Ben and Leslie, dreaming about occupying the White House one day, Ben sprang a little surprise on his bride-to-be. No, it was not "a waffle tower," as Leslie hoped, but a heaping helping of Joe Biden—VPOTUS in the house! The exchange between them was, dare I say, priceless. Leslie caressing Biden's face, telling him how very handsome he is, then getting confused and thinking he was offering her Hillary Clinton's job! The scene was a perfect example of how Parks and Rec mingles the real and the fictitious to make the world of Pawnee a little more tangible.

Now back to the moral of the story... Leslie and April have developed an odd, but endearing, mother/daughter relationship in the past few seasons. And this week April stepped up and pulled a Knope, which I will define as taking a stand for something you believe in. Leslie couldn't have been more proud... until April's idea conflicted with one of Leslie's. Which brings us to the crux (and title) of this week's episode, "Leslie vs. April." The pupil challenged the master, with April employing Leslie's own tactics, and after Leslie consulted with Ron about how he dealt with Leslie when she fought against him (answer: distraction), Leslie pretended to be interested in April's interests—cue the laugh-out-loud weird performance art scene. But it seemed that Leslie had trained her protégé too well, and April saw right through it—cue the battle royale! Which in this case was a city council meeting where April pulled out her ace, Councilman Jamm (who, btw, has the craziest awesome hair in Pawnee). In the end, Leslie actually conceded to April in some respects, showing Leslie's growth and making way for what could be the next generation of the Pawnee politico. Ludgate 2020?

Meanwhile, our idiot, the sweet Andy Dwyer played policeman in an attempt to identify the thief of his computer. The situation highlighted a part of growing up that many gloss over: fantasy. Andy had an idea of what it meant to be a policeman, but suffered a rude awakening when he saw that it was more about "writing things down" than playing Burt Macklin. His silly struggle to find the culprit only highlighted that maybe he isn't suited for police work. And Andy took off his shirt—which, as we learned, he does when he gets upset—Chris offered him a job as the Parks Department's weekend security guard, to see if he enjoyed protecting and serving, even in a limited capacity. And thus began Andy's growth spurt, and the man-child became a man-teenager.

Ben's arc in this episode saw him readjusting to life in Pawnee, which ultimately led him to him returning to his old job at the accounting firm. But first he helped Tom with Rent-a-Swag—and everywhere the pair went, it seemed the "nerd" was getting all the kudos and different, more exciting job offers, leaving our Tommy in the dust. Tom began to realize that his charm would only take him so far in Pawnee, and that Ben's hard work and practicality paid off. Mr. Haverford finally had his "aha" moment, and it will be fun to see whether Tom's character changes in future episodes because of this newfound awareness. And Ben had a breakthrough, too: In stepping back into his old job, he realized that he had changed, and that means knowing when not to fall back on security if it won't make him happy.

I love being surprised, and Parks and Rec consistently succeeds in surprising me. Not just with the comedy, but with the great character turns; each week the writers add more depth. "Leslie vs. April" brought a lot of things full circle, especially with Lot 48—a.k.a. what used to be "the pit" behind Ann's house—being the bone April and Leslie were fighting over. There is always a real human emotional element to this show and this episode had it in spades.

– Do you like how Ann is becoming more aggressive for the things she wants?

– I now think that the word "waffle" is slipped into every episode. Will someone back me up on this?

– What do you think Andy's perfect job in Pawnee would be?

– Is it me, or was this episode lacking in the Ron Swanson department?

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Parks and Recreation S05E04: "Sex Education"

Boom! That was the sound of Parks and Recreation killing it this week. All three storylines were smart, funny, and relatable—the satire sang, and I was listening. Season 5 is getting all topical, yo, and I for one am lovin' it: electronics addiction, the hypocrisy of abstinence-only policies, robot politicians—these are things I care about! But it is always a balancing act for a show about politics to try not to stray too far one way or the other, i.e. Democrat or Republican. Since you do have to sell the show to more than half of our politically divided country (Obama and Romney are tied 50/50!). It seems this year that Leslie is staking herself squarely on the liberal side of the fence, but in the most logical of ways. She always follows the law, until it is obvious that the law is either not logical or it's detrimental to her constituency.

