Parks and Rec.: Master Plan Commentary
Due to my love for the Ben/Leslie ship, I have decided to try to recap and write my thoughts about the Parks and Rec. episodes from now on. Of course, that means going back to when the ship began, all the way back in Season 2...
Crossposted to recap_central
Okay, have you guys ever tried watching one of these eps. sleep deprived, really late at night and with a bunch of work due the next day? I actually noticed more this time than I ever have before. Maybe the stress was making me focus more...
Anyways, it’s April’s 21st birthday and the Parks department is all gathered in their office throwing a shindig for her. Leslie’s super-excited (me thinks she got into the cake a little bit too early) and helps April open her present. Turns out that Leslie make a collage of all the important documents that relate to the time that April has worked there - which may have involved going through April’s purse. Leslie’s so pleased with her gift that April and Tom’s sarcasm bounces right off of her, and April finally thanks her for the gift. April starts to open Ron’s gift - while Leslie still tries to keep the attention on her gift by talking about how it represents the start of April in the Parks department. Of course, Leslie goes into “Mom” mode when it turns out that Ron gave April a gun. I’m not sure if Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman meant to play it this way, but it is so perfectly reminiscent of an argument between a mother and a father. Leslie’s not shocked, just weary about that the fact that her boss is giving a gun to her “little girl.” She makes “mom eyes” and silently shames Ron into taking it back until he gets April a license and some target practice. April looks slightly scared/pleased while Tom, in the background, is backing slowly away from her. Good move Tom.
Ron tries to sell the gun as perfect for April, but turns out that he’s just regifting. Never trust a Swanson to be generous.
April stops by Andy’s shoe shine stand, where he promptly kicks his poor customer out (Kyle, why do you keep coming back? Are your shoes and pride really that scuffed?) He gives April a high-five for a birthday present, but before she can double back to the office and ask Ron for that gun again, he says he actually wrote her a song for her birthday. And it’s named after a month. Because it’s Andy, that month is not April. They make plans to meet up at April’s birthday party. She tells the camera that today she’s a woman, and the look on her face (probably the most expressive face she’s shown in this show) makes you want to hug her. Or pat her on the head. Your choice.
And...theme song!
Leslie is reading “The Master Plan” (a.k.a. the budget plan) for the new park on the lot to Ann, and is trying to make it less boring with Jack London. And it actually sounds more interesting having Leslie read it than sitting in English class in first period trying to analyze it (sorry, repressed memories - those people in the scheduling office hated me). Maybe schools should just air Parks and Rec. for L.A. class - I would’ve paid more attention. Looks like Ann had that class too, because she thinks that there’s waaay too many quotes in the plan. Leslie says that if the plan works then they’ll get their park. Oh Leslie. You aren’t getting that park sweetie. But isn’t getting a love interest a good trade? Okay, I’m joking about that part - but give me Adam Scott over a seesaw and a slide any day. That came out weird.
Leslie wants to celebrate with Ann afterwards and Ann turns her down, saying that she shouldn’t come over with Mark working there. Doesn’t Mark have his own office? All she has to worry about passing him in the hallways.
Tom is passing out invitations to April’s birthday party, trying to make it seem like he’s a good friend, but simply trying to get a new girlfriend by inviting every woman he knows. April holds up her card to the camera - it looks like Tom skimped on them. I don’t know if a lot of those girls are going simply for the fact that it’s a party, or the actual fact that they know April. I mean, seriously, how many friends do you think April has in town hall?
Leslie hugs April, who looks mildly pleased and confused at the fact that Leslie is quoting Jack London - again. Only Ron gets it. Because Ron is awesome and in touch with his inner outdoorsman.
Leslie and Ron take off for the big meeting to propose their budget plan - Ron explains that the meeting horrifies him and expresses his desire for the off-brand cookies the meeting has.
The budget meeting begins with Ron examining a cookie by holding it up to the light. I think that Nick Offerman wins this episode with all the sight gags he does just with the cookies.
Leslie is upset to hear that the budget proposals are being put off “indefinitely” until City Council can get its act together. She wants an answer, but only gets told that a team of very sexy professional auditors are being sent from Indianapolis. Leslie pouts and declares to the camera that she has a plan for every situation that could go wrong with the plan (except for this one) while Ron is in the background of the camera stuffing his face with cookies again.
Ron tries to calm down a panicked and angry Leslie, but only succeeds in pissing her off more by telling her that it’s good that the auditors are coming to slash projects. He does a Liberation/Cookie Monster imitation (what is it with the cookie theme in this episode?) but Leslie simply says it’s the point of the government to help the people. Leslie wants to fight the auditors but Ron says it’s pointless.
“Yeah, you’re right, I’m not going to fight them...EXCEPT THAT I AM!” Amy Poehler, how do you make insanity looks so noble?
Andy tries to find Tom to ask if it’s okay to date April now that she’s 21, but only succeeds in confusing himself with a math problem that Tom gives him to help the situation. The fact that Andy went to Tom out of everyone in the Parks department disturbs me.
After some awkward attempts at solving the math problem, Andy realizes that April is still to young for him - but only by half a year. Tom says it’s perfectly fine, which leads to one of the smartest moments Andy’s had throughout the show: “Tom says it’s okay - that probably means it isn’t okay.”
