The main reason why I enjoyed this episode so much was the way that it was written. Often Parks will pair off the characters in each episode and give them separate storylines, and I often complain when these storylines aren’t related or cohesive at all. Parks works best when everyone is on the same page, and although it was funny to watch Andy and April see every doctor in the hospital, it really had no connection at all to the main story of the night which was Leslie attempt at political ads. Not so tonight because it’s Valentine’s Day and for once everyone is on the same page! I’ll get into the individual breakdowns in a minute, but I really feel like the cohesiveness of the episode made the difference for me. That and Chris’ music choices, so let’s start there!
Poor Chris. The bionic man was convinced that he had found his bionic woman, but alas it was not meant to be. And despite the entire episode hinting at Ann and Chris getting back together it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, so move along people! Nothing to see here. Of course the highlight of the night was Chris eyeing Jerry, who is after all fifty-percent of Millicent. Rob Lowe did a magnificent job in this episode, and not just when he undressed Jerry with his eyes.
April decides to be nice? What! No. Well I guess so if you think that setting Tom up with Ann is considered ‘nice’. Still it’s character development for her, which is rare, so take what you can get. Not that I could ever imagine her and Ann as BFFs in the future, but there’s room for growth between these two and we’ve never really seen them paired together without any hatred from April.
Andy on the other hand is pretty much just an accessory here, existing to help Ron and Ben unravel Leslie’s epic scavenger hunt. And by ‘help’ I mean ‘innocently cause mischief while looking adorable’. Oh Andy, don’t you ever change!
We now have another item on the list of things that Ron Swanson approves of! Scavenger hunts. Oh and letting his meat know before he devours it, which is a very polite thing to do. My only regret is that we probably won’t see the scavenger hunt that Leslie will make for Ron’s birthday, which I can only guess would have had plenty of food-related clues.
Oh Ann, poor sad beautiful Ann. I don’t expect anything to come out of the Tom situation, but I applaud her for at least giving a shot. And for a moment there I actually thought something might come out of it. But then of course Tom has to be Tom and ruin everything. Ann as a character has been drifting since her and Chris broke up, and I really hope the writers find something/someone for her soon. I’m still holding out for a Ron Swanson hookup, it works in my head I swear!
Ben didn’t have too much to do this episode, as Ron clearly took the lead on the scavenger hunt. But it was nice seeing him and Leslie in the short time they were together, which solidified my latest guess as to where this season is going. I would bet money that those two will be engaged by the end of the season. And damnit I want it to be sweet and corny!
Leslie was quite the multi-tasker in this episode, which is the way it should be! Between trying to set up Ann, chasing off Orrin, making Chris feel better, oh and meeting up with Ben all while organizing a Valentines Dance. Of course Leslie pulled it all off, because she’s Leslie Knope! Also I’m pretty sure she could start a custom scavenger hunt business and make a killing.
We took a break this week from Leslie’s campaign, but it looks like next week they’ll be back in campaign mode with some interesting new twists. Louis C.K. will be back as Dave, no doubt to cause trouble between Leslie and Ben. Also, Andy searches for a song for Leslie’s campaign! Something better than ‘Get On Your Feet’ I’m sure. As always thanks for reading and please leave me comments below!
Random Thoughts:
- I love Leslie’s personalized gift this year; a needlepoint pillow with your face on it along with a headline from the newspaper on the day you were born.
- Man what is with Leslie’s obsession over Joe Biden? Another callback to previous episodes.
- NO ONE RESPOND TO TOM! Although this is a great joke and I can’t believe it’s been four seasons and we’ve never hear this before.
- I want that Otter plushie! It doesn’t have to have the extra stuff Ben put on it, so if you’ve seen that otter someplace before please post a link! So freaking cute.
- Chris’ sad ‘literally’ was literally the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.
- I knew as soon as they brought that cryptex to Ron that he was going to take that hammer out of his drawer again and smash the shit out of it.
- Holy crap the names of those murals are almost better than the paintings themselves. I listed them in the quotes section below!
- Really April, flirting with your Ex, Orrin? You’re married now and he’s been sent from hell to torture the living!
- SNOW GLOBE TECH SUPPORT?! I’m in the wrong career apparently.
- I can’t even begin to explain how much I laughed my ass off during the scene with Ron in The Bulge. We had to pause show just to recover.
- I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t be an episode of Parks without Andy either hurting himself or breaking something else. Or both.
- Why the hell are there so many people at that memorial? With candles too? I’m on Ben’s side for this one.
- I just want to brag here that I totally called the Ann/Tom situation early in the episode! My boyfriend was 100% sure that it was going to be Chris in that restaurant, but I showed him, lol. I have a bad habit of guessing in all the shows we watch, so in True Blood I’ll shout out ‘It’s a dream!’, etc. I have a hard time with Breaking Bad though, it’s too unpredictable for me.
- TV Magic: How the hell does no one see Leslie and Ben poking their heads in the window, and like call the cops? Creepy stalkers.
Favorite Quotes:
- “I have several men in rotation; one is waiting for me out in the car. Don’t worry I rolled down the windows.”
- “Now everything we eat is shaped like a dinosaur, he’s amazing!”
- “Oh Ann, you beautiful spinster. I will find you love!”
- “Just curious is Ann has a little Indian in her?”
- “A… bomb?”
- “Millicent Gergich has literally torn my heart from my body and replaced it with a thick slab of sadness. I may never smile again.” “Cool, so I found a DJ for the dance…”
- “Anyway life is fleeting.”
- “Please get your gigolo out of here.”
- ‘Cornfield Slaughter. Lament. Of the Buffalo. Needless Slaughter. Slaughter Gone Wrong. It’s Raining Blood, and Death Everywhere.”
- “Ann is not some weird morose mummy, offense intended Orrin! Let this be a wakeup call about the way you present yourself to the world.”
- “It kinda sounds like the end of a movie about a monk who kills himself.” “It is.”
- “Oh wait, no. That might be from another scavenger hunt.”
- “Not as beautiful as my sister, but, well you know the law!”
- “Just go hide under the table with your friend Orrin. Yeah I see you weirdo!”
- “Yeah well I love passionate speakers and Italian men, doesn’t mean I love Mussolini.”
- “Snuggle up. Like little buuuunnnnieeeessss.” “Yeah this was a mistake.” “Nooooooooo!”