This week, Leslie, Ann, Andy, and Donna tackled sex education... for seniors! It turned out people over the age of 65 were getting it on a lot in Pawnee, but not safely, so Leslie launched a campaign to get her elders' private parts all healthy again. But right in the middle of a condom demonstration (Donna about to put one on a pineapple top, saying: "And if you ever find yourself in this situation..."), Pawnee's provocateurs of Puritanism, Marlene and Marshall Langman, barged in and invoked Pawnee's "abstinence only" policy. What's a City Councilwoman to do when you've got the AARP crowd sporting STDs? These folks ain't waiting until marriage, there's no time! Leslie did what she always does, stuck to her guns, and fought the power. This is why we love her. But in the meantime, we had the pleasure of watching our favorite Pawnee-ans talk about S-E-X. And things are always more fun when Perd Hapley is on the story; I'm a total "perd-vert," you guys.

As for the Tom-is-addicted-to-the-internet storyline: My nephew has at least four devices on him at all times. Cell phone for texting, iPod for music, iPad for internet, and his laptop for "homework." Trying to have a conversation with him is like fighting with an octopus: Every time you think you have his attention, a knew device/arm appears to distract him. Tom Haverford had this problem too. But how do we live life without checking our email 7,000 times a day, updating our Facebook feed with every little event? Tom needed to go cold turkey, and it wasn't working in the office, where Tom tried to fill the technology void with a paper iPhone and a Pinterest bulletin board. ("You don't deserve the internet!" Tom yelled at Jerry, while spying on his computer usage with a hand mirror.) Ron was just the man to help him. Up at the cabin Tom would detox. But Tom is not a man to give up his pleasures easily; Tom is the quintessential man of connection with no connection. The writers tackled this issue with such pitch-perfect humor, I saw my own electronics addiction coming through. Where is Ron to help me when I need it?

And then there was the D.C. contingent—as many of you readers know, I am not a big fan of keeping April away from Andy. But this week was the best so far with regard to the D.C. shenanigans. And it mirrored something that has been said about Mitt Romney so much, that he is robotic. Of course the writers here took it to the extreme, portraying the congressman Ben and April work as an actual possible robot. Ben: "What do you think he is thinking about?" April: "1 - 1 - 0 - 1 must eat babies." I have to say that the Ben/April partnership has started to grow on me. I love that April is still failing up and seems to be making a career of it; Ben seems to be softening some, and April is becoming more, gulp, responsible. Have they started to meet in the middle?

Parks and Recreation "Sex Education" Photos

That said, it was interesting that Andy never mentioned April and April never mentioned Andy this week... hmmmm?

This was a near-perfect episode of Parks and Recreation for me, and it reminded me why political satire is so important today.

– Are Andy and April headed for a break-up? Or am I just being paranoid?

– Who is your favorite Pawnee news person, Joan Callamezzo or Perd Hapley?

– Is the congressman really a robot? Or… what is up with him?

– If you could have any past character return, who would it be?

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Parks and Recreation S05E03: "How a Bill Becomes a Law"

If Pawnee is a microcosm for our country, then Leslie be its patriot, the one who always does what is right. Who lives and breathes to serve her constituents. But this week, Leslie realized that sometimes to get what you want, you have to compromise and even shake hands with the devil, or a dentist. Or walk down the hall to use the bathroom. As Leslie's mine-laden journey into the murky inner workings of Pawnee politics continued, we saw her idealism become frazzled, even a bit frizzy, but she did what she had to do to get the job done. Leslie was not above a little self-sacrifice if it meant the greater good would be achieved. But others were sacrificed, too (more on that later).