Ugh, and here we have the final dying remains of the relationship between Mark and Ann. I love the character of Ann, and Mark always seemed to be just...there in the show (he wasn’t anything special, but I couldn’t really hate him either). Same goes for their relationship, but once they got into the awkward “going to break up” stage, I just wanted to see the relationship end. Ann tells Mark all the reasons that their relationship didn’t work - in short, she just didn’t feel any chemistry with him. I’ll give credit where credit is due, the look in Mark’s eyes actually made me feel for the character more than I have all season. He tries to take it well, but you can see that he’s hurt. Which makes me think that maybe Ann’s downplaying his hurt just a little too much by trying to fall back on the “it was your first long-term relationship” idea.
Back at the office, Jerry is freaking out, and while Leslie is trying to calm him down, she’s not exactly the shining example of being stress-free. “...maybe these people are very helpful...AH! DEATH!” She screams, seeing two older people looking like they’re in a motorcycle gang coming in. But they’re just looking for the 4th floor (man, I miss that place, with its horrible popcorn machines and creepy atmosphere - that was one of my all-time favorite cold openings).
When I first watched this episode, I had heard a spoiler that Rob Lowe was supposed to be Amy Poehler’s love interest. Now, either I read that wrong or it got completely changed, but I remember watching them together in the first minutes of the state auditors’ appearance and thinking “They honestly aren’t that cute together. Now that smaller guy sulking in the back, he’d make a better love interest for her.”
And lo and behold, I was right. (And thank God because I seriously think that the idea of a romantic pairing between Leslie and Chris would make the world explode with too much optimism).
Leslie’s immediately charmed by Chris and - why does Ron have his hand on Leslie’s back? Huh, in the next shot he doesn't, must have been from an earlier section that was cut. I will admit, there was a time when I thought that Ron and Leslie would end up together, due to their protectiveness of each other. You hurt one, and you get the other coming right at you (although I’m not sure which is scarier, an angry Ron or Leslie).
Leslie offers to give them a tour of the town hall, and Ben shakes his head in the background while Chris eagerly accepts, causing Ben to bows his head in defeat. When Chris asks for Ben’s opinion, he quietly tries to tell Chris it’s a bad idea, but Chris ignores him. It’s been months since this episode came out, but that sequence still manages to make him laugh every time.
Leslie rambles on about Chris and his positivity, while in the background Jerry meets Chris and Ben (Chris points again and then Ben’s all professional by shaking his hand - I love how from the very start you can see the differences between these characters). I wonder how long it’ll take for them to fall into the Jerry hating routine.
Chris gives a small speech to comfort the employes, with Leslie helping the speech along to calm them down (although she makes an adorable “oooh” face in the beginning of the speech). Leslie is such a mother in this episode - first to April and then to the rest of her department. If you notice, the only times she shows her anger are with Ron (the father figure), Ben (who she views deserves it) and Ann (but Ann’s not in the department and she’s drunk). She tries to keep her fear from the rest of her department to keep them all calm and focused.
Nobody really looks like they’re buying Chris’ speech, except maybe for a tiny bit of Leslie, for the optimist in her. Chris leaves Ben with the dirty work, and he meets with Ron and Leslie in the conference room. The camera makes a point of showing the picture from “The Camel” (maybe as a way of reminding us of the unity of the Parks department). I’m amused that April’s knee surgery video is still going - do you think she changes the batteries on that video every week?
Leslie tries to be diplomatic by complimenting Ben’s shirt, but he cuts her off with technical talk about waste in the department. He asks Ron and Leslie’s opinions, and as you can guess, they’re as yin-yang on this as they possible can be. Ron just wants to watch Ben cut the budget while eating pork Cracklins, which I think starts effectively planting the truth about the town in Ben’s head - it’s bat-shit insane.
Ben wants to know about Jerry’s usefulness. Leslie tries to praise Jerry and Ron lets her taking the reigns on this, showing that while he hates some parts of the government, he doesn't want anybody losing their jobs (although he can’t stop making faces at the camera while Leslie is saying how wonderful Jerry is).
Ben tells Leslie that they will have to cut all of the departments by 40-50%, and Ron looks like he’s in Heaven. Leslie tries to fall back on Chris’ words, but Ben’s is unremorseful “He said that because it sounds better than ‘We’re going to have to gut it with a machete’”. Ron giggles insanely and mimes cutting (I want more giggling Ron - and for Nick Offerman to win an Emmy - but definitely more giggling Ron).
Leslie chews Ben out as calmly as she can while Ron tries to caution her. As much as I love the character of Ben, I think he’s a real ass in this part. Leslie mentions that he has to understand that he’s working in a real town with people in a building with feelings, and Ben snidely responds, “This building has feelings?”
Leslie, for her part, takes that comment and tries to work with it anyway. She asks Ben how he can be so blasé (is it wrong that I took 5 years of French and don’t remember what that words stands for?) about the situation. Ben responds by saying the few words that will make Leslie Knope any person’s enemy, “Because I didn’t cause these problems, Miss Knope, your government did.”
Never. Insult. Leslie’s. Government.
Leslie might know her government is sometimes wrong and screws up, but that for her and the people of Pawnee to say, and not some outsider.
Ben walks out with April and Jerry death-glaring him and Ron wants to know how to ask him to go camping, but not in a Brokeback Mountain fashion.
At the Snakehole Lounge that night, John-Ralphio, Pawnee’s resident douchebag, shows up and tries to hit on a dressed-up April (but only after doing a corny dance with Tom). Donna walks up to him and immediately all of the bluster comes out of his sails. I love how meek he gets with her (probably because she was the only one to call him out on his attitude in an earlier episode). Donna offers April a shot, but April denies the shot because she’s legal now, leading Donna to pour both in her mouth - at the same time. Forget Jerry, I want more Donna in Season 3.
