As is lately the case with Parks, there is one strong main story that is top-notch, and then two smaller stories round out the episode that aren’t as strong overall. Not that Jerry’s torment and Tom’s pride weren’t funny, but those segments had a relatively minor impact overall. I’ll get into those portions of the episode later, but for now let’s get back to Ben and Leslie.
So does this mark the official end of the drama for these two? Probably not, but if the drama continues every episode I will be the first to complain. Remember Parks before these two? It’s getting hard me to recall a moment before Ben, he has so completely taken over Leslie’s life and the Parks department. We have a lot of other characters here, many who don’t get the time or stories they deserve. Also, Leslie is far more than her relationship issues. I’m not at my breaking point yet for these two, but I’m getting there. Maybe it’s just me; I hate romantic chick-flicks on principle. I’m not necessarily opposed to drama, I just want some new drama. Find a new man for Leslie, or girl for Ben. Just something to shake it up. Well that’s my patented rant for this episode, moving on to our other neglected characters.
Tom’s going to come back to the Parks department. You know it, I know it, Ron knows it. Hell, Tom even knows it. What we don’t know is what it’s going to take to get Tom to come back. Ron spends the episode trying to find this out, mostly by interviewing old not-racist men to try and make Tom jealous. The only thing that works in the end is brute force, which is good because that is one of Ron’s strong suits. Although this storyline did end up accomplishing something for the overall plot, it felt a lot weaker compared to the MUN conference that pretty much occupied the episode.
Millicent has not called Chris back. CODE RED CODE RED LITERAL IMMINENT DISASTER. Or at least that’s how I imagine that Chris’ brain works. In an attempt to find out what could have gone wrong after four dates, Chris ropes together our gang of little-used characters and starts an investigation. This serves multiple purposes; Jerry get’s further tortured, Ann get’s closure and maybe grows as a person, and Chris starts to learn that he’s not the greatest thing since sliced bread, literally. Donna, well Donna’s there to laugh at Jerry primarily. I was previously under the impression that Ann had completely moved on, so I wasn’t sure why she needed to essentially to do that again and publicly in this episode. And as for Millicent and Chris, well I would rather see their relationship troubles play out as opposed to just talking about them, much as I like to see Jerry squirm. Again, it was hard for these scenes to really compete with the Leslie storylines that have been completely monopolizing the season.
Random Thoughts:
- Love the meta-humor when in the opening Leslie asks ‘I wonder if I’m going to make it awesome?’ Of course you will Les, of course.
- So apparently Andy’s movie watching hasn’t veered into WWII areas, or anywhere outside of old kids movies from the eighties.
- Was anyone else bothered by Tom’s fake iPhone call? The screen rotates because it’s viewing a picture or what looks like a phone call.
- Ron goes to a Macy’s? Whatever happened to buying everything from Food and Stuff?
- Oh god the stupid handshake is back.
- Is it wrong that I kinda wanna see more Keith? He’s like the nerd Jean-Ralphio.
- How cute was it when Ben formally condemned Leslie/Denmark, threw the microphone down, and then walked away with the ‘what now bitches’ walk? Priceless.
- Also, April didn’t get much play in this episode, but moon delegation outfit complete with tinfoil wand and hat was brilliant.
- The anecdotes about Chris and Ann’s relationship were awesome enough that Donna brought back her Tom face.
- Pretty sure this is the first and the last time that Ron will ever beg someone to do anything again.
- Also Ron’s run/quick walk is hilarious.
- Pizza fixes everything in life, trust me.
- Jerry’s new desk is essentially a printer cart, poor thing. Well at least Chris and Millicent might be breaking up, so that should help!
Favorite Quotes:
- “I’m going to roll up my sleeves and make geo-political problem solving my bitch.”
- “How about Germany? They’ve never been the bad guys.”
- “I’m the moon or I quit!”
- “I’m glad I could help in these trying times.”
- “You gotta dangle the carrot, literally and metaphorically.”
- “I just traded Finland’s boring stuff for every other countries lions!”
- “Shut up Bulgaria!”
- “Because the nation of Denmark needs a juice box.”
- “Due to a recent betrayal, my homeland the great state of Denmark has officially decided to declare war on Peru. Scandinavian brothers, on my signal, unleash hell!”
- “Say the word Leslie, I’ll sic my army of lions on him.”
- “The only thing I will be waving is your decapitated head on a stick in front of your weeping mother!”
- “The moon will join your coalition!”
- “Yeah, we got the freaking moon! What are you going to do without tides, Peru?”
- “When Ben gets upset he becomes a really bad roommate. He takes long sadness baths and makes me late for stuff.”
- “Jogging is the worst Chris! I mean I know it keeps you healthy but at what cost!”
- “If you rearrange the letters of Peru, you could spell Europe.”
- “Ben how are we going to get Kathy Ireland to do naked aerobics for them?”