When Chris started seeing a therapist (which I hope we get to see at some point!) he turned over a leaf, he admitted that he could not go it alone. Perfection may be his goal, but it will not be achieved in a vacuum. And when he delved into himself, he found not only some clarity, but also new ways to govern! Enter the 3-1-1 line: a direct line for Pawnee's citizens to call in and find help. Ron, Donna, and Jerry did their best fielding calls, sort of. But this being government, the bureaucracy actually worked against the people, until Ron decided to cut out the middle man and solve one problem himself, a pothole. Because Ron is a man, and that is what men do, they fix holes.

But when Ron and Andy went to do the job, Ron met a woman, Diane (Lucy Lawless), who might just be the next Tammy. Ron is a pillar of steel. It seems nothing can shake him. He has always professed to need no help with anything. But maybe, it was his time to have a partner in crime. Ron just might need to date the female version of himself, if he is ever to find love. And Xena just may be the ticket.

But like the ancient proverb said: "You can't just get half a perm." No, I'm sure Confucius or Dylan or somebody important once said that. Anyway, when Leslie decided to celebrate her first big councilwoman win, prematurely, with a perm, she got derailed by the rogue dentist councilman who wanted to kill her bill. So half permed, but with a full head of steam, she did what any politician would do: Displaced her own moral center in order to sway an old racist perv's vote. Go democracy!

If last week's episode, "Soda Tax," felt like a true return to silly form, "How a Bill Becomes a Law" seemed to stray from the silly a bit too much. Although I always enjoy everyone's antics, this was the weakest episode of the new season thus far. I still think it is because the show has fractured what works, i.e.: April and Andy. You need the sweet with the sour. I miss them together. I feel like a broken record for saying it again, but there it is. Parks and Rec works best when all the characters cross paths frenetically. Having April and Ben stuck in a car for the whole episode seemed forced. As if the writers have no idea how to get them back in the mix.

But if anything, we can always walk away from this show with a little lesson learned, like it's some cracked version of one of Aesop's fables. This week we learned that sometimes we have to look outside ourselves for help. That we can't do everything alone and sometimes, asking for help can be our strongest choice.

– Where the heck was Ann Perkins this week? Did you miss her?

– Do you think Ron will ask Diane to change her name to Tammy?

– Who else misses Andy and April sharing the screen?

– Perm or no perm for Leslie?

– Was it just me or did Joan Calleamezzo look particularly cuckoo?

Parks and Rec "How a Bill Becomes a Law" Photos

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Parks and Recreation S05E02: "Soda Tax"

Even in Parks and Recreation's teaser this week, something felt different. The silly was back: The goofy side-characters, the wacky subplots, the visual gags. And I for one, was a happy customer. One of the things that kept me coming back to this series over the first three seasons was the out-of-left-field absurdity of the writing. Season 4, although endearing, felt less wacky and seemed to stray from that winning formula. But the goofy magic was back in "Soda Tax" with so many laugh-out-loud moments and brilliant flashes of what made me love Parks and Recreation in the first place.

"Soda Tax" also showed, again, how a comedy about small-town government can hold a mirror to larger political and social issues facing our country. Serious topics, such as the obesity epidemic, can be flayed, examined, and presented in a way that might actually help while making us double over with the giggles. Satire was in full effect last night as Leslie was faced with her first big obstacle as a city councilwoman. Should she support the titular "soda tax" or not? The evidence for support was played out hilariously with the sight-gag soda cup presentation, especially the "Child Size" being the largest at a whopping 512 ounces. Or as the Restaurant Association spokesperson so eloquently put it, "roughly the size of a two-year-old child, if the child were liquefied." Case in point on silly/awesome/topical/amazing/funny/absurd!

The comedy mined from April and Andy missing each other paled to the comedy they've created on-screen together in seasons past. I miss seeing them together, much more than I miss Leslie and Ben. Actually, the real "couple" that re-emerged last night was the salty n' sweet of Leslie and Ron Swanson. I don't mean romantically, but this was the real odd couple that got the show moving. So, it seemed, that the writers are getting back to basics, which for this fan is a step in the right direction. Leslie has always been best on her own. Nothing is more boring than a couple in love. What made Mary Richards (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) great was her quest to have it all! What makes Liz Lemon (30 Rock) relatable is her search for balance of both career and personal life. And this episode let Leslie do what she does best: fight the power and do what her gut (pun intended) said was right.