Ann is hitting the sauce pretty hard already, as she wants Leslie to come up with her own Parks plan. Leslie says she doesn’t want to play God: “I just don’t know if I could play God like that - an angry, vengeful God that fires Jerry.” I see this as either her thinking that Ben’s trying to play God, or she’s just pissed at Jerry for making her get off on the wrong foot with the auditors.
Both Leslie and Ann feel sorry for each other - Ann for having to talk to Mark constantly, even after they break up, and Leslie for having to deal with the auditors. In a situation like this, there is only one reasonable solution - getting as drunk as they possibly can.
Tom’s trying to woo the ladies with really annoying laughs and compliments, but no one's biting. I’m pretty sure that’s good for both Tom and the women.
Leslie and Ann are drunk, but Leslie says that even though the Master Plan didn’t work, at least she got to meet Ann. They are grabbing at each other’s faces and shoulders, and I’m sure that Ann/Leslie fans must have been going nuts by now. “I love you.” “I love you too, but I need more beer.” “Yay! Best friends of ever!” I want a friend like Leslie Knope NOW.
The sweet joy in Andy’s face when he first sees April in her dress makes me melt. He offers to buy April a drink: “Whiskey. Neat.” “Wow, you’re not playing around.” “No, I’m not.” It’s so unsubtle that even Andy realizes that something big is going on here.
Andy walks over to the bar (the camera passes Jean-Ralphio doing an dorky dance - alone). A very drunk Ann reminisces to him about their relationship, and even though Andy tries to be a gentlemen (he’s too naive, to realize talking about your relationship with your ex-girlfriend and helping getting her sweater off are not exactly platonic signs), April gets the wrong ideas. It’s hard to blame anyone in this scene, so I think I’ll just blame it all on Mark, mainly because I love the rest of the characters too much.
Ann rants to the camera about how she made Andy into the man he is today, and that it isn’t fair some other woman will reap the rewards. I do have to point out here that actually, it was Ann breaking up with Andy that made him the man he is, not Ann’s relationship with Andy. She let herself be walked all over by Andy in the relationship, and did everything for him. The entire monologue is closed up with a hilarious shot of Ann fruitlessly trying to get the straw of her drink into her mouth.
Tom gives a girl a bottlecap to remind her of the first time they meet. And...there’s not really much to say here.
Andy brings April to drink only to find out that Jean-Ralphio is there with her. “Andy. That’s an alright name. That’s an alright name.” Jean-Ralphio says (does anyone else think that Jean-Ralphio renamed himself because he didn’t think his first name was epic enough?) Jean-Ralphio entertains everyone with a story about waiting on a woman’s front yard to have sex with her for three days, while April makes dagger eyes at Andy. Jean-Ralphio leaves to get drinks (I’m sure he only like Ralph-Macchio drinks because they have two names, too) and Andy wanders off dejected, leaving April sitting alone on the coach. Miserable. On her birthday. This needs to be Aubury Plaza’s Emmy episode.
Andy: “I thought she really liked me, I guess I’m super-bad at picking up signals...But that Ralph-Macchio guy is a douche.” This scene makes me depressed and want to laugh hysterically at the same time. And as for the “Ralph-Macheo” guy, truer words were never spoken, Andy.
Tom’s wandering around trying to find out who he gave a bottlecap too.
Ann and Leslie are dancing adorably (Ann/Leslie shippers have passed out in ecstasy), Tom is sulking and Jean-Ralphio wants to leave the party, only for April to disgustedly move away.
The reporter from the Pawnee journal and Andy are flirting as Mark stumbles upon them. He’s upset that the reporter from the Pawnee journal is with Andy now. “It’s been a great week.” He says to the camera before chugging his drink. Poor Mark. Don’t your realize that no one stands a chance against Andy and his awesomeness? Although I do think the reason that woman (in the show) like Andy more is he’s such an open book whereas Mark’s kind of closed off. (And not nearly as good looking, but that's just my opinion).
Ann and Leslie are drunk when Leslie sees Ben coming over to them. The only explanation that I can think of Ben being at that party after he’s pissed Leslie off is that Ron invited him to hear what he’s going to cut or someone is sucking up to him. Ann wants Leslie to be professional and Ben tries to apologize, but instead Leslie tells Ben to leave and drunkenly rants at him. “You’re a cold, callous person.” Damn, it’s been months since I’ve fully seen this episode, I forget just how much she really tears into him. “And you want to kill people with machetes.” Anddddd I’m back to loving Leslie again. Now that I’ve seen Season 3 with Ben, I really understand how that must have left a mark. As Ben backs down, Ron glares disappointedly at Leslie. Ann turns to Leslie too. “Leslie...That was SO professional. I’m so proud of you.” The world needs more drunk Ann.
We return the next day to a fully hung-over, but sober (boo!) Leslie and Ann. Ann’s mortified by the fact that she made out with someone, and for a split second she thinks it’s Jerry. It isn’t, which is great because Ann might never have recovered from it.
Ron, the only one besides Jerry who apparently isn’t really hung-over (you can see April lying on her desk, making me think she took some self-sympathy shots after blowing off Jean-Ralphio). Ron snaps at Leslie (after giving her a cup of coffee - work husband!) Leslie decides to go apologize after realizing that she spit on Ben while “expressing her opinion...forcefully...drunkenly...”
Leslie tries to apologize to Ben (although it’s hard to take it seriously while seeing Chris in the background doing chin-ups). But Leslie stills sees Ben as a threat and Ben resents being seen as one when it’s her government's fault. Ben appears to blow her off until she says, “You may hold my fate in your hands like a small bird, but I still think you’re an ass.” And then Ben asks her out for a beer. I’m not sure if he’s impressed by her daring or if he just wants to get drunk because Pawnee and Leslie are just too insane for him - it’s a toss-up at this point. Chris warns Leslie that she cannot keep Ben for too long, he needs to make sure that Chris doesn’t choke on the huge multivitamin that’s the size of a horse pill.
I think it’s interesting how Ben and Chris seem to be portrayed in Season 2 than Season 3. In Season 2 they seem to be just partners, it’s even implied that Chris really doesn’t have a lot of respect for Ben’s opinion. In Season 3 they seem to be on much more even footing, and even friends.
Ann grills Andy to see if she made out with him, and he gives her a mini-lecture on the dangers of drinking, pleased the shoe’s on the other foot. He says he’s going to let her dangle...and gives it away within the first ten seconds. Ann actually seems disappointed as she leaves. I honestly think she’s looking for a way back into her relationship with Andy - maybe it was a bit needy, but she seemed to have a lot more fun with him than Mark. (Of course, you could hang out with DJ Roomba and have a better time than with Mark. Again, not Mark’s fault - nobody can hold a candle to DJ Roomba). And it would have been a lot more comfortable getting back into a relationship than being on her own. Ann seems to be a character that always likes to be in a relationship (more on that in Season 3).
Tom goes to settle his bill, and the bartender is Natalie Morales! Of Middleman fame! What? You’ve never heard to the Middleman? If you haven’t then you must go watch it, NOW. It’s got aliens, trout zombies and more! Okay, my shameless pandering is over. Ton confesses his situation to Lucy who isn’t turned off or sorry for him. He asks her out for a drink, and I love him for this because I want Natalie Morales on this show forever! (Or for the next couple of episodes, I’ll be happy with that too.)
The reporter tries to hook up with Andy, but he’s still hung up on April. He sweetly turns her down: “your newspaper articles are supercool, they’re probably very...accurate.
At the bar, Ben tells Leslie his backstory which I’m sure you’ve all heard by now so I’ll sum it up real quick: became mayor at 18, played “Whoomp! (There It Is!)” at the inauguration, ran the place into the ground, impeached in two months, stuck ruining other people's lives to show he’s responsible.
A lot of the people have mentioned that Ben is an optimist deep down, just like Leslie. I believe that, and actually think that Ben is a version of what Leslie could have been. Leslie would have given her right arm to be made mayor at 18, and the same results could have happened to her. It’s just luck that she avoided making the same mistakes Ben did and learned a lot more about government in the Parks department. Deep down, Ben and Leslie are the same person, but Leslie’s had the advantage of working in a job she loves, and Ben’s become jaded by his (and with good reason, can you image someone like Leslie having to fire people? It would kill her, too).
Ben encourages Leslie to make tough decisions on the Parks budget, because she’ll need to do so once she starts to run for office. Leslie is surprised that he knows she wants to run, but everyone in the audience isn’t, because we’ve already seen this pairing coming. Leslie accepts his advice, but can’t control the urge to sing “Whoomp! (There It Is!)” at least once (but she pays for Ben’s drink while doing it, so that’s something).
April is miserable, surrounding by birthday cards on her desk and DAMN IT show you shouldn't be making me feel this bad! You’re a comedy show for Pete’s shake! It’s funny how I never really noticed any of this until I sat down and really rewatched the episode. Ron struggles against his “lone wolf” status and tries to slug her shoulder until eventually simply patting her. April looks pleased, and I can heard April/Ron fans screaming happily (are there any April/Ron fans? I saw a fanfic for them once, but nothing else...)
Ann asks Ron outright if they made out, and after he says no, she gives up, claiming that she’s asked every man that she knows. What makes you so sure it was a man, Ann? After all, you and Leslie were practically groping each other’s faces last night. Of course, it does turn out to be Chris Traeger, but it leads to a hilarious segment where Ann and Chris meeting.
The moment they meet Ann gets sex eyes (Tom, in the background, calls Chris Ben, not sure if that was a mistake by the character or actor). Ann vents about her relationship to Chris, sings Danger Zone with a margarita in hand, and I want Ann to be drunk every episode SO BAD right now. Rob Lowe plays these parts so well - he doesn’t take away from Rashida’s performance, but is still hilarious (the scene where Ann vents and Chris is listening so intently is just amazing). My favorite moment though, has to be after Ann kisses him, and he still wants to send her home in a cab. Pouty Ann, “Boo.” Kittens in a meadow couldn't be more adorable.
Leslie unsubtly approves of the match before going in and presenting the Parks’ new budget plan to Ben (Chris is pacing, using one of those hand squeezing tools that perfectly matches his shirt and tie - do you think he color coordinates his outfits with his work out materials?) Ben’s pleased, it shows all over his face, but then he says that the entire government is being closed down to work on the budget problem. Ron smiles exactly like the Grinch while Leslie says pleasantly - but with a touch of hysteria, “I’m sorry, I just started hearing really loud circus music in my head. What did you say?”