The plot also involved so many great weirdos from the Pawnee peanut gallery, especially in the city council scenes. Let's hope these become a regular feature, replacing the "town hall" meetings of seasons past. The gadfly townspeople really help round out the Pawnee universe, made it feel like a real place.

The scenes featuring April and Ben in D.C., while amusing, felt like a different show. It seemed strange to still have some of the cast in Washington. Although it was good to see April grow with her new role as Ben's assistant, and her incredible dominatrix-like rant at the intern in the end tag was fantastic and funny. That said, I couldn't help but think that I missed her in the Pawnee office throwing shade at Jerry and Donna. But who knows, maybe an "April" spin-off is in the works?!

To the credit of the Parks and Rec writers, it is a huge cast they need to service each week. Focus must shift and ebb to give each character a moment to shine. But Leslie is still the A story, the reason we tune in. The backbone. And as a councilwoman of Pawnee she voted her gut. Yes! The town may try to hold a recall election, but Leslie will stick to her guns. And that is something for us to be thankful for.

– How much longer do you think April can stand being away from Andy? Do you think he is still wearing that bandana for underwear?

– Do you think a recall could be Leslie's ticket back to the Parks and Rec department?

– Who else is looking forward to seeing Chris and his therapist?

– What other social issues do you think Parks and Recreation should tackle?

Parks and Rec "Soda Tax" Photos

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Well, I've got to admit: Fewer people were excited about a South Park captioning opportunity than I expected. Lesson learned! But hey, I enjoyed the submissions we did get, so that's something! Any opinions on which show you'd like to caption for our VERY LAST contest tomorrow? I'm taking suggestions! Here are the winners from yesterday's contest:

From Taccado:

Butters: " W-why the tinfoil hats?! They are our most important gear. Now our opponents can't read our minds."

From shre123:

Kyle: " Are the bras even necessary?"
Cartman: " Speak for yourself Kyle, my jugs feel well supported."

From bonezrulz05:

Butters: "Thank you, o' wise minions, for pledging your life to Professor Chaos."
Cartman: "That's great Butters, now where's the free KFC?"
Butters: "In due time, my servant."
Cartman: "There is no KFC, is there? You son of a b!tch, Butters. Screw you guys, I'm going home."

I know we did this show last week, but I just couldn't find a reason not to post the image I found. In tonight's "Soda Tax" Leslie decides to battle Pawnee's obesity rates by passing tax on soda. (Topical...) Coincidentally, Andy is also working on battling the bulge, but really he's just trying to get in shape for a police-entrance exam. Andy as a police officer—that's rich. In the still below, Andy and Chris take to the track—but somehow Chris winds up in Andy's arms... Post your best caption ideas in the comments!

Check out all of our recent winners on TV.com's Open Caption Pinterest Board.

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Give yourself a pat on the back for making it to Thursday! We had another great round of submissions, but man, how could I deny Homerman92 that top slot? I don't think I'd ever thought about it before, but chronic slumber partying through adulthood=the Peter Pan syndrome for women. And that, in and of itself, makes me laugh. Here are the winners from yesterday's contest:

From Homerman92:

Divya: "Look me in the eyes and tell me you're not too old for slumber parties."

From qbe_64:

Divya: "Hey, look at me, LOOK AT ME."
"Have you seen my stapler?"

From Taccado:

Model: "Is there something in my nose?"
Divya: "I can't see anything. In fact, there seems to be literally nothing in your head."

Woohoo, Parks and Rec is back! Finally. And in tonight's Season 5 return, Andy and Leslie will hop on over to America's capital to pay Ben and April a visit. And hey, while they're there they may as well rub elbows with a couple of politicians, right? In the still below, Leslie shares a laugh with Senator John McCain. Post your best caption ideas in the comments!

Check out all of our recent winners on TV.com's Open Caption Pinterest Board.

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