And just when I thought this show was finished, I remembered the end credits with Andy singing the song he wrote for April. Damn it show you aren’t supposed to make me so sad! If this doesn't make you cry a tiny bit on the inside, then nothing will.
Crossposted to recap_central
Okay, have you guys ever tried watching one of these eps. sleep deprived, really late at night and with a bunch of work due the next day? I actually noticed more this time than I ever have before. Maybe the stress was making me focus more...
Anyways, it’s April’s 21st birthday and the Parks department is all gathered in their office throwing a shindig for her. Leslie’s super-excited (me thinks she got into the cake a little bit too early) and helps April open her present. Turns out that Leslie make a collage of all the important documents that relate to the time that April has worked there - which may have involved going through April’s purse. Leslie’s so pleased with her gift that April and Tom’s sarcasm bounces right off of her, and April finally thanks her for the gift. April starts to open Ron’s gift - while Leslie still tries to keep the attention on her gift by talking about how it represents the start of April in the Parks department. Of course, Leslie goes into “Mom” mode when it turns out that Ron gave April a gun. I’m not sure if Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman meant to play it this way, but it is so perfectly reminiscent of an argument between a mother and a father. Leslie’s not shocked, just weary about that the fact that her boss is giving a gun to her “little girl.” She makes “mom eyes” and silently shames Ron into taking it back until he gets April a license and some target practice. April looks slightly scared/pleased while Tom, in the background, is backing slowly away from her. Good move Tom.
Ron tries to sell the gun as perfect for April, but turns out that he’s just regifting. Never trust a Swanson to be generous.
April stops by Andy’s shoe shine stand, where he promptly kicks his poor customer out (Kyle, why do you keep coming back? Are your shoes and pride really that scuffed?) He gives April a high-five for a birthday present, but before she can double back to the office and ask Ron for that gun again, he says he actually wrote her a song for her birthday. And it’s named after a month. Because it’s Andy, that month is not April. They make plans to meet up at April’s birthday party. She tells the camera that today she’s a woman, and the look on her face (probably the most expressive face she’s shown in this show) makes you want to hug her. Or pat her on the head. Your choice.
And...theme song!
Leslie is reading “The Master Plan” (a.k.a. the budget plan) for the new park on the lot to Ann, and is trying to make it less boring with Jack London. And it actually sounds more interesting having Leslie read it than sitting in English class in first period trying to analyze it (sorry, repressed memories - those people in the scheduling office hated me). Maybe schools should just air Parks and Rec. for L.A. class - I would’ve paid more attention. Looks like Ann had that class too, because she thinks that there’s waaay too many quotes in the plan. Leslie says that if the plan works then they’ll get their park. Oh Leslie. You aren’t getting that park sweetie. But isn’t getting a love interest a good trade? Okay, I’m joking about that part - but give me Adam Scott over a seesaw and a slide any day. That came out weird.
Leslie wants to celebrate with Ann afterwards and Ann turns her down, saying that she shouldn’t come over with Mark working there. Doesn’t Mark have his own office? All she has to worry about passing him in the hallways.
Tom is passing out invitations to April’s birthday party, trying to make it seem like he’s a good friend, but simply trying to get a new girlfriend by inviting every woman he knows. April holds up her card to the camera - it looks like Tom skimped on them. I don’t know if a lot of those girls are going simply for the fact that it’s a party, or the actual fact that they know April. I mean, seriously, how many friends do you think April has in town hall?
Leslie hugs April, who looks mildly pleased and confused at the fact that Leslie is quoting Jack London - again. Only Ron gets it. Because Ron is awesome and in touch with his inner outdoorsman.
Leslie and Ron take off for the big meeting to propose their budget plan - Ron explains that the meeting horrifies him and expresses his desire for the off-brand cookies the meeting has.
The budget meeting begins with Ron examining a cookie by holding it up to the light. I think that Nick Offerman wins this episode with all the sight gags he does just with the cookies.
Leslie is upset to hear that the budget proposals are being put off “indefinitely” until City Council can get its act together. She wants an answer, but only gets told that a team of very sexy professional auditors are being sent from Indianapolis. Leslie pouts and declares to the camera that she has a plan for every situation that could go wrong with the plan (except for this one) while Ron is in the background of the camera stuffing his face with cookies again.
Ron tries to calm down a panicked and angry Leslie, but only succeeds in pissing her off more by telling her that it’s good that the auditors are coming to slash projects. He does a Liberation/Cookie Monster imitation (what is it with the cookie theme in this episode?) but Leslie simply says it’s the point of the government to help the people. Leslie wants to fight the auditors but Ron says it’s pointless.
“Yeah, you’re right, I’m not going to fight them...EXCEPT THAT I AM!” Amy Poehler, how do you make insanity looks so noble?
Andy tries to find Tom to ask if it’s okay to date April now that she’s 21, but only succeeds in confusing himself with a math problem that Tom gives him to help the situation. The fact that Andy went to Tom out of everyone in the Parks department disturbs me.
After some awkward attempts at solving the math problem, Andy realizes that April is still to young for him - but only by half a year. Tom says it’s perfectly fine, which leads to one of the smartest moments Andy’s had throughout the show: “Tom says it’s okay - that probably means it isn’t okay.”
Ugh, and here we have the final dying remains of the relationship between Mark and Ann. I love the character of Ann, and Mark always seemed to be just...there in the show (he wasn’t anything special, but I couldn’t really hate him either). Same goes for their relationship, but once they got into the awkward “going to break up” stage, I just wanted to see the relationship end. Ann tells Mark all the reasons that their relationship didn’t work - in short, she just didn’t feel any chemistry with him. I’ll give credit where credit is due, the look in Mark’s eyes actually made me feel for the character more than I have all season. He tries to take it well, but you can see that he’s hurt. Which makes me think that maybe Ann’s downplaying his hurt just a little too much by trying to fall back on the “it was your first long-term relationship” idea.
Back at the office, Jerry is freaking out, and while Leslie is trying to calm him down, she’s not exactly the shining example of being stress-free. “...maybe these people are very helpful...AH! DEATH!” She screams, seeing two older people looking like they’re in a motorcycle gang coming in. But they’re just looking for the 4th floor (man, I miss that place, with its horrible popcorn machines and creepy atmosphere - that was one of my all-time favorite cold openings).
When I first watched this episode, I had heard a spoiler that Rob Lowe was supposed to be Amy Poehler’s love interest. Now, either I read that wrong or it got completely changed, but I remember watching them together in the first minutes of the state auditors’ appearance and thinking “They honestly aren’t that cute together. Now that smaller guy sulking in the back, he’d make a better love interest for her.”
And lo and behold, I was right. (And thank God because I seriously think that the idea of a romantic pairing between Leslie and Chris would make the world explode with too much optimism).
Leslie’s immediately charmed by Chris and - why does Ron have his hand on Leslie’s back? Huh, in the next shot he doesn't, must have been from an earlier section that was cut. I will admit, there was a time when I thought that Ron and Leslie would end up together, due to their protectiveness of each other. You hurt one, and you get the other coming right at you (although I’m not sure which is scarier, an angry Ron or Leslie).
Leslie offers to give them a tour of the town hall, and Ben shakes his head in the background while Chris eagerly accepts, causing Ben to bows his head in defeat. When Chris asks for Ben’s opinion, he quietly tries to tell Chris it’s a bad idea, but Chris ignores him. It’s been months since this episode came out, but that sequence still manages to make him laugh every time.
Leslie rambles on about Chris and his positivity, while in the background Jerry meets Chris and Ben (Chris points again and then Ben’s all professional by shaking his hand - I love how from the very start you can see the differences between these characters). I wonder how long it’ll take for them to fall into the Jerry hating routine.
Chris gives a small speech to comfort the employes, with Leslie helping the speech along to calm them down (although she makes an adorable “oooh” face in the beginning of the speech). Leslie is such a mother in this episode - first to April and then to the rest of her department. If you notice, the only times she shows her anger are with Ron (the father figure), Ben (who she views deserves it) and Ann (but Ann’s not in the department and she’s drunk). She tries to keep her fear from the rest of her department to keep them all calm and focused.
Nobody really looks like they’re buying Chris’ speech, except maybe for a tiny bit of Leslie, for the optimist in her. Chris leaves Ben with the dirty work, and he meets with Ron and Leslie in the conference room. The camera makes a point of showing the picture from “The Camel” (maybe as a way of reminding us of the unity of the Parks department). I’m amused that April’s knee surgery video is still going - do you think she changes the batteries on that video every week?
Leslie tries to be diplomatic by complimenting Ben’s shirt, but he cuts her off with technical talk about waste in the department. He asks Ron and Leslie’s opinions, and as you can guess, they’re as yin-yang on this as they possible can be. Ron just wants to watch Ben cut the budget while eating pork Cracklins, which I think starts effectively planting the truth about the town in Ben’s head - it’s bat-shit insane.
Ben wants to know about Jerry’s usefulness. Leslie tries to praise Jerry and Ron lets her taking the reigns on this, showing that while he hates some parts of the government, he doesn't want anybody losing their jobs (although he can’t stop making faces at the camera while Leslie is saying how wonderful Jerry is).
Ben tells Leslie that they will have to cut all of the departments by 40-50%, and Ron looks like he’s in Heaven. Leslie tries to fall back on Chris’ words, but Ben’s is unremorseful “He said that because it sounds better than ‘We’re going to have to gut it with a machete’”. Ron giggles insanely and mimes cutting (I want more giggling Ron - and for Nick Offerman to win an Emmy - but definitely more giggling Ron).
Leslie chews Ben out as calmly as she can while Ron tries to caution her. As much as I love the character of Ben, I think he’s a real ass in this part. Leslie mentions that he has to understand that he’s working in a real town with people in a building with feelings, and Ben snidely responds, “This building has feelings?”
Leslie, for her part, takes that comment and tries to work with it anyway. She asks Ben how he can be so blasé (is it wrong that I took 5 years of French and don’t remember what that words stands for?) about the situation. Ben responds by saying the few words that will make Leslie Knope any person’s enemy, “Because I didn’t cause these problems, Miss Knope, your government did.”
Never. Insult. Leslie’s. Government.
Leslie might know her government is sometimes wrong and screws up, but that for her and the people of Pawnee to say, and not some outsider.
Ben walks out with April and Jerry death-glaring him and Ron wants to know how to ask him to go camping, but not in a Brokeback Mountain fashion.
At the Snakehole Lounge that night, John-Ralphio, Pawnee’s resident douchebag, shows up and tries to hit on a dressed-up April (but only after doing a corny dance with Tom). Donna walks up to him and immediately all of the bluster comes out of his sails. I love how meek he gets with her (probably because she was the only one to call him out on his attitude in an earlier episode). Donna offers April a shot, but April denies the shot because she’s legal now, leading Donna to pour both in her mouth - at the same time. Forget Jerry, I want more Donna in Season 3.
Ann is hitting the sauce pretty hard already, as she wants Leslie to come up with her own Parks plan. Leslie says she doesn’t want to play God: “I just don’t know if I could play God like that - an angry, vengeful God that fires Jerry.” I see this as either her thinking that Ben’s trying to play God, or she’s just pissed at Jerry for making her get off on the wrong foot with the auditors.
Both Leslie and Ann feel sorry for each other - Ann for having to talk to Mark constantly, even after they break up, and Leslie for having to deal with the auditors. In a situation like this, there is only one reasonable solution - getting as drunk as they possibly can.
Tom’s trying to woo the ladies with really annoying laughs and compliments, but no one's biting. I’m pretty sure that’s good for both Tom and the women.
Leslie and Ann are drunk, but Leslie says that even though the Master Plan didn’t work, at least she got to meet Ann. They are grabbing at each other’s faces and shoulders, and I’m sure that Ann/Leslie fans must have been going nuts by now. “I love you.” “I love you too, but I need more beer.” “Yay! Best friends of ever!” I want a friend like Leslie Knope NOW.
The sweet joy in Andy’s face when he first sees April in her dress makes me melt. He offers to buy April a drink: “Whiskey. Neat.” “Wow, you’re not playing around.” “No, I’m not.” It’s so unsubtle that even Andy realizes that something big is going on here.
Andy walks over to the bar (the camera passes Jean-Ralphio doing an dorky dance - alone). A very drunk Ann reminisces to him about their relationship, and even though Andy tries to be a gentlemen (he’s too naive, to realize talking about your relationship with your ex-girlfriend and helping getting her sweater off are not exactly platonic signs), April gets the wrong ideas. It’s hard to blame anyone in this scene, so I think I’ll just blame it all on Mark, mainly because I love the rest of the characters too much.
Ann rants to the camera about how she made Andy into the man he is today, and that it isn’t fair some other woman will reap the rewards. I do have to point out here that actually, it was Ann breaking up with Andy that made him the man he is, not Ann’s relationship with Andy. She let herself be walked all over by Andy in the relationship, and did everything for him. The entire monologue is closed up with a hilarious shot of Ann fruitlessly trying to get the straw of her drink into her mouth.
Tom gives a girl a bottlecap to remind her of the first time they meet. And...there’s not really much to say here.
Andy brings April to drink only to find out that Jean-Ralphio is there with her. “Andy. That’s an alright name. That’s an alright name.” Jean-Ralphio says (does anyone else think that Jean-Ralphio renamed himself because he didn’t think his first name was epic enough?) Jean-Ralphio entertains everyone with a story about waiting on a woman’s front yard to have sex with her for three days, while April makes dagger eyes at Andy. Jean-Ralphio leaves to get drinks (I’m sure he only like Ralph-Macchio drinks because they have two names, too) and Andy wanders off dejected, leaving April sitting alone on the coach. Miserable. On her birthday. This needs to be Aubury Plaza’s Emmy episode.
Andy: “I thought she really liked me, I guess I’m super-bad at picking up signals...But that Ralph-Macchio guy is a douche.” This scene makes me depressed and want to laugh hysterically at the same time. And as for the “Ralph-Macheo” guy, truer words were never spoken, Andy.
Tom’s wandering around trying to find out who he gave a bottlecap too.
Ann and Leslie are dancing adorably (Ann/Leslie shippers have passed out in ecstasy), Tom is sulking and Jean-Ralphio wants to leave the party, only for April to disgustedly move away.
The reporter from the Pawnee journal and Andy are flirting as Mark stumbles upon them. He’s upset that the reporter from the Pawnee journal is with Andy now. “It’s been a great week.” He says to the camera before chugging his drink. Poor Mark. Don’t your realize that no one stands a chance against Andy and his awesomeness? Although I do think the reason that woman (in the show) like Andy more is he’s such an open book whereas Mark’s kind of closed off. (And not nearly as good looking, but that's just my opinion).
Ann and Leslie are drunk when Leslie sees Ben coming over to them. The only explanation that I can think of Ben being at that party after he’s pissed Leslie off is that Ron invited him to hear what he’s going to cut or someone is sucking up to him. Ann wants Leslie to be professional and Ben tries to apologize, but instead Leslie tells Ben to leave and drunkenly rants at him. “You’re a cold, callous person.” Damn, it’s been months since I’ve fully seen this episode, I forget just how much she really tears into him. “And you want to kill people with machetes.” Anddddd I’m back to loving Leslie again. Now that I’ve seen Season 3 with Ben, I really understand how that must have left a mark. As Ben backs down, Ron glares disappointedly at Leslie. Ann turns to Leslie too. “Leslie...That was SO professional. I’m so proud of you.” The world needs more drunk Ann.
We return the next day to a fully hung-over, but sober (boo!) Leslie and Ann. Ann’s mortified by the fact that she made out with someone, and for a split second she thinks it’s Jerry. It isn’t, which is great because Ann might never have recovered from it.
Ron, the only one besides Jerry who apparently isn’t really hung-over (you can see April lying on her desk, making me think she took some self-sympathy shots after blowing off Jean-Ralphio). Ron snaps at Leslie (after giving her a cup of coffee - work husband!) Leslie decides to go apologize after realizing that she spit on Ben while “expressing her opinion...forcefully...drunkenly...”
Leslie tries to apologize to Ben (although it’s hard to take it seriously while seeing Chris in the background doing chin-ups). But Leslie stills sees Ben as a threat and Ben resents being seen as one when it’s her government's fault. Ben appears to blow her off until she says, “You may hold my fate in your hands like a small bird, but I still think you’re an ass.” And then Ben asks her out for a beer. I’m not sure if he’s impressed by her daring or if he just wants to get drunk because Pawnee and Leslie are just too insane for him - it’s a toss-up at this point. Chris warns Leslie that she cannot keep Ben for too long, he needs to make sure that Chris doesn’t choke on the huge multivitamin that’s the size of a horse pill.
I think it’s interesting how Ben and Chris seem to be portrayed in Season 2 than Season 3. In Season 2 they seem to be just partners, it’s even implied that Chris really doesn’t have a lot of respect for Ben’s opinion. In Season 3 they seem to be on much more even footing, and even friends.
Ann grills Andy to see if she made out with him, and he gives her a mini-lecture on the dangers of drinking, pleased the shoe’s on the other foot. He says he’s going to let her dangle...and gives it away within the first ten seconds. Ann actually seems disappointed as she leaves. I honestly think she’s looking for a way back into her relationship with Andy - maybe it was a bit needy, but she seemed to have a lot more fun with him than Mark. (Of course, you could hang out with DJ Roomba and have a better time than with Mark. Again, not Mark’s fault - nobody can hold a candle to DJ Roomba). And it would have been a lot more comfortable getting back into a relationship than being on her own. Ann seems to be a character that always likes to be in a relationship (more on that in Season 3).
Tom goes to settle his bill, and the bartender is Natalie Morales! Of Middleman fame! What? You’ve never heard to the Middleman? If you haven’t then you must go watch it, NOW. It’s got aliens, trout zombies and more! Okay, my shameless pandering is over. Ton confesses his situation to Lucy who isn’t turned off or sorry for him. He asks her out for a drink, and I love him for this because I want Natalie Morales on this show forever! (Or for the next couple of episodes, I’ll be happy with that too.)
The reporter tries to hook up with Andy, but he’s still hung up on April. He sweetly turns her down: “your newspaper articles are supercool, they’re probably very...accurate.
At the bar, Ben tells Leslie his backstory which I’m sure you’ve all heard by now so I’ll sum it up real quick: became mayor at 18, played “Whoomp! (There It Is!)” at the inauguration, ran the place into the ground, impeached in two months, stuck ruining other people's lives to show he’s responsible.
A lot of the people have mentioned that Ben is an optimist deep down, just like Leslie. I believe that, and actually think that Ben is a version of what Leslie could have been. Leslie would have given her right arm to be made mayor at 18, and the same results could have happened to her. It’s just luck that she avoided making the same mistakes Ben did and learned a lot more about government in the Parks department. Deep down, Ben and Leslie are the same person, but Leslie’s had the advantage of working in a job she loves, and Ben’s become jaded by his (and with good reason, can you image someone like Leslie having to fire people? It would kill her, too).
Ben encourages Leslie to make tough decisions on the Parks budget, because she’ll need to do so once she starts to run for office. Leslie is surprised that he knows she wants to run, but everyone in the audience isn’t, because we’ve already seen this pairing coming. Leslie accepts his advice, but can’t control the urge to sing “Whoomp! (There It Is!)” at least once (but she pays for Ben’s drink while doing it, so that’s something).
April is miserable, surrounding by birthday cards on her desk and DAMN IT show you shouldn't be making me feel this bad! You’re a comedy show for Pete’s shake! It’s funny how I never really noticed any of this until I sat down and really rewatched the episode. Ron struggles against his “lone wolf” status and tries to slug her shoulder until eventually simply patting her. April looks pleased, and I can heard April/Ron fans screaming happily (are there any April/Ron fans? I saw a fanfic for them once, but nothing else...)
Ann asks Ron outright if they made out, and after he says no, she gives up, claiming that she’s asked every man that she knows. What makes you so sure it was a man, Ann? After all, you and Leslie were practically groping each other’s faces last night. Of course, it does turn out to be Chris Traeger, but it leads to a hilarious segment where Ann and Chris meeting.
The moment they meet Ann gets sex eyes (Tom, in the background, calls Chris Ben, not sure if that was a mistake by the character or actor). Ann vents about her relationship to Chris, sings Danger Zone with a margarita in hand, and I want Ann to be drunk every episode SO BAD right now. Rob Lowe plays these parts so well - he doesn’t take away from Rashida’s performance, but is still hilarious (the scene where Ann vents and Chris is listening so intently is just amazing). My favorite moment though, has to be after Ann kisses him, and he still wants to send her home in a cab. Pouty Ann, “Boo.” Kittens in a meadow couldn't be more adorable.
Leslie unsubtly approves of the match before going in and presenting the Parks’ new budget plan to Ben (Chris is pacing, using one of those hand squeezing tools that perfectly matches his shirt and tie - do you think he color coordinates his outfits with his work out materials?) Ben’s pleased, it shows all over his face, but then he says that the entire government is being closed down to work on the budget problem. Ron smiles exactly like the Grinch while Leslie says pleasantly - but with a touch of hysteria, “I’m sorry, I just started hearing really loud circus music in my head. What did you say?”
And just when I thought this show was finished, I remembered the end credits with Andy singing the song he wrote for April. Damn it show you aren’t supposed to make me so sad! If this doesn't make you cry a tiny bit on the inside, then nothing will